Eyeglasses or spectacles become necessary when people have problems with their vision. If you can’t see something at a distance or can’t focus on something near, then you are either nearsighted or farsighted. Both of these conditions require correction. The lenses of eyeglasses can correct vision problems. While this is the most common reason for buying eyeglasses, there are some people who use eyeglasses more as a fashion statement.
The Ophthalmologist
Before buying eyeglasses, the first step is to get your eyes checked. The ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats eye diseases. He specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes. He can guide the patient about eye care or treatment in case of an eye disease. He can identify if the problem with vision is caused by a disease.
The Optometrist
If it is a simple vision problem, then the optometrist can deal with it. The optometrist is a health service provider who deals with vision problems. She can check and mark out the level of nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Optometrists also prescribe eyeglasses.
Optical Store
An eyeglass store has many frames and lenses to choose, from plastic and metal frames to polycarbonate lenses with different coatings. These stores have opticians who can prescribe eyeglasses and help with the choice and fitting of the frames and lenses. They also measure the distance between the pupils, known as PD. This measurement helps in identifying the optical center of the lenses, which should be directly in front of the pupil. Apart from eyeglass stores, some pharmacies also have optician counters for choosing and fitting eyeglasses.
Online
In this age of e-commerce, there are many online shops offering eyeglasses. They are often able to cut costs and sell the glasses at a much cheaper rate than designer prescription glasses. Online providers have catalogs that show the frames they offer. The buyer can choose the frame color and read about the features of the frames and the lenses available, and then make an informed decision. It is possible to enlist an optician’s help, particularly for measuring the PD. Online providers may also suggest ways of measuring your own PD. Some online stores even use facial recognition technology on their website, so that you can upload your photo and try on virtual glasses.