If you are confined to using varifocal glasses and have been paying more than you can afford for your varifocal lenses at local opticians, then you will probably find this article very handy. It’s funny how rapidly things change in the modern era of technology, now that the internet is at the tips of most people’s fingers, wouldn’t you agree? Just think, it was only about 5 years ago that over 98% of the UK’s glasses wearers were still buying their prescription glasses from their registered high street optical store. This seems to have drastically altered now and the most up-to-date statistics suggest that these days about 80% of people who wear spectacles still purchase them from their local opticians, with the other 20% now making their purchases using the internet, thus making huge savings. I have come to realize that there are still lots of glasses wearers who think that there are way too many potential complications in buying varifocal glasses with an online retailer. The problem lies in that the vast majority of people believe the risks are too high to make a purchase for what is seen by many as a customised eye health product. Well let me put your fears to bed and reveal just how easy and risk free you will find it when you purchase varifocal glasses using an online retailer.
Firstly, it is always a very good idea that you search for an established online optician who offers varifocal glasses, preferably a retailer that is in the same country you live in and that offers a help line or sales number on their website, should you require any assistance whilst making the purchase of your new varifocal glasses. Secondly, I would also strongly advise that you ‘Google’ any feedback that previous customers have written about the company you are thinking of using. This will offer a good indication as to what level of customer service you should expect and it will also ensure that you avoid bad retailers from the many genuine, highly regarded online companies. Once you have found a company that you like the look of then you are ready to go ahead with your first internet order for a new pair of varifocals.
Once you get to the stage where you have found a frame you like you will be asked to select your prescription lens requirements. This is commonly where many people come unstuck. You see, there are a huge number of types and brands of varifocal lenses available, so you should try to ensure that you make the correct decision when choosing which type of lens product is best suited to you. Let’s make this a little easier by assuming that the higher the cost of the lens will generally offer a more refined vision than a standard lens. Take, for instance, a lesser quality varifocal such as a non-branded generic type and compare this with a more expensive lens product from a highly regarded lens specialist such as Hoya or Carl Zeiss. The comparison between the lenses would probably be immediately apparent, as the standard lens product would be highly likely to contain a narrower width of the corridor, causing the wearer to find it difficult when attempting to view objects in both distances (close and far). However, with high-end varifocal products, you will find the corridors of vision much wider and easier to adapt to.
So now you have selected your frame and lenses, precisely just how will the lens technician know the height that the frames sit on your face, to ensure the varifocal lenses are glazed correctly into the frame? In most cases when you pay a visit to your high street optical practice, there is always a qualified advisor waiting after your eye examination to take these important measurements for you. The measurement process is to make absolutely sure that the varifocals are glazed in the frame correctly, in order for you to be able to use the glasses without any problems. Not many people will know this but these fitting heights are actually quite simple to take yourself as the complete process involves marking a small dot on the dummy lens of the frame, in line with the front of your pupil. The majority of online optical stores, when ordering varifocal glasses, will send you the frame you chose as well as a pre-paid bag, in order for you to take this measurement yourself and return the frame to be glazed. Once you take delivery of your chosen frame, simply place it on your face ensuring that it sits how you want it and is level. Then, the best technique to use is to position yourself as straight as you can, directly in front of a mirror and position yourself in as close as you can get. Using a marking pen, put two small dots on the dummy lenses directly in the middle of each of your pupils. And that is all there is to it! You can now send your frame back to the company then go about your normal duties whilst they get to work on preparing your new varifocal glasses.
Jim Romand is a specialist prescription lens consultant and dispensing optician who has worked in the industry for over 25 years. After qualifying as an SMC Tech at the London college of optometry in 1985, He has since worked as a Lab consultant for many high street optician chains within the UK.
He currently works as a specialist prescription lens technician for an online lens retailer specialising in Varifocal glasses