Part I: Frames 

Why It’s Better To Buy In-person:

When it comes to buying a pair of frames, we’ve seen it all. Some people bring along a trusted friend or partner to help them make the best choice while others know exactly what they want because it’s what their favourite celebrity is wearing. Some people try on every pair in the store, while others only care about the sticker price. Regardless of personal tastes, one thing is for certain: Your glasses will spend a lot—and we mean a lot!—of time on your face, so you’ve got to be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for.  

It’s all about comfort 

When you order a pair of frames online, you can sometimes upload a photo or use the virtual “try on” to see the different shapes and colours. This may seem like it’s as good as trying on the real thing, but there’s enormous value in touching and feeling your most important accessory before you buy it. This is especially true with glasses, because the perfect fit is all-important when it comes to your prescription eyewear. 

Imagine opening up the mail and trying on your frames for the very first time. So many things can go wrong! Glasses that are too small will squish or pinch your head, which can leave red marks on your skin and cause excruciating headaches. You’ll also find problems if the arms (or temples as we call them in the business) are too short or too long, producing discomfort around your ears. And what if the bridge isn’t right? If it’s too small, you’ll always be looking through the bottom of the frame. And if it’s too big, your glasses will constantly slip off your nose. These issues aren’t just possibilities. You’re bound to run into at least one of these problems if you don’t try your glasses on before you buy them.  

Things aren’t always what they seem 

You may have noticed that purchasing glasses online is very inexpensive. What you may not have noticed is that these low prices come at a cost to the consumer. The frames that you’ll find online are always much flimsier than those you’ll find at an optical store. That’s because the material they use to make the glasses is also inexpensive. And because they’re mass-produced in assembly line, quality is lost as each frame is made.  

Don’t believe us? Check it out for yourself. The next time you’re at the dollar store or pharmacy, pick up a pair of frames and feel the plastic. Then go into a real optical store or sunglass retail shop and touch a frame there. You’ll instantly feel the difference (and see it, too).  

Bottom line: We recommend going into an optical store and talking to an experienced optician about fit as you try on each pair. It’s the only way to ensure that you won’t run into fit problems down the road. And don’t be afraid to spend a little bit more on better frames. Your face will thank you later.