How to Choose the Perfect Prescription Glasses Online: A Complete Guide from GlassesUSA.com

Buying prescription glasses online is easier than ever before, offering convenience, a vast selection, and competitive prices. But with so many options, it’s important to know how to navigate the process, ensuring you get the right fit, lenses, and style for your needs. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced glasses-wearer, this online glasses guide will walk you through the experience of choosing the perfect pair of glasses. Step 1: Understanding Your Prescription Before you start shopping for prescription glasses, the first step is figuring out what your prescription is. An optometrist provides a prescription that includes several elements, values and acronyms, but it’s not always clear what all of them mean. This is a quick guide to figuring that out: OD (Oculus Dexter): The prescription for your right eye. OS (Oculus Sinister): The prescription for your left eye. SPH (Sphere): Indicates the optical power/strength of your lenses for nearsightedness or farsightedness. CYL (Cylinder): If you have astigmatism, this value indicates the adjustment of your lenses’ curvature. AXIS: The direction of astigmatism correction, measured in degrees. ADD: Additional power of reading glasses (used for bifocals or progressives). PRISM: Helps with alignment issues, rarely required. Knowing what these terms are will help you select the right lenses, in the case you choose to fill out your prescription online manually. If anything is unclear,  reach out to your optometrist for clarification. Some online retailers may also offer an online optometrist you can chat with. Step 2: Measure Your PD (Pupillary Distance) PD refers to the distance between the centers of your pupils. This measurement is used to ensure that the lenses are positioned correctly for your optimal vision.  How to measure your PD at home: Stand in front of a mirror. Hold a ruler up to your eyes. Measure the distance between the center of one pupil to the center of the other.  For maximum accuracy, make sure the ruler is aligned correctly Most eyewear shopping sites you’ll browse on, at least the good ones, provide an easy-to-use tool for PD measurement online, so you can DIY the PD at home. Alternatively, you can ask an optician to measure it for you in-store. Step 3: Choose Your Frame How to choose glasses online is a question I encounter a lot. When browsing frames and brands, consider both style and fit. Frame shapes and colors are varied, so it’s important to choose something that suits your face shape and personal taste. Most important factors to consider: Face shape: Along with frame size, probably the two most vital aspects of your future perfect pair fit. Oval, round, square, and heart-shaped faces each pair well with specific frame styles. Frame material: Acetate frames are sturdy and come in many colors, while metal frames are lightweight and sleek-looking. Frame size: Be sure to check the frame’s size (S/M/L usually) and measurements so it fits your face comfortably. Most retailers list the dimensions on the frame page. Virtual try-ons: Many online retailers offer virtual try-on glasses, so you can upload a photo and see how the frames look on you before making a decision. You’ll usually see an icon of a camera or person’s visual profile that lead to start the try-on. While glasses fitting online has gotten very advanced and accurate, including live try-on features, for the most precise fit, especially with complex prescriptions, some people may feel more comfortable with a professional in-store consultation. Step 4: Select Your Lenses Done with the frame? Now it’s time to select your lenses. When you buy eyeglasses online, the lens options you choose will impact the clarity and comfort of your vision. Single vision lenses: Perfect for those who need one correction (e.g., for nearsightedness or farsightedness). Progressive lenses: These multifocal (vision correction for more than one distance) lenses are ideal for those needing correction for both up close (like reading) and far away. Bifocals: Another multifocal type of lens correction, with a visible line on the lens separating between the distance and reading zones. Coatings and special features: Consider coatings like anti-glare, UV protection, or blue light filters for added comfort and protection. Personal tip: Choose lenses that suit your daily needs or the activity the glasses will serve you in the most, be it driving, reading, or screen time. Step 5: Check the Return and Exchange Policy It’s important to double-check the site’s online eyewear returns and exchange policy before finalizing your purchase. Since you won’t be able to try on the glasses in person when buying online, there’s a chance they may need to return or exchange them - maybe the fit’s not right, or you experience some discomfort. A good return policy offers peace of mind, giving you a bit of time to figure out whether you’re happy with your online purchase or not. Step 6: Finalizing Your Purchase Once you’ve selected the frames and lenses, it’s time to complete your order. Double-check the prescription you’ve entered or uploaded, PD measurement, and lens preferences to ensure everything is accurate. It’s always helpful to read customer reviews for reassurance about frame quality and sizing. Once you’re ready, proceed to checkout. Some retailers may offer affordable online glasses in the form of markdowns (look for strike-through prices),  promotions or discounts - maybe even auto-applied at checkout, so keep an eye out for those. Ready to find your perfect pair? Buying prescription glasses online is a simple and straightforward process when you follow these steps. Whether you prefer the ease of shopping online, or the personal touch of visiting a store, we’ve got a solution that works for you.  Explore our vast collection of prescription glasses online at GlassesUSA.com, or for a personalized fitting and expert advice, visit one of our stores in New York (Roosevelt Field Mall), Florida (Florida Mall), or Massachusetts (Natick Mall). FAQ: Common Questions About Buying Prescription Glasses Online Is it safe to buy prescription glasses online? Yes, buying glasses online is safe as long as you use a reputable retailer with a good return policy. Many online retailers also offer virtual try-on tools to help you find the right fit before purchasing. What if my glasses don’t fit? Most online retailers have easy return policies, so if your glasses don’t fit or you’re not satisfied, you can return them for a refund or exchange. How do online returns work? Online returns are typically simple and can often be initiated directly through the retailer’s website without needing to call customer service. Most sites offer an easy-to-navigate help center or live chat support where you can request a return or exchange. After submitting your return request, you’ll receive instructions on how to ship the glasses back. Some retailers even provide prepaid shipping labels to make the return process hassle-free. Remember, always check the return policy for specific details before purchasing. Can I add prescription lenses to my sunglasses? Yes! Many online stores offer the option to add prescription lenses to sunglasses, making it easy to get the benefits of both corrective lenses and sun protection. What happens if I can’t find my PD? If you can’t measure your PD, some online retailers will assist you by providing an estimate based on your previous prescription or offer an easy way to measure it at home.