Journal log

Three months ago, my wife and I saw the doctor and got the prescription for eyeglasses.

One month ago, I ordered two pairs of eyeglasses online which cost US$132 including shipment

Two weeks ago, we received the shipment

Last Saturday, we visited an eyeglasses store and had them adjust the new eyeglasses

Today, I claimed all expense to my health spending account successfully

Online company

There are many online eyeglasses companies. Different companies have different products, services and customer feedback. It will be easier for you to pick one from the web, and find whether you like it or not, or you can Google it and find the feedback from others. I selected Zenni Optical to buy my eyeglasses.

Here are my Pros and Cons:

Pros:

1.       Compared with other companies, Zenni has best customer satisfaction feedback. My experience also confirms it.

·         It provides online chat services to answer my questions right away

·         The eyeglasses delivered are exactly the same as I saw online

·         Both my wife and I felt very comfortable with the eyeglasses

·         I selected standard shipment with the estimate delivery date from 7 – 11 days. My glasses arrived within 8 days

2.       Its price is much lower than any other companies with good quality. You can find $6.00 glasses in their web. My eyeglasses cost me US$34 before shipment: Stainless Steel frame (frame#163116) $19, my prescription is not strong, so the lens is “free”; Lens coating (water and oil prevent) $15

3.       It allows you
upload picture and “try” on frames. I saw other webs providing similar services, but Zenni is best

Cons:

1.       It does not provide designer eyeglasses. If you want very fashionable styles, do not try Zenni

2.       The filters used to narrow down the frame selection range are not perfect, or I should say they are not enough

Preparation

1.       Get the prescription from a doctor, do not forget to ask doctor to measure PD(Pupillary Distance) for you

2.       Take a picture of your face without glasses, it should be straight on and level, try to make your two ears show up

3.       If you have eyeglasses at home, find them and write down their 3 numbers on the inside of the eyewear temple.

The 3 numbers in my old glasses are 51口 18 135

·         1^st number, the lens width (mm)

·         2^nd number, the nose bridge width (mm)

·         3^rd number, the temple length (mm)

These 3 numbers will tell you which frame will fit you face. They will guide you to select frame from the web:

·         1st number, maximum range: ±2mm

·         2^nd number, maximum range: ±2mm

·         3^rd number, maximum range:-4 ~ +8mm

For example, my new eyeglasses size is 53口 18 137 which is perfect to match my face.

Here is a tip: you can go to an eyeglasses store and try their frame, and write down the numbers.

Purchase on line

Different people may have a different approach to select frame, lens and make order. Here is what I did, just for your reference:

1.       Set up an account:

·         Shipping address

·         My credit card info

·         My picture, and set it as default

·         My doctor prescription

·         etc

2.       Select Frame

·         Use the filter to narrow down your selection range. Zenni web has very good QA, and you will know how to set up filter

·         Pick any frame you like, and see how you looks like in your face

·         Check the frame size to make sure it is within your size range

·         If you like it, and within your size range, add it to your favorite list

·         Pick one or more from your favorite list and order glasses

Note: for most Chinese, you need to select frame with nose pad

3.       It is easy to select lens. You can follow the web site’s suggestion or pick high index lens for your full rim frame, and you also can select sunglasses for yourself.

4.       Make final order.

Adjust glasses

After you receive them, you can adjust your new glasses yourself, or ask a glasses store to help you. Zenni provides online training to teach you how to adjust yourself.

But first of all, your glasses frame should be within your size range. Most of the time, the adjustment is to adjust the temper length.

My wife and I just went to the store where I purchased eyeglasses before and asked them to help us adjust our new glasses.

Here is a tip for you. When I was ordering my wife’s glasses, I found her glasses’ temple length is 142, but her ideal size is 135, so I left a message in the order and asked them to adjust it to be 135. And they did it.

Claim to your insurance

I have some dollars left in my health spending account. By checking Sun Life on line consultant, I select “Prescription Lenses & Frames” category and claimed my cost.

 

It will be fun when you go through it. Please contact me if you have any questions

 

 

August 18 2014