Life is busy, and fitting in a trip to town to choose new eyeglasses or shades can be a hassle. When it comes to opening hours, most opticians tend to follow regular office hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and close on weekends, making things even more of a challenge.
The good news is that there is now a range of online stores where you can view a vast array of eyewear and even order frames fitted with prescription lenses or other specialist options, such as blue-light-blocking or polarized lenses. If you’ve not tried shopping online for glasses, now’s a great time to do so.
Choosing Frames that Suit You Perfectly
Even if you do manage to get to the opticians during their opening hours, it can be hard to decide on the right frames for your face shape and your personal style. While a second opinion from a member of staff is helpful, there are often so many different designs of frames that making a choice can be a little overwhelming. This can mean walking away with a pair of specs or prescription sunglasses that are so-so rather than something special.
Shopping online for frames is a totally different proposition. Most online stores now feature advanced tools that allow you to virtually try on as many different pairs of glasses as you wish from the comfort of your own home and take all the time you need. There’s no rush, and no pressure, meaning you can be sure of getting a great pair of glasses.
Shop 24/7 for Eyewear
Suddenly got a spare couple of hours late on a weekday evening or broke your glasses over the weekend? The physical stores may not be open, but you can still head online to order the eyewear you need, whether it’s a basic pair of readers or sunglasses that incorporate complex lenses.
Shopping for prescription lenses is easier than you think, too. All you need is the details from your current prescription, which you’ll be asked to enter as part of the ordering process. Get in touch with your optician if you can’t find your prescription – likely, they’ll be able to email it to you.
Wallet-Friendly Frames
Another benefit of shopping online for eyewear is the great bargains you’ll be able to find. From discounted designer shades to affordable sports glasses, there are huge savings to be made. Take the opportunity to shop around, comparing prices to get the best deal, and take advantage of newsletter sign-ups or discount codes to get the price down still further.
A recent survey showed that those who shop online for eyewear can expect to save up to around 40% on their purchase, which is a pretty compelling reason to give it a try.
Add Extras to Your Eyewear Order
Ordering online gives you plenty of opportunities to customize or add extras to your eyewear order, such as tinted lenses, anti-scratch coating, sports straps, and much more. You can also easily find specialty prescription eyewear, like safety goggles or sports visors. Add cloths, cleaning products, cases, and other accessories to your online basket, too.
Tips for Shopping for Eyewear Online
While shopping online for glasses and prescription shades is convenient and gives you access to a vast range of options, there are some points to bear in mind to ensure you have a safe, enjoyable experience. Firstly, make sure the site you’re considering buying from is authentic and deploys encryption to keep your personal and payment details safe. Check the address bar: the address should start with ‘https’ rather than just ‘http.’
Have a look, too, at the customer service and returns information on the site. Any reputable company will make these details easy to find. There should be plenty of ways to get in touch with customer care if you experience a problem, and a robust refund policy should also be in place.
The Takeaway
Shopping online for glasses is a super convenient way to get the eyewear you need – there’s no need to wait for the opticians or pharmacy to open, and you can browse a huge selection of styles from the comfort of your own sofa. Taking the time to check that the online retailer you’re considering purchasing from is trustworthy and legit means that you can have peace of mind that you’re getting a great pair of specs at a great price.
