EyewearTalk

Knowing your glasses size is especially important when you buy glasses online. If you haven’t had a chance to try on the frames in a store, you want to make sure the glasses will fit for comfort and looks.

When I try on glasses in the store, I always look at the measurement information that is printed on the inside of one of the temples or on the bridge. You don’t have to try on too many glasses before you begin to know your size.

The size information is a set of three numbers that are measurements in millimeters. For example, I recently bought frames that are size 54-19-140. The first number (54) is the horizontal width of one lens. The second number (19) is the distance between lenses, and the third number (140) is the length of one of the temples. I am a larger person and this is the bigger size in this style. The smaller frame is 52-17-140.

At OpticsPlanet, we provide this size information on each page that describes our Sunglasses, Prescription Sunglasses and Eyeglasses.

The first thing I consider when choosing the right size is to make sure the glasses are at least as wide as my face. Otherwise, the glasses will look and feel too small. The width of glasses includes the horizontal width of one lens times two (one for each lens) PLUS the distance between the lenses PLUS the distance the temples stick out which can be a few millimeters. It is helpful if you know the width of your face, otherwise, after you try on a few pairs, you’ll know the minimum horizontal lens width you need.

I don’t use the value for the distance between lenses as a guide for fitting over my nose. The number can be misleading especially if the shape of the lenses bring them close together at the bridge. I use the number to get a sense of the overall width of the frames.

Sometimes, there isn’t a lot of choice in the length of the temples. A number like 140 is common. However, for myself, I have found that a temple that is longer than 140 is more comfortable and provides greater stability. A temple that is too short may not have enough length for proper final fitting and adjustment. Also, a temple that is the proper length looks better by going straight back across your head and not angled up. The temple length number can be misleading. A frame that wraps may have a temple length that appears to be short, but you need to take the wrap into consideration which pushes the temples back over your ears.

When you know the size that fits you best, you can confidently by glasses online and take advantage of great savings on the best brands. See our Sunglasses Guide and our Rx Prescription Guide for more information about choosing glasses that fit well.

At OpticsPlanet, we have a flexible Return Policy and many of our customers order several pairs of glasses at a time with the idea to keep what they like and return the others for a full refund. This is a good way to try glasses you buy online.

We have a lot of experience helping customers with special size needs such as smaller or larger frames. I will talk about our recommendations for those situations in a future blog. In the mean time, people with smaller faces should consider child size frames such as the Ray-Ban Junior. The junior Raybans are way cool smaller versions of the classics. For larger faces, see the Ray Ban Highstreet, the S-flex models by Serengeti and the Bolle Spiral.

The internet continues to work to the advantage of the consumer. In the case of Sunglasses and Prescription Eyewear, the internet has made it possible for more retailers to compete for your business with lower prices and better service.

The availability of inexpensive prescription eyeglasses means my dream of having a wardrobe full of stylish frames to match any of my many moods is within the realm of reality. I have been seriously searching Google for sites that sell glasses and I think I know each dealer by heart and can recite every model number in their catalog. Now that I know there are stores on the internet that sell prescription glasses for $7.00, I am in disbelief when I see the prices in the stores at the mall.

Cheap-chic means different things to different people. For those who want the best price on the best labels, such as Ray-Ban, Serengeti, D&G or Spy Optic, you will be rewarded if you do your Google homework. Look for dealers who only sell authentic product with warranty. My goal is more on the side of quantity than quality so I’m willing to forego a familiar logo.

I’m still deciding on which dealer to try first. I want to keep the level of risk low in case it doesn’t work out right away. I am hoping to find a dealer I can return to many times.

Not all of the discount dealers instill the kind of confidence that makes me willing to turn over my credit-card information to them. I become especially concerned when a web site does not list key pieces of contact information or does not describe a return policy.

I’ll keep you informed of my progress.

Now is the time to take advantage of the savings that are possible by ordering your own prescription glasses on the internet. On the internet, you can choose from the latest styles from the best brand names, and, along with looking great, you’ll feel great because of all the money you saved.

There are many sources on the web that explain what all those funny numbers mean in your prescription. At OpticsPlanet, we have a Guide To Ordering Prescription Glasses and a Prescription Glasses FAQ. There really aren’t that many numbers and it’s a great feeling of empowerment when you know you can go anywhere you want, prescription in hand, and order glasses.

Bi-focal wearers are not excluded from this party and I want to explain the extra steps that are required for this group to order glasses. I recommend you also see our Bi-focal Prescription Guide.

When you see a frame you like, you need to check whether or not it can be used with bi-focal lenses. If it can be used with bi-focals, you need to check if the lenses are standard bi-focals or the no-line progressive style. The availability of a lens and frame combination may depend on the store so it might be worth checking a few places if you don’t find what you want right away.

An important prescription measurement that needs to be taken for bi-focals is the “Segment Height.” This is the location that divides the lens, top and bottom, between the far and distant vision portions. This measurement needs to be taken for the specific frames so you need to bring the frames to your optician for the reading.

At OpticsPlanet, we have a Trial Program so you can “rent” a frame at a nominal charge and have the segment height taken. The program includes some of our most popular frames. If you don’t see the frame you want in our program, we suggest that you order from our Non-prescription Sunglasses, have the measurement taken, and return the glasses for a full refund. Make sure that the optician does not make permanent marks on the trial lenses.

Along with the segment height, your bi-focal prescription includes a value called “Add” which is the difference between your far and near prescriptions. Whether your prescription is bi-focal or single-vision, make sure your optician provides you with your pupil distance.

That’s all there is to it. You will never need to complain again about how much you had to pay for bi-focals. OpticsPlanet is the leading online retailer of Prescription Sunglasses and Prescription Eyeglasses at unbeatable prices. Throughout our web site, there are links to the single-vision and bi-focal version of many of our frames.