I have a prescription for contact lenses. Can I use it for eyeglasses?
While your contact lens and eyeglasses prescriptions may seem the same, they usually have some differences. We recommend you have an eye exam from your preferred eye-care professional and be sure to get a copy of your eyeglass prescription from your doctor; it is required by the federal law for them to release your prescription to you.
Do you contact my doctor?
We will never contact your doctor without your permission. If we find that there are any concerns with your prescription, we will contact you to confirm.
How do I read my prescription (Rx)?
Your prescription (Rx) provides us with your doctor's finding on the corrections needed for your vision. The numbers on your prescription tell us how strong the glasses need to be.
The top row of numbers (O.D.) is the information for your right eye.
The second row numbers (O.S.) is the information for your left eye.
If you wear any type of multifocals or reading glasses, your doctor will include what’s called your ADD power below or to the far right of your prescription. Both are customary.
Fill in each number as it appears on your written prescription using the dropdown menu on our product page where you enter your prescription.
Prescriptions with only one number, SPH, or Sphere, requires you to only fill in the one value under SPH on our site. The remaining values can be left at the default, or 0, value.
How do I get a copy of my prescription?
You can get a copy of your prescription (Rx) from your doctor or eye care professional. In the USA it is federal law that your prescription must be released to you at the conclusion of an eye examination.
How do I fill in the prescription (Rx) information?
Use the dropdown box options to fill in the prescription provided by your eyecare professional. For example there are three boxes going from right to left, starting your sphere, cylinder, and then axis. In some cases your prescription is sphere only, is this case you only fill in the sphere box and leave the rest at zero.
How do I measure my Pupillary Distance (PD):
If your PD is not written on your prescription you can call your eyecare professional for the information or perform the measurement on your own. If measuring on your own, we recommend that you have another person measure for you for best results. However, you can measure on your own by looking into a mirror using our printable ruler or a ruler of your own that measures in millimeters.
1. Place a millimeter ruler on the bridge of your nose.
2. Measure the distance between the centers of your pupils (the black dots in the middle of your eyes).
It's simple -- measure the distance between your pupils
You can also get this information from your doctor or from a licensed optician; it is federal law that you receive this information after an eye exam.
As a guideline:
- Most adults' PD's are between 55-70mm.
- Most kids' PD's are between 42-54mm.
If you don't have one, you can download a printable ruler by clicking here (PDF).
I had my PD measured for me, but there is more than one number.
If you had your PD measured by an eye care professional, it is possible they gave you more than one number. If they gave you two numbers and they are exactly the same (for example 31.5/31.5), you can simply add them together and use that as the PD number, (31.5 + 31.5 = 63mm).
If the numbers for your PD are different, for example 32mm / 33mm, you can fill in the PD box with both numbers in the 32/33 format.
If you are interested to know why you have more than one number, below is a brief explanation.
- If the two numbers are lower (and different), like 30.5/31.5, then you had someone take your PD one eye at a time (called "monocular PD") which is the distance between one pupil and the center of your nose.
What is a my PD?
Your Pupillary Distance, or PD, is the distance between the centers of your pupils in millimeters (mm).
This measurement is necessary to ensure the correct positioning of optical center of your lenses within the frame you have chosen.
Payment Options
We accept the following payment methods:
MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Paypal and Google checkout
How much is shipping?
Shipping is free anywhere in the continental U.S., orders shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, and other U.S. territories are charged $7.99.
International Orders
PaylessForGlasses.com gladly ships to our customers allover the world. In some circumstances customs fees and/or duties may be due upon delivery but these are out of our control and are the sole responsibility of the buyer.
International Shipping Rates are as follows:
- Canada & South America add $12.99
- All Other International Countries add $14.99
How can I use my insurance to purchase from PaylessForGlasses.com?
Most vision insurance policies will allow you to go out of network to purchase eyeglasses. After you’ve purchased them, they then require you to submit a receipt to them for a full or partial reimbursement.
How long does it take to ship my order?
PaylessForGlasses.com ships all orders within 24 to 48 hours of order placement. In certain circumstances an additional 24-48 hours may be necessary for the custom fitting of lenses to frames. We will always communicate ship times to our customers for each and every order.
What are recommended eyeglass styles for my face shape?
Choosing eyeglass shapes to match your face can be frustrating at times but we can offer help and information to make it a simple decision for you.
When picking eyeglass shapes you first need to account for your own face shape. For example if you have more of a squared face, you want to gravitate towards a rounder shaped frame. If you have more of a round face then you would benefit more from a squared or rectangle shape. And if you have an oval-shaped face (vertically), this face shape is considered to be universal to any glass shape.
What is the difference between bifocal and progressive lenses?
The differences between bifocal and progressive lenses are in their function and physical appearance.
Bifocal lenses are used for distance and reading. Their key characteristics are that they have a half moon shape on the lower half of the lens that you look into for reading.
Progressive lenses allow you to see far, intermediate, and near distances. There are no physical lines on the lenses that separate each area, but instead they blend everything smoothly to look like a single vision lens. Progressive lenses are aesthetically more appealing to most multifocal users.
Do you offer reading glasses?
Yes we do offer reading glasses as well as distance and multifocal glasses.
What is your warranty on eyeglasses and lenses?
If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, our customers have the following options to choose from:
- Return your eyeglasses within thirty days of receipt and we’ll exchange them for a different pair of eyeglasses of equal value at no charge. We only ask you pay the shipping costs.
or
Return your eyeglasses within thirty days of receipt for a 100% refund for frames, and 50% refund for lenses. We only ask that you pay the return shipping costs. Because all lenses are custom made per order they cannot be returned for a full refund.
PaylessForGlasses.com guarantees our lenses ship 100% accurate to your provided prescription. If you have any questions, please call or email us anytime.
What does an Anti-Reflection coating do for me?
Anti-Reflection coatings are recommended for people who have a problem with sensitivity to glare. Glare can come from fluorescent lighting in an office setting or from outdoor lighting while driving at night. The anti-reflection coating helps reduce the glare that appears on the lens in glasses providing more clear vision for you. People commonly find that anti-reflection coatings helps out a great deal while working in front of a computer monitor or while driving at night and reducing the glare from the oncoming head lights.
What are Hi-Index lenses?
High-Index lenses are made with a lighter material that produces a much thinner lens. Hi-Index lenses are recommended for those with stronger prescriptions to reduce the thickness of their lenses and eyeglass weight.
What is CR-39
CR-39 is a standard plastic lens most commonly used in eyeglasses today. Previously most eyeglasses were made with glass lenses; glass lenses are much heavier and, in general, more difficult to fit into modern eyeglass frame styles. With the creation of CR-39 plastic lenses, many varieties of different frame styles have become available due to the light weight and strength of CR-39 lenses.
What is Polycarbonate?
Polycarbonate lenses are thinner and lighter than your traditional CR-39 plastic lenses. They are also 10 times more resistant than a plastic lenses to the elements. Polycarbonate is recommended for use by active people of all ages, and on Rimlon and screw mounted (3 piece) frames because of the durability of Polycarbonate material.
How often should I have an eye exam?
It is recommended that eyeglass wearers have an eye exam annually. Annual eye examinations are important for you not only to update your prescription but also to check for any health issues related to your vision.
How often should I replace my eyeglasses?
Replacing your eyeglasses is important to do when your prescription changes. It is recommended that you have an eye examination annually, if prescriptions change eyeglass replacement is necessary. Continuing to wear worn out or damaged eyeglasses can cause even more damage when fitment is not 100%. Having a spare pair of emergency glasses that you are comfortable wearing is also very important.
What is the recommended way to clean my eyeglasses?
Using the combination of a micro fiber cleaning cloth and lens spray is the best way to clean your eyeglasses. If you do not have either, you may also use household soap and water to your clean eyeglasses and then dab dry with a soft cloth. Wiping lenses dry with anything other than a micro-fiber cleaning cloth can cause minute scratches on your lenses producing lower quality vision.
What do the eyeglass sizes mean? (Bridge, Temple, Width)
There are usually three sets of numbers printed somewhere on your eyeglass frames
These numbers consist of the lens width, distance between the lens, and the length of the temple (arms). Those with wider head sizes will want a larger Bridge and overall Width.
What does OD and OS mean?
OD refers to your right eye.
OS refers to your left eye.
When an eyeglass or contact lens prescription is written OD is most commonly written on top of OS.
Why are Titanium frames beneficial to me?
Titanium is a metal that is lightweight, much more durable than steel, and is corrosion resistant. If you’re looking for that feeling of not having glasses on your face, titanium is the only way to go. They also benefit people who have an allergy to regular metals, and also people who have high acidity in their sweat. |
