Top Tips For Low Cost Prescription Glasses

By John Smith, Published June 03, 2014 [Updated 18 June 2020]

Buying prescription glasses online is a trend we have all started to jump on board with. We are all looking out for the best deals and finding the same product as cheap as possible. So, buying from an opticians is less popular. Opticians inflate their prices to cover the running costs, and in no way is that a bad thing. But, for us, the consumer, it isn't a good thing to our bank balance. 

So, if you're like us, you love a bargain. You hate spending too much on glasses only to sit on them a month down the line. So, why not check out our top tips for low cost prescription glasses. 

1. Free Eye Tests

Let's start at the very begining. After all, it is a very good place to start. You need to know if you need glasses. But, if you're reading this I assume, you, like I, need glasses already. So, a trip to the opticians to see how your eyes have altered is needed.

Much like phone contacts or your electricity supplier, loyalty doesn't always pay off. If you find you keep going to the same opticians for the sake of ease or because your family has been going for years, this could be causing an unnecessary cost. Many opticians, especially big chain opticians offer free eye tests. Not becuase they're nice, it's a marketing ploy. Once you're in there for a free eye test, they're expecting you to buy their glasses after, and that's how they make a profit. You don't need to. Politely thank the staff for their help and take your copy of your prescription home with you. 

You wouldn't go to a garage for a car MOT, be told you need a new car and just buy a car on the spot. You'd more than likely be really annoyed then take to the internet to do your research and find the best car for your budget. And that is exactly what we suggest with your glasses, which leads on nicely to our next point. 

2. Buy What You Need

Much like our car example above, when it comes to glasses, you'll more than likely be given the hard sell. This especially happens in opticians. You trust your opticians so you're more than likely to accept another coating on your lens for an extra £40. Then, before you know it, you've bought something you don't need. 

Glasses have a lot of jargon, websites are great at using this against you by putting them in little packages. These packages are normally named bronze, silver and gold. This is to make you think you need something better than the stock lens. Many of us will look at these packages and go down the middle. That is exactly what they're designed to do! You'll probably be buying a thinner lens, made of a different material (that you won't notice much difference about) with a host of pointless technology. 

I know I've just pointed out floors in the opticians and online world of selling prescription glasses, but here is the big tip of buying what you need. 

1. Buy the thickest lens the frame will allow. There is no point in having a thin lens if you don't need to. Only get a thinner lens if the frames you want to buy need a thinner lens. 

2. Get the basic coatings. Hard Coats and Anti Reflection coats are the 2 main ones. This will help your lenses stay scratch free and keep your vision clearer. 

3. Know what Oleophobic lenses are. This is a feature many opticians and sites try to upsell you to. These can be useful, especially in sporty sunglasses. But they're not magic workers and don't keep your low cost prescription glasses, low cost much longer. Oleophobic coatings help you clean you glasses, but it isn't a magical coating that will keep your glasses dirt free forever. Don't get suckered in paying lots for this unless your budget allows it. 

4.  Know your budget and stick to it. 

5. Buy cheap designer prescription glasses at Discounted Sunglasses. We offer a Hard Coat and Anti Refelective coat as standard. We don't have levels of prescription packages to try and make you spend more needlessly. The only added extra we offer is a blue light lens. This is something we think is important in modern times, but its easy to say no to. We don't upsell needlessly. 

3. Buy Designer Prescription Glasses Online

Like the reasons stated above, buying online gives you the freedom to research the best price. You can say no to added extras easier online than you can to a person you trust face to face. Many sites that offer prescription glasses online have their lenses made in labs just like your physical opticians. At Discounted Sunglasses we do. We know, trust and use the lenses ourselves, because we did our research on finding the best lab possible for you at an affordable price. 

Buying designer glasses online is much cheaper than in stores too. Just take a look at the price difference between the designer glasses and the opticians own brand the next time you visit. The prices are hiked massively. When, in reality, you can look online and find designer pairs for the same price as own brands. What's more, designer brands generally use better materials, so your glasses will last longer. 

4. Know your PD

There is only one stumbling block in our opinion when it comes to ordering glasses online vs in store. Your PD, or Pupilary Distance is a key measurement needed for getting your lenses right. Opticians know this as they take it during your sight test. Then, cunningly keep it to themselves as they don't want you buying designer glasses online. So you've got to do this part yourself. It sounds daunting but it is quite easy, just make sure you take a few measurements to double check its correct. 

If you have no clue what to do, you can read our section on how to measure your PD. 

5. Bonus Tip

So our bonus tip is a shameless plug too. Buy at Discounted Sunglasses. Not only will you find the frames cheaper than most places, especially your opticians, but our lenses are too. 

All our glasses can be purchased with your prescripion on our site. We've put a lot of effort in to try and make this as simple as possible. We know that it is easier to buy glasses in store as everything is taken care of for you. But, if you know if you need glasses for reading or distace and how strong your prescription is, you can order with us easily. You don't need to be able to recite your prescription of by heart. In fact, you can just email us a picture of it after your order. 

We're always willing to help too. If you find you're struggling you can find out how to order prescription by following the link at the bottom of any page. If that doesn't help, you can give us a call or drop us an email. 

Your prescription will take usually 10 days to be glazed and come back to us. Then, depending on the delivery option you chose at the checkout, it will be with you at the most, 3 working days. So around the same time frame as some opticians, but with the added bonus of having them delivered to you.