frequentlyaskedquestions

What is your area of enquiry?

Prices
Ordering
Frames
Spectacle Lenses
Contact Lenses
Understanding your Prescription
Postage and Payment
General

Prices

Why are the prices on selectyourspex.com so cheap?

We are solely an online business so do not have all the expensive overheads that a high street Optician has e.g. sight testing equipment, utility bills, etc. We are therefore able to pass on the savings to you, the customer.

What does the price advertised include?

All frame prices include the frame, single vision lenses made to your prescription, scratch resistant coating, protective hard case, cloth and our 14 day money back guarantee.

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Ordering

What do I need to order my glasses with you?

All you need is a copy of your prescription.

My Optician will not give me a copy of my prescription. Is this right?

By law your Optician must give you a copy of your prescription immediately following your eye test. You are perfectly within your rights to request this if he/she does not give you a copy.

How do I read my prescription?

Our 'enter your prescription' page is so simple to use that all you need to do is copy exactly what is on your prescription into the relevant boxes on our form. Most of the boxes will not apply to your prescription so therefore will not require you to enter any information. If you are still having problems then contact us and we will talk you through it or you can fax us the prescription for further advice.

My prescription is dated over 2 years ago. Can I still use it to order my glasses?

We are only able to supply glasses to a prescription that is less than 2 years old. We cannot emphasise enough how vital it is that you have an eye test at least every 2 years so that you can be sure your eyes are healthy. This means you can get the very best vision from our great glasses.

What does BVD mean?

BVD (Back Vertex Distance) is the distance that the spectacle lens was positioned from your eye during your eye exam (measured in mm). This is only relevant if you require a high powered lens. Only your Optician can measure and record this but remember that if it does not appear on your prescription then you do not need to worry about it.

What does PD mean?

PD (Pupillary Distance) is the distance from the centre of one pupil to the centre of the other in mm. If this is not stated on your prescription it can easily be measured using a ruler and a mirror (alternatively you might want to get a friend to help you). Your Optician can measure this for you if he/she is willing. If you are unsure of your PD we will automatically set it to 63mm which is the national average.

What can I do if I realise I have made a mistake once I have completed my order?

No need to panic. Just email or phone us as soon as you realise your mistake and we will amend it for you.

How long will I have to wait for my glasses?

You will receive your glasses within 14 working days. This is the maximum length of time you will need to wait as we always endeavour to supply within the shortest time possible.

How long will I have to wait for my contact lenses?

You will receive your contact lenses within 14 working days of receipt of your current contact lens specification. This is the maximum length of time you will need to wait as we always endeavour to supply within the shortest time possible.

What if my new glasses don’t fit properly?

You need to have a slight adjustment made to your glasses. Any Optician can do this for you, usually for a very small fee.

How can I be certain my spectacles will be made to the exact specification?

Every order received here at selectyourspex.com is processed and supervised by a fully qualified Optician. Once the spectacles have been made by our chief lab technician they undergo a series of quality control checks to ensure they exactly match the prescription you have provided. We also check that the frame and lenses are in pristine condition.

You can rest assure that the spectacles you receive will be made to the highest standard.

Are your glasses covered by a guarantee?

We are so sure that you will be delighted with your glasses that we offer a 100% fourteen day money back guarantee. This applies even if you do not like the style you have chosen once you have received them.

Can I try a frame on at home before I buy?

Yes. Simply click the ‘Try Me ’ button when you select a frame to view and we will send you the frame within 7 working days. We charge a small fee for this service (£2-50 for standard and semi-rimless frames, £7-50 for rimless and bendable frames) to cover our administration, labour and VAT costs. Unfortunately we are not able to offer this for designer frames at present. All frames must be returned to us in the prepaid box within 14 days or your credit/debit card will be charged the full price of the frame.

How many pairs of glasses can I buy from selectyourspex.com?

You can buy as many pairs as you like as often as you like. With our great prices and awesome range of frames you could have a pair to suit every mood and every outfit!

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Frames

What does ‘sprung sided frame’ mean?

Most of our frames have a spring inside the frame side (arm) which gives the frame extra strength and durability and also ensures the frame keeps it shape. A frame with a sprung side is recommended if you tend to take your spectacles on and off a lot.

What is a ‘bendable’ frame?

Bendable frames are made of a special titanium alloy which actually remembers the frame shape even if it comes under any undue stress and strain. These frames are ideal if you tend to be a bit heavy handed with your glasses.

I have seen a frame I really like in my local Opticians. Are you able to supply it to me at a reduced price?

There is a good chance we can find the frame for you, at a far more reasonable price. All you need to do is email us the frame details and we will confirm availability within 24 hours.

Can I buy a frame only from selectyourspex.com?

You can but our prices include your single vision lenses so they will be provided as standard anyway. All you need to do is proceed through the ordering process as normal once you have chosen your frame.

Can I have new lenses put into my existing frames?

As our prices are so reasonable we would suggest that you take full advantage and purchase one of our modern, high quality frames. As we cannot guarantee the condition of your existing frames for re-use we do not offer this service.

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Spectacle Lenses

What are your lenses made of?

All our lenses are a lightweight plastic material (called CR39). Our ‘thinner’ lenses are a high index plastic material (1.6 index). All lenses are hard coated to resist scratches. We do not supply glass lenses as they are much heavier and not so popular nowadays.

Do you offer any extras for my lenses?

We offer many extras which can be added to your lenses. They are as follows:-

Scratch resistant coating £FREE
Anti-reflection coating £15 extra
Tints (range of colours and shades) £15 extra
UV400 protective coat £15 extra
Thinner lenses £40 extra
Transition lenses £50 extra
Polarised lenses £50 extra

These can all be selected on the ‘choose your style’ page. For a full explanation of what each extra option means please click on the ? icon next to the name on that page.

Do you supply bifocals/varifocals?

We are able to supply single vision (included in the price), bifocal (£20 extra) and varifocal (£65 extra) lenses. Bifocals and varifocals should only be ordered if you currently wear this type of lens or your Optician has recommended them to you.

What ‘type’ are your bifocals?

We supply D28 segment bifocals (i.e. the reading area at the bottom of the lens consists of a D-shaped segment which is 28mm wide) as standard which we believe are the easiest to wear. However we are able to supply all types and sizes of bifocal as required. These can include D35 (as above but a 35mm wide segment), R24 (round segment 24mm wide) and executive (segment runs all the way across the lens). All you need to do is put the specialist bifocal you require in the notes section of the ‘enter your prescription’ page. Your Optician will advise which bifocal is best for you.

Where do you position my bifocal segments?

All bifocal segments are positioned at the optimal position on the lens which is 3mm below the horizontal centre of the lens. If you need it higher or lower than this please state so in the notes section on the 'enter your prescription page'.

How are you able to sell varifocals? I thought precise measurements were required before supplying them?

We have developed a unique patented measuring device which allows you to take the necessary measurements yourself. This device produces even more accurate measurements for varifocal fitting than a qualified Optician taking these measurements themselves.

This clever device will be sent out to you with your chosen frame with simple instructions once we have received your order. Then all you need to do is follow the instructions and send the frame and measuring device back to us in the prepaid box. You will receive your complete spectacles with varifocal lenses within 21 days.

Why are your varifocal prices so reasonable?

Its all down to our great measuring device again. As you, the customer can take the necessary measurements by yourself in the comfort of your own home we do not have to fund more expensive means of obtaining these measurements. Again this cost saving is passed on to you.

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Contact Lenses

Why must I send you my most recent contact lens specification before I can receive my lenses?

New laws governing the supply of contact lenses require us to have sight of a valid and up to date contact lens specification. This must be signed by the Optician that carried out your latest contact lens check and the date must not have expired.

We are not legally allowed to supply your contact lenses until this has been received. Once you have sent us the necessary specification (by post, email or fax) we will despatch your lenses and you will receive them within 14 working days.

How long will I have to wait for my contact lenses?

What if I can’t find the contact lenses I wear on your contact lens page?

We are able to supply all brands of contact lenses so simply email us with the contact lenses you require and we will be delighted to confirm availability and price within 24 hours.

What if I am having discomfort or pain when I wear my contact lenses?

You must stop wearing your lenses and see your Optician as soon as possible.

Do you offer any guarantees on your contact lenses?

For purely hygiene reasons we are unable to offer a guarantee on the contact lenses we supply.

How many pairs of contact lenses can I buy?

As many as you like but remember we can only supply contact lenses up to the expiry date of your contact lens specification.

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Understanding your Prescription

What does my prescription mean?

The glossary of terms below tells you all you need to know:

Sphere (SPH)	measured in dioptres (DS), indicates how long or short- sighted your eye is. A plus sign in front of the number indicates long-sight, while a negative sign indicates short-sight.
Cylinder (CYL)	also measured in dioptres (DC), indicates how much astigmatism your eye has. Can be written with either a plus or minus sign in front of the value.
Axis (AXI)	measured in degrees (0 - 180), indicates the angle of astigmatism.
Prism	measured in prism dioptres (Δ), incorporated into a spectacle lens to help re-align the eyes to encourage them to work together.
Base	displayed in degrees (0-180) or direction (In, Out, Up or Down), indicates the direction that the prism is positioned in the spectacle lens.
Distance	the portion of your prescription that shows which lens strength is required to correct your distance vision.
Intermediate	the portion of your prescription that shows which lens strength is required to correct your intermediate (middle) vision.
Near	the portion of your prescription that shows which lens strength is required to correct your near vision.
Addition (ADD)	measured in dioptres (D), indicates the extra lens strength required to correct your near vision (added onto the distance prescription).
BVD	measured in mm, indicates the distance the prescription lens is positioned away from your eye during your eye test.
PD	measured in mm, indicates the distance between the centre of each pupil.

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Postage and Payment

What are your postage costs?

Postage and packaging costs £2-95 for Royal Mail First Class and £4-95 for Special Delivery (recommended on all orders over £50).

What are my payment options?

We accept all major credit cards (except AMEX), debit cards, cheques and postal orders. Orders will not be despatched until the relevant payment has cleared.

Is the payment page secure?

For our payment gateway we use the ProTX system for ensuring secure payments. Credit Card details are taken on this website and transmitted securely to the ProTX system using industry standard secure 128bit encryption. We do not store your credit card details on this website or on our server.

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General

What if I have a query that has not been answered above?

Please feel free to contact us by email or telephone. We promise to answer your query within 24 hours. We at selectyourspex.com take great pride in offering superb customer service.

All of this seems too good to be true - where’s the catch??

There isn’t one! Your high street Optician isn’t the only place you can buy your glasses and contact lenses. We can supply all the products you can find there and more at a fraction of the cost. So what are you waiting for? Select Your Spex today!

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