A Warning to our Patients Concerning the Dangers of Online Eyeglass Purchases

Following up on some of our patients' requests, we have been investigating the current technologies that allow a shopper to purchase complete pairs of eyeglasses over the internet. While websites may be able to offer frames and lenses to online customers, the reality of the situation is that eyeglasses have to be accurately adjusted and precisely measured on the patient's face before the order is submitted to the fabricating laboratory to insure that the prescription power, as measured by the doctor during the eye examination, is in the exact place on the lens and that the lens is in the exact place on your face.

What About Online Contact Lens Purchases?

Online contact lenses come in sealed boxes from the manufacturer that are virtually the same regardless of the supplier. Except for one highly publicized case of counterfeit contact lenses packaged in contaminated solution coming into the country because a large internet contact lens marketer purchased the lenses on the grey market from unauthorized distributors in Asia, online contact lens purchases are generally safe and there is little reason to be concerned that the lenses will not perform as expected. Always confirm that the prescription on the box matches the doctor's written prescription and check the expiration dates on the boxes. To protect the public, the FDA has set up strict guidelines concerning the online sale and delivery of contact lenses. There are no such guidelines or protections in place for eyeglasses at the state or federal level. In fact, the largest online eyeglass sites are located outside of the United States.

What Can Go Wrong?

Eyeglasses, on the other hand, have so many variables that it is virtually impossible to be sure that the prescription will work when ordered sight unseen from an unknown website. Even under optimum conditions in a doctor's office, a small percentage of eyeglasses will not perform as prescribed. Imagine the likelihood of eyeglasses not working when the frame is not correctly adjusted to your face and the measurements, usually measured with a device that can be monocularly accurate to 0.5mm (1/64 of an inch), are simply guessed at.

The stronger your prescription, whether you are farsighted, nearsighted, have astigmatism and especially if you need a bifocal, the more likely the eyeglasses will not work as prescribed and your vision will be compromised. Prescriptions for the more complex bifocals and progressive lenses have even more critical tolerances than standard single vision lenses.

What Would I Notice if the Eyeglasses Aren't Working Correctly or if the Prescription is Wrong?

First cover each eye and compare the two images. They should be the same. Next look far away and then up close. Does everything look clear? Some of the lens fabrication and frame misadjustment errors will make you feel a pulling sensation the longer you wear the eyeglasses. After a day of wearing incorrect lenses, it is not unusual to have eyestrain, a little dizziness or a headache, usually located right behind your eyes. Some readers notice that reading makes them very tired and they lose their place often. Some computer users complain that the monitor is not in focus and that the width of the reading area is very narrow. All of these symptoms can be eliminated if the eyeglasses are made correctly, the prescription is verified by the doctor's office and the frame is precisely adjusted to fit your face. Unfortunately, because the tolerances are so critical, if the lenses are fabricated to the wrong measurements, there is no amount of frame adjusting that will fix the problem and alleviate the symptoms.

Probably the best reason to get your eyeglasses from the Palmer Eyecare Center is the peace of mind of knowing that we've been doing this right for over 60 years. Our brand name designer frame lines come with 2-year guarantees which means that if there is a quality problem with a frame, you get a new replacement at no charge for two years from the date you picked them up. No online website offers that protection. As a comparison, Lenscrafters, the largest retailer of eyeglasses in the country, offers no replacement guarantee. They only offer to replace your broken glasses at half price for 12 months. Why do we offer such a terrific guarantee? It's just the way we've been doing things since 1946 when Dr. George Palmer opened his first office.

Our lenses, which are the most critical part of your eyeglasses, are from the top laboratories in the country that also guarantee the precision and optical quality of the lenses. We stand behind our products unequivocally. Ask an internet site if they have a money back guarantee if the glasses don't work correctly. You may be surprised, or shocked, by the answer, if you speak that language.

The Palmer Eyecare Center offers a one-stop, turnkey solution for eyeglasses. Our doctors, our prescriptions, our products, our guarantees; your peace of mind and the knowledge that you will be able to see clearly out of your eyeglasses and the comfort in knowing that we will always be there to help you should you ever need us.