1.          How do I get my prescription?

Your Optician should, by law, have given you your prescription at the time of your last sight test. If you have mislaid your prescription your Optician should give you a copy.

2.          I am worried about entering my prescription details online!

The prescription may appear complicated at first but it is really quite simple. There are four elements:

1. Sphere (Sph)
2. Cylinder (Cyl)
3. Axis (Axis)
4. Reading Addition (Add)

Most prescriptions will not require a value to be entered into each box. If it is blank on your prescription you will not need to enter it on our website.

The most important thing to check in each box is whether the lens value has a plus + or minus – sign.

Still worried? – click here to download a mail order form and you can post your prescription with your order.

3.         What if I enter my details incorrectly?

Don’t worry! Contact our Customer Services and we will correct the error, even if we have to remake the glasses.

And don’t forget - we have a 100% money back guarantee. If there is anything at all that you do not like about the glasses you can return them for a full refund.

4.         Do I need Distance, Intermediate, Reading, or Bifocal Spectacles?

Distance specs are for general use e.g. driving or walking about in. Some people wear distance specs all the time for all tasks including close work.
Reading specs are for reading and close work. If your prescription has an “add” you will only be able to wear your specs for close work and they will be blurred if you look in the distance.
Intermediate specs can be for computer work or occasionally they are set for reading music. They are similar to reading specs but the range of the focus is set further away. Your Optician will give you a specific prescription for this which may be a different “add” or a completely separate prescription.
Bifocal specs have a regular distance lens with a segment in the bottom for reading. These are for people with a reading add who would otherwise need separate specs for distance and reading.

5.         What is my pupillary distance (PD) and how do I obtain it?

The PD is the measurement of the distance between your eyes. It is used to set the centre of the lenses in your specs to align with the centre of your eyes. Ideally your Optician will give you your PD measurement with your prescription. You can measure your own PD in millimetres by using a ruler and measuring the horizontal distance from the centre of one pupil (black spot) to the other.

Alternatively you can choose to use an average PD which has been provided by our appropriately qualified optician.

6.         My prescription is not within the range on your site!

Don’t worry – it’s not a problem! All we ask is that you contact us with your prescription requirements. If you are outside of our website prescription range, we should still be able to accommodate you – so please, get in touch with us!

7.         Can I use my contact lens prescription for my spectacles?

No. Contact lens prescriptions are not the same as spectacle prescriptions.

8.         Can I use my present frame?

Yes! This is called a ‘reglaze’. We can normally reglaze your existing glasses without any problem! The easiest thing to do is to contact us with your frame and prescription details first. We will need to borrow your glasses frame in order that we may accurately grind your lenses to the appropriate shape.

Please click here for more information about re-glazing your current glasses.

Please note that very old frames may suffer a degree of corrosion over time. This may lead to weaknesses in some parts of a frame that could result in a frame fracture. This is outside of our control and, should this happen, we can not accept any responsibility for its occurrence.

9.         Do you supply frames only?

Yes, you can order any frame without the prescription for 50% of the full glazed price.

10.       Can I try the frames before ordering?

Yes, you can purchase a frame only as above, then return it for glazing and you will be charged the remaining 50%. In this case you will incur the second postage charge. Alternatively simply return the frame for a full refund, excluding the postage charge.

Frames & Lenses

11.       Are the frames and lenses the same quality as I get from my Optician?

Yes, we only use CE marked frames and CR39 lenses even in our budget range.

12.        How can you charge such low prices?

We do not have expensive overheads of high street premises and we do not offer frame fitting or adjustment services. However we do offer a complete money back guarantee even if you decide that you do not like the colour or style, a guarantee that would be difficult to find on the high street!

13.        What are the lenses made of?

Our standard lenses are made of a lightweight plastic material called CR39. Our thinner lenses are made of a 1.67 high index material. This is thinner than the 1.6 high index that you will see on many other websites and it is a lot thinner than the 1.56 CR39. Our high index lenses come with an anti-reflection coating as standard

14.       Do you sell prescription sunglasses?

Yes, you can choose a permanent tint which looks like sunglasses but contains your prescription. This is available in grey or brown. Alternatively you can choose TRANSITIONS lenses which darken in the sunshine and lighten indoors. There are various reacting lenses available but we believe that transitions are the best and therefore we only supply genuine transitions.

15.        What other coatings do you supply?

We do a scratch resistant, anti-reflection and UV block in addition to the tint or Transitions ®.

• Scratch Resistant coatings are not scratch proof, but they scratch considerably less than standard lenses.
• Anti-reflection coatings reduce glare in your vision and improve the cosmetic appearance of your spectacles because lights reflect less off the lenses. This is standard with our thinner lenses.
• UV400 protective coating.
  This protects your eyes from harmful UV light. This is standard with our tinted lenses.

16.       Do you supply bifocal or varifocal lenses?

We supply bifocal lenses when they are recommended by your Optician. We do not supply varifocal lenses because the measurements required are too precise to be accurately supplied on the internet. We recommend that you buy these from your local Optician.

17.       What shape are your bifocal lenses?

We supply the D28 bifocal. This is a sideways ”D” shape on the lens which gives a wider reading area than standard round shaped bifocals.

18.       How do I know if the frame is going to be the right size?

The best way is to order a similar size to a comfortable pair of glasses that you already have. All of our frames have measurements of the lens size, the distance between the lenses (DBL) and the side length. You will be able to read these measurements off your present frames. They are always in millimetres.

In this example, the important numbers are ‘47’, ‘21’ and ‘140’. This tells you that the lens diameter is 47mm, the nose bridge gap is 21mm and that the arm length is 140mm. The lens diameter refers to the horizontal width in millimeters of one of the frame’s lenses. The measurement is taken from the inside of one side of the frame to the inside of the other side of the frame.

The nose bridge gap is the distance in millimeters between the two lenses. The arm length is the distance of each frame arm taken from the hinge to where it starts to bend at the ear.

19.       What if my frames need an adjustment?

If you need a minor adjustment most local Opticians will do this for a small fee.

20.       What payment methods do you accept?

We accept credit/debit card payments. VISA, Mastercard, Delta, Solo and American Express. We do not accept NHS vouchers at the moment. Cheques are accepted with manual orders sent in by post.

21.       Is your payment page secure?

Yes.

22.       What is your guarantee policy?

We have a 100% no-quibble guarantee on all the spectacles we provide to you.

23.       What are the postage and packaging costs?
Bargain Specs Direct is determined to keep it’s postage & packing costs as low as possible in order that we remain competitive and save you money.

Our postage and packing charge is kept to a tiny £ per frame order. Please look here for full details of our Postage and Packing policy.

24.       Do you sell driving glasses?

Yes! We recommend that you pick a frame with a larger lens for better all-round vision. Selecting the ‘Anti-reflection coating’ option is a must to cut down on nighttime glare from streetlamps and oncoming traffic. We would also suggest that you choose the Transitions® option for a full driving spectacles package.