Getting and using your prescription
Before you order, you need to have a copy of your prescription. You may already have a copy from a previous eye test, and providing it is less than two years old, or less than one year old if you are over 70 years of age, you may use that one to order from us. These time limits are necessary because your eyesight may change over time and the limits are recommended by joint committees of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the Association of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians. Alternatively, you will need to go to your local optician such as Specsavers and have your eyes tested. Following the eye test, your optician is obliged to give you a copy of your prescription, and you shouldn't feel under pressure to purchase glasses from that same shop. We also recommend that you also ask your optician to include your pupillary distance measurement in your prescription. See the FAQ on pupillary distance measurement.
Reading your prescription
If you can read your prescription (NHS example above) then you are ready to browse our product categories, entering all the prescription details once your frame has been selected.
It is important that you enter onto our online order form ALL details written on the prescription. There may also be a value for your "PD" or pupillary distance. Anything written on your prescription, should be typed into our online order form, put on the mailing document, or related to our operators over the telephone.
If you have any difficulty or cannot read your prescription (see the one from Specsavers above) we'll try our best to help you. You can call 08456 88 20 20 to be talked through the prescription details, or you can fill out a fax order form and fax your prescription with it to 08450 13 18 18 , alternatively send both to us at Glasses Direct, Gemini House, Hargreaves Road, Groundwell, Wiltshire, SN25 5AJ.
Ordering online
Click the type of glasses you'd like from the selection on the left. You can also use our Best Fit Machine below to select the frames from the ranges available that most closely match the measurements of your existing glasses to ensure your new glasses fit as well as your existing glasses. See FAQs on Best Fit Machine and frame measurements. Once you have chosen a frame, you simply key in the details of your prescription online, and select your lens. The website securely accepts most types of credit cards.
Ordering over the telephone
Once you have chosen your frame from our mail-order catalogue, or the website, you may call our customer service team on 08456 88 20 20 who will take your order over the telephone. They will talk you through different lens options, and ask for your prescription details.
Ordering from a mail order catalogue or by fax
Our mail order catalogue is sent to your door, free of charge (request a catalogue). Alternatively, a fax order form can be downloaded here. Please fill in the order form with details of the frame you require and either post it back to us, or fax to us on 08450 13 18 18 . Prescriptions, or a copy of your prescription should be sent/faxed in with your order, and will be kept on file (unless you otherwise specify) so that should you choose to re-order, we will already have your details to hand. The mail order/fax option is the best for those not confident with their prescription details, or for those who cannot easily understand what their optician has written.