High index lenses 1.74 -- online or local?

Question

I am trying to get a pair of high index lens for my strong prescription (-8.00 , -9.00). I have options to go online or get it locally. The price of online is like $100+ cheaper than the local stores. My eye doctor doesn't recommend online because of the risk of low quality. Another reason is that my RX is a complicated one with astigmia. He advised me to sit physically with an optician to fit. The problem is the price is beyond my budget. Any idea about how high risk it is to get RX eyeglasses online, especially with a complicated RX? If I find some online sellers with great reviews and provide all the accurate measures they need, will I get a great glasses? Thank you guys!

Answer 1

With a higher RX you should have someone with your to fit them. Online they only need your RX and your PD.  With an optician they SHOULD take an OC height...Which is where your pupil lies in the frame it's self, and also vertex distance should be taken in to consideration. These can only be taken with the frame on and a person sitting with you to take the measurement. Another thing si that if you have issues, you can go in and have the frame adjusted and worked on by the person who helped you with it. Online places just can not do that for you. I never recommend it for a perscription like yours at all. If you rely on your glasses and contacts as much as I do, you really should take the time and money to invest in things to be done the right way. Plus, your warranties are usually better at a private practice as well, and not that great online. To put it mildly, you are getting what you pay for. I would hate to see you buy them online and then have to turn around a buy some again at the optician close to you just becuase the online place could not get things right. I never ever would do this nor would I tell anyone to. I know that people that read this are going to say that I am an optician so I do not want anyone to buy online. For the record, I get paid the same no matter what I sell, or how much I sell. So, the thing here is that I do see and fix issues from online ordering, or orders from "cheapie" places. I help fix the problems for free, and I was never even paid for the original purchase becuase they were bought from a cheaper place. So, I guess what I am saying is that I see patients buy things from places that are cheaper, I end up doing the trouble shooting, and then they end up buying what they should have gotten form me in the first place. Online eyewear ordering is just not that great of an idea. You really should be treating your eyes, and not your wallet on this one. Good luck!

Answer 2

Just one more point to add to what Spectacle said...

With a prescription that high, your frame choice becomes very important to keep the thickness to a minimum, and only someone with training and experience will know what will be suitable choices for you.

If the frame choice is wrong, then it defeats the purpose of getting a 1.74 lens.

The online site won't tell you that your choice isn't a good one.