LET'S BE FRANK ABOUT ONLINE ORDERING
LET'S BE FRANK ABOUT ONLINE ORDERING
So you thought about ordering online. It’s sure seems cheaper... and that’s what it is, cheaper. How is it cheaper, not less expensive, but cheaper?
That’s simple. The services are reduced. In reality, they're close to non-extant.
That’s simple. The services are reduced. In reality, they're close to non-extant.
With us you pay for the service, not the materials so much. As an example, we charge $70.00 for single-vision plastic lenses. The laboratory cost for those lenses when they buy in bulk is $1.00. It is the services the lab and our office do to those $1.00 lenses that you pay. Thus, when the online company provides reduced services they can and do mark their prices down.
We provide 22 services for every pair of glasses. See below for each of those services. The online company only supplies one, and that may not done very well.
We provide 22 services for every pair of glasses. See below for each of those services. The online company only supplies one, and that may not done very well.
Wonder if I send the name and measurements of my current frame into the lab?
Most on-line labs use their own frames (they can’t afford to offer quality frames at their prices). Even if you use the measurements of your frame, the same measurements in another frame do not mean that frame will match your face.
Most on-line labs use their own frames (they can’t afford to offer quality frames at their prices). Even if you use the measurements of your frame, the same measurements in another frame do not mean that frame will match your face.
But wonder if I send your prescription with the measurement between my eyes to the on-line company?
Yes, you could, and is required by law (often ignored by online companies). That only covers the first three of 22 points. That’s hardly any service at all. The online company has to make the prescription correctly which is doubtful. Recently we provided a patient with the measurements, and they made the glasses wrong causing double vision.
Yes, you could, and is required by law (often ignored by online companies). That only covers the first three of 22 points. That’s hardly any service at all. The online company has to make the prescription correctly which is doubtful. Recently we provided a patient with the measurements, and they made the glasses wrong causing double vision.
Couldn’t you verify the glasses and customize them to my face?
Yes, you would pay a modest for the service that would last the life of your prescription. Yet:
1. We could not be sure we could bend the frame.
2. We could not be sure the frame would hold it’s adjustment.
3. The frame could break with an appropriate adjustment.
4. The frame may not even correctly fit your face.
5. The above four assume the prescription was made correctly-maybe not.
If the online company made my glasses wrong, couldn’t I tell the difference?
No, you may not be able to tell, especially of the small discrepancies that cause your vision to change and worsen. The big difference you would obviously note and not even attempt to wear the glasses. Besides, very few people bring in online glasses for verification. Many that were brought in were wrong.
Yes, you would pay a modest for the service that would last the life of your prescription. Yet:
1. We could not be sure we could bend the frame.
2. We could not be sure the frame would hold it’s adjustment.
3. The frame could break with an appropriate adjustment.
4. The frame may not even correctly fit your face.
5. The above four assume the prescription was made correctly-maybe not.
If the online company made my glasses wrong, couldn’t I tell the difference?
No, you may not be able to tell, especially of the small discrepancies that cause your vision to change and worsen. The big difference you would obviously note and not even attempt to wear the glasses. Besides, very few people bring in online glasses for verification. Many that were brought in were wrong.
Now that you're aware of the pitfalls of ordering cheap glasses, what should you expect? Below is our view:
The 22 points provided for every pair of glasses in our office:
1. A comprehensive vision exam to leave no stone un-turned.
2. The knowledge and expertise of the doctor to come up with the correct prescription for you.
Dr. Henshaw does not just rely on what’s just left in an automatic refractor or in the phoropter (Vision tester) to determine your prescription. This includes your history, other vision conditions, and occupational and recreational needs.
3. The physical measurement of the distance between your eyes, especially if you
select an invisible bifocal (progressive). It is called the "PD" (pupillary distance).
4. The type of lens best for your needs
especially computer use
sports
industrial
drafting
night watchman (anti-reflection that fogs when going from a hot to cold environment may not be a good idea)
dry cleaner worker
5. The height of the top of your bifocal whether visible or invisible
6. The material of the lenses
plastic
glass
polycarbonate
trivex
high index
specialty lenses like double bifocals
7. The safety of the lens worn less than an inch before your eyes
8. The guarantee of the lenses
9. The add-ons to your glasses:
tints,
Anti-reflection coating (ARC). The VSP plan has over 12 different types of ARC.
edging,
base curve
10. Your facial features that may require certain frames.
High cheekbones
flat nose
narrow nose
large nose
bent nose
large head
small head
round head
11. Styling of your glasses
12. Selecting the sizes of your glasses before ordering:
a, eye size
b. eye shape
c. temple length
d, bridge style
e, nose piece type
g. strength of the frame (we have sent some weak frames back to our vendors)
3. The physical measurement of the distance between your eyes, especially if you
select an invisible bifocal (progressive). It is called the "PD" (pupillary distance).
4. The type of lens best for your needs
especially computer use
sports
industrial
drafting
night watchman (anti-reflection that fogs when going from a hot to cold environment may not be a good idea)
dry cleaner worker
5. The height of the top of your bifocal whether visible or invisible
6. The material of the lenses
plastic
glass
polycarbonate
trivex
high index
specialty lenses like double bifocals
7. The safety of the lens worn less than an inch before your eyes
8. The guarantee of the lenses
9. The add-ons to your glasses:
tints,
Anti-reflection coating (ARC). The VSP plan has over 12 different types of ARC.
edging,
base curve
10. Your facial features that may require certain frames.
High cheekbones
flat nose
narrow nose
large nose
bent nose
large head
small head
round head
11. Styling of your glasses
12. Selecting the sizes of your glasses before ordering:
a, eye size
b. eye shape
c. temple length
d, bridge style
e, nose piece type
g. strength of the frame (we have sent some weak frames back to our vendors)
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h. Adjustability of the frame. It needs to be flexible to bend but not too loose so as not to hold its shape. We have sent some nonadjustable frames back to our vendors
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13. Correctness of the written prescription by the time it gets to a lab (Our lab is set to screen for unusual trends in the Rx to guard for error, and does not rely on the quality (or lack thereof) of a fax.
14. The quality of the equipment at the laboratory and of the lenses supplied by the lab. Our lab is over a 10 million dollar facility. 15. The training and expertise of the technicians (or lack of) at the laboratory 16. The adherence to standards of manufacturing the glasses at the lab |
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17. The verification by the laboratory before sending the glasses out (our lab has over a 97% correct rate).
18. It is not turn around time but quality. Just because it is delivered quickly doesn’t mean it is right. Although our lab delivers in a week in an emergency we can rush in 3 days. However, we always recommend multi pairs so there is never an urgency.
19. Once the lab makes the glasses we verify them to be sure they are made correctly before we deliver them to you.
20. We then customize the glasses to your face for ideal optical use and comfort.
Glasses touch at only three points:
1. on the nose (technically 2 points - counting each side)
2. in the mastoid hollow behind the right ear
3. in the mastoid hollow behind the left ear
18. It is not turn around time but quality. Just because it is delivered quickly doesn’t mean it is right. Although our lab delivers in a week in an emergency we can rush in 3 days. However, we always recommend multi pairs so there is never an urgency.
19. Once the lab makes the glasses we verify them to be sure they are made correctly before we deliver them to you.
20. We then customize the glasses to your face for ideal optical use and comfort.
Glasses touch at only three points:
1. on the nose (technically 2 points - counting each side)
2. in the mastoid hollow behind the right ear
3. in the mastoid hollow behind the left ear
The temples do not touch the ears. That hurts.
The temples do not touch the side of the head. That makes them slide down your nose.
The glasses need a pantoscopic tilt (tipped so the bottom of the lens is closer to your face than the top) or your field of view is narrower and you can have distortion. The front of the frame needs to be level on your face. This is especially important in a bifocal.
21. During use your glasses are often bumped and we realign them.
22. You have a personal relationship with us whether things go well or there is a problem. You are heard. Online can’t offer that.
Note: Not all insurance plans cover every step listed above. As one example Medi-Cal does not cover the custom dispensing mentioned above. As another, some plans only cover limited frames and/or restrict fabrication to their laboratory. You may pay for additional services above the plans including Medi-Cal.
22. You have a personal relationship with us whether things go well or there is a problem. You are heard. Online can’t offer that.
Note: Not all insurance plans cover every step listed above. As one example Medi-Cal does not cover the custom dispensing mentioned above. As another, some plans only cover limited frames and/or restrict fabrication to their laboratory. You may pay for additional services above the plans including Medi-Cal.