# Eye exam without purchasing glasses **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461 "2014-01-10T19:55:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/21 "2014-01-10T23:40:39Z")
My local Costco has an opta-doctor to do exams. They sell glasses right next to her office. But you can buy there, elsewhere, or nowhere. The doctor doesn’t give you and sales pitch at all. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/22 "2014-01-11T00:58:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s not part of my regular duties to enter the construction area, and the safety goggles they hand out are uncomfortable on top of my prescription eyeglasses. Been there; done that. That’s why I got progressive prescription safety glasses last year. My God, what a difference. And fully paid for by my company, on top of my allowance of $500 glasses every two years. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/23 "2014-01-11T01:03:08Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Typically, though, the prescription won’t include things like the temple length and pupillary distance, which are needed to order the glasses. It’s not an issue if you’re buying the glasses in person but if you want to use a mail-order house like Zenni Optical, you need to know these numbers. I’m not sure what “temple length” is, but papillary distance (PD) is part of every prescription. At least it was when I made glasses in the 1975 lab. Have eyes changed since? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/24 "2014-01-11T01:08:15Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I’m not sure what “temple length” is, .. They use ultrasonic vibration to heat the plastic part that forms around your ear, to give you a perfectly snug fit. I recommend Costco, if you’re a member. Great prices and service. I probably saved $100 on my glasses. Well, not that it’s out of my pocket, but still. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/25 "2014-01-11T01:29:45Z")
From the Zenni Optical website: “The first numbers printed on the inside of a temple arm (the part that goes behind your ear) on a frame will just be the manufacturer’s model or stock numbers. But farther down the temple arm, there may be important numbers that refer to the dimensions of a frame. These numbers would be the measurement, in millimeters, of the lens width, bridge, and temple arm length.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/26 "2014-01-11T01:30:58Z")
And the prescriptions I have from the ophthalmologist don’t mention PD. Except for the one where I specifically asked them to include it. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/27 "2014-01-11T02:12:18Z")
On my last eye exam (at the Costco optometrist) I totally forgot to ask them to record the PD. But Zenni had it on record from my previous order, and it’s not like it changed! ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/28 "2014-01-11T02:43:45Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Typically, though, the prescription won’t include things like the temple length and pupillary distance, which are needed to order the glasses. It’s not an issue if you’re buying the glasses in person but if you want to use a mail-order house like Zenni Optical, you need to know these numbers. Zenni requires Pupillary Distance which you can have the optitician write on the prescription for you but they do not require the Temple Length measurment. The order form, however, does have spaces to enter those types of measurements but they are not required. I can only assume that the information Lenscrafter is refusing to give out is the Pupillary Distance (which they may not even have since they only measure if if you ask or if you order glasses from them). Bob ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/29 "2014-01-11T03:27:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > BTW, does anyone know if any of the glasses from Zenni Optical qualify as safety goggles? I wear prescription eyeglasses and sometimes need to enter a construction area that requires safety goggles. > [@Leaffan](#): > > I highly doubt it. And you probably require side shields anyway in a construction zone. Your work doesn’t provide prescription safety glasses? > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s not part of my regular duties to enter the construction area, and the safety goggles they hand out are uncomfortable on top of my prescription eyeglasses. **Leaffan** is correct. Zenni does not offer OSHA approved ‘impact resistant’ lenses. (I just checked. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/30 "2014-01-11T03:41:01Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Typically, though, the prescription won’t include things like the temple length and _ **pupillary distance** _, which are needed to order the glasses. It’s not an issue if you’re buying the glasses in person but\*\*\* if you want to use a mail-order house like Zenni Optical, you need to know these numbers\*\*\*. (bolding mine) _ **THIS!** _ The pupillary distance is _extremely_ important, especially when ordering bifocals. I found that out the hard way. :smack: But since the glasses didn’t cost all that much, it wasn’t _ **too** _ painful of a lesson. 😉 The ‘temple arm length’ isn’t so much of an issue, it’s relatively easy to adjust that yourself. IME, dipping the part that goes over your ear into very hot water for a few seconds will usually soften them enough to allow you to change the bend in them. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/31 "2014-01-11T03:53:52Z")
> [@urban1a](#): > > Zenni requires Pupillary Distance which you can have the optitician write on the prescription for you but they do not require the Temple Length measurment. The order form, however, does have spaces to enter those types of measurements but _ **they are not required** _. I can only assume that the information Lenscrafter is refusing to give out is the Pupillary Distance (which they may not even have since they only measure if if you ask or if you order glasses from them). > > Bob (bolding mine) Oh, but that \*\*\*is required \*\*\*, Bob! See my post (#30) above. I just wished I had seen this thread sooner. A Charter Member with only 770+ posts? You’re quite the ‘lurker’, ain’t you? 😉 _ **Love** _ your signature, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/32 "2014-01-11T06:21:23Z")
I go to Costco. Costco optometrists (the doctor, with a OD degree) are independent. The opticians (people who sell glasses, might not have any degree) work for Costco I think. The doctor has never put pressure on or even walked me over to the optician. He might not have a huge incentive to (unless he gets kickbacks?) but either way the pressure is low. Then I go to Zenni. PD doesn’t really change so I’ve only asked once, but the opticians didn’t balk or try to sell anything. IIRC they have to give it to every person who saw the optometrist, by law (although I don’t know if that’s federal or not). The optician may give you two numbers or one, and Zenni lets you use either, or you can add the two to get the one. You usually have to ask; in my experience the PD is never a part of your actual prescription. Just spherical, cylindrical, maybe axis, and optionally at your request “add” for hyperopia and contact numbers. > [@JBDivmstr](#): > > (bolding mine) > > Oh, but that \*\*\*is required \*\*\*, Bob! See my post (#30) above. > I just wished I had seen this thread sooner. > > A Charter Member with only 770+ posts? You’re quite the ‘lurker’, ain’t you? 😉 > _ **Love** _ your signature, by the way. **Dewey Finn** might be talking specifically about the temple length. Unless it’s changed, Zenni doesn’t even have a way to put that in. PD is important. I’ve seen a couple charter members with \<10 posts delurk after a decade plus. It’s weird. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/33 "2014-01-11T08:02:28Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Typically, though, the prescription won’t include things like the temple length and pupillary distance, which are needed to order the glasses. It’s not an issue if you’re buying the glasses in person but if you want to use a mail-order house like Zenni Optical, you need to know these numbers. I had my eyes examined at Walmart and when I asked for the things you mention they absolutely refused to give me those numbers. The stated reason was that IF they (Wallmart) made a mistake and gave me wrong numbers, I might sue them. ---
**Author:** ![Terry\_Kennedy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@Terry\_Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terry_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/34 "2014-01-11T08:57:47Z")
A few years ago, I discovered that the place I go to (part of a small regional chain) apparently sells the sample frames they get, and never actually orders any frames. So, I’d pick out a frame I liked, and when I brought them to the counter, I’d get the “sorry, last one in that color” routine (I have 2 prescriptions, one for regular use and one for reading). After one of the frames failed, I searched for it online (thinking it was discontinued). I found it in stock as a current product at Go-Optic. So I ordered a couple (frames only) and had my optician move the lenses over from the broken frames. As part of this, I had a discussion about their “last one” routine and informed them that they could either match the online price I find or I’d order the lenses from them and the frames online. Their prices have come _way_ down as a result. I no longer get the “2nd pair free” deal, but I still end up paying a lot less than I used to. Which reminds me, it’s time for my eye exam… ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/35 "2014-01-11T09:26:16Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > PD doesn’t really change so I’ve only asked once, but the opticians didn’t balk or try to sell anything. IIRC they have to give it to every person who saw the optometrist, by law (although I don’t know if that’s federal or not). The optician may give you two numbers or one, and Zenni lets you use either, or you can add the two to get the one. You usually have to ask; in my experience the PD is never a part of your actual prescription. Just spherical, cylindrical, maybe axis, and optionally at your request “add” for hyperopia and contact numbers I ordered from [39DollarGlasses.com](http://39DollarGlasses.com), and their website contains instructions for measuring PD yourself if it isn’t on your prescription. As you’d expect, it involves holding a ruler in front of your eyes and getting up close to a mirror. It wasn’t difficult at all, although I did it several times just to make sure I was coming up with the same number each time. ---
**Author:** ![Artemis\_Tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/36 "2014-01-11T13:05:55Z")
That’s how it works here in Brazil. In fact, you HAVE to go to an eye doctor before buying prescription glasses. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/37 "2014-01-11T14:56:08Z")
25 years ago, I was a college student covered by my parents’ insurance plan. They covered the eye exam, and gave you an allowance toward frames and lenses. I went to a local optometrist office, got the exam, and started ordering the frames and lenses. Turned out that even after the allowances, it would be more than the I had ever paid for glasses. I cancelled the order and asked for my prescription. The optician refused, saying he was not authorized to hand it over. I was very poor at the time. I didn’t want to shell out $75 for another eye exam. I didn’t want to pay $200 for glasses, when I could get a pair for $70. I went to the free legal clinic operated by the school. They had a bunch of pre-printed forms reminding the optician of the law. You just filled in your name and that of the optician shop, the lawyer signed it, and off it went. A couple of days later I went in and picked up the prescription. Apparently the legal clinic sent out a couple of these a week to the same shop and a few others in town! There being a steady supply of college kids coming in and being responsible for their own stuff for the first time, taking advantage of cluelessness was a profitable business model. The very thin legal thread they were hanging from was that the optometrist and optician are purportedly unrelated businesses. The optician can’t hand over the prescription, but the optometrist can. Something like if your doctor sends your prescription directly to the pharmacy, the pharmacy can’t hand it over to you. You have to get a paper version from the doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/38 "2014-01-11T15:38:56Z")
A few years ago I was between insurance policies and couldn’t afford to go to my regular guy. So I went to Lenscrafters and got a prescription, nothing else. When I tried to order glasses online, I learned for the first time about pupillary distance and how Lenscrafters hadn’t written it on the prescription sheet. It was over an hour away, so I just went to my regular guy and explained the situation; he measured it for free (took less than a minute). I didn’t find anything I liked online, so I ended up taking the prescription and the p-d Post-It note to Wal-Mart and getting the glasses made there. Last month I returned to my regular guy. He did the exam, but didn’t have any frames I liked. He suggested a couple of places I could try. “I’ll give you a copy of your prescription, and I’ll keep a copy here. If you find frames you like, you can have the glasses made there, or buy the frames and bring them here and I’ll make them. Either way.” So yeah, feel free to mix and match. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/39 "2014-01-11T21:05:15Z")
> [@steveroo](#): > > I ordered from [39DollarGlasses.com](http://39DollarGlasses.com), and their website contains instructions for measuring PD yourself if it isn’t on your prescription. As you’d expect, it involves holding a ruler in front of your eyes and getting up close to a mirror. It wasn’t difficult at all, although I did it several times just to make sure I was coming up with the same number each time. Yeah, Zenni does too, although I’d hit a doctor at some point. > [@demian\_travis](#): > > That’s how it works here in Brazil. In fact, you HAVE to go to an eye doctor before buying prescription glasses. US: you can order eyeglasses with a 10 year old prescription, or even just numbers online. In store it may depend. Contacts require a current prescription by Federal law, which last 1 year here, although maybe other states have longer terms. Online retailers won’t accept numbers; they usually call your doctor before filling it. “Eyeglass rule” - by federal law ([PDF](http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2006-title16-vol1/pdf/CFR-2006-title16-vol1-part456.pdf)), as long as you pay for your eye exam, the doctor must immediately give you your prescription. Along with other restrictions on being a dick doctor. Also [Contact lens rule](http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus62-contact-lens-rule-guide-prescribers-and-sellers). ---
**Author:** ![John\_F.Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@John\_F.Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_F.Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exam-without-purchasing-glasses/678461/40 "2014-01-11T21:20:35Z")
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