FREE PUPILLARY DISTANCE RULER to use when buying your glasses on line. July 2010

siennasnan

got three pair designer glasses for me and my daughter £29 each all in saved hundreds just waiting for them had all measurements except papiliary distance printed the one off on site perfect.

Kyria

Thanks for this OP

[Deleted User]

My optician gave me my PD measurement but asked me why I needed it & I told them I was getting a free pair online! lol ( Lensway )

They weren't thrilled & seemed slightly reluctant but I was friendly and honest so what to do eh???

Glad it is helping some people out as buying glasses online seems to be the way forward ... Have had a fab pair from Lensway for just £6.95 postage and another great pair from Googles4u for just £4.99 postage & my PD measurement was vital! xx

jap200

I asked what the PD measurement was when the optician last measured mine for glasses in Specsavers - it was done at the point of order of the glasses and not part of the routine eyetest. However, husband had his eye test and glasses at Boots and they would not tell him his PD, so have ordered the handy ruler for him.

Thanks for the great find!

LouLou

Thanks for this, MSE saves the day!

Earlier on I was at Tesco Opticians. The optician frowned upon me buying glasses online and said I shouldn't, as I have slight astigmatism and any glasses I buy online will be wrong for my eyes (?).

I also noticed that she didn't write down my PD, though she measured it. When I asked for my prescription, with the PD, I was told the optician only uses it to supply glasses at their store, it's not to be given out to the customer.

I realise this thread is a few years old, so I'd assume all opticians are withholding the PD measurement (?).

LouLou

Just as an additional extra, I can see that there are now Android and iPhone apps that measure PD Distance (using the same "credit card" method above). http://www.onespecs.co.uk/everything-eyewear-blog/new-iphone-app-makes-buying-glasses-online-easier

Here's an Android one: http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/lifestyle/pupil-meter_ozyy.html

This is a good guide to PD measuring: http://www.glasses4less.net/acatalog/How_To_Measure_Your_Pupillary_Distance.html

Another PD method, from edge to edge of the iris: http://www.selectspecs.com/info/pupillary-distance/

LouLou

Also, here's a printable PD ruler, if you can't get to a smartphone/webcam: http://www.lensway.co.uk/template-resources/assets/documents/doc_PDrulerLW_UK.pdf

nedmundo

Loulou - the PD is part of the dispensing process and not the prescribing process. Hence it is not issued as standard.

Dispensing is best done face to face and no amount of Apps from those with a vested interest will reproduce the accuracy of a trained, skilled and experienced Dispensing optician.

If an MSE member uses one of those Apps and cannot tolerate their spectacles as a result of inappropiate dispensing - who is liable?

LouLou

I've seen some members say their optician (usually reluctantly) provides them with the PD measurement if they ask for it. I can see the dispensing optician's point of view but I've been curious about online spectacles for a while and I'm going to take the gamble.

Usually I spend about £150-£200 for two pairs of "first step up" thinner lenses/anti-glare, not even designer frames, and I only have a -3.50/-4.25 prescription..it's a lot of money. A pair of rimless glasses shattered on the floor (fluke accident) a while back and was charged £65 for the repair (one lens) from Specsavers!

I didn't bother using the app, I printed the PD ruler from Lensway and used it to their instructions.

Goggles4u is stupidly cheap..for rimless too..the frames start at £3.54 before lenses! (http://www.goggles4u.com/goggles4u-eyeglasses-718.html)
and the reviews I'm reading are mostly positive. They remedy any problems with the glasses too, haven't read any horror stories.

PS: Here's a place selling a PD Ruler for 10p (not sure about shipping): http://www.selectspecs.com/Glasses/SelectSpecs.com/1x-PD-Pupillary-Distance-Rule/ss123.39.html#reviews

eunos

All links now go to instructions on using a webcam to measure it.