Ordering glasses online for the first time can feel more complicated than it needs to be. Between uploading prescriptions, choosing lens types, selecting coatings, and figuring out your pupillary distance, there are more steps involved than a standard online purchase. But once you understand the process, it is straightforward — and considerably faster and more affordable than the high street equivalent.
This guide walks you through every step, from choosing your frame to receiving your finished glasses, so you know exactly what to expect before you start.
Step 1: Have a Valid, Up-to-Date Prescription
Before you do anything else, you need a current prescription from a qualified optician. In the UK, prescriptions are typically valid for two years, though your optician may issue a shorter validity period if your vision is changing. Ordering glasses against an outdated prescription is the single most common cause of discomfort and poor vision in online purchases — so this step is non-negotiable.
Your prescription should include your sphere (SPH), cylinder (CYL), axis, and addition (ADD) values where relevant, as well as your pupillary distance (PD). If your optician did not include your PD, ask them for it — they are required to provide it on request. Alternatively, our virtual try-on tool can help you measure it accurately before you order.
Step 2: Choose Your Frame
With your prescription in hand, the next step is selecting a frame. Browse our full range of glasses frames and filter by gender, shape, colour, material, or price to narrow down your options. If you have a preference for a particular style — rectangular, round, cat-eye, aviator — use the shape filters to focus your search.
Frame size matters as much as shape. Each product listing includes lens width, bridge width, and arm length measurements. If you currently have a pair of glasses that fit well, comparing these numbers to your existing frame is a reliable way to find a similar fit before ordering.
Our virtual try-on tool lets you use your camera to preview how any frame looks on your face in real time, which removes much of the uncertainty from ordering online. It also measures your PD automatically, which you can use during checkout.
If you are unsure where to start, our men’s glasses and women’s glasses collections are organised by style and shape, making it easier to browse with a clear direction.
Step 3: Select Your Lens Type
Once you have chosen a frame, you will be guided through lens selection at checkout. The main options are single vision, bifocal, varifocal, and non-prescription. If you are unsure which lens type your prescription requires, our guide to types of prescription lenses explains each option in detail and who each one is suited for.
As a quick reference:
- Single vision — corrects one distance only, either near or far. The most common lens type.
- Varifocal — corrects distance, intermediate, and near vision in a single lens with no visible line.
- Bifocal — two fixed zones for near and distance with a visible dividing line.
- Non-prescription — plain lenses with no correction, available with coatings such as blue light filtering.
If you need both a distance pair and a reading pair, our 2 for 1 offer applies to most frames and makes ordering two pairs in a single transaction very straightforward.
Step 4: Enter or Upload Your Prescription
At checkout, you will be prompted to provide your prescription. You can either enter the values manually from your prescription document or upload a clear photograph of it directly. Both methods work equally well.
Double check every value before confirming — sphere, cylinder, axis, and addition if applicable, as well as which values apply to your left and right eye. Transposing left and right is one of the most common errors when entering a prescription manually, and it will result in glasses that do not correct your vision properly.
At Glasses Store, our team reviews every prescription before glazing begins. If anything looks unclear or inconsistent, we will contact you before proceeding with your order rather than risk producing a pair that does not match your needs.
Step 5: Choose Your Lens Coatings and Thickness
With your lens type confirmed, you will then choose any additional coatings and your preferred lens thickness. This is worth taking a moment over rather than skipping through.
Anti-reflective coating is one of the most impactful additions you can make to any pair of glasses — it improves visual clarity, reduces glare from screens and headlights, and makes lenses easier to clean. We covered this in detail in our guide to anti-reflective coating for glasses. Other options include anti-scratch, UV protection, blue light filtering, transitions (photochromic), and polarised lenses for sunglasses.
Lens thickness is determined by your prescription strength. For most prescriptions, standard thickness lenses are perfectly appropriate. For higher prescriptions — particularly a sphere of ±4.00 or above — thinner high-index lens materials are worth considering. They produce a lighter, slimmer lens from the same prescription, which is more comfortable to wear and more aesthetically appropriate in most frames.
All coating and thickness options are clearly explained at each step of checkout, with no upselling.
Step 6: Review and Place Your Order
Before confirming your order, review the full summary carefully — frame, lens type, prescription values, coatings, and delivery address. Once you are satisfied everything is correct, complete payment and you will receive an order confirmation by email.
At Glasses Store, all glasses are glazed in-house by qualified technicians. Single vision orders placed before 3pm are typically dispatched the following working day. Varifocal and bifocal orders take a little longer due to the additional precision involved. You will receive tracking information once your order has been dispatched.
Every pair is quality-checked before it leaves us, and each order is covered by a 12-month frame warranty and our 90-day returns policy. If your glasses do not feel right when they arrive, our team is on hand to help resolve it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my pupillary distance (PD) to order glasses online? Yes — your PD is needed to position the optical centre of the lens correctly in front of your pupil. Without an accurate PD, your glasses may cause discomfort or headaches even if the prescription itself is correct. Your optician should be able to provide it, and our virtual try-on tool can also measure it before you order.
Can I order varifocal glasses online? Yes. Varifocal lenses can be ordered online with a valid prescription. You will need your full prescription values including the addition (ADD) figure, which relates to the near vision correction. Our team reviews every varifocal order before glazing begins to ensure accuracy.
What if my glasses do not feel right when they arrive? Contact our customer support team as soon as possible. In most cases, discomfort with a new pair of glasses is temporary as your eyes adjust — but if the prescription or fit does not feel correct, we will work with you to resolve it. Our 90-day returns policy covers all orders.
How long does delivery take? Single vision glasses ordered before 3pm are typically dispatched the following working day. Varifocal and bifocal orders generally take a few additional days due to the precision of the glazing process. You will receive tracking details by email once your order has been dispatched.
Can I order more than one pair at the same time? Yes, and it is worth doing. Our 2 for 1 offer applies to most frames, so ordering a second pair — whether a spare, a reading pair, or a different style for different occasions — costs significantly less than buying them separately.
Is it safe to order prescription glasses online? Yes, when you choose a reputable retailer with in-house glazing and proper quality control. We covered this in full in our guide to buying glasses online safely.
Ready to Start?
Ordering prescription glasses online from Glasses Store takes most people under ten minutes once they have their prescription to hand. Every order is glazed in-house, quality-checked before dispatch, and backed by a 12-month warranty and 90-day returns.
Browse our full range of glasses frames and follow the steps at checkout to customise your lenses, coatings, and thickness to your exact prescription.
