FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT DO I NEED BEFORE ORDERING GLASSES FROM GLASSES123.CO.UK?
All you need is your prescription!! Simple as that, Glasses123 offer an extensive range of budget and the latest designer spectacles at discounted prices.
HOW DO I GET A PRESCRIPTION?
Go to your local opticians and get an eye test. At the end of it, the optician must – by law (UK Opticians Act 1989). – provide you with a clear and legible copy of your prescription, and shouldn't insist that you must buy your glasses from that store. We recommend that you ask for your optician to include your pupillary distance measurement (PD) in your prescription. We have included more information about this measurement in our FAQ's on pupillary distance measurement.
CAN YOU READ MY PRESCRIPTION OFF MY EXISTING GLASSES?
Yes we can - provided they were made using a prescription that was issued within the last 2 years or 1 year if you're over 69. Just send us your glasses with a completed mail order form. We will take your prescription from them and send them straight back to you- this service costs £10.When you send your glasses you must complete the order form to certify that you are in possession of a written prescription from a registered medical practioner or registered optometrist.
HOW CAN YOU CHARGE SUCH LOW PRICES? THERE MUST BE A CATCH?
There's no catch, we promise. We cut out the middlemen, we don't need to pay for fancy high street stores and eye testing equipment. We pass all these savings directly to you, we supply spectacles found on your local high street for a fraction of the cost, you can always compare our prices to D&A, Specsavers and vision express.
DO YOU SELL DESIGNER GLASSES?
We sell the top branded designer frames such as Prada, Christian Dior, Gucci, Armani, fendi and Versace to name but a few, most other online retailers offer lesser known (cheaper) designer brands while we offer you the frames that you are most likely to find in your high end glasses retailer.
DO YOU SELL NON-PRESCRIPTION DESIGNER SUNGLASSES?
Absolutely- we sell famous brands such as Tom Ford, Gucci, Christian Dior, Oakley, D&G, and many many more all at up too half the high street price.
I MADE A MISTAKE WHEN ORDERING MY GLASSES- WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Call us on 0151 494 1121 or send us an email letting us know, don't panic we'll rectify any problems for you.
CAN I EXCHANGE MY GLASSES FOR A HIGHER-PRICED PAIR?
Absolutely. But we'll charge you the difference in cost.
WHAT IF MY FRAMES NEED ADJUSTING AFTER I RECEIVE THEM?
If you have any problems with the fit come back to us. We are a distant retailer and will do our best to alter/adjust any frames that are not fitting correctly.
CAN I USE MY CONTACT LENSES PRESCRIPTION FOR ORDERING FROM YOU?
Sorry I'm afraid not. There are usually minor differences in your spectacle and contact lens prescriptions.
Lenses
WHAT ARE YOUR LENSES MADE OF?
We use standard optical plastic lenses in most of our glasses. We also offer thin, very thin, ultra thin lenses. Thin lenses will reduce thickness by around 14%; very thin by 33%; and ultra thin by as much as 39%. We use poly carbonate lenses in all our rimless glasses to give them extra strength and durability. We will also source any other specific lenses you may require such as glass lenses or branded lenses such as varilux, just give us a call on 0151 494 1121 or send us a email.
DON'T PLASTIC LENSES SCRATCH?
Plastic lenses are softer than traditional glass lenses but are a lot lighter and safer. We offer a scratch resistant coating for added resistance.
DO YOU SELL PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES AND OTHER TINTED LENSES?
Yes we do, we have a variety of different coloured tints. Our prescription sunglasses come with a dark tint as standard, we recommend you add our UV400 coating to these- it works to block out potentially harmful ultraviolet rays. Another very popular option is to get photosensitive sun-reactive 'transition' lenses which are clear in normal lighting conditions, and then turn almost as dark as sunglasses in strong sunlight (the best of both worlds). They also have a 100% UV filter. All these options are on our order form.
DO YOU SELL THE SAME COATINGS AND TINTS I WOULD FIND IN AN HIGH STREET GLASSES RETAILER?
Yes we do, we offer a number of tints from £10 each:
- Sunglasses tints in various colours 'ideal for holidays'
- Anti-reflective coating 'great for driving and using the computer' some retailers can charge anything up £80 for this coating alone.
- UV400 protective coating 'protects your eyes from harmful rays'
- Scratch resistant coating 'helps avoid scratches'
DO YOU SELL BIFOCAL LENSES?
We do, you can buy bifocal glasses from Glasses123. Only order bifocals if they are recommended to you by an optician. We recommend that you ask your optician to make out a prescription for your glasses assuming they are worn 12-13mm from the eye (the BVD or Back Vertex Distance). If you need your glasses adjusted once they arrive most opticians will do minor adjustments for a small fee.
WHAT'S THE SEGMENT SHAPE OF BIFOCAL LENSES?
We use D28 bifocal lenses as standard. These are 28mm wide D-shaped segments positioned vertically 3mm below the centre of the lens, and centred on your papillary distance.
If you'd like them set further up or down (higher or lower), then tell us when ordering.If you would like us to make your bifocals to any specifications you'd prefer simply give us a call or drop us an email and we'll be happy to help.
DO YOU SELL VARIFOCAL LENSES?
Yes, simply select 'Varifocal Lenses' in the 'lens type' section in the order process.
Your Prescription
UNDERSTANDING A NEAR, INTERMEDIATE, DISTANCE, BIFOCAL AND VARIFOCAL PRESCRIPTION
If you need glasses for driving and/or watching TV, choose the 'distance' line.
If you require glasses for using a computer, reading music, or watching TV? Choose 'intermediate.'
If you require glasses for close up work of any kind, choose the 'near' line.
Please ensure you enter all the numbers on your prescription, if you have any questions or worries please contact us and we'll be happy to answer any questions.
WHAT IS MY PUPILLARY DISTANCE (PD), AND HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT MY MEASUREMENT IS?
It's the distance between your pupils.
Lenses need to be made to match the distance between your eyes in order for them to perform as well as they can. So that the centre of each eye aligns with the centre of your pupils. To do this we need your papillary distance measurement, also called a PD measurement.
Many opticians don't include this measurement on their prescriptions because they know you may be buying your glasses from Glasses123.co.uk.
So what can you do about it?
We suggest you just ask your optician directly for your pupillary distance measurement when he/she is doing your eye test. If you would rather not ask 'don't worry' we can still make up your glasses using an average PD measurement (63mm for distance, 60mm for near and 61 for intermediate). This is what the majority of our customers tend to do, they don't harm the eyes but can cause discomfort or strain but this is unusual.
HOW STRONG A PRESCRIPTION CAN YOU CATER FOR?
The maximum prescription we can sell is -/+ 8.00 SPH (sphere) and -/+ 4.00 CYL (cylinder).
CAN YOU RE-GLAZE MY EXISTING FRAME?
Yes, we can.
Payment
We accept all major credit and debit cards