Happy New Year! I hope all of you enjoyed the holidays and took some time to stop and smell the evergreens!

I wanted to write a few words – again! – about purchasing prescription eyewear on the internet. According to Forbes, the internet dominated this year’s holiday shopping season such that 37.2 BILLION dollars were spent in the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s on online purchases. With the sharp increase in consumer reliance on the internet, it is imperative to recognize that not all online products are of equally high quality. According to a new study, “Safety and compliance of prescription spectacles ordered by the public via the Internet”, published in the Journal of the American Optometric Association, a full HALF of online eyeglasses fail prescription and safety specifications!  Given my bad experiences with patients purchasing online eyewear, I am surprised even that drastic of a number is so low.

Anyone who has been fitted for a quality pair of prescription eyeglasses, or will be in the future, should know some of what goes into the fitting process:

1. Frame selection: A well-fitting bridge, temple length, eye size, material, aesthetics, and matching the prescription to the frame.
2. Lens selection: Material (and there are many to choose from) that is appropriate for frame size, prescription, lifestyle, coatings for scratch resistance, glare, and UV protection; measurements for vertical AND horizontal pupil distance (internet providers only want horizontal, which is insufficient for creating quality lenses); bifocal or multifocal design matched to prescription and work environment; analog, digital, and much, much more…
3. Lens verification and proper fitting/dispensing: This is critical, and where the internet cannot provide ANY services.
4. Adjustments, problem solving, etc…..You get the picture!

It takes a certified optician two years to learn what they need to know to provide you, as a patient, what you deserve for your visual health and comfort, not to mention the aesthetic know-how to make you look great and be comfortable in your new eyewear.

So, sure, you can get a great sweater from J. Crew online – plus, you can return it if it wasn’t the right color green! – But please, treat yourself properly and get your new eyewear from your local Optician.

Hoping you have a happy and HEALTHY New Year!

Dr. Kessler