Online Or In-Store Opticians? Which Is Better For You?

When it comes to buying eyewear, where do you go first? Do you visit a brick-and-mortar store or shop online? With the rise of e-commerce, more and more people are opting to buy glasses online. But is this the best option for everyone?

The traditional way of buying glasses and contact lenses has been to visit an optician in-store, where you can try on frames, get your eyes tested, and receive personalised advice from a professional. However, with the convenience of online shopping, many people are now turning to the internet to buy glasses from their own homes.

The debate on whether it’s better to buy eyewear online or in-store is ongoing. While both options have their pros and cons, there are a lot of different factors that need to be considered. In this article, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of both options to help you make an informed decision.

 

Personal Service

When shopping for glasses and contact lenses in-store, you’re likely to receive a more personalised experience compared to shopping online. Friendly and helpful staff are on hand to help you with any questions or concerns you may have about your eyewear. You can also try on different frames and receive expert advice from the optician about which style will best suit your face shape and lifestyle needs.

WINNER: Optician

Expert Help and Advice

Another advantage of buying glasses from an optician in-store is you can receive advice and help from a qualified professional. Opticians are highly trained to provide comprehensive eye care services, which include helping you choose the best frames for your vision needs and advising you on your eye care needs. They can also assess your eyes and provide any additional treatments that may be necessary, such as contact lens fitting or prescribing new lenses. Frames can be chosen depending on facial shape and anatomy and helps to determine the most suitable lens type and frames depending on the patient’s lifestyle.

WINNER: Optician

Warranty

When buying glasses from an optician in-store, you’re likely to receive a warranty on your purchase. This can save you money if something goes wrong with the frames or lenses. Online retailers also provide warranties, but this can differ from store warranties, and if you do need touse your warranty, sending glasses and frames back through the post can be a hassle and a long waiting game.

DRAW

Fitting Service

When visiting an optician in-store, you can receive a friendly fitting service with one of our expert staff to allow for maximal comfort, clear vision and cosmesis. The optician will measure the distance between your eyes to determine which lenses are best suited for your vision needs. This is impossible with online shopping, as it’s impossible to get a precise measurement without seeing a specialist in person.

WINNER: Optician

On-Site Testing

Another major advantage of shopping for eyewear in-store is that opticians can perform comprehensive eye tests onsite. This includes checking your vision, evaluating the health of your eyes, and testing your refractive error. During this process, opticians may also assess whether you need glasses or contact lenses with special features such as tinted lenses or corrective lenses. By visiting a brick-and-mortar store, you can rest assured that your new eyewear is tailored to your individual vision needs.

WINNER: Optician

Time and Cost Savings

Generally speaking, glasses are usually cheaper when purchased online, as many online retailers do not have the overhead costs associated with running a physical store. Shopping for glasses online can often save you time and money as you won’t need to make an appointment with an optician or spend time travelling to the store. You also won’t need to worry about any added costs such as parking fees or fuel. Furthermore, you’ll be able to compare the prices of various eyewear brands at the click of a button to get the best deal.

WINNER: Online

Range of Frames and Lenses

One advantage of buying glasses online is the wide range of frames and lenses available from various online retailers. Opticians have limited space in their shop, so may not have thousands to choose from, but they do choose their brands and stock carefully to cater for all ages, face shapes, skin types, genders and fashion styles. This means you can pretty much always find a pair that suits your face shape and personal style. Plus you have experts to help you quickly narrow down the choices to the ones that are perfect for you. When viewing all the different shapes, brands and styles of glasses online, you can easily get overwhelmed and confused about what really is best for you.

Opticare offers a wide range of designer brands such as Ted Baker and Ray-ban. With a huge selection of different styles, brands, colours and sizes we stock glasses to suit everyone.

DRAW

After Care

When buying glasses in-store, you can rest assured that you will receive expert aftercare service. Our qualified opticians are always available to help with any questions or concerns you may have about your glasses and contact lenses. We also offer a free aftercare service for those who purchase their glasses from us, including free lens cleaning and adjustments if required. Just pop in with your glasses and we can help you with any minor adjustments or to just answer any questions.

WINNER: Optician

Quality of Material

One of the main advantages of buying glasses from an optician in-store is the quality of materials used. At Opticare, we use only the highest quality lenses and frames to ensure that your glasses are comfortable, look great and last a long time. All our lenses come with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and reflections from your glasses. This can help improve vision clarity and reduce eye strain. When buying online, they may look good in the picture, but it’s not until you actually receive them that can you feel the quality of the materials and finish. And if they are not right for you, it can be an arduous process to return them online.

WINNER: Optician

Delivery Times

When purchasing glasses online, delivery times can vary depending on the retailer. At Opticare, we guarantee fast delivery of your glasses within seven working days. We also offer same-day pick-up in-store if you cannot wait for your glasses to be delivered. This means you can receive your new eyewear faster so you can enjoy improved vision and style sooner.

DRAW

Correct Prescription

Finally, one of the biggest advantages of purchasing glasses from an optician in-store is the assurance that they will be correctly prescribed. Our qualified opticians are highly experienced and can accurately measure your eyes to ensure you receive the correct prescription for your individual vision needs.

Once you have your prescription from an optician you know it will be correct and the lenses will be made to the correct measurements. Buying lenses and glasses online, means you have to enter your prescription yourself, and it is easy to make mistakes, without you realising it. You can then end up with glasses that can strain and damage your eyes, rather than helping them.

WINNER: Optician

Convenience

When you shop online for eyewear, you can do so in your own time and from your own home. So no busy town centre streets and queues. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the vast selection of eyewear styles available online, you can simply filter your search according to frame shape, finish, and price if you know what you are looking for.

WINNER: Online

The Verdict

Both in-store and online opticians have their pros and cons. However, If you want a more personal experience with onsite tests and expert advice, then shopping for glasses in-store is probably the better option for you. At Opticare we ensure you get the correct prescription and expert aftercare you need to ensure your eyes are as healthy as possible.

	Optician	Online
Personal Service	1	0
Expert Help and Advice	1	0
Warranty	1	1
Fitting Service	1	0
On-Site Testing	1	0
Time and Cost Savings	0	1
Range of Frames and Lenses	1	1
After Care	1	0
Quality of Material	1	0
Delivery Times	1	1
Correct Prescription	1	0
Convenience	0	1
Score	10	5