Frequently Asked Questions When Ordering Glasses Online

1. Is it easy to get my Glasses prescription so I can buy glasses online ?

Your Optician should, by law, have given you your glasses prescription at the time of your last sight test. If you have mislaid your glasses prescription your Optician should give you a copy. If you want to take advantage of a special or glasses offer from us, you may order your glasses and then send us a copy of your new glasses prescription as soon as you receive it.

2. The glasses prescription seems complicated - what if I have trouble entering it

The prescription may appear complicated at first but it is really quite simple. There are four elements:

1. Sphere (Sph)
2. Cylinder (Cyl)
3. Axis (Axis)
4. Reading Addition (Add)

Most prescriptions will not require a value to be entered into each box. If it is blank on your prescription you will not need to enter it on our website.

The most important thing to check in each box is whether the lens value has a plus + or minus - sign.

Still worried? You may call us or email us with any questions at any time prior to us making up your glasses.

3. What if I enter my glasses prescription or other information incorrectly?

Don't worry! We obviously check every glasses prescription before we make them - if anything looks wrong, we will contact you. If you receive them and they don't seem right we will correct the error, even if we have to remake the glasses - even if your optician made the error.

And don't forget - we have a 100% money back guarantee. If there is anything at all that you do not like about the glasses you can return them for a full refund.

4. Do I need Distance, Intermediate, Reading, or Bifocal Spectacles?

Distance spectacles are for general use e.g. driving or walking about in. Some people wear distance glasses all the time for all tasks including close work.

Reading spectacles are for reading and close work. If your prescription has an “add” you will only be able to wear your glassesfor close work and they will be blurred if you look in the distance.

Intermediate spectacles can be for computer work or occasionally they are set for reading music. They are similar to reading glasses but the range of the focus is set further away. Your Optician will give you a specific glasses prescription for this which may be a different “add” or a completely separate prescription.

Bifocal spectacles have a regular distance lens with a segment in the bottom for reading. These are for people with a reading add who would otherwise need separate specs for distance and reading.

5. What is my pupillary distance (PD) and how do I obtain it?

The PD is the measurement of the distance between your eyes. It is used to set the centre of the lenses in your glasses to align with the centre of your eyes. Ideally your Optician will give you your PD measurement with your prescription. You can measure your own PD in millimetres by using a ruler and measuring the horizontal distance from the centre of one pupil (black spot) to the other.

Alternatively you can choose to use an average PD which has been provided by our appropriately qualified optician.

6. I can't find my prescription on your site !

Our range has a limit of +6.00 and - 6.00 sphere and +3.00 and -3.00 cylinder. If your glasses prescription is outside of this range, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss options with you.

7. Can I use my contact lens prescription for my spectacles?

No. Contact lens prescriptions are not the same as spectacle prescriptions.

8. Can I use my present frame?

This is called a reglaze. As long as your current glasses frame is in a "serviceable" condition, we will be happy to reglaze them to your prescription. We offer the same variants of lens type and coating for reglaze as we do for our own stock of glasses online.

9. Do you supply frames only?

No, we only supply complete spectacles or a reglaze of your own frame.

10. Can I try the frames before ordering?

Unfortunately not - we have an extremely liberal return and guarantee policy - you may return the glasses that you purchased online from us for up to one year for any reason - including the style or colour of the glasses.

Glasses Frames & Lenses

11. Are the glasses frames and lenses the same quality as I get from my Optician?

Yes, we only use CE marked frames and CR39 lenses. Our stock comes from exactly the same sources and inventory that we use in our shops.

12. The prices of your glasses seem so low ??

We do not have expensive overheads or high street premises and we do not offer frame fitting or adjustment services. However we do offer a complete money back guarantee even if you decide that you do not like the colour or style, a guarantee that would be difficult to find on the high street!

13. What are the lenses made of?

Our standard lenses are made of a lightweight plastic material called CR39. Our thinner lenses are made of a 1.67 high index material. This is thinner than the 1.6 high index that you will see on many other websites and it is a lot thinner than the 1.56 CR39. Our high index lenses come with an anti-reflection coating as standard

14. Do you sell prescription sunglasses?

Yes, you can choose a permanent tint which looks like sunglasses but contains your prescription. This is available in grey or brown. Alternatively you can choose TRANSITIONS lenses which darken in the sunshine and lighten indoors. There are various reacting lenses available but we believe that transitions are the best and therefore we only supply genuine transitions.

15. What other coatings do you supply?

We do a scratch resistant, anti-reflection and UV block in addition to the tint or Transitions ®.

• Scratch Resistant coatings are not scratch proof, but they scratch considerably less than standard lenses.
• Anti-reflection coatings virtually eliminate distracting reflections off the lens surfaces. Reducing reflected light is particularly helpful for computer users and for night driving. Anti-reflection coatings also improve the cosmetic appearance of your glasses and can make thick lenses look thinner.This is standard with our thinner lenses.
• UV400 protective coating.
  This protects your eyes from harmful UV light. This is standard with our tinted lenses.

16. Do you supply bifocal or varifocal lenses for your glasses ?

We supply bifocal lenses when they are recommended by your Optician. Varifocal glasses are more difficult, and require us to send the frames out to you first with some calibration stickers on the lenses so that we can take accurate measurements of how the glasses will fit. Complete information on how we do this can be found on our Varifocal Glasses page - it may seem a bit complicated at first, but we have refined this process over thousands of pairs sold, with a very high success and satisfation rate.

17. What shape are your bifocal lenses and do they look like normal Bifocal glasses ?

We supply the D28 bifocal. This is a sideways "D" shape on the lens which gives a wider reading area than standard round shaped bifocals.

18. How can I tell if the spectacles frame is going to be the right size?

The best way is to order a similar size to a comfortable pair of glasses that you already have. All of our frames have measurements of the lens size, the distance between the lenses (DBL) and the side length. You will be able to read these measurements off your present frames. They are always in millimetres.

In this example, the important numbers are "47", "21" and"140". This tells you that the lens diameter is 47mm, the nose bridge gap is 21mm and that the arm length is 140mm. The lens diameter refers to the horizontal width in millimeters of one of the frame's lenses. The measurement is taken from the inside of one side of the frame to the inside of the other side of the frame.
The nose bridge gap is the distance in millimeters between the two lenses. The arm length is the distance of each frame arm taken from the hinge to where it starts to bend at the ear.

19. What if my frames need an adjustment?

If you need a minor adjustment most local Opticians will do this for you, though some may charge a small fee. We also have some useful information and guides on how to do this at home on our blog. We also send out an an instruction sheet with each order dispatched.

20. What payment methods do you accept?

We accept credit/debit card payments. VISA Mastercard, Delta, Switch and Amex. We do not accept NHS vouchers at the moment.

21. Is your payment page secure?

Yes. The whole site including the payment processing is tested very day by a third party (McAffee)

22. What is your guarantee policy?

We have a 100% no-quibble guarantee on all the spectacles we provide to you.

Spex4Less works hard to keep it's postage & packing costs as low as possible in order that we remain competitive and save you money. We currently charge a flat rate of £2.95 to ship anywhere in the UK, using Royal Mail First class post, with Airsure rates applicable to the rest of the world..

Our UK glasses bought online are shipped by First Class Royal Mail Packet post. There are options provided for Recorded and Special delivery. Our Designer range ship by registered post, and International orders for glasses ship requiring a signature for delivery.