It’s back to school season, which for many people also means it’s time to buy a new pair of glasses! If you are not happy with your current pair or know you need to see your eye doctor, it’s important to have some tips to follow.
Keep reading for 6 tips to make your next glasses buying experience a good one!
1. Before you do anything, make sure your prescription is up to date
No matter where you’re buying your eyeglasses, you need to have an up to date prescription to ensure your best vision and eye health.
If you can’t remember the last time you even saw your eye doctor, it’s been too long, and you should book an appointment with them as soon as possible. Think of your eyes the same way you would your teeth or seeing your primary care physician.
You should see your eye doctor every year. This ensures that your prescription stays up to date, which comes in handy when you’re in the market for a new pair of frames. Your comprehensive eye exam checks more than just your prescription, however.
It ensures your eyes are healthy and that there are no underlying issues you may not have noticed. This is why we recommend that everyone has an annual eye exam, even if you don’t have a refractive error (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism).
Now, once you have an up to date prescription, the fun can begin!
2. Decide what your budget is when it comes to buying new glasses
If you need to purchase new glasses, the smart thing to do is to come up with your budget before you start shopping. It’s easy to get carried away and fall in love with a pair of glasses you can’t afford, so why not avoid it altogether?
If you have a vision plan, check to see if you have frames, lenses, or exams covered as part of your plan. This can make a big difference when it comes to what you can afford!
Once you know what you can buy, you can start looking at frames and glasses in your budget. Don’t forget that Diagnostic Eye Center in Houston has a full-service optical shop.
We carry many independent frame lines, meaning you may find something at our optical shop that you can’t find anywhere else! If you know that your budget is quite low but you still want some stylish frames, there are plenty of options to fit any budget.
3. Find frames that suit your face shape and your personality
When buying new glasses, you’re looking for something that both looks good and suits your personality. The key is finding frames that flatter the shape of your face.
Round face:
If you have a round face, you’ll have a circular face with a rounded forehead. To flatter your rounder face, look for frames that are wider than they are tall.
You may find that a rectangular pair of glasses will look best since they add structure and make your face look longer instead of rounder.
Heart/diamond face:
With this shape, your face will have strong, broad cheekbones and a larger forehead that curves into a narrower chin. Look for glasses that have similar angles to your face.
A pair of glasses with round frames with a wider top than the bottom may be the most flattering.
Square face:
With a square face, your face will be more angular, especially around the face and jaw. Soften your angles with rounder frames and avoid anything that’s square or more angular.
Oval face:
If you have an oval face, you can wear almost any kind of frame with no problem at all. The most flattering might be a pair that are more symmetrical. They will have more structure but be softer and have a rounder bottom to balance them out.
There are other face shapes out there but these are the most common. If you don’t think your face fits into these, your best bet is to go and try glasses on in person. This will give you a better idea of what is and isn’t flattering.
4. Get measured for glasses properly
If you’ve ever gotten glasses before that just didn’t feel quite right, it may have been because the measurements were not taken properly prior to the glasses being made. Other than having a refraction, or prescription for glasses from your eye doctor, there are several measurements that need to be taken to ensure the glasses are made to your unique eyes and how the glasses sit on your face.
One of the more common measurements is the pupillary distance or PD. This refers to the distance between the pupils and varies depending on whether the glasses are intended for distance or more up-close tasks.
There are many other measurements that are important as well, and you cannot measure these yourself. This is why ordering glasses online can result in the glasses feeling like they’re not made quite right, especially if you have a higher prescription or wear progressive lenses.
Diagnostic Eye Center is equipped with the Essilor Visioffice2 System. This is an advanced digital dispensing system that takes patient measurements down to 1/10 of a millimeter.
Besides ensuring your glasses are made perfectly, it can even allow you to see yourself in different frame options to compare which ones you like best! If you’re going to spend the money on a new pair of glasses, you need to make sure they’re measured right the first time and are made to fit your eyes perfectly!
5. Consider whether you want to have a spare pair of glasses
Glasses are great but you never know when you may need a spare pair. For this reason, you may want to consider buying a second pair.
If your budget only allows for one, that’s fine, but having a second pair is always a good idea! You may lose them temporarily, scratch them, sit on them, or forget them at work or home.
Having a second pair in case of an emergency (or something out of the ordinary happens) is just a good idea to follow if you can afford it. If you do decide you want a spare pair, why not make them a more fun pair?
Maybe this pair is a funky color or a different shape than your standard pair that you wear daily. There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun with your glasses!
6. Do you need any special coatings on your glasses?
If you plan on wearing your glasses every day, you may also want to consider adding special coatings to your glasses. This deals more with the lenses rather than the frames, but it’s just as (if not more) important.
Adding a coating can be helpful if you want to reduce glare, reflections, and even protect your eyes while you work on the computer. Talk to your eye doctor or optician about the various options available and to see what may be right for you.
At the very least, anti-glare protection makes sense because you won’t squint in the sun as much. If you spend a lot of time working on the computer, you may want to look into this option as well.
Are you ready to take on the world with a new pair of glasses this fall? Schedule an appointment at Diagnostic Eye Center in Houston, TX now!
Whether you need a new pair of frames or an eye exam, the talented eye doctors at Diagnostic Eye Center are here to help!
