The seven things they didn’t teach you about buying eyewear

By Alex Feldman, Founder of Alexander Daas Opticians on Larchmont and Alexander Daas Eyewear. Connect with me on Instagram @AlexF519 and our brand @AlexanderDaas

As published in the Larchmont Chronicle - March, 2022

Your eyewear is an essential used on a daily basis and should fit right, feel right, and look good. With so many options online and in-store, it may feel overwhelming to make a choice and feel confident about what you picked out, and the types of lenses you’ll be seeing through everyday.

Here are seven things to look out for to make sure you are fitted properly:

1) Find a frame where your eyes are centered in the lens area to avoid optical illusions.

Oftentimes people buy frames that are too wide. If your eyes are too far in from the center, it creates an illusion they’re running towards each other due to the negative space on the outside. Conversely, if your eyes are too far out from the center, it will look like they’re darting outwards.  

2) Make sure your frame sits in the right place on your nose bridge, not too high, and not too low.

The right bridge fit will create the best optic experience for vision, comfort, and appearance. The bridge shouldn’t be too tight, but at the same time shouldn’t be so wide that the frame slides down your nose. The key is for the frame to sit with your eyes somewhere between ½ to ¾ of the way from the bottom to the top of your lens.

3) Opt for digital lenses to experience optimal clarity.  

Digital lenses are the latest innovation in lens fabrication that provide a sharper image, peripheral vision and improved contrast, especially when paired with anti-reflective (AR) coating which helps reduce glare. Using advanced technology, they remove aberrations which greatly increases accuity. And, they have a compensated RX so the acting power on your eye is the correction you need, based on measurements the optician takes (ranging from your pupillary distance to multiple frame fit measurements unique to how each frame fits you). 

4) If you’re buying eyewear online, assess if the provider has a process that can take the correct measurements to ensure your frames fit properly and deliver the best health to your eyes.

While buying eyewear online has become popular, be cautious as online measurements are challenging to get right, especially for ophthalmic frames. If you have the ability to work directly with an optician, it’s highly recommended to do so in person to take the correct measurements with quality optical equipment.  

In addition, be careful with cheap online lenses as these are usually low grade optical quality, mass produced, and as many reports have shown, don’t pass quality control inspections for proper prescription power or measurements, all which can hinder the quality of your long-term vision.

5) Look for eyewear produced in boutique labs so they are not mass made, to make sure you have the best quality supporting your eye health and vision. 

Oftentimes when you go in network through your vision plan (falsely assumed to be a vision ‘insurance’ but they are actually just group discount plans), your frames go through mass production facilities that result in lower quality lenses and finishing work. In many boutique settings, opticians use high quality independent labs for the lens fabrication and do the finishing work in house, facilitated by qualified technicians who use top of the line equipment, and simply said, more TLC. 

6) Color can help, whether you’re looking for something more subtle or bold.

Similar to how makeup can be used to enhance features, exploring colors in eyewear can compliment your eyes, skin tone, hair and overall complexion. For example, if you are looking for something more subdued and have blue eyes, look for a frame that has a highlight of blue to accentuate your eye color through the lens.  Or, if you’re looking to go bold, consider frames that are vibrant in color and would generally match your day-to-day wear (or not if you’re more edgy and love to have a diverse color palette).

7) Use your FSA/Flex dollars on prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. 

Simply submit your receipt to your provider for reimbursement. Based on your company’s fiscal year, the dollars that you contribute tax free out of your pay expire, so set a calendar alert to make sure you use them and don’t lose them (whether on eyewear or other medical expenses). By the way, did you know that all expired FSA dollars go back to the employer? 

If you have eyewear questions on the do’s and don'ts, you can stop by our shop at 161 N. Larchmont, or Instagram message us at @alexanderdaas or me directly @alexf519.