Buying optical glasses on line

Sterlingtimes

Another age-related problem is the need for various glasses for different purposes.

I have ordered a pair of single-vision Reactolight glasses from Aliexpress for £28. 

Now, if I order varifocals online, what do I do to obtain the following measurement? Is a measurement against the existing frame good enough?

Fitting height / segment height – Vertical distance from the bottom of the lens to the center of your pupil. This positions the progressive zones properly. 

born_again

Measurements need to be from the new frame. 

Or you will suffer problems.

I would never order anything like this from a site such as that. Any problems & you are in a world of pain sorting it out. 

Organgrinder

Honestly I concur with @born_again. 

Asda will do two pairs of varifocals  (including high index) for £120. 

I've used them twice in the past three years. No problems at all.

I think a single pair is £80.

Exodi

Oh wow, buying prescription glasses from Aliexpress - words I never thought would be in the same sentence.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that the prices opticians charge in branch for branded prescription glasses can be bonkers (I paid over £400 about 5 years ago for a branded pair before I woke up to online glasses suppliers - my last branded pair I paid about a quarter of that, but you can get them for far less, less than you paid even).

If you don't care about brand names (good for you) you can pick up prescription glasses for the same price you paid (or less) online or in branch.

vacheron

Pay for an appointment with a UK optician (£25-30) and get your up to date prescription and all these measurements done professionally. Then order from a certified UK online retailer if you want to save money.

There are things I would order from Aliexpress, but glasses would never be one of them. There is no way they are making you genuine Reactolight varifocals to your prescription at their prices, and you have zero comeback against some backstreet operation in China if (when) something isn't right with whatever glasses you actually end up recieving. 

Smudgeismydog

Sorry, another one here to suggest you buy locally in person

Sterlingtimes

Thank you all.

The £28 single-vision, light-responsive glasses arrived from an AliExpress seller. All in all, they are magnificent. The seller also contacted me to query a couple of aspects about my prescription before proceeding.

With advancing age, I am finding single vision glasses better for most purposes: distance glasses for walking out and computer/reading glasses for close work. However, the varifocals come into their own when I am away from home and need to read something.

Asda sounds like the best approach for varifocals. I have been to opticians who drive the price up to hundreds of pounds.

starving_artist

I’ve always been put off buying online because the one measurement the opticians never want to give you unless you are buying from them is the pupillary distance measurement.  I know there are measuring this yourself but if you have a complex prescription and are paying a lot for the lenses you really need it to be accurate.

Organgrinder

Sterlingtimes said:

Thank you all.

The £28 single-vision, light-responsive glasses arrived from an AliExpress seller. All in all, they are magnificent. The seller also contacted me to query a couple of aspects about my prescription before proceeding.

With advancing age, I am finding single vision glasses better for most purposes: distance glasses for walking out and computer/reading glasses for close work. However, the varifocals come into their own when I am away from home and need to read something.

Asda sounds like the best approach for varifocals. I have been to opticians who drive the price up to hundreds of pounds.

I have had four pairs of varifocals from Asda. High index too. 

First time it was 2 pairs for £120 (non designer). Second time 2 pairs for £160, Nike and Converse. Really cannot fault them. I believe there's another option too for more expensive frames.

Sterlingtimes

Organgrinder said: have had four pairs of varifocals from Asda. High index too. 

First time it was 2 pairs for £120 (non designer). Second time 2 pairs for £160, Nike and Converse. Really cannot fault them. I believe there's another option too for more expensive frames.

Great support from the posters here. Asda sounds like the best place to go for varifocals. For single vision, I am very impressed with AliExpress.

daz378

I bought  pair from glasses direct...only £38 they are ok...didn't have much choice as I'm stuck in with a broken ankle