Frequently Asked Questions
Pricing
How can you charge such low prices?
Very simply, our frames prices are so incredibly low because we are 100% internet retailers. We have no retail costs to pass on to consumers. As soon as you place your order, we proceed to lens production and glasses assembly immediately, bypassing typical retail costs. This is why most other eyeglasses retailers have to mark up their prices so high.
Another reason why we have such low prices is that we do not carry "designer" frames. Typcially, the frames that are available to most optical stores are patterned after "designer" frames
although they
are not "knock-off" cheap frames like you sometimes see on the internet. Often, it is the other way around and "designers" simply choose already available frames from eyeglasses manufacturers and put their logo on them. Our mission is to provide quality, stylish and durable frames at a price that allows our customers to have many pairs. Put a pair by the bed, another in the car, a tinted pair in the boat, (a cool pair in the fridge? - yeesh! ). Maybe a blue pair to go with that great tie or red to go with that new dress?
Quality
What is the quality like with your eyeglasses
?
Many sites sell cheap eyeglasses that fall apart, but at
GreatEyeglasses.com we carry only top quality frames, with durable hinges and we use the highest quality lenses. We are not selling cheap eyeglasses - We are delivering a great value.
Ordering
How do I place an order?
Click on a the button for a category you would like to browse and have your prescription in front of you for reference. When you see a frame that you like, click the details button to see a close-up of the frame, available colors and also check the measurements against your own glasses to see that they are in the right range. (see "Choosing A Frame" for more information)
Now you are ready to fill in your prescription. After you have entered the info, you can add to the cart and you are ready to keep shopping! Your prescription information will be saved and appear in the boxes below any pair of eyeglasses you choose from there forward.
When you are ready to checkout, your prescription information is also going to be with your selections in the cart for your review. If you wish to change prescriptions on your next selection (perhaps you are buying for a child or as a gift) you simply change the numbers in the prescription box and it will be saved and available as you shop.
How do I obtain my prescription?
Your optician or eye doctor is required by law to provide you with your prescription. Be sure to ask for a clear and legible copy. Also make sure to ask for the PD (Pupillary Distance) as many doctors will not give that to you if you don't ask.
How do I track my order?
You can log in to your account online and you will be able to see the status of your order. You may also contact our Customer Service via email at
service@greateyeglasses.com
or phone at 1-888-870-9193.
Can I use my contact lens prescription for ordering glasses with you?
Prescriptions for contact lenses often vary when compared with prescriptions for glasses. Make sure the prescription you have specifically matches your need for glasses.
What happens if I fill in the form incorrectly?
Payment
Do you accept cash and cheques?
Currently, we don't accept cash, cheques and money orders. We do accept all major credit cards.
What are the available methods of payment?
We use Authorize.net to securely accept Amex, Visa, Discover and MasterCard payments.
Is the Payment page Secure?
SSL encrypts your order information to avoid the decoding of that information by anyone other than GreatEyeglasses.com.
To check the security of your connection, look at the lower left-hand corner of your browser window after accessing the server. If you see an unbroken key or a closed lock (depending on your browser), then SSL is active.
You can also double-click by looking at the URL line of your browser. When accessing a secure server, the first characters of the site address will change from "http" to "https".
Can I get a sales invoice?
Yes, you can request this from our customer service reps and we will be happy to email you a copy of the invoice. This invoice can be used by customers who need it for reimbursement by their insurance companies or work place.
Shipping and Delivery
How long will my eyeglasses take to prepare?
If your prescription information was provided completely, your order will ship in 14-21 days. To check the status of your order, please email orders@greateyeglasses.com with your order number in the subject line.
What are the shipping methods you offer?
Currently, we can process and ship your order to you via Priority Mail. For Priority mail, the tracking number is not provided and you will receive your order within 14 business days. For customers outside US, we highly recommend that you use Federal Express as this will enable you to track the status of your order.
Support
What if I entered some information incorrectly?
Make sure you write down your order number, contact us within the hour of ordering and email us at
service@greateyeglasses.com
or call us at 1-888-870-9193, and make sure we have your correct prescription.
What if my frames need adjustment after I receive them?
We suggest walking into a near by optical center, in most places they will be happy to assist you free of charge.
Returns
What is your returns policy?
Within 10 Days upon receipt, customer should advise our customer service reps by email or phone. In the event that a replacement is requested, we will process a ONE-TIME replacement with corresponding charges. Refunds are subject to a reprocessing fee. For details of the charges and policy, please refer to our Shipping and Returns page
Prescriptions
How do I read my prescription?
On a typical prescription, you will see two sets of rows. Most of the time top portion is for your
OD or right eye while the bottom portion is for your
OS or left eye.
-
For Distance Correction, there should always be a value under
Sphere and most of the time it is negative. Its abbreviation is
'D.V.' which stands for Distance Vision.
-
For Reading-only correction, there should always be a value under
Sphere and most of the time it is positive.
If there is a value under
Near Vision (N.V., N.V.O.) then enter the power in the
BOTTOM half of the form and
leave the ADD power blank or ("0.00").
-
For Astigmatism Correction, please note that that Cylinder (CYL) and Axis are always provided together. For any value of Cylinder there should always be a value for Axis. Some doctors use positive (+) cylinder and some uses negative (-), there is a big difference between the two so please pay close attention to the positive and negative signs. If you don't have astigmatism correction, doctors might just leave it blank or simply SPH or DS which means Sphere or Diopters Sphere. Axis should be from 1-180 degrees, if you see a value like '5' under axis, this is also the same as '005' or '5 degrees'. It should always be a whole number and there should no be decimal point on the axis.
-
For Bifocals and Progressive Lenses, please check with your eye doctor whether the Addition is for Bifocals or Progressive. Most of the time, compared to the Bifocal Addition, the Addition of the Progressive is higher by 0.25, so please verify. An indication to know if your prescription is for Progressive, is a PAL note written on the prescription. Only one ADD, means the addition for the Left and Right eyes are the same. Please be advised that we process a minimum of +1.00 and maximum of +3.00 for Addition powers.
-
Eye Doctors will sometimes leave out the decimal point on the Sphere, Cylinder and Addition. For example, -25 or +175, this is understood -0.25 and +1.75.
-
Very importantly, pay close attention to plus and minus sign as this will greatly affect the lens. If there is anything on the prescription you are not familiar, please call our Customer Service and we will be happy to assist you.
-
NOTE - - When choosing frames for progressive lenses, you must have a lens height of at least 28mm.
What is my Pupillary distance (PD), and how do I obtain it?
PD, or pupillary distance, is the distance from the center of the pupil (the black spot in the eye) of one eye to the other. This measurement refines the positioning of your lenses within the frame you have chosen. It can be provided in minutes by your optician or doctor, and so we recommend that you ask for it when you have your vision checked. Alternatively, you may ask someone to measure it for you but advise them to be at about an arm's length away from you. (approx 2 feet) You can also measure by yourself by facing a mirror. For single vision lenses, you may choose to use an average PD of 63mm, but for Bifocal or Progressive lenses, we still strongly recommend to get this information from your optician. For your information, most adults' PD are between 55-65mm.
Sometimes doctors will provide two different values for PD, below are some scenarios:
a. The values are higher like 65/60, the first PD is usually for Distance PD and the second is for Reading PD
b. The values are lower like 33.5/31.5, the first PD is usually for the Right Eye and the second is for the Left Eye. You can add these two values together as many manufacturers use only one field for PD. We will just divide it on our end.
c. The values are the same like 30.5/30.5. Just like the previous example, you can add these two values together and we will divide it on our end.
Here is a helpful list of definitions to help you read your prescription.
OD (Oculus Dexter) = right eye
OS (Oculus Sinister) = left eye
OU (Oculi Uterque) = both eyes
PL = PLANO; a placeholder for the number zero
SPH = SPHERE power; the (total) power
DS = diopters sphere (you have sphere power only)
CYL = CYLINDER power; the amount of astigmatism correction
X = axis; X 80 or AXIS 080
ADD = the amount of power that gets added to the distance prescription (this creates your reading-only prescription) or for the lower portion of your bifocals/progressives.
NV = near-vision (your prescription is for reading only)
PD = pupillary distance (the measurement in millimeters (mm) between both pupils)
-75 = -0.75
+125 = +1.25
Prism Lenses
Innovative prism glasses can significantly improve the vision and the daily lives of patients with hemianopia, a condition that blinds half the visual field in both eyes resulting from damage to the optic pathways in the brain. Most commonly caused by strokes, it can also be the result of brain damage from tumors or trauma. If you need to get Prism Lenses, please put the information in the Customer Comments Box when you check out. You should have the number for your prism correction (.5, 1, 1.5, etc) and the Base Information (Base In, Base Out, Base Up or Base Down). There is an additional $10 charge, which will be billed separately after we receive your order.
Frames
What types of frames do you sell?
We offer a variety of plastic, metal, memory or flexlite (bendable frames that retain their shape), titanium, designer and sports frames. All of our eyeglasses come complete with complimentary case and cleaning cloth. For a complete list please click on our online catalog.
Do you have a retail store where we can fit your frames?
We currently don't have a retail store. Being a pure internet shop is what allows us to offer our customers such low prices. For fitting, we recommend to look at the interior sidebar of a frame you own to see the dimensions that suit you best. You can compare this with the dimensions on the product info pages. Note: Glass Dimensions are measured in millimeters: Lens width - Nose Bridge - Sidebars x Lens height 50 - 14 - 135 X 24
I don't have a prescription, I would just like the frames. Can I get non-prescription lenses fit into the frames?
Absolutely, on the personalized page, please click on the 'Fashion only' box and we will send you the frames with non prescription lenses.
Do you offer children's frame?
Absolutely!! Our children's frames are for children under 10 and children with small faces. For children in this age group, we still recommend them to have a consultation with an optometrist.
Do you offer prescription sunglasses?
Definitely! We suggest you to select of a frame of your choice and make sure to click on the 'Tint' option on the personalized page. Currently, we offer yellow, purple, red, green and blue colors and light (10%), medium (50%), dark (90%). The 20% is the lightest and 80% is the darkest and most commonly used in sunglasses. With all these choices, you can really have some fun!!
Do you offer the tint that changes color indoors to outdoors and vice versa?
Yes, they are called Photochromic lenses. When you are indoors, the tint will be very light. And when you are outdoors, it will get dark depending on the direct exposure to sunlight. Please be advised that these lenses do not get as dark as a typical sunglasses and they also do not work in automobiles as they respond to Ultraviolet light, which is filtered out by the tint in automobile windows.
Can we have lenses both tinted and photochromic?
No. Lenses are either photochromic, where the degree of the tint changes, or constant tint, depending on what you wish to have. The two features therefore, are incompatible and can not be selected simultaneously.
Are there any limitations for Bifocals or Progressive lens?
Yes there are limitatiions. Not all frames are suitable for Bifocals or Progressive. Bifocal lenses must have a minimum lens height of 27mm and Progressive lenses must have a minimum lens height of 28mm. We want to make it easier for you to identify which frame can or can't be done with Bifocal or Progressive by putting a check or cross mark on the item page. Also, if the curvature of the frame is too much, you will feel as though you are looking through a fun-house mirror. We are happy to make these types of glasses for you, but it may take several tries to get them to work correctly. Even in an opticians office, it can take several attempts before you get the right fit. If this is the first time you are getting Progressive lenses, you may want to go to an optician in your neighborhood. If you are used to wearing Progressives, then it is easier to get used to another pair. If you need more advise, please don't hesitate to contact our Customer Service Department.
How do I choose the best frame for my face?
If you already wear glasses, simply go to our catalog of frames and choose a frame that is similar in size and shape to your present glasses. Your glasses have the size in millimeters on the nose bridge or temples of the frame. You can compare them to the dimensions provided for each one of our frames. If you have not been wearing glasses until now, please take a look at our "Face Shape" page, which will help you determine which size and shapes work best with your face.
Lenses
What are the lenses made of?
We use lightweight, high-index 1.56 plastic lenses.
We also offer 'thin-light' and 'super thin' lens upgrades, which are 1.61 and 1.67 high-index lenses. We especially recommend that you upgrade to these lenses if your sphere is +/-2.50 and above.
Our recommendations are as follows:
Do you sell lenses alone?
No, we offer our lenses with our frames as a whole package.
Progressive and Bi-Focal Lenses
How do you divide the distance and reading portion on Bifocal or Progressive lenses? Normally, the division is 70% of the lens height for distance and 30% of the lens height for reading. But of course, you are very much welcome to inform us your preference in division. Some people prefer to have a larger reading area (maybe 60/40). This is called the SEG HEIGHT. Technically, if your Optometrist is asking, we put the SEG at "the D line divided by two minus 2 mm".
Please include a note in the comments box as you check out so that we know you would like the change.
What type of bifocal lens do you use?
We use Flattop 28 for all our bifocal lenses.
Do you offer prism and trifocal correction?
We offer prism correction with a $10 charge per lens. Please put the prescripion info for the prisms in the Comments Box, which is located as you checkout. We will bill the additional cost in a separate charge to your card. Is there an adaptation period to progressive lenses? There is a short adaptation period when you are fitted with your first pair of progressive lenses, which can range from a few minutes to a few days. People with certain types of corrections, including strong plus (also called strong farsighted or high hyperopic) prescriptions, tend to have more difficulty adapting to progressive lenses. These are difficult to get right and, if you have never bought them before, you may want to get your first pair at a local store as you might have to go back for several fittings. I have used them for years and have had no problem getting additional pairs online. Tints What kind of tints do you have? We have a large color selection of tints that include a Light, Medium and Dark density with a Solid or Gradiant (dark to light from top to bottom) shading. The Darkest tint is similar to most sunglasses. With a UV coating, this is a good way to get glasses that are suitable for daily wear. We also provide a Polorized Brown or Polorized Grey lens, which is the same as is used in high quality sunglasses. These are better for sports and situations with extreme sun and reflective glare as the Polarizing Lenses filter the glare and provide UV protection as well. Coatings What kind of coatings do you have? We offer free Anti-Scratch and UV coating. You can also order an Anti-Radiation and an Anti-Glare coating. The Anti-Radiation coating is primarily for people who spend a lot of time at their computer. It is a 3-layer coating that combines UV, anti-scratch and anti-reflection coatings. For most people the included UV and anti-scratch coating is sufficient. There is an additional cost for the anti-radiation as the process is much more involved when applying all three. The issue of Anti-Glare is a personal decision. Many people who need their glasses to drive at night find the anti-glare is very helpful as it reduces the halo effect around headlights, etc. Some anti-glare coatings really attract smudges, but that has not been the experience with our lenses.
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