Eyewear Purchase Online

[Paul Farkas]

Consumers have purchased contact lenses on line for several years. The motivation, to bypass the eye care professional has been convenience and economy. Some cynics would add, eliminating the need for an annual contact lens eye exam.

With the public acceptance of on line contact lens purchase, frame and lens companies have teamed up to offer online eyeglass purchase. Is the perception of convenience and economy that may be true for contact lens purchase also valid for eyeglass purchase on line?

After completing a vision exam the optometrist (OD) or ophthalmologist (MD) is required to give the patient a written prescription. The patient then has a choice:

1. Fill the prescription in the eye doctor's on site optical

2. Take the prescription to an optical dispensary that sells eye wear

3. Order the eye glass prescription on line

Each has advantages and disadvantages. Proponents and opponents of each choice will discuss.

The hope is that those reading this topic on line will have enough information to make the choice best for their needs.

[Michael Hobuss]

I certainly see similarities between the question of optician/optometry and optometry/ophthalmology.

[Paul Farkas]

[B

2. Take the prescription to an optical dispensary that sells eye wear.

Advantages - Most optical dispensaries (optician owned) specialize in difficult to fit and challenging fits. They have working relationships with refereing doctors so if the doctor is a refereing doctor a relationship exists to get good care with open dilogue between the two professionals. Most opticians offices have a vast knowledge of various vendors products due to wide assortment of preferences amoung ODs in their vendors of choice so they will have access to lenses you have worn in the past as well as newer products.

Disadvantages - Limited in insurances that they take often times optician owned practices won't take insurance benefits or take it at reduced level. Also many practices refer to optician owned practices as competition so the relationship between the prescriber and optician can lead to unnecessary delays or errors.

I agree that privately owned licensed opticians perform a fine service when teamed up with ophthalmologists or optometrists who do not dispense eye wear in their practice. The advantages and disadvantages are well reported.

For consumers reading these discussions there are optical dispensaries that are corporately owned who attract consumers with attractive advertisements and special offers. Beware there are no free lunches.

Many employ under skilled staff. They are instructed to "upsell". They move patients from the advertised special to more expensive profitable options.

Without doctor supervision and undertrained unlicensed ophthalmic dispensers what should be a straight forward procedure leads to dissatisfaction. Buyer beware!

[Paul Farkas]

The perception of economy ordering eyewear on line although enticing, may be deceiving once a patient receives the product. An exact measurement of frame size is essential to be certain the eye glass prescription is performing as required.

Who will adjust the eye glass for comfort? Should the prescribing doctor have to take the responsibility of the being certain the on line order is filled properly?

There are many unanswered questions. Consumers should have all the answers before they order eye wear on line.

[Mark Horwitz]

who adjusts the glasses? Good question. should we offer that, for a fee of course. Or should we tell our pxs who order online that we won't adjust them or deal with them?

[Stephen McDaniel]

who adjusts the glasses? Good question. should we offer that, for a fee of course. Or should we tell our pxs who order online that we won't adjust them or deal with them?

Why in the whole wide, wide world of sports would you adjust/repair/frame style glasses bought on the internet? Not enough money to be made to make it worth while. Not by a long shot.

Easy response, said with a straight face with absolutely no hint of sarcasm. "The services you are requesting are the responsibility of the the dispensing optician/optical. Oh....you bought them on the internet......hmmmmmm.....Will they walk you through the steps over the phone? No? Wow...ummmm.....I'm very sorry but we only provide those services for people who buy our frames due to liability concerns"