Why You Should Say “No!” to Buying Eyewear Online:

Everything is online nowadays which may seem extremely convenient; however, this often is not beneficial or worth the hassle of scrolling! This especially applies to your eyewear!
 

I, too, love my fair share of online shopping whether this comes in the form of toys for my kids or essential clothing. Clicking the button “Order Now” typically calms my anxieties of getting something done quickly and easily. However, I, like many others, have fallen into the traps of ease and am often given lackluster quality in return for my hard-earned-money: itchy sweaters, cramped footwear, see-through fabrics, and smaller-than-advertised trinkets. Believe it or not: the same can be said for eyewear!

So, why should you avoid buying glasses online?

Oddly enough, glasses usually fall into similar pitfalls as the common retail items available online: you do not get to try items on. This results in issue number one: they may not fit or suit you correctly. Squeezing on a pair of jeans may be possible, but trying to shove on ill-fitting glasses is not! Although some companies may allow you to send back the ill-fitting glasses for a different size, there is no guarantee of a proper fit without an optician to ensure comfortability. Everyone's face is different! Therefore, glasses should be adjusted depending on your nose bridge, temples, and ears. However, this is impossible online. Similarly, there is issue number two: not all lenses fit with every vision type. Like botched clothing that may restrict proper movement, the incorrect types of lenses may impair your vision; lenses, like clothes, are not one-prescription-fits-all. If your lenses do not match your prescription there are risks of blurry vision, headaches, and fatigue. Alternatively, not all glasses suit every lifestyle. Online, these nuances conveniently disappear… Even though they still exist. Opticians and optometrists alike can recommend different lenses and materials depending on lifestyle and vision type.

While ordering sweaters or classic tank-tops online may result in cheap materials, the same can be said for your glasses. Like many online clothing companies, eyewear ordered online may arrive at your doorstep with defects due to mass production with cheap materials. The prices listed online (along with the ease that comes with online shopping) reflect deeply on the quality you are given. However, unlike defective clothing, defective glasses may impair your vision. This is not only problematic for your eye health and overall safety but can distort your lenses. Additionally, due to the mass production of eyewear online, the glasses are likely made incorrectly. If I had a penny for every time someone comes into my office having bought glasses online and found out they were made incorrectly, I would, unfortunately, be rich! The online market does not have to conform to the same standards that our optical labs are required to meet (these standards are set by the ANSI, the American National Standards Institute). Therefore, this causes a gap in quality between our glasses and the ones available online. What is the cherry on top, you ask? The lenses available online might not even match your prescription, which risks changing users' vision over time! By ordering through your eyecare professionals, there is not only a guarantee of quality care and correctly diagnosed prescription but also guarantee of truly getting what you are paying for. There are better lens technologies used on these glasses, as compared to the cheap, fast-fashion eyewear online.

Damaging your glasses, accidental or not, can also change your vision. Here, our manufacturers have standards that keep them confident in their product and guarantee our patients will be given the perfect pair of glasses. There is often a warranty attached to the eyewear which can ease the burden of worrying about damage to the glasses. We offer some of the best warranties in St. Louis by partnering with independent name-brands that support our passion for exceptional patient care. However, online, this may not be possible and could result in further issues.

Most importantly, buying eyewear online is extremely impersonal. Like an A.I robot taking your order at a local Wendy’s drive-thru, there is a lack of amiability that is necessary for proper communication. Online, and even at the larger eye care facilities, patients are nothing but another number on their data sheets. Therefore, there is a lack of personal connection that is necessary in good healthcare. At Eye See Vision Center, a family-based, eyecare practice, we can especially personalize everyone’s experience and eyewear to best suit them and their lifestyle. Here, you are family, and we make sure you are taken care of in the same way we care for our own families. By shopping with us, you are not only supporting a small, locally owned business, but you are giving us the opportunity to treat you with the specialized care that you deserve!

Shopping for your eyewear online not only risks inferior quality (not only in material, but in sizing as well!), damage to your vision, and a lacking experience, which could all be avoided in person. Such issues are things that should be avoided to keep your eyes pampered and healthy and looking the best! We at Eye See Vision Center look forward to showing you the difference. Call to schedule your appointment today!