Caveat Emptor Eyewear

09 Jan Caveat Emptor Eyewear

In Latin, Caveat Emptor refers to the principle of checking the quality or durability of goods before a purchase is made. Or in plain English, Let the Buyer Beware.

Today, the internet has made shopping much easier, quicker and more convenient than at any time in history. A few clicks on your Amazon account and you might have that widget you’ve been dreaming about at your door anywhere from a day or two to even a few hours from the purchase time.

Has convenience begun to over-ride durability? Are we settling for quick over quality? With nearly a dozen online opticals to shop from, you can see the flashy styles they have online. They may even offer to send you samples to try on.

The parts of the equation the online sellers cannot offer is your good health. Without being seen by a certified optometrist, you’re missing half the picture—- the health of your eyes. The health exam is key to knowing if you are experiencing any chronic conditions such as dry eye,
age-related macular degeneration, conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma and so many other issues that could lead to more serious problems throughout the body.

Working with a licensed optician is important as well. This is the person that helps you find the appropriate eyewear that works for your lifestyle, face and of course, your prescription. Think of an optician as a pharmacist or a tailor. You would never buy that suit for a wedding without having a tailor take all your measurements. Certainly, you could try to order a suit online without a tailor’s help—- but you might be swimming in fabric or wearing something too tight, too baggy or worse sporting something kind of frumpy on your big day. That’s no good. Some of the things you want to think about when shopping for your glasses:

• From what material are these frames made?
• Are they optical quality or simply snap when adjusted?
• Will they melt in the frame warmer when being adjusted?
• Does it come from a country that specializes in quality optical products?
• Are they really the brand they claim to be? Or, are you being taken in with a knock-off?
• Are these frames ophthalmic quality? Do they support a medical prescription?
• Is the online retailer going to take the necessary measurements to make the glasses?
• Are these frames a good choice for your prescription?
• How will you get service on the glasses once the purchase is complete? Adjustments, repairs, etc.
• Are the lenses of good quality? Or, are they making them of the lowest, cheapest quality?
• Are the lenses impact resistant? Or, is it simply garden variety plastic?
• Are their coatings (like anti-glare) of premium quality or are they the cheaply made and bound to scratch or peel?

These are just some of the questions you should pose to your online optical before purchasing.
If they are asking you to have another company provide any of these services for free, then let
the buyer beware. This could be a red flag for you.

Can you imagine buying a wedding dress and the retailer asks you to bring in your own
measurements before its tailored? If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.