5 Ways to Know If Your Optician is Really Helping You?

29 Aug 5 Ways to Know If Your Optician is Really Helping You?

How was your last experience purchasing glasses? If you’re not remembering it so well—- it could be that it was less than spectacular.

Or worse, you remember it vividly. The lack of attention, high prices or poor quality product. Or, perhaps you purchased eyewear online like a vending machine and received no service whatsoever.

Your eyes are one of your seven senses and are not to be undervalued. Sight is one of those things that we take for granted. Here’s some key indicators to look for when shopping for glasses or contact lenses.

1. PRESCRIPTION When you walk into a location—- does anyone ask you for your prescription? If not, they’re not helping you. Your prescription makes a difference in your frame selection. Frames need to be chosen not just on style, but on prescription parameters as well. A good optician can guide you through this process.
2. LIFESTYLE Your optician needs to be asking you what kind of work you do, your hobbies and what you do with your free time to get a good read on what kind of frame will be good for you. Are you active and into sports? Then, maybe you need a more durable frame. Are you a business person? Maybe a more conservative look is more appropriate. Maybe you’re more of a creative and need to express that. Then, an interesting, colorful or the frame the exudes the latest style might be the key.
3. CHOICE If your optician you’re working with thinks everything you try on looks great—-red flag! Not everything looks great on everyone— end of story. At some point during your selection process, the optician needs to say: No, those are not for you. And, they should be able to give you style or prescription reasons why. It’s always good to bring a trusted friend for style opinions, but remember to take your opticians’ guidance into account. They understand the optics of your prescription and how the lenses will cut out into your frame.
4. INTEREST If you feel as though your optician is phoning it in…. they probably are. A good optician will be engaged with you and offer choices that you would probably not consider on your own. From the moment you walk in, an optician’s job is to welcome you into the store, make you feel comfortable and offer you options you didn’t know you had.

5. GENERAL ABILITY Getting an accurately made pair of glasses starts with your optician. If the frame selection is poor based upon prescription, style or lifestyle, the end result will be as such. Poor. In many states, opticians are required to be A.B.O. Certified (American Board of Opticianry) because a bit of knowledge about optical is needed to successfully fit a patient with a pair of glasses. Glasses are not something you buy out of a vending machine—- you need an optician to really get a good pair. In essence, a vision tailor, to take accurate measurements of your frame in relation to how it sits on your face. If you are shopping at a place where the people are new or perhaps have little to no optical training, you could be getting a poor fitting frame upon pick up. The expert advice and guidance of an optician matters.

Think of your local optician as a combination of a hair stylist and a tailor. They are on trend with the latest styles and what will compliment you best. But, more than that, they are trained to understand the optics of your prescription and the right lenses to use to not only have you look your best—- but see your best. By taking into account your prescription, lifestyle, their fashion experience and taking a genuine interest in you, they can put all their training and experience to work to make you the best possible eyewear choice. Don’t settle for anything less than that.