Eyeglasses & Prescription Lens FAQs

Order/Returns

Your purchases are subject to return or exchange solely in accordance with our Returns Policy, which includes specific terms applicable to prescription lenses.

Where you order prescription lenses, the accuracy of the lenses supplied is dependent on the prescription details you provide to us. We are not responsible for inaccuracies arising from an incorrect or out-of-date prescription supplied by the customer. We recommend ensuring your prescription is current before placing your order.

Orders are typically delivered within 10–14 business days. Please allow an additional 5 business days for deliveries to the Highlands and Islands.

Please note that delivery times are estimates only and may be subject to delays outside our control. Once your order has been dispatched, you will receive a tracking number so you can follow its progress.

If you have any questions about your delivery, please contact us at sales@spectacle1286.com.

Our frames and lenses are carefully curated by Alan, and supplied by our trusted partners to ensure our products are high quality and a fair value.

The finished glasses are hand built and prepared by Alan.

We ship all orders via Royal Mail Tracked Delivery at a flat rate of £4.95.

Eyeglass/sunglass

No – this is a common concern but there's no evidence to support it. Wearing glasses corrects your vision to where it should be; it doesn't change the underlying structure of your eye or accelerate any deterioration.

If your prescription changes over time, that's the natural progression of your vision – not a consequence of wearing glasses. In fact, wearing the correct prescription reduces eye strain, which is only a good thing for long-term comfort.

Eyeglass prescriptions can look unfamiliar at first, but the key values are straightforward once you know what they refer to.

SPH (Sphere) is the main correction for short or long sight. A minus value means you're short-sighted; a plus value means long-sighted. CYL (Cylinder) and Axis relate to astigmatism – an irregularity in the curvature of the eye that affects sharpness at certain angles. ADD appears on prescriptions for varifocal or reading lenses and indicates the additional power needed for close vision.

You'll also see OD (right eye) and OS (left eye) labelling the two columns. If you're unsure about any aspect of your prescription, your optician will always be happy to explain it.

The safest method is warm water, a small drop of washing-up liquid, and a clean microfibre cloth. Rinse the lenses under lukewarm water first to remove any dust or grit – wiping a dry lens can cause fine scratches. Apply a tiny amount of washing-up liquid, gently work it across both sides of the lens, rinse thoroughly, and dry with the microfibre cloth using light circular motions.

Avoid paper towels, clothing, or tissues – these are rougher than they seem and can dull the lens surface over time. Keep your glasses in their case when not wearing them, and never leave them lens-down on a surface.

Start with fit – the frame should sit comfortably on your nose and ears without pinching or sliding. The lens should cover your eyes fully without touching your lashes.

From there, think about how you'll wear them. If you drive or spend time near water, polarised lenses are worth considering. If you want one pair that works indoors and out, photochromic lenses are a practical option. If you need vision correction, all Ray-Ban frames available through Spectacle 1286 can be fitted with prescription lenses to your specification.

If you'd like a recommendation before ordering, drop us a message via the chat for a quick response. We're happy to help you narrow it down.

As a general guide:

Round faces tend to suit angular or rectangular frames, which add definition. Square faces are balanced by rounder or oval shapes that soften strong features. Oval faces have the most flexibility and suit most frame styles. Heart-shaped faces – wider at the forehead, narrower at the chin – work well with frames that are wider at the bottom, like aviators.

If you're unsure, the size guide on each product page gives the key frame measurements to help you find the right fit. And if you need any guidance before ordering, feel free to get in touch – we're happy to help you find the right frame.

Authentic Ray-Ban frames are easy to identify by their build quality. The frame should feel solid and well-finished, with no rough edges or loose hinges. Genuine frames come with a hard case, a cleaning cloth, and a certificate of authenticity.

All Ray-Ban frames sold through Spectacle 1286 are sourced directly from authorised suppliers, so you can be confident in their authenticity.

Polarised sunglasses have a special filter built into the lens that blocks horizontal light – the kind that causes glare when it reflects off flat surfaces like water, roads, or car bonnets. The result is a clearer, more comfortable view in bright conditions, with noticeably reduced eye strain.

They're particularly useful for driving, watersports, and any time you spend extended periods in strong sunlight. For everyday wear, the difference is subtle but real – colours appear more vivid and contrast is sharper.

For most people, yes – but it depends how you use them. If you spend time outdoors in bright conditions, drive regularly, or are sensitive to glare, polarised lenses offer a meaningfully more comfortable experience than standard tinted lenses.

The one exception worth knowing: polarised lenses can make certain digital screens – sat-nav displays, ATMs, some dashboards – harder to read at certain angles. For most wearers this is a minor inconvenience, but it's worth bearing in mind.

lenses

This measurement can be requested from your optician.

Your pupillary distance (PD) is the distance in millimetres between the centres of your pupils. It tells us exactly which part of the lens you look through, ensuring your glasses are correctly centred for your eyes.

The most accurate way is to have it measured by your optician – worth asking at your next eye exam if it isn't already on your prescription. To measure it yourself at home, you'll need a mirror and a millimetre ruler. Stand about 20cm from the mirror, hold the ruler flat against your browline, and align the zero with the centre of one pupil. Without moving the ruler, read the measurement at the centre of the other. Repeat a couple of times to confirm.

On average, the distance is 62mm for men and 60mm for women.

The Varilux XR Series is Essilor's most advanced progressive lens, designed for those who want the best available performance. It uses behavioural AI – built from over a million real-world data points – to predict how your eyes naturally move and optimises the lens design accordingly.

The practical result is instant sharpness at every distance, even when you're in motion, with a significantly larger volume of clear vision compared to previous generations. For anyone spending long days switching between screens, paperwork, and conversation, it's the lens that keeps up.

The Varilux Comfort Max is an Essilor progressive designed with natural posture in mind. Most varifocals require you to hold your head in specific positions to find the right zone – the Comfort Max, powered by Flex Optim™ technology, adapts to how you naturally move and look, rather than the other way around.

The result is a wider useful vision zone, reduced peripheral distortion, and a lens that feels comfortable from the first day of wear. A particularly good option for those who have previously struggled to adapt to progressive lenses.

Progressive lenses – also known as varifocals – correct vision at near, intermediate, and distance in a single lens, with no visible line between zones. The Visio is an entry-level progressive produced using digital freeform technology, which optimises the lens for a wider, clearer field of view compared to traditional varifocal designs.

It's a strong starting point for those new to progressive lenses, and comes with blue light filtering and UV protection included as standard.

Transitions® GEN S lenses combine single vision prescription correction with photochromic technology. They're fully clear indoors and darken automatically when exposed to UV light outdoors – reaching full darkness in around 25 seconds and returning to clear in under two minutes.

GEN S is the most responsive generation of Transitions® lenses to date, making them a practical choice for anyone who moves regularly between indoor and outdoor environments and prefers a single pair for both.

Single vision lenses carry one prescription across the entire lens, correcting vision at a single distance – whether near, intermediate, or far. They're the most straightforward lens type and suit most people who need correction for one specific task, such as reading or driving.

Clear lenses are the everyday standard. Tinted lenses work in the same way but with a fixed colour or shade applied – useful for light sensitivity or simply as a style choice.

Computer lenses – also known as occupational lenses – are designed specifically for near to intermediate distances, making them ideal for screen-based work, reading, or any environment where you're focused within arm's reach rather than at distance.

Unlike everyday varifocals, which divide the lens across near, intermediate, and far zones, computer lenses dedicate more of the lens to the distances you actually use at a desk. The result is a wider, more comfortable field of vision for extended periods of close work – and less strain at the end of the day. They're not suited for driving or general outdoor use, so most wearers use them alongside a separate pair for everyday wear.