Buy Smart Archives

Can You Use Vision Benefits to Purchase Eyewear Online?

Written By Barry Silver

Can you purchase eyewear online and use your vision benefits? It’s a question we hear often—and we’ll answer for you here.

First, let’s discuss what vision benefits actually are.

Understanding Vision Benefits

Confusion swirls around the topic of vision insurance. The term “insurance” is used loosely in the world of vision. What you may be calling insurance is actually a plan designed to offer vision benefits to cover some of your costs.

The benefits are likely to apply to:

Routine preventative eye care including eye exams
Prescriptive eyewear including eyeglasses and/or contact lenses

Some plans expand the coverage to include:

Discounts on options such as lens coatings and photochromic lenses
Reduced rates on elective correction surgery

Can You Get a Vision Test Online?

Written By Barry Silver

In 2015, Opternative became the first online service to provide physician-issued prescriptions for glasses or contacts. Qualified consumers would use a computer and smartphone to take a vision test from home and receive a prescription shortly after.

However, the FDA changed its fate.

Backup Glasses: Stay Ready with Ultra-Affordable Options

Written By Barry Silver

EZContacts is all about giving our shoppers options across the eyewear spectrum…

More types of eyewear, styles, shapes, materials, brands, lens coatings, and of course, price points.

We’re pleased to announce we’ve done it again with the addition of an immense portfolio of beautiful—yet inexpensive—eyeglass frames.

Now it’s even more fun to shop because you can buy backup glasses for less or expand your eyewear collection to complement your wardrobe with different styles for different occasions. For fashion, fun, and the reasons we’ll get into below, it’s never been easier to buy multiple pairs of eyewear.

Fitting Eyeglasses: A Guide to the Numbers on Your Frames

Written By Barry Silver

In an optometry shop, you’re bound to get advice from an optician regarding the fit of your eyeglasses. When you shop online to enjoy a larger selection and lower prices, it’s helpful to understand the nuances of fitting eyeglasses.

10 Popular Plastic and Metal Eyeglass Frame Materials

Written By Barry Feldman

It’s a material world. Frame materials, that is. From plastics to metals, and everything in between, here we offer you a look at today’s top frame materials.

Eyeglass frames materials are generally described as metal, plastic, or a combination of the two. These are the broad buckets in which most frame materials belong but there’s quite a bit of variety within them.

How do you select an eyeglass frame material?

It’s likely, you’re more concerned with a look, color, or feel—not a material per se. Or maybe you’re looking for a particular feature…

You’re into fun colors with flair. Plastics fit the bill.
You want fashion? Perhaps you’d prefer a combination metal and plastic cat-eye frame with rhinestones or crystals.
Function? For styling thin, lightweight, or hypoallergenic frames, titanium is tops.
Want high tech and futuristic? Check out carbon fiber, made from fibers woven together for super strength.
And, finally, you have options for eco-friendly eyeglass frames.

To help you understand your options and select the material that’s right for you, we present a comprehensive rundown of frame materials—three plastics and seven metals.