Ten questions to ask any optical shop before you pay for glasses

Glasses are a medical device you wear for most of your waking hours. Yet many people buy them the way they buy a phone case: pick a frame, hand over a prescription, pay. Before you commit to any optical shop, ask these ten questions. A good shop will answer them without hesitation. Use the list on us too.

About the exam

1. Who performs the eye test? Ask whether it is a licensed optometrist, and ask to see the license if you want. At Vision Express, exams are done by real licensed optometrists.

2. What does the exam include? A quick reading from a machine is not a full exam. Ask which steps are done. Our Vision7 exam has seven: case history, visual acuity, objective refraction, subjective refraction, a binocular eye exam, a visual health exam, and a diagnosis and management plan.

3. Will I get a copy of my prescription? You should. It is your record, and you may want a second opinion or a spare pair later.

About the lenses

4. What is the exact name of this lens? "Premium" and "anti-radiation" are not names. Ask for the brand and product, for example Essilor Varilux Comfort Max or Nikon Seemax Infinite Z, so you can compare and look it up.

5. Where is it made and how long will it take? An honest shop knows. Lens brands have different lead times, from lenses ready in 20 minutes on Express service to lab orders of 10 to 12 days.

6. Is this lens matched to my exam results, or is it off the shelf? Bespoke lenses are cut to your measurements. Ask what is customized, and be wary of a shop that cannot explain it.

7. What are the limits of this lens? Every lens has trade-offs. A blue light lens is a comfort choice, and not a disease treatment. A progressive lens takes time to adapt to. If the answer is only good news, keep asking.

About service after the sale

8. What does the warranty cover, for how long, and in writing? At Vision Express, every eyeglass and sunglass has a 1-year warranty. Ask any shop what is excluded.

9. Is servicing free, and for how long? Ours includes free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning and free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment. Frames loosen and drift with wear, so ongoing adjustment matters more than most people expect.

10. What happens if I am not happy? Ask for the policy before you pay. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and you can ask the team what it covers in practice.

How to use this list

Screenshot it, or note the ten numbers on your phone. You do not need to ask all ten aloud. Start with questions 1, 2 and 8. Their answers say the most about how a shop works.

Pay attention to how the answers arrive. A confident, specific answer is a good sign. Vague words, pressure to decide today, or a refusal to put things in writing are not.

What we cannot tell you

We cannot tell you which shop is best for you, and we will not claim to be the most trusted or the best in the country. That is for you to decide from what you see and hear. What we can do is make our answers checkable, so you can compare us against any other shop on the same ten questions.

We are growing, and we are still accountable

Vision Express is expanding toward 60 stores nationwide. More stores means more people can reach a licensed optometrist close to home. It also means we should be held to the same standard at every counter. If a store falls short on any of the ten questions, tell us.

Book your Vision7 exam

Book a Vision7 eye test at your nearest Vision Express store, and bring this list. The seven-step exam gives you a full picture of your eyes and a prescription in writing. Then ask the team to name your lens exactly. If you are choosing an everyday single vision lens, ask for Essilor Blue Light Single Vision, a named, comfort-oriented lens you can look up and compare anywhere.

Every pair comes with a 1-year warranty, free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning and free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment.