Ordering glasses online

[8bit]

Anyone here used OpticiansDirect.co.uk? I need some new varifocals and the ones I like seem very well priced on this website, to the point of seeming too good to be true. Trustpilot reviews seem overwhelmingly positive. I have my prescription from a local optometrist which I got a couple of weeks ago so what could possibly go wrong, as they say?

Alternatively, the frames I want are from Oakley. I can order direct from them and they do lenses as well, are their lenses much/any better than high-street opticians or other online ones?

[Actual]

I have ordered from Glasses Direct a few times.

I sent them a Specsavers prescription and an older pair of Specsavers fitted glasses for them to take off physical eyeball measurements.

Specsavers were a bit pissed when I told them.

[Slowboathome]

Glasses Direct have been excellent when I've ordered from them.

They got my varifocals right first time - something the local high street optician couldn't manage.

[AndyAudi]

I ordered a replacement set of oakleys from then early 2021,
No probs at all,

Just checked at they’ve a deal on the ones I have so about £100 cheaper!!

[Speed Badger]

Yes I always use online glasses companies, just upload your prescription and they will do the rest. Only downside is you can't try on the frames, but some have a virtual try on where it scans your head on your phone and uploads a 180° view if the frames on you. I got a pair of carbon fibre Ray Bans for just over £100, would've cost near £250 going through the opticians bricks and mortar shop.

[a340driver]

I had great success replacing a pair of Tom Ford frames with these guys:

https://www.opticiansdirect.co.uk/

The lenses were varifocal and reactive. There were several exchanges getting them the photos of my head that they needed and were happy with but the end result was half the price and just as good as the broken ones they replaced.

Maybe I just got lucky, but my wifes had several pairs from them without issues.

[AndyAudi]

8bit said:

Anyone here used OpticiansDirect.co.uk?

Alternatively, the frames I want are from Oakley. I can order direct from them and they do lenses as well, are their lenses much/any better than high-street opticians or other online ones?

FYI

They probably saw me coming !
(I do have a small Oakley logo etched on my lenses)

[8bit]

Thanks all. OpticiansDirect don't seem to do Oakley varifocal lenses, only reading or distance, whereas Oakley.com will let you specify varifocals. The part I'm unsure about is whether or not Oakley prescription regular lenses are worth the premium or not. For my prescription sunglasses I will stick with Oakley though.

[Actual]

A couple of years ago I was shocked to find out that many many glasses logos are owned by one global company.

What company owns the glasses industry?
The global eyeglasses industry was worth $105.56 billion in 2020, of which Luxottica controlled 80 percent. The company estimates that over half a billion people worldwide are currently wearing their glasses.13 Aug 2022

Who is the largest eyewear provider?
The Luxottica Group is the largest eyewear company in the world. As a leading name in the eyewear industry, Luxottica designs, manufactures, and distributes a wide array of eyewear brands.29 Jan 2024

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Glassesdirect here- no issues. Used them for 10+ years

[SlimJ]

Actual said:

A couple of years ago I was shocked to find out that many many glasses logos are owned by one global company.

What company owns the glasses industry?
The global eyeglasses industry was worth $105.56 billion in 2020, of which Luxottica controlled 80 percent. The company estimates that over half a billion people worldwide are currently wearing their glasses.13 Aug 2022

Who is the largest eyewear provider?
The Luxottica Group is the largest eyewear company in the world. As a leading name in the eyewear industry, Luxottica designs, manufactures, and distributes a wide array of eyewear brands.29 Jan 2024

You'll find quite a few of the online players are also owned by EssilorLuxottica, including Glasses Direct - https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/brands/direct-...

[8bit]

SlimJ said:

Actual said:

A couple of years ago I was shocked to find out that many many glasses logos are owned by one global company.

What company owns the glasses industry?
The global eyeglasses industry was worth $105.56 billion in 2020, of which Luxottica controlled 80 percent. The company estimates that over half a billion people worldwide are currently wearing their glasses.13 Aug 2022

Who is the largest eyewear provider?
The Luxottica Group is the largest eyewear company in the world. As a leading name in the eyewear industry, Luxottica designs, manufactures, and distributes a wide array of eyewear brands.29 Jan 2024

You'll find quite a few of the online players are also owned by EssilorLuxottica, including Glasses Direct - https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/brands/direct-...

After my last post I did some more reading and found pretty much that - Essilor/Luxottica just about own the whole show. The lenses I'd selected on OpticiansDirect are "Crizal Prevencia", which are made by Essilor. I'm presuming therefore that the Oakley "own-brand" lenses will probably be the same thing, more or less.

[8bit]

Resurrecting this thread. I used opticiansdirect for the third time a few weeks ago to order a new pair of varifocals. The frames still haven't come back into stock from the supplier and they've no idea when they might arrive so I'm looking to cancel the order and buy elsewhere. Glassesdirect don't have the frame I want in the right colour. Where else is decent these days?

[DKL]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Glassesdirect here- no issues. Used them for 10+ years

Also owned by Essilorluxottica if that is of any concern/interest. But there are lots of smaller companies and brands out there.

[Bonefish Blues]

DKL said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Glassesdirect here- no issues. Used them for 10+ years

Also owned by Essilorluxottica if that is of any concern/interest. But there are lots of smaller companies and brands out there.

And worth seeking out. EL has history of buying and decontenting brands, so yes you get the logo, but the product may well not be of the same quality as it was pre acquisition, certainly in the context of the higher price.

https://fuselenses.com/blogs/news/how-luxxottica-t...

[Mr Pointy]

Try SelectSpecs:

https://www.selectspecs.com/

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Bonefish Blues said:

DKL said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Glassesdirect here- no issues. Used them for 10+ years

Also owned by Essilorluxottica if that is of any concern/interest. But there are lots of smaller companies and brands out there.

And worth seeking out. EL has history of buying and decontenting brands, so yes you get the logo, but the product may well not be of the same quality as it was pre acquisition, certainly in the context of the higher price.

https://fuselenses.com/blogs/news/how-luxxottica-t...

That’s crazy, just one store chain pulls stock and it tanks? Suggests that Oakley was in a precarious position already if it was that sensitive to retailer interference?

[Bonefish Blues]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Bonefish Blues said:

DKL said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Glassesdirect here- no issues. Used them for 10+ years

Also owned by Essilorluxottica if that is of any concern/interest. But there are lots of smaller companies and brands out there.

And worth seeking out. EL has history of buying and decontenting brands, so yes you get the logo, but the product may well not be of the same quality as it was pre acquisition, certainly in the context of the higher price.

https://fuselenses.com/blogs/news/how-luxxottica-t...

That s crazy, just one store chain pulls stock and it tanks? Suggests that Oakley was in a precarious position already if it was that sensitive to retailer interference?

SH is a massive player in the market and Oakley was Sunglass Hut's biggest brand representing 25% of sales, lost overnight, and in perpetuity. No brand I know of could survive that. Oakley wasn't my cup of tea, but it was a really well-regarded player with real reach, and AFAIK a good, profitable & well run business. But EL wanted it and that was how they did it.

In my sport, a major (still relatively niche in the grand scheme, of course) player was bought a few years ago and there are now stories of warranties not being honoured, frame quality going down and so on, so I'm sure it's a real thing.