guides & FAQ's
FAQ's
Your Prescription
Q: How will I know if my prescription is in date?
A: Your prescription should be dated & must be less than 2 years old if you are under 70 years of age & less than 1year old if you are over 70. If your prescription has expired you will need to have your eyes tested at one of our practices or with your local optician. It’s advisable to use a current prescription when ordering new glasses.
Q: How do I obtain a prescription?
A: You can book yourself in for an eye test at a TONI&GUY Opticians or at your local optician. Your optician will provide you with your new prescription at the end of your test, which they are obliged to do by law. It must be a clear, legible copy of your eye test results & you should not feel under pressure to purchase a pair of glasses from their particular practice.
Q: I can’t make out what’s written on my prescription?
A: We would advise that you contact the optician who tested your eyes & ask for clarification. If that’s not possible you can post it to us at TONI&GUY Opticians PO Box 4359, Manchester M61 0DX and we will try to unravel it for you!
Q: Can you help me to understand what my prescription means?
A: Yes, if you read our guide to buying glasses online it will explain each part of your prescription.
Q: Can I order frames with no prescription in them?
A: Yes, Just click on plano (which means no power) for your prescription when you’re ordering on the web page.
Q: Can you read the prescription off my existing glasses?
A: This can be done be we don’t advise it. Your glasses can be made much more accurately using the written prescription. When glasses are made they are manufactured to certain tolerances. If your original glasses have been made at the outer limit of the tolerance band there is a chance that the new pair may exceed the original tolerance band & reduce the clarity of your vision. If you have lost your prescription your optician should provide you with a copy if it’s in date.
Q: I’m unsure about how to enter my prescription online?
A: You can read our Guide to Buying Glasses Online which will explain every step of the process.
Q: Do I require a distance, intermediate or near glasses?
A: For your lenses choose “near” if your glasses are needed for reading or close up work. Choose “distance” if your glasses are required for seeing objects far away such a watching television, cinema or driving & choose “intermediate” if your glasses are required for VDU (Visual Display Unit). If you need advice about which option is the most appropriate, please ask your optician at the time of the eye test.
Q: Can I use my contact lens prescription for ordering glasses with?
A: Unfortunately not. Your contact lens & your spectacle prescriptions may seem the same but they usually have differences. You must have your eyes tested & a prescription issued for use with spectacles.
Q: What is my pupillary distance (PD), and how do I obtain it?
A: Your PD is the distance between the centres of your pupils, measured in millimetres. We use your PD measurement when we make your glasses so that we can position the optical centre of the lens (which gives you the best vision) directly above your pupil. Your PD can be provided by your optician & we highly recommend that you ask for it when you have your eyes tested. Alternatively, you may also choose to use an average PD, which is provided for you as a default when ordering or see our guide on how to measure it yourself.
Q: Can my PD measurement be checked off an old pair of glasses?
A: Yes. If you wish to do this you need to write in the comments box on the order page that this is what you intend to do. Then send your glasses to us at: TONI&GUY Opticians PO Box 4359, Manchester M61 0DX by recorded post or special delivery. We can’t accept any responsibility for lost glasses unless they have been signed for by us to acknowledge receipt.
Q: Up to what level of prescription do you provide eyewear for?
A: The maximum prescription we can sell is: ±6.00 SPH (sphere) and ±3.00 CYL (cylinder). For prescriptions outside of this range we recommend that you visit one of our practices.