Tressia LindsayMany people put off getting a new pair of prescription glasses. They avoid it either because they don’t think they can afford it, or because they think the whole experience will be too much bother. Well, it doesn’t have to be, and the experts at Red Hot Sunglasses have helped me put together this guide as they have a comprehensive prescription glasses section and have many years’ experience working in the eyewear industry. Some of the tips below may help you save time and money on your next pair of prescription glasses.
There’s Almost Always a Way to Get a Free Eye Test
One thing many of us resent is having to pay for an eye test every few years. In fact, the official advice on eye tests is that you should try to have one every two years. This is not only to make sure your corrective lenses are made to fit you needs – it is also to help spot the early signs of optical health issues, such as glaucoma. However, getting regular eye tests can prove expensive, so it’s always advisable to look for an opportunity to receive a free eye test.
If you live in Scotland, you can get your eyes tested for free through the NHS once every two years – this service is available to everyone in Scotland, regardless of age or situation. In the rest of the UK, however, the NHS will only offer you a free eye test if you meet one or more of the following conditions:
- If you are over 60 year’s old
- If you are under 16 years’ old
- If you are under 19 year’s old and are in full-time education
- If you have diabetes or glaucoma (or if you or any member of your close family has been advised by a doctor that they are at risk of glaucoma)
- If you’re partially sighted or severely sight impaired
- If you’re a prisoner on leave from prison
There are several other criteria; you can see the entire comprehensive list of criteria on the NHS website.
However, if you do not fit any of these criteria and do not fancy moving to Scotland anytime soon, then you can still receive a free eye test from one of the many high-street optometrists when they are running a special offer. Many of the shops offer a free eye test and discounted glasses at different times of the year – usually when store footfall is low. However, in most cases you are not obliged to purchase a pair of glasses after you’ve had your eye test and the optometrist is required by law to give your prescription even if you do not purchase a pair of glasses from them. So you can always politely tell them that you need a while to make up your mind and leave with your prescription…
Purchase Your Prescription Sunglasses Online
Perhaps you’ve always done it the old-school way and bought your prescription glasses in store. There’s nothing wrong with this method, but you should definitely look to buy your next pair of prescription glasses online, as online shops offer far lower prices on both budget and designer prescription glasses.
Online stores can offer these lower prices because their overheads are lower, as they don’t have to pay a premium for high street shop space and customer service staff. Online stores such as Red Hot Sunglasses also buy their various glasses in bulk from the manufacturers and fashion designers. This allows them to save a lot of money and charge less for their glasses and sunglasses.
Know What Size and Shape of Glasses You Need
One of the downfalls of ordering glasses online is that you can’t try them on before you buy them. This means that you need to give a lot more thought to the size and shape of your glasses before you make your order. If you’re unsure how wide your glasses should be, look at the inside of the arms on either your old pair of glasses or a pair that fits you in a shop or you can Order glasses online if you already know the specifications of them. You’ll find two double-digit numbers. The first is the width of the lenses and the second is the width of the bridge across your nose. If you know these measurements, then you can look out for glasses online that you know will fit you.
It’s also a great idea to give a little thought to your face shape before making a purchase online. You probably already have a good idea of which style you prefer, but a different style might suit you better. The theory behind glasses and face shapes can get quite complex when you read a lot into it, and it’s something that ought to get an entire article dedicated to it in its own right. So, for this article, the best overall tip to adhere to is this: balance out your features with glasses that are a different shape to your face. This means that people with round faces ought to wear square or rectangular sunglasses, and that people with square, oblong, or angular faces should wear round glasses – or at least glasses with soft, rounded edges to them.
Wait For Big Online Sales
The last piece of advice is for any patient readers or for readers whose prescription change isn’t so big that they can’t wait another month or two for a big sale. Online glasses stores often run huge sales at different times of the year, as well as special deals where customers can get free single vision lenses. With discounts up to as much as 70% (in Red Hot Sunglasses case), on occasion, sales on online glasses and sunglasses stores are far bigger than in high-street stores, so they are definitely worth waiting for if you have the patience and don’t need new glasses straight away.
And that’s all of the advice I have for you in this guide. Getting new prescription glasses needn’t be a big palaver, and if you follow the advice given in this article you can save a lot of money on your next pair!