Why Should I Buy Eyeglasses From My Optometrist vs. Online?
Recently a trend has developed in the eye care world to consider buying eyeglasses from online stores rather than the traditional method of ordering through your trusted eye care professional. These sites may claim that they offer “not-to-be-beat” prices and convenient to-your-door delivery, but the disadvantages of ordering online are much more significant than any apparent advantage they claim to provide. The truth is that there are many aspects of customer service and accurate filling of prescriptions in which your trusted family optometrist is far superior to any online service.
To an online store, you are a faceless consumer. To the team at your local optometrist, you are a patient in their r care. The online store aims to sell you a product. Your local optician aims to help you look and see your best, and safeguard your long-term eye health as well as visual comfort. Part of fulfilling this role is maintaining a personal relationship with every patient. The same cannot be said about online retailers.
Our team goes to great lengths not only to measure your exact prescription, but also to take into consideration things such as your face shape, the way your lenses will look and feel with certain frames, and what size and type of frame will be most comfortable and provide you with the best vision.
Your optician will also consider where each type of frame will sit on your face, which influences the position of the lens your eyes will be looking through. This is especially important with bifocals and progressive lenses, in which an improper positioning of the lens in front of the eye can make proper viewing through the different vision zones especially difficult or impossible. Here are some additional points to consider:
Professional Eye Examination: Eye doctors perform a comprehensive eye examination that includes checking your vision, and eye health, and determining the appropriate prescription for your glasses. Online retailers cannot provide this level of eye care and accuracy.
Customized Fit: Eye doctors will take the time to ensure that your glasses fit properly and comfortably. They will measure the distance between your pupils, the shape of your face, and the size of your nose to ensure that your glasses are tailored to your unique needs.
Quality Control: Eye doctors only offer high-quality lenses and frames that meet strict safety and quality standards. They also provide warranties and guarantees on their products, ensuring that you receive a good-quality product that meets your needs.
Expert Advice: Eye doctors are trained experts in the field of eye care and can provide personalized advice and recommendations on the best type of lenses, frames, and coatings for your specific needs. They can also help you choose the right glasses for your lifestyle and activities.
On-site Services: Eye doctors provide on-site services such as adjustments, repairs, and cleaning of your glasses. This can save you time and money compared to having to send your glasses back and forth to an online retailer. They can also provide you with the necessary information to properly care for and maintain your glasses.
A professional, experienced, and educated optician with whom you have a personal relationship is more likely to fill the prescription correctly the first time, and fix it if there is a mistake, than an online retailer whose training is customer service or sales oriented, and with whom you share no personal connection beyond their desire to sell you their products.
