Buying Prescription eyewear Frequently Asked Questions

Lens Questions
Lens Coating Questions
Frame Questions
Prescription Questions
Warranty Questions

Insurance Questions

Choose the style of eyewear that you want and follow these four simple steps:
1.    Choose your frame
2.    Choose your lens
3.    Choose a lens coating
4.    Send us a hard copy of your prescription via email or fax

What if I have questions about my prescription needs?

If you have questions about the ordering process or your prescription needs, please call our Optical Specialists at 877-313-4960.

Why do you need a hard copy of my prescription?

It’s the law.  In order to ensure that your lenses are made exactly for your correction needs, the law requires that we have a hard copy of your exam information on file. The doctor's or optician's name or the name of the Eyecare Practice should be on the prescription, as well as the date your refraction exam was done. There may also be an expiration date. We can utilize a prescription for two years from the exam date, or until the doctor's written expiration date.

Do you keep my prescription on file?

Yes we do.  Your prescription is typically valid for two years from the exam date, unless otherwise stated.  We'll keep it on file until it's expired.

After I place my order how long will it take to get my prescription eyewear?

Typically, it takes 10 to 16 business days for your prescription to be completed at the optical lab.  Times may vary based on the demand of the optical lab.

Who fills my prescription?

Maui Jim and Oakley use their own optical labs so you can be sure that your lenses are the same materials and quality as the product found in our store and on our website for these companies.

Giro, Smith, Spy and VonZipper contract with one of the most reputable labs in the country to make prescription lenses for their frames. These high quality lenses are made to closely match the color of standard sunglass lenses.

Have a strong prescription?

While most highly curved sunglasses are limited to total correction powers between +3.00 and -3.00, many companies are offering wrapped designs that can be made into prescriptions for stronger corrections. Also, some labs offer High Index lens materials which create thinner profiles for strong corrections.  Ask us, fax or e mail your prescription to us and we will help you decide what will work best for you.

What if my prescription doesn’t work?

Before you ever receive your frames, our optical specialists check the lenses against the prescription provided by your eye doctor for accuracy. If the lenses match the prescription, your glasses are mailed to you. There is a 45 day period after receipt of your prescription glasses for any corrections to be made by the Rx lab. If you have trouble adjusting to the prescription here are some options:

1. In some cases, curved or wrapped lenses take a few days for your eyes and brain to adjust to the wrap around view. If you have tried for at least 2 weeks to adjust, we may suggest you take the frames and lenses back to your eye care specialist to see if a prescription adjustment is necessary for the style of lens selected. 2. In rare cases, Polarized lenses may cause visual difficulties. In these instances, replacement of the polarized lens with a non-polarized lens solves the problem.

3. Some people have trouble adjusting to Progressive lenses. If, after 3 weeks, you are still having difficulity with your progressive lenses, call us for options.

4. sportsvisionbend.com offers a one time re-make of prescription lenses to correct a re-written doctors prescription or a lens change for non-adaption to polarized or progressive lenses for Oakley, Maui Jim, Smith, VonZipper and Giro within 45 days of your order date. While there is no charge for the new lenses, there will be a $20.00 service fee to cover freight/shipping costs. Note: Spy Optics offers a doctor change lens replacement at 50% of the original lens price, plus the $20.00 service fee.

5. sportsvisionbend.com will contact the individual lab to see what fee's are asessed for lens change requests after 45 days. MOST labs will charge a minimum of 50% but some require a new lens purchase.

LENS QUESTIONS

What does polarized mean?

When sunlight bounces off a reflective surface such as glass, water or snow, the result is glare. Polarized lenses contain a filter that blocks glare which makes them ideally suited for use around water, snow, and for driving.

What's the best lens tint for me?

Brown and Amber tints: Amber or brown is effective for absorbing most blue light waves which sharpens visual acuity, improving depth perception and contrast in variable light conditions. Amber is popular for skiing, driving and general use.

Grey and Smoke tints: This is a neutral color that allows true perception, natural contrast, and the least amount of color distortion of any lens color. It is therefore a good, general-purpose color. Though grey does not enhance contrast, it is ideal for water sports, marine activities, driving, flying and beachwear.

Rose and Vermillon tints: This is a general purpose tint that heightens visual acuity and enhances color. Rose, like amber, is effective in filtering scattered blue light and improving contrast. It delivers the brightest field of vision and is therefore applicable for golf, skiing, fishing and all flat light conditions.

Yellow tints: A long time standard in ski and shooting sports, yellow provides excellent depth perception and contrast in low light. Improve contrast and give a sensation of heightened visual acuity.

What is Visual Light Transmission (VLT)?

The amount of light that is allowed through the lens. Lower percentages mean the lens will seem darker. Higher percentages mean the lens will seem brighter.  For example:  Grey Polarized 10% and Clear 98%

LENS COATINGS

Bothered by reflection on your lenses?

Light bouncing off fluorescent bulbs and computer screens can cause eye fatigue.  And if you drive at night, the glare of headlights is distracting.  Anti-reflective treatment works wonders in these situations; it provides the clearest, sharpest vision.

What is the purpose of mirrored lenses?

Mirrored lenses are good at blocking glare without changing color perception. Due to its reflective property, any mirrored lens will appear darker since it will reflect a certain amount of light trying to reach the eye. A mirrored lens will also add an extra buffer against glare. This makes them ideal for outdoor uses such as skiing.

What is Anti-reflective (AR) Coating?

Micro thin layers applied to a lens to reduce the amount of reflected light and glare that reaches the eye.

FRAME QUESTIONS

 What do I need to know about selecting a frame?

Contrast the shape of the frame with the shape of your face.  Rectangular works well for round faces, round for square faces.

Your frame size should be in scale with your face size.
Color should complement your skin tone and hair color.  Cool complexions have blue or pink undertones, warm complexions have a yellow cast.  Good colors for warm skin tones:  camel, khaki, gold, peach, orange.  Best bets for cool skin tones:  black, magenta, pink, and blue.

Pay attention to frame materials.  Whether you want frames that are lightweight, flexible, strong, or hypoallergenic, ask us for help finding frames that are right for you.

PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION

How do I read my eyeglass prescription?

Our optical specialists know this stuff inside and out, just send us your prescription and they’ll take care of everything. However, some of our customers like to learn as much about their prescription eyewear needs as possible. So here is an explanation of what you can expect to find on your prescription.

An eyeglass prescription is written in a standardized format worldwide, with standardized notation so it can be interpreted easily. The information we use are the Spherical, Cylinderical and Axis measurements as well as the Pupil Distance or PD measurement. Let's look at an Rx and break it down:

OD -2.00 -1.00 x 178  PD 32.5. The first number, Sphere or SPH, (-2.00) tells us the spherical refractive error (farsightedness or nearsightedness). In this case, because there is a minus sign in front of the 2.00, this patient is nearsighted. A plus sign would indicate farsightedness.

The second number, Cylinder or CYL, (-1.00) is the astigmatism. If there is no astigmatism, we generally write the letters DS or SPH after the first number to let the optician know that we didn't just forget to write in the astigmatism.

Our web pages talk about Total Power in the description pages. To optain your Total Power reading, add your SPH correction power to your CYL corretion power. In the example above, the Right Eye (OD) Total Power is -2.00 plus -1.00 or -3.00 Total Power. The Left Eye (OS) is calculated the same way. If your correction has a + sign in the CYL box, please call us. Those corrections are calculated differently.

The next number, Axis or X, (178) is the direction of the astigmatism. Astigmatism, a football-shaped eye, can be measured in any direction around the clock. We use the numbers from 1 to 180 to indicate the degrees of orientation of the football shape. In this case, the Axis is 178 degrees from vertical.

Pupil Distance or PD number is the distance in millimeters between your pupils, using your nose as the center point. PD measurement can be a single number such as 60mm or two smaller numbers such as 29mm / 31mm. In the example above, the center of the Right Pupil is 32.5mm from the center of the nose bridge. Pupil Distance tells the lab where the 'sweet spot' for your correction should be for each lens. Pupil Distance is not always measured by your eye doctor, so you may have to ask to have that measurement made. You can also get that measurement by calling the last lab that made Rx lenses for you. Generally, Pupil Distance does not change in adults from year to year.

There may be additional numbers in a glasses prescription. For instance, if the basic prescription is followed by a small number with a superscript (1^) it indicates prism correction. There may be more than one set of prism numbers for each eye.

Lastly, there can also be numbers denoting the amount of near reading strength needed (bifocal or progressive). They usually go from +1.00 to +3.00, depending on age and visual need.

The letters OD and OS in front of a prescription let us know which eye each string of numbers is for. OD and OS translate to right eye and left eye. They're from the Latin words Oculus Dexter and Oculus Sinister.

WARRANTY QUESTIONS

My prescription lenses are scratched, are they warranted?

Maui Jim, Oakley, Smith, Giro and VonZipper prescription lenses are warranted against lens scratches for 1 year.

This one time / one year Scratch Coat Warranty is intended for prescription lenses that have been scratched during normal use and not for lenses that have been eaten by your dog, run over by your car, kicked across the parking lot, dropped off a cliff or any other user error. The Scratch Coat Warranty is offered only in the first 12 months after the initial purchase of your prescription lenses. The Scratch Coat Warranty allows a ONE TIME re-make of your lenses in the original prescription, the original lens material, color and size, if any one of these items change, you will need to purchase new lenses.

Who Pays for Shipping Charges in cases of warranty or re-do's?

For any and all warranty, lens changes, Dr. re-do or any other reason your prescription frames/lenses are sent back to the lab, the customer is responsible for all shipping fees. The only exception to this is if sportsvisionbend.com made the error.

Scratch Coat Warranty service fee is $25.00. While your lenses are replaced free of charge by the lab, there are still shipping costs, which include shipping TO the lab, return of the warranted lenses FROM the lab, and shipping the new lens/glasses back to you via Insured Priority Mail. If you wish to upgrade to 2 Day or Next Day Air via FedEx, the cost will be increased accordingly.

My Rx frame / lenses appear to be defective, what can I do?

All prescription frames and lenses are inspected before they are shipped to the customer. In the rare instance that a defect shows up after you receive your glasses, sportsvisionbend.com will work with the lab to correct the problem as quickly as possible. Since prescription eyewear is federally regulated, you will be required to send the frame/lenses to the dispensing optician (sportsvisionbend.com) instead of directly to the lab that made the lenses.

If the defect was a result of error on sportsvisionbend.com's part, we will take care of shipping costs. If the defect becomes apparent after a month or more of use, then the customer will be responsible for shipping costs.

Generally, shipping for defective warranty is  $15.00. This covers shipping the frames to the lab that is warranting a defect of your glasses and return shipping to you via Insured Priority Mail.

Insurance Questions

We don't currently accept or doing any insurance billing.  You pay up front with your credit card and seek re-imbursement from them.  Please contact your insurance company for details. We will do everything possible to ensure you get all the necessary information for submittal.

We do accept HSA (health savings account) and FSA (flex spending account) credit cards.

Still have questions?  Call or email and our optical specialist will be happy to answer your questions.
toll free 877-313-4960 or customercare@sportsvisionbend.com