Last Updated on May 16, 2023 by amy
The internet seems to make everything easier. For that reason, it may be tempting to purchase cheap glasses online instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars for frames that don’t seem to be worth it. While cheap glasses online can be a bargain, there are a few things to be aware of to ensure your purchase is valuable. Below are a few things to consider when shopping for cheap glasses online.
Durability
When buying cheap glasses online, it is important to remember that they may not be as durable as their more expensive counterparts. Cheap glasses online tend to have lenses that scratch easily and frames that break just as soon as you take them out of the box. You should be sure to seek out online retailers who sell durable frames. If you find a retailer whose cheap glasses online include high-quality names, your purchase is more likely to last you beyond a couple of days. It is important to see if the retailer offers a variety of lenses, such as polycarbonate, no-glare, scratch-resistant, and UV protection treatments.
Face Shape, Frame Shape
If you are a regular glasses wearer, you’re probably familiar with which kinds of frames flatter your face and which make you look a bit odd. These details will be important to remember during your cheap glasses online excursion. Especially if you can’t try on the glasses before purchasing them, it is imperative that you pick a frame and shape that you feel comfortable in and that will accommodate proper seeing. As a general tip for cheap glasses online, you should seek more angular frames if your face is round and rounder frames if your face is rather angular.
The Color and Material
As with any online purchase, what you say may not be exactly what you get. Picking cheap glasses online that are in an exotic color or boast neat embellishments may not be the best choice unless you can ensure that the image matches the real deal. You should consider how the color you’re viewing and its slight variations will agree with your complexion and even the general shade of your wardrobe. Because cheap glasses online are often in a limited variety, you may not encounter the problem of jazzy colors or styles too often, but it is still important to be aware of this.
Regarding materials, some general knowledge will be helpful in shopping for cheap glasses online. Nylon-based composites, plastics, and painted metals are usually used for more colorful frames. Zylonite is a lightweight material available in many colors and often used for glasses. Sportier frames are typically made using a flexible nylon-based material. Titanium and titanium alloys are popular in glasses manufacturing because of their flexibility. Alloys often include nickel. If you have a metal allergy or sensitive skin, it is important to check what materials your cheap glasses online are made out of while factoring in the frame’s durability. Aluminum frames, for instance, don’t typically cause allergic frames, but they also aren’t very durable.
Special Lenses
Finding frames for multifocal lenses is difficult, so many retailers offering cheap glasses online won’t provide this option. Some retailers will go the extra mile to offer this service, so you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity if you find one. The same applies to glasses with high-index lenses, which are quite thin but have the highest tensile strength of all lens varieties. When seeking prescription frames, ensure that your online shop can accommodate your needs and that your cheap glasses online don’t just become a costume jewelry prop. If you have a regular eye doctor, you should have them check your glasses upon arrival to ensure they match your prescription. Your eye health should always be a priority!
Health Insurance Eye Care
Online stores often do not accept health insurance because they already offer a discounted cost. This means that with cheap glasses online, you may lack the value or vast selection that more expensive retailers or physical shops can offer. If you find an inexpensive online retailer that accepts vision benefits, your cheap glasses online will be covered by health insurance and save you the hassle of going in-store. Expensive glasses aren’t always better, but cheaper glasses may not be worth it if you can’t use any available benefits and have no guarantees regarding the quality of your glasses.
Variety
There is one definitive downfall to buying cheap glasses online: you will not find the same variety in terms of style as you might in-store. With top designer brands, finding various frame styles without worrying about how long they’ll last you is easy. Many people who wear glasses will own multiple pairs for different occasions and activities. With cheap glasses online, you could buy multiple pairs to replace poor-quality frames. On the flip side, if you find an online retailer that offers quality frames and accepts your health insurance, getting multiple pairs of cheap glasses online could be far less expensive than getting multiple pairs from a more expensive retailer.
The Test Run
Many retailers for cheap glasses online will not allow you to try on their frames and see if you like how they fit your face. That said, many online shops have incorporated virtual technology that allows you to see the glasses on your face by uploading a picture. A few services will send you frames to test out before you take the plunge, but it is important that you seek out this information before jumping the broom with cheap glasses online that are too small or ill-fitting for your face – or your style! Personal comfort and the confidence you can get from the right pair of glasses are important, and you can’t always assess your comfort level by looking at a picture versus trying on a pair in-store.
The Perfect Fit
Speaking of fit, ill-fitting frames are the worst repercussion of indulging in cheap glasses online without researching. Frames typically will come with three numbers: the size of the lens, the size of the bridge which crosses your nose, and the length of the temples. These sizes may be listed in your online shop, but you may not consider how thick the frames are – for this reason, you may opt for thin, light frames when buying cheap glasses online. Getting overly excited about low prices can lead to buying several pairs of glasses that look cute on screen but make your face feel unfamiliar. If you aren’t willing to turn away from that special pair of cheap glasses online, at least, include the cost of getting your frames refitted into your budget. Remember that poorly fitting frames can increase your vision problems, as looking through lenses incorrectly can cause headaches.
Shipping
Buying cheap glasses online can seem like a money-saving option on the surface, but it can incur big costs when it comes to shipping. Remember that there will be no immediacy to your purchase concerning when you can see clearly, and factor that into your decision to go in on cheap glasses online or in the store. When ordering, ensure you know your shipping costs and how quickly you should expect your glasses to arrive.
Return Policy
Hopefully, your research will lead you to an online shop that can guarantee many, if not all, of the same benefits that a more expensive retailer will promise. If that isn’t the case with your experience buying cheap glasses online, make sure you’re aware of the return policy for your retailer. Important things to note are how many days you have to return glasses, whether or not you have to pay the cost of return shipping, and what kind of exchange or reimbursement you can get if your glasses arrive damaged.
The bottom line: if you’re looking for glasses to help you make a fashion statement, buying cheap glasses online is a quick way to find the right look without much financial planning. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to replace your current frames, your cheap glasses online excursion will take a bit more planning. You should remember how long the glasses will last, how they will fit your face and lifestyle, and whether or not the potential savings are enough to make the purchase better than more expensive frames. Cheap glasses online are valuable, but one must tread carefully to avoid an expensive experiment.
