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Study: Most online opticals collect insufficient information to make accurate glasses
PHOENIX – Researchers reported here in a poster at Academy 2012 that nine out of 10 websites studied did not collect all of the necessary information required to dispense accurate spectacles, and none of the 10 collected all standard parameters for progressives.
According to the poster by Grimm and colleagues, in 2007, 1.7% of all spectacle prescriptions were ordered online, and in 2010, 2.8% were ordered this way. They said it is estimated that by 2014, 4% of all spectacle prescriptions will be ordered online.
The researchers surveyed the parameters that 10 online optical businesses request from patients wishing to purchase single vision, bifocal and progressive lenses. They considered binocular pupillary distance, monocular pupillary distance, segment heights, fitting height and pantoscopic tilt.
Grimm and colleagues reported in the poster that eight out of 10 optical shops required PD measurements, with two allowing the buyer to use an average PD. Only one required an official prescription from an eye doctor, they said. One gave the patient the option to upload a photo of a prescription, but eight did not give the customer the option to provide a copy of the prescription for verification. Eight out of nine that offer bifocals did not ask for seg height, and no education was provided for bifocal use, they said. None that offered progressive-addition lenses required monocular PD for distance and near, fitting height or pantoscopic tilt.
The researchers stated that 21.4% of all lenses were not made as indicated by the consumer, and 44.8% failed at least 1 parameter of optical or impact testing as indicated by the American National Standards Institute.
“Failure to adhere to standards could result in blur, eye strain, diplopia or headache,” the researchers stated in the poster. “We suggest that customers should only purchase glasses online if they have single vision ametropia. We do not believe it is wise to purchase bifocals or PALs online.”