Avoid These 5 Mistakes When Buying Prescription Glasses Online
Sep 02, 2025
Buying prescription glasses online is convenient, affordable, and offers countless style choices. But skipping important steps can make you feel bad, make your vision worse, and waste money. Knowing the most common mistakes can help you avoid wasting time, money, and energy. Let's talk about the things you should avoid to make your online glasses shopping go smoothly!
Mistake 1: Not Double-Checking Your Prescription
When you buy glasses online, it's very important to get your prescription right. A small mistake can make you feel bad or make your vision blurry. This is how to avoid making this mistake.
Understanding Your Prescription Details
Know What Each Number Means: Familiarize yourself with SPH (sphere), CYL (cylinder), and Axis values to ensure your lenses match your vision needs.
Avoiding Expired Prescriptions: Using an old prescription can make you feel bad and make it hard to see clearly, so always make sure your prescription is up to date.
Cross-Checking with Your Eye Doctor
Verify Before Purchase: To avoid mistakes, make sure your optometrist confirms your prescription before you enter it online.
Ask About Special Requirements: Be sure to include prism correction or coatings like anti-glare in your order if you need them.
Correctly Inputting Data on the Website
Be Cautious with PD (Pupillary Distance): An incorrect PD can misalign lenses, causing eye strain.
Check for Left/Right Accuracy: Mixing up OD (right eye) and OS (left eye) is a common error—double-check to avoid it.
Upload Your Prescription for Expert Assistance: At GlassesShop, all you have to do is upload a picture of your prescription, and our optometrists will enter the information for you. This is a fast, accurate, and unique service that not many other sites offer.
Mistake 2: Ignoring Frame Size and Virtual Try-On
Choosing the right frame size is important for comfort and style, but it can be hard to remember when shopping online. Don't make this mistake. Instead, pay attention to measurements and use smart tools to find the right fit for you.
Understanding Frame Measurements
Width, Bridge, and Temple Length Matter: These measurements determine how well glasses fit and feel on your face.
Don’t Just Rely on Photos: Even if they look the same online, frame sizes are different for each brand, so always double-check the specs.
Using Virtual Try-On Tools
3D Try-On for Better Accuracy: With the 3D fitting tools from GlassesShop, you can see how frames will look on your face before you buy them.
Match Frame Style to Your Face Shape: Choosing frames that fit your face shape makes you look better and gives you more confidence.
Offering Home Try-On Service
With GlassesShop's Free Home Try-On service, you can try on frames at home for free. This takes the guesswork out of finding glasses you love without any trouble.
Comparing with Your Current Glasses
Use Existing Frame as a Reference: To make sure they fit, measure your current glasses and compare them to the specs you find online.
Avoid Frames That Are Too Tight or Too Loose: Make sure the frames fit right by checking the measurements. If they don't, they could pinch or slip and hurt.
Mistake 3: Choosing the Wrong Lens Type
If you choose the wrong type of lens, you may feel uncomfortable or not be able to see well. When you shop online, here's how to choose the right lenses for your needs and way of life.
Understanding Different Lens Materials
Plastic vs. Polycarbonate vs. High-Index: Each material has its own advantages: plastic is cheap, polycarbonate is strong against impact, and high-index is thinner and lighter.
Consider Your Lifestyle Needs: Some active users might choose polycarbonate for its durability, while others might choose high-index for its sleek look.
Knowing the Lens Features You Need
Blue Light Blocking for Screen Use: These lenses block blue light from devices, which makes it easier on the eyes when you spend a lot of time on your computer or phone.
Photochromic Lenses for Outdoor Use: These change color in response to sunlight, making them darker outside and clearer inside, so you can be comfortable no matter what the light is like.
Matching Lens Type to Your Prescription
Higher Prescriptions May Need High-Index Lenses: These make the lenses thinner and lighter, which is great for stronger prescriptions.
Multifocal or Progressive Lenses for Multiple Vision Ranges: Great for people over 40 who need both near and far vision correction in one lens, so they don't need to buy more than one pair.
Mistake 4: Overlooking Return, Exchange, and Warranty Policies
If you don't pay attention to return and warranty policies, you could end up with glasses that don't work for you. Here's how to avoid this mistake and feel good about shopping online.
Checking Return Period
Know the Timeframe for Returns: Some stores only let you return items within 14 days, but others, like GlassesShop, let you return them for 30 days or more. To avoid missing the window, check the policy.
Understand Restocking Fees: Some stores charge fees for returns or exchanges, so read the terms carefully to avoid extra costs.
Warranty Coverage Details
At GlassesShop, our 30-day warranty covers problems with the frames and lenses that are caused by the way they were made, like scratches or coating issues. This means that we can fix problems quickly. This makes you feel better about shopping online.
Ease of the Return Process
Free Return Shipping: If the glasses don't fit or meet your expectations, look for stores that offer free return shipping to save money.
Clear Instructions and Customer Support: Exchanges and returns are easy when the support team is quick to respond and the return instructions are clear, like at GlassesShop.
Mistake 5: Not Using Discounts or Insurance
When you buy glasses online, not using discounts or insurance can cost you more. Here's how to shop wisely and make your money go further.
Applying Promo Codes
Check the Website’s Promotions Page: To help you save money, retailers like GlassesShop often have seasonal discounts or bundle deals on their promotions page.
Sign Up for Newsletters: If you sign up for GlassesShop's newsletter, you'll get exclusive discount codes that give you access to deals that aren't available anywhere else.
Using Vision Insurance Benefits
Check if the Store Accepts Your Insurance: Some online stores, like GlassesShop, work directly with big companies like VSP or EyeMed to make sure you have full coverage.
Submit for Reimbursement: You can still get the most out of your benefits by paying up front and sending in a receipt for reimbursement, even if your insurance isn't directly accepted.
Combining Discounts Wisely
Stack Coupons with Free Shipping: Use promo codes with free shipping deals to get the best deal on your purchase and save the most money.
Watch for First-Time Buyer Offers: GlassesShop's first-time buyer perks, such as free frame trials, make your shopping experience even better.
Conclusion
It's easy to buy prescription glasses online if you avoid some common mistakes. These include checking your prescription again, picking the right frame size, choosing lenses that fit your lifestyle, reading the return and warranty policies, and getting the best deals. If you avoid these mistakes, you'll get glasses that look great, feel good, and meet your vision needs without any trouble. With our 3D Virtual Try-On and Face Shape Detector, you can look through more than 1,800 frames at GlassesShop to find the perfect pair. You can use your vision insurance or FSA/HSA money, and you can also take advantage of our Buy One Get One Free deal, 365-day warranty, and free shipping on orders over $69. Get the perfect pair of glasses for you at GlassesShop today!
