Glasses direct blog

Asking for questions on twitter the other day, this one came in:

http://twitter.com/catalogbiz/statuses/2017607429

What does the Axis part on the prescription mean? What is “average”?

I asked another David, one of our team of dispensing opticians:

“The axis is the orientation of the astigmatism. The value is in degrees, and can be anything from 1 to 180. There is no average value, and the number doesn’t have any relevance to the size of the astigmatism ( that is indicated in the CYL box ).

Its probably best described as being like a compass bearing. The bearing you walk on doesn’t relate to how far you walk, its just the direction of travel.”

And an astigmatism? What’s that?

“Instead of being spherical like a football, most eyes are cylinder shaped, a bit like a rugby ball, and need correcting in two meridians; a spherical (SPH) component, and a cylindrical, or astigmatic (CYL) one. The AXIS is the direction along which the cylindrical component (astigmatism) lies.”

So there you go, hope that helps out. How’s the language? Understandable?

The way that I imagine it (from a non-optician’s viewpoint) is like this:
Imagine holding up a tall glass (like this one) up in front of your eye. The ‘Cyl’ value is similar to the thickness of the glass, and the ‘Axis’ value is the angle at which you hold the glass in front of your eye.

Any thing else you want to know, just ask in the comments.

If you are reading this, then the chances are you’ve decided to brave the waters and buy glasses online (rightfully so!). Whether you are buying from Glasses Direct or any other online glasses retailer, buying spectacles online is not all about finding the lowest price around. As you read on you’ll discover, when buying glasses on the Internet other factors must be taken into account because let’s face it, we’re not all made of money and online prices cheap as they are, are still an expense we can sometimes do without. As an online marketing consultant myself, advising retailers on their e-commerce development strategy, I have seen consumer demand change over the years and online retailers have to provide the same if not better service than their high street counterparts. I am happy to report that Glasses Direct is heading in the right direction, though other retailers may be offering the same experience so it’s a good idea to always shop around.

Here are the 10 questions you should be asking your online glasses retailer before buying, remember it’s your eyes so don’t joke about. Cheap glasses doesn’t mean cheap quality or service, make sure the online retailers answer yes to all these questions.

1. Is the quality the same as if I buy my glasses from the high street?

Remember, buying glasses online is cheaper because online retailers are able cut out the middleman, and don’t need to pay for expensive high street stores and eye testing equipment. The quality of the glasses should be the same as the high street.

2. Do they offer a money back guarantee?

You should absolutely insist on this one. At Glasses Direct glasses come with a 30-day, unconditional money-back guarantee. If you feel your new glasses aren’t right for you, they’ll give you a refund or exchange them for another pair of the same value – no questions asked. Other online glasses retailers offer either a 14 day money guarantee or their guarantee is hidden somewhere so you have to ask why.

3. Can I try before I buy?

Most online glasses retailers offer some sort of ‘Try Online’ service where you can upload your picture and paste an image of the glasses on your picture giving you an idea of how the glasses will look on you. The quality of the technology changes from site to site, but will provide similar results. On the other hand, only a select few offer a ‘Try at Home’ service where you pay a small fee to cover postage & packaging and can trial frames for 14 days at home before buying.

4. Will a Dispensing Optician review my order to ensure my prescription makes sense?

Glasses Direct have a team of qualified Dispensing Opticians who check and authorise every single order. If they come across anything out of the ordinary, they will get in touch with you by email or phone and may ask you to confirm your prescription details. This makes the buying process stress free and the Dispensing Opticians are also available to talk on the phone for an online consultation.

5. Can I pick up the phone and talk to a service representative?

When I buy anything online, I like to know I can pick up the phone and someone will be on the other end should any problems occur. Unlike some online glasses retailers, Glasses Direct has a UK call centre based in Swindon. The call centre is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday making it easy to chat glasses before or after work.

6. Will I be able to read reviews from other users?

Very few sites I have tested have any review functionality, let alone one which is constantly updated. Glasses Direct like other leading online retailers use a 3rd party customer review service by Reevoo. Because the reviews are managed by a 3rd party provider, they all appear on the site. That’s right whether the review is positive or at times less flattering you can view it on the site. For me, this says it all, nothing to hide and a sign of a retailer believing in its products and willing to listen to both praise and criticism.

7. When the website says ‘glasses from £15′ are they talking about more than one frame for £15?

Many retailers try to lure consumers based on a low offer, but the result is usually one frame for this low price and then you also have to pay for the lenses which are sky high. Some retailers such as Glasses Direct have kept the emphasis on value and the basic price of £15 hasn’t changed. Truth be told Glasses Direct has increased its range of higher end frames, but not at the expenses of its core offering of £15 frames. The more expensive frames tend to be designer glasses which you would expect to pay a bit more for anyway.

8. Can I buy frames based on my gender?

While having a great deal of choice is a good thing, at times you need a gentle nudge and some basic advice. The people at Glasses Direct have always understood the value of great professional advice and the end result is frames divided by male / female together with straightforward search options by price, frame style etc.

9. Will I get thin lenses for free?

When it comes to lens thickness, size does matter. Your choice of lenses and coating is an important part of buying your glasses. Lens thickness can make a real difference to how they look, especially for stronger prescriptions. Make sure you are getting a thin lens.

10. Will I be able to re-glaze my glasses one day?

If your prescription has changed or your current lenses are scratched or damaged then you might need to re-glaze your glasses, unless you really feel like buying a new pair. A few online glasses retailers offer this service and prices seem very competitive compared to the high street.

When you find an online glasses retailer who can answer yes to all these 10 questions, then buy your spectacles online. Buying online is as safe as buying on the high street only prices are much better.

Recommended reading: Glasses Direct guide to buying glasses online
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Ran Nir is the founder of Conversion Counts an online marketing consultancy focused on online e-commerce development strategies.

Thanks to Oberazzi’s Photostream for the imagery

Photo by PakyuZ

Here are a few glasses myths and misconceptions we hear. Time to set the record straight.

Myth One: Eating carrots will improve my vision

Fact: While it is true that carrots are high in Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for sight, only a small amount is necessary for good vision.

Myth Two: Reading in poor light will damage my sight

Fact: Reading or doing close work in poor light can be uncomfortable but it won’t damage your eyesight. If there’s enough light to read, then by definition there’s enough light. What is true, is that as we get older we all need more light to see the same things. So, when a mum comes into her child’s dimly lit room and turns the light on, saying “You can’t possibly see in this light,” it’s because she can’t see in that light!

Myth Three: Sitting too close to a television is bad for my eyes

Fact: It can be uncomfortable to sit too close to a television but your eyes will not be damaged by doing so. The sustained effort of continuous close-focusing can emphasise any vision defect and result in eye strain and headaches, so you should watch television at a distance that feels comfortable. It’s generally only children who watch TV at six inches… they have plenty of accommodation (the facility to focus from distance to near and back again) and it doesn’t do them any lasting harm.

Myth Four: If I don’t wear glasses, I don’t need to have my eyes tested

Fact: Everybody’s eyesight changes over time and it’s important to check for conditions such as glaucoma which can be treated easily but can be devastating if undetected. An eye test can also reveal other things about your health, including high blood pressure and diabetes. For all these reasons, The Eye Care Trust recommends everyone to have an eye test every two years, or more often for young children and people who have sight problems in the family.

Dom Littlewood uncovers and investigates serious problems within the National Health Service. In this episode, Dom looks into the shocking fact that over the next 25 years the number of people going blind in the UK could double due to the cost of an eye test. Watch the show via the BBC iPlayer.

Recommended reading:

10 ways to ensure you never miss another eye test

Picture by Melilotus

If you reach the stage of not being able to read up close, you may need to consider reading glasses. The need for a pair of reading glasses is in most cases the natural maturing process at work, however it might also signal a problem with your eyes so we always recommend booking an eye test with your local optician.

There are two types of reading glasses:

Ready-made (not available at Glasses Direct) – Ready-made reading glasses are off-the-shelf one size fits all with both lenses sharing the same measurements.

Custom made reading glasses – Custom made reading glasses are prescribed to your precise needs as most of us do not have exactly the same prescription in both eyes. By choosing custom made reading glasses there’s an option to add UV400 protective coating. Just as we use sunscreen to keep the sun’s UV rays from harming our skin, UV treatment in lenses blocks those same rays from damaging our eyes, giving you the “peace of mind” that you are providing your eyes the maximum protection.

My recommendations for an excellent pair of custom made reading glasses:

Rod glasses – Among our smaller full-rimmed glasses, Rod’s oval design would suit smaller face shapes. The sophisticated thin brushed metal front is complemented by straight plastic arms, adding a point of contrast to these otherwise very classic glasses. Soft adjustable nose pads offer a personalised, comfortable fit. 132 customers reviewed Rod glasses so far with an average score of 8.4 out of 10.
Trenton glasses – Small but bold, these small rectangular plastic frames are a great way to make a retro-style style statement. Typically very comfortable, they have plastic tips and a regular plastic nose bridge designed to distribute the weight evenly across the nose. Good for square and long-shaped faces, as well as small faces. 128 customers reviewed Trenton glasses so far with an average score of 8.5 out of 10.
Live wire glasses - Live Wire are among our favourite semi-rimless glasses. The combination of small rectangular frames, painted finish and contrasting colours create a sleek, slightly quirky designer look that’s rather sexy. Soft adjustable nose pads help make them a good fit. 304 customers reviewed Live Wire glasses so far with an average score of 8.9 out of 10.

Further reading:

Understanding glasses lenses and coatings.
How to order glasses online
All About vision guide to reading glasses

Picture by Alicia

Although it doesn’t happen in most cases, we have heard of a few incidents where an optician refused to give a patient their prescription as they suspected it might be used to buy glasses elsewhere. Following the eye test, your optician is by law is obliged to give you a written copy of your prescription, however there’s a chance they’ll get grumpy at this request because they know it means you can now go off and buy your glasses online.

Top five things to tell an uppity optician (in no particular order):

1. It’s the law. You have to give me my written prescription immediately following my eye test.
2. My work needs it – a receipt isn’t enough for them to pay for my eye test.
3. My doctor wants a copy.
4. I want to buy my glasses from Glasses Direct (our favourite).
5. I want to frame it.

Remember – you’ve paid for your prescription. It’s yours, and you have every right to it.

We strongly recommend that you ask your optician to include your pupillary distance measurement in your prescription. It’s not part of the eye test itself – and they’re not legally bound to give it to you – but it’s worth getting if you can because it’s a key detail in achieving a perfect fit. They’ll either oblige, say no, or, in some cases, agree to take the measurement for a small fee.

Picture by wtlphotos

To keep your eyes healthy, you should always ensure your prescription is up to date. When buying glasses online, you need a copy of your prescription – which must be less than two years old. Based on a recent Glasses Direct survey, we noticed that a few customers are having trouble remembering when to book an eye test to ensure their glasses prescription is up to date prior to buying online, so we put together a list of useful tips to help you remember.

Use a desktop or web based calendar – the easiest way to remember dates and important events. For those using office, Microsoft outlook is the most straightforward option, otherwise consider a 3rd party web based calendar such as Google Calendar.

Use a good old pen and paper dairy – I know, I was surprised as well to find out that some people still use it.

Send a future email – Futureme.org allows you to write an email and schedule it to be sent at a future date.

Use an RSS reminder – ReminderFeed is a free reminder service that delivers reminder messages right to your feed reader.

Free web-based to do list managers – services such as Remember the Milk supports sharing lists, email add of tasks, and SMS reminders.

Phone call alert – TelePixie provides the a reliable reminder call service. Whether you need a one-time reminder call or would like to schedule recurring calls, you are covered.

Use a Firefox extension – ReminderFox is an extension for Firefox and Thunderbird that displays and manages lists of date-based reminders and ToDo’s. The target audience is anybody that simply wants to remember important dates (anniversaries, updating a prescription, etc) without having to run an entire calendar application.

Use a facebook application – although designed for birthday reminders, applications such as Birthday Alerts could be used to receive other important reminders.

SMS reminder – services such as Oh, don’t forget… and kwiry remind anyone about an event at a specific day and time.

Sticky notes – They’re not ideal as a primary means of long time management of tasks but if you must, put stickies on the front door when I need to remember to take something with me the next time I leave.

Let us know which method you find most useful.

From time to time we hear interesting tips and tricks to help improve eye health. This time we chose to mention a unique method using a small software application EyeDefender. Free application EyeDefender regularly reminds you to take breaks and walks you through eye exercises to help you avoid headaches and blurred vision of the dreaded computer vision syndrome. EyeDefender is a simple program, allowing you to set breaks whenever you need them. Once installed, EyeDefender sits in the system tray and displays the time left until the next break. When the time for a break comes, the program does one of the following:

* Displays a predefined picture;
* Runs the visual training to relax the eyes;
* Runs a default screensaver;
* Displays a popup timed reminder in the system tray.

EyeDefender is free for private, non-commercial use, Windows only.

Via Lifehacker.com