AOA (American Optometric Association) Study Finds Issues
With Safety, Prescriptions
When it comes to buying eyeglasses
online according to a recent study by
the American Optometric Association (AOA).
Conducted last year with the Optical Laboratories
Association and The Vision Council, the study
discovered an alarming rate of problems with
prescription compliance and impact resistance.
Nearly half of the eyeglasses (44.8 percent) had
incorrect prescriptions or safety issues.
Researchers had 10 individuals order two pairs of
glasses, including pairs for both adults and children,
from each of 10 of the most popular online optical
vendors. In all 200 pairs were ordered, with frame styles
chosen in the midrange options for each vendor, in
varying frame materials, lens styles and prescriptions.
Only 154 pairs of the orders were received. The study
then analyzed lenses, including measurement of
sphere power, cylinder power and axis, add power (if
specified), separation of distance of optical centers
and center thickness.
Several pairs were delivered incorrectly such as
single vision instead of bifocals or lens treatments
were added or omitted. Nearly three out of 10 (29
percent) pairs had at least one lens that failed to meet
the required prescription, a problem typically found
and corrected when ordered through and delivered
by an optometrist. Nearly one-fourth (23 percent) of
the lenses failed impact resistance testing, which
highlights a major safety issue. Children’s glasses
performed even worse, with 29 percent failing
impact testing.
Read more about this study and the findings by clicking here.
Taken directly from WWW.AOA.ORG
http://www.aoa.org/documents/public/A_Closer_Look_at_Ordering_Eyeglasses_Online.pdf
