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Over the past three years, the internet has become a go-to destination for thousands of people in search of online suppliers for prescription glasses. The prices for these eyewear options online have reached record lows, with potential savings of up to 75% off the regular retail price. This guide aims to assist you in avoiding any potential pitfalls and make informed decisions about frames and lenses that will suit your needs, fit comfortably, and save you both time and money!

HOW TO CHOOSE A FRAME THAT FITS:
Frame sizes are typically displayed in the format “50 – 20 – 140”. In this example, it means that the lens diameter is 50mm, the bridge distance is 20mm, and the arm length is 140mm. You can usually find these measurements on the inside arm or on the back of the bridge.

While these measurements can serve as a general guideline, they are NOT the best way to determine a well-fitting frame. At spex4less, we provide two additional measurements that are much easier to understand and ensure a better fit. Each frame on our website includes the total frame width in millimeters and total frame depth in millimeters. You can compare these measurements to your own frames to find a well-fitting option.

HOW TO CHOOSE A FRAME THAT SUITS:
Certain face shapes tend to suit certain lens shapes, and there are numerous guides available online to assist you. Here is a general guide to various face shapes:

Oval Faces:
More frames tend to look good on this face shape compared to any other, as long as the frame size is proportionate to the face.

Oblong Faces:
These long, narrow faces are similar to square faces in which the chin and cheek are nearly the same width. However, oblong faces have a far greater length compared to their width. Frames that cover a significant portion of the center of the face help minimize the length.

Round Faces:
To downplay the roundness, frames with straight or angular lines work well. Additionally, deep colors like black or tortoise can minimize fullness.

Square Faces:
Frames that are slightly curved complement square faces. The top of the frames should sit high enough on the face to minimize the prominence of the jawline.

Triangular Faces:
This face shape is characterized by a broad forehead and narrow mouth and chin. Thin-rimmed frames with vertical lines can help balance the bottom part of the face. Avoid frames that sit too high, large frames, heavy nose bridges, bold colors, and square shapes.

However, it’s crucial to note that there are always exceptions to these rules! If you have prior experience with glasses and know which shapes suit you best, I encourage you to trust your instincts. You can choose a pair of glasses similar to the ones you currently have. Alternatively, if you’re searching for a new look, consider opting for a rimless or semi-rimless frame with the same lens shape as your current glasses, or vice versa.

YOUR PRESCRIPTION AND AVOIDING COMMON MISTAKES:
Your prescription may initially seem confusing, but it’s actually simple to understand once broken down. Every prescription follows a universal format with a few variations and abbreviations, which I will explain shortly.

Let’s start by describing the elements of a prescription. Each prescription includes values for correcting vision in both the left and right eyes within the following boxes:

– “SPH” (sphere): Corrects for long or short-sightedness.
– “CYL” (cylindrical): Corrects for astigmatism.
– “AXIS”: Specifies the axis at which the astigmatism correction should be set.
– In some cases, an “Add” or “Addition” value is included, always with a “+” sign, if you require glasses for both distance and reading.
– Occasionally, Prism and Base are used to correct double vision, although this is less common.

On our website and most others, you can select your prescription from drop-down boxes to copy the details from your written prescription.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be cautious and avoid the most common mistake when entering prescriptions online. Many individuals accidentally select a “+” value instead of a “-” value or vice versa. It’s crucial to double-check that you’ve correctly inputted these values. Your prescription might consist of both “+” AND “-” values. For example:

– “SPH (Spherical)”: The power will be either a “+” or “-” value (unless it’s 0.00), typically in 0.25 steps. For instance, -0.25, -0.50, -0.75, -1.00, -1.25, and so on.
– “CYL (cylindrical)”: The power will be a “+” or “-” value in 0.25 steps. For example, -0.25, -0.50, -0.75, -1.00, -1.25, and so on.
– The “Axis” value will be a numerical value ranging from 0 to 180, but it’s only included when you have a CYL value.
– Note: Opticians typically write the “+” and “-” signs above the value.

COMMON ABBREVIATIONS:
– “Plano,” “0.00,” and “Infinity” all mean the same thing: no correction is needed.
– “DS” (Dioptre Spheres) usually appears under the CYL box, indicating the absence of astigmatism (no CYL value). However, in certain cases, it may appear after a reading addition.
– “OD” refers to your right eye.
– “OS” refers to your left eye.
– “PD” (Pupillary Distance) is the distance, measured in millimeters, between the centers of one pupil to the centers of the other. Let me take a moment to discuss PD measurements, as it has sparked considerable debate when it comes to purchasing glasses online.

Opticians generally refrain from providing the PD measurement, assuming that you intend to purchase glasses online and not from them. In most cases, except for individuals with particularly high prescriptions, we can calculate the PD within a millimeter using experience and specific order criteria such as your gender and the chosen frame size, among other factors.

However, measuring your PD on your own is relatively simple. It’s best to have a friend assist you. Look at a point in the distance while your friend measures the distance in millimeters. To achieve the utmost accuracy, measure from the left side of the left pupil to the left side of the right pupil.

For prescriptions from outside the UK, the format may appear as follows: +1.25 (-1.00) x 180°. Although it appears different, it’s essentially the same. The first value represents the SPH, the second value in brackets represents the CYL, and the “x180°” indicates the Axis, in this case, 180.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST LENS:
Lenses come in numerous options, and initially, it can feel overwhelming. However, I’m here to explain everything in detail so that you can understand and choose the best lens option for your needs.

Firstly, lenses can be made from two materials: organic (plastic) or mineral (glass). The vast majority of lenses available today are of the plastic variety, as they are significantly lighter than glass. In rare cases where extremely thin lenses are necessary for high prescriptions, glass can be a preferable option.

Each lens also has a “refractive index,” which determines the thickness of the lens. For now, it’s not necessary to understand the technical details of how the refractive index is calculated. What matters is what it means for the lens’s thickness.

Generally speaking, the higher the refractive index number, the thinner the lens will be. This is because materials that bend light more than others have a higher refractive index, resulting in shorter or longer focal lengths. Consequently, the same correction and focal length can be achieved using less lens material, making the lens thinner.

Here’s a helpful key to choosing the right lens:

Standard Plastic CR39 (1.5): We use 1.56 for all standard lenses, as it’s ideal for most prescriptions. Powers stronger than +3.00 and -3.00 might start to appear thick, while powers between the two should look fine.

Plastic (1.6): This option works well for prescriptions ranging from +5.00 to -5.00. 1.6 lenses are 23% thinner than standard plastic lenses. Prescriptions outside this range may start to appear thick.

Plastic (1.67): Most popular among our customers, 1.67 lenses offer an excellent balance between thickness and affordability. They are suitable for a wide range of prescriptions, providing better aesthetics and comfort compared to lower-index lenses.

Note: It’s important to consult with an eye care professional to determine the best lens option for your individual needs, as high prescriptions may require even higher-index lenses.

In conclusion, selecting the right frame and lens for your prescription glasses can often be a daunting task. However, with this guide and the low online prices available, you’ll be able to make informed decisions that will save you both valuable time and money.
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Ihab Salloum