of our survey respondents who bought glasses online bought single-vision lenses, rather than varifocals. In the past, we’ve found that if you’ve got a relatively simple prescription, you shouldn’t run into too much trouble buying online. Best practice is for stores to request an exact PD from the customer – which unfortunately might not always be included on your prescription. But some stores have ways you can do this at home. Others simply let you use an average measurement, which may result in poorly fitted glasses. About 60% of our respondents bought their glasses at the same place they had their eyes tested, which makes sense in terms of getting personalised advice from someone familiar with your prescription. But you can save money by shopping around, including online (see the best brands below). Buying glasses - expert tips

Precise fitting measurements – such as the pupillary distance (PD) and the vertical pupil position - are crucial to how well any lens will perform. Our expert opticians recommend the following when you're deciding where to buy your specs and figuring out what you can afford: People tended to buy online for reasons of cost and convenience and we've found this is often a good option for people with simpler prescriptions.

Reading Glasses for Women

Opticians aren't required to put all the measurements needed to dispense glasses on your prescription, as some are taken when your glasses are dispensed rather than when your eyes are tested. This means that by buying online you may be missing details such as your PD (pupillary distance).

The ideal varifocal lens design provides sharp vision in the far distance, middle and close up for reading, is comfortable to swap between each zone, is easy to get used to and has few distortions at the edges. You can find pairs of reading glasses for men and women - as well as unisex options - from B&M for the best possible price. As a rule of thumb, if your prescription is stronger than +/- 3 but less than +/- 5, consider thinner lenses (around 1.67 index). If your prescription is stronger than +/- 5, you may want to go even thinner (around 1.74 index). Getting the right frames Table Notes: Based on a survey of 379 people in June 2022. Customer score based on satisfaction with the store on last visit and likelihood of recommending to a friend. If goods you buy are faulty and don’t do what they're supposed to, or don’t match the description given, you have the same rights under the Consumer Rights Act as you have when buying face-to-face.Do you have a Power of Attorney? MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis explains how this crucial protection works, why it's more important than a will, and how to get one in the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live. For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned.