Some Common Questions & Answers
How to get my glasses prescription after my eye test ?
You can ask for a copy of your prescription after an eye test in the uk, and the testing optician is obliged to give you a clear copy after your sight test to take away by law. It doesn't matter if you pay for or get a free NHS eye test, this still remains the same, and you must be given a copy under the Opticians act. The sight test must be accurate and fit for purpose and you are entitled to rely on its accuracy wherever you decide to purchase eyewear or lenses made up to it. Sometimes you may have to ask for it, although the law is clear on this and you shouldn't have to ask for it, it should be given freely if you decide to make a purchase with another spectacle supplier. Any disclaimer attached to the prescription about its accuracy is not legal and you are covered under your statutory consumer rights with regard to unfair contracts and disclaimers. "you have the right to rely upon the prescription wherever you buy your glasses or lenses from".
It's worth noting that a Pupil Distance measurement needed for the manufacture of glasses does not form part of an eye test and your optician will not usually provide this measurement unless you are purchasing glasses from their store. At Ilkeston Factory Specs we can take this measurement and have the latest equipment to measure your PD accurately when purchasing our glasses About. Read more about getting your prescription
How do I measure my own PD (pupil distance) measurement ?
A Pupillary Distance or PD is the distance between the centres of your pupils from left to right.
This measurement is used to determine where you look through the lens of your glasses for best clarity.
A PD's total measurement for an adult is usually somewhere between 58mm-72 mm.
If you would like to measure your own PD it's relatively easy with a little patience using a simple ruler and the help of a friend. Your PD is usually written as one total value (e.g. 64mm) but sometimes written as 32/32 which is a value separately for each eye.
The average PD measurements for women is 63mm and for men 64mm. Here is how you can measure your pupillary distance yourself. Method 1 - Stand in front of a mirror at a distance of about 20 cm
Close your right eye. Place your ruler flat against the mirror and align it horizontally with the millimetre scale pointing upwards. Looking over the top of the ruler with your left eye, align the zero mark of the ruler in the centre of your left pupil. Now open your right eye and close your left but keep your head still and the ruler in the same position. Read the millimetre measurement corresponding to the centre of your right pupil. To be sure, you can repeat this process a few times for consistency. Method 2 - Make sure your friend is sat at roughly the same height as you and ask them to place a ruler across the bridge of your nose upside down so that the millimetre measurements are on the edge of the ruler closest to your eyes.
Your friend holds the ruler in their left hand across the bridge of your nose and closes their left eye to avoid any error. With their right eye open, they line up the ruler with the centre of your left pupil. Then, without moving the ruler, they close their right eye and with their left eye open, read the measurement to the centre of the right pupil. Best results are achieved if you fix your gaze on the bridge of the nose of the person taking the measurement. This point should ideally be around 40/50 cm's away.
What lenses and prescriptions do you supply ?
Instore
We supply high quality lenses in all our spectacles instore including Single Vision, Bifocal and varifocal lenses with prescriptions up to a total combined Sph power of up to 10 dioptres and Cyl's up to 6 dioptres generally speaking although there can be some exceptions. For example, if your Sph and Cyl measurements are both + or both - then these two values should be added together. For example Sph +2.00 and Cyl +2.00 together are measured as Sph +4.00. Sph-2.00 with a Cyl of - 2.00 are measured as a value of -4.00 (both below Sph + or - 10.00 dioptres so are fine). Feel free to call our store for more lens power advice. Lenses are available with every type of coating including glare resistant coatings, react to light coatings, computer and tech device blue glare reduction coatings, tints and hard coatings including lenses with prism's. Branded and unbranded lenses are available in standard thicknesses and also thinner lens materials for those with a stronger prescription and with all lens coatings you may need.
Online
We offer Single Vision or Varifocal lenses with most coatings to a lower range of prescriptions. We supply a special selection of online only lenses at a lower price point and not available instore. Online we supply Sph's up to +/- 4 dioptres and Cyl's up to +/- 2 diopters (if you have them). We don't supply lenses with Prism's online. Unfortunately we can't supply glasses or lenses to people who are registered with the eye hospital or eye doctor or under 16 years of age.
What lenses should I choose ?
What Lenses should you choose ?
1.5 index standard single vision lenses: These lenses often come free with glasses or at a small charge. The lens thickness is standard so might show a thick centre for + prescriptions or thick outer edges for minus prescriptions. The lens thickness is not generally a problem or particularly noticeable unless the powers of the prescription needed is higher than average (above 2 dioptres on Sph's) If the frame picked is particularly large on the eye size (which can lead to thicker centres or edges) then it might be worth considering the next lens up. This is called a 1.6 index lens and is approx 24% thinner than a 1.5 index lens.1.6 index single vision lenses - thin lenses: As stated above, these lenses are best used with a slightly stronger prescription. They offer a flatter more cosmetically pleasing thinner alternative to the 1.5 index standard lens. They are approx 24% thinner than standard lenses. These lenses offer an additional bonus, they usually come already anti glare coated. This makes the lenses less noticeable in the frame as they don't mirror light or flash back at the person viewing you, and give you an anti glare advantage, especially when driving at night and using your phone, pc etc.
1.67 single vision - ultra thin lenses:Approx 34% thinner than standard lenses and much flatter. Cosmetically superior to 1.5 or 1.6 index lenses. These lenses are used for stronger prescriptions or wearers who want light weight lenses. These lenses also generally come with an anti glare coating but are not available with react to light photochromic lenses. If you want very light weight, flat, cosmetically pleasing glasses and have a prescription over 3 to 3.5 dioptres you should consider these lenses.
1.56 index single vision Photochromic (plastic) sun reactive lenses:These lenses are slightly thinner than standard single vision lenses. They come with a sun reactive coating and a hardened coating. These lenses react to UV light and get darker quickly when the UV is high outside for example. These lenses return to their original virtually clear state when no UV is present like indoors.The lenses available are in Brown or Grey. Points to note. Very little reaction takes place in a car behind the windscreen. This is because UV cannot generally penetrate a modern car windscreen.These lenses don't react as quickly in low temperatures.There is a lifespan where the lenses are at peak performance. The Lifespan is according to the manufacturer around 2 to 3 years, at which point the colour stays more apparent in the lenses, although they will still react.
Photochromic lenses are not compatible with ultra thin 1.67 lenses or above.
1.5 index single vision tinted lenses:These lenses are standard thickness lenses with a permanent tint absorbed into the lens through to the centre. This tint process ensures that the tint colour won't wear off. The colour is permanent and won't change if exposed to uv. These lenses are ideal for sunglasses or just with a cosmetic pale tint for effect.
1.5 index Standard thickness Varifocal lenses: Entry level varifocals with some side distortion and an average reading area. These lenses are a standard thickness and great for versatile glasses allowing vision at all distances for a low price.
1.5 index Wide Varifocals - wide band of vision for all distances: A superior option to Standard varifocals for a little more money (our view probably worth the extra)These lenses are a standard thickness but can be pre-calibrated (made flatter and a little thinner) at no extra cost.The width of vision is wider than Standard Varifocals. Less outer edge distortion is noticeable and the reading area is also wider for ease of use.
1.6 index Thinner standard varifocals Varifocals:Cosmetically thinner for stronger prescriptions above 2 dioptres. These lenses are flatter and thinner than 1.5 index lenses. The material used is stronger and flatter. We automatically pre-calibrate these lenses too. They will be thinner and lighter to wear than standard thickness varifocals and come with an anti glare coating in the price. exceptionally light weight, flat and thinner than our other lens options. Suitable for stronger to high prescriptions. Superb quality varifocals at a great price.
The 1.67 lens option is available on any type of varifocal you choose with us online and comes with an anti glare coating in the price but not react to light photochromic lenses.
1.6 index Thin Wide band Varifocals and 1.67 Ultra Thin Wide band Varifocals: These thinning options are also available with our higher quality wide band varifocals with an anti glare coating in the price. This combines superb wide band vision throughout the lenses as well as flatter and light weight options.About Prisms.
Some prescriptions require a prism to be added to the lens. A prism can be measured as Prism in/out/up or down or a combination of. A prism is infact simply a movement of the lenses as indicated that allows clearer sharper vision. It often means the lenses have to be made bigger on manufacture to allow for the movement of the lens ensuring the lens centre is still neatly over your pupil when cut to fit into your spectacle frames. This requires lenses specially made for each particular frame and so costs more than a standard single vision lens. We keep our single vision lens prices low so buy them already made in bulk. There is no prism in them and it can't be added afterwards. We don't supply glasses with prisms online but do so instore.
Do you offer a 1 hour service in-store ?
We glaze prescription lenses in our laboratory onsite, so can supply, cut and fit most standard uncoated Single Vision lenses into your own or our new frames while you wait. We hold many prescriptions in stock so unless you have an unusual prescription you should be able to call in and get the glasses or lenses made or fitted while you wait. We can make glasses or supply lenses while you wait with prescription with Sph's up to +/-4 and Cyl's up to +/-2 inclusive. We can also reframe your own lenses into one of our new frames while you wait. Specially coated lenses, react-to-light, anti glare coated, thin and ultra thin high index lenses take just a few days. Varifocal and Bifocal lenses are also available within a few days in-store and online. More on 1 hr service
How long will my glasses take if I can't get them in an hour ?
We will usually be able to supply your ordered coated lenses, Bifocals and a Varifocal lenses and stronger prescription lenses not held in store within a few days.
Online we usually supply lenses and glasses ordered within 7 to 10 days although some more complicated prescription or lens types can take a few days more. We guarantee to fulfil orders in 30 days or less.
How long will it take to replace my Broken glasses frames ?
We can replace broken glasses frames in-store while you wait and online by return as soon as we receive your broken glasses frames in the post. More about broken glasses reframes
Do my glasses frames need to be new for a reglaze ?
You are welcome to use either brand new glasses frames you've bought elsewhere or your own pre-glazed cherished glasses frames if you prefern when using our reglaze my glasses frames service both in-store and online.
Do I have to book to come to store ?
You'll need to book a consultation if you want to try and buy our Prestige Designer Eyewear. Although we always recommend booking an appointment to attend store for our other while you wait services, we don't insist on it, and it's okay to call in when convenient for Unbranded Glasses, Reframes and Reglazes. More about Bookings
What if I book and can't make it ?
If you make a booking we'd appreciate it if you can prioritise and keep your booking as arranged. If you can't keep your booking please let us know on the telephone and leave a message. Then go ahead and make a new booking with us which we will be happy to honour.
What if I just want to try glasses for fit that I've seen online to buy online ?
Our Boutique Policy
Our Boutique and service is offered for the use of genuine customers who want to support high street businesses. Unfortunately we can't offer our boutique as a reference for unassociated online purchases and remain in business. This is why we have our own frame model referencing system instore. Due to the high value of our products we run an auto locked door system and don't allow photographs instore.