It seems that you can buy just about anything online these days – clothes, DVD’s and of course, books. But did you know that you can now buy prescription glasses online? And not just a pair of magnifying readers but glasses made to your exact script.

All very well but why would you? The answer is the price. You can pick up a complete pair of custom made glasses for around $65 delivered to your home.

The shops pay for expense shop fit-outs and are typically located in premium locations where the rent is sky high. They also charge massive mark-ups. Online businesses don’t have to pay for expensive shops in prime locations so can pass on huge savings to the customer. They also don’t have the ridiculous mark up’s like the retail shops. Retail shops typically mark up the prices of their glasses between five and 10 times the cost, pushing the average price of prescription glasses to more than $300. Glasses priced at $300 in the shops typically sell for around $65 online. The shops have kept prices high because, until now, the consumer hasn’t had any other option.

Buying glasses over the internet sounds complicated so how does it work? It’s surprisingly easy. Here’s how it works:

1. Obtain your prescription

The first step is to get your prescription. Through Medicare, eye tests are available to all eligible cardholders every 2 years. You simply make an appointment with your optometrist for an eye test and obtain your prescription. Alternatively, you may use a previous prescription as long as it is not more than 2 years old.

The prescription contains all the optical information needed to make your glasses and optometrists must, by law, provide you with a copy upon request. It’s up to you where you buy your glasses; you’re certainly under no obligation to buy them from the optometrist who performs your eye test.

2. Choose your frame

Browse the frames available online and choose one to your liking. Then, to ensure the frames will be a good fit, match them up with your existing pair. The websites typically provide guidance on how to select a frame of similar size and style to an old pair. You will generally have a wide selection of frames to choose from, including fully rimmed, semi-rimless, bendable, designer and rimless frames with a variety of colours to choose from.

3. Choose your lenses

It’s now time to customise your glasses by selecting the lenses you would like, such as reading, computer, distance glasses or bifocals.

You may also like to select lens options such as anti-reflective coating, thin lenses, UV protection and sunglasses. Sunglass options normally include tints, photochromic lenses (darken with sunlight) and polarised lenses. Simply select as required.

4. Place your order

Once you have selected your frames and lenses it’s time to order. At GlassesOnline, you can order online or over the telephone.

Although we’re an online business, many of our customers call us to place their order. That way, we can answer any questions and talk you through the options and complete your order. If ordering online you can pay using your credit card or by choosing direct deposit. Delivery time is normally within 2 weeks.