MICHAEL / Eyewear Answers & Calculators
Eyewear Questions Answered: Instant Calculators & Direct Answers
Direct answer:Every page below answers one real online eyewear question in its opening sentence: covering complete prescription totals ($26.90 1.56 single vision), $0 high-astigmatism surfacing (down to -6.00 D), +CYL transposition, 1.67 vs 1.74 thickness, high-myopia frame decentration, 24-inch office computer lenses, progressives under $100 ($76.90 complete), FTC prescription rights, Dual PD, nose-bridge fit, frame materials, sun tints and FSA/HSA 2-pair bundles.
How much do prescription glasses actually cost online (without hidden fees)?
A complete pair of 1.56 single-vision prescription glasses with standard green anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings starts at US$26.90 before shipping (US$16.90 Everyday Picks frame + US$10 lenses, or US$31.90 delivered across the 48 contiguous US states and DC), with US$0 astigmatism surcharge down to -6.00 D.
Can I buy glasses online with high astigmatism (-2.25 to -6.00 CYL) with no extra fee?
Yes. MICHAEL Optical supports astigmatism cylinder (CYL) corrections down to -6.00 D on Standard Clear, Blue-Light Filtering and Colored Sun packages (and down to -8.00 D on 1.74 Advanced All-Day Progressives) at US$0 extra cylinder fee, provided you enter an exact Axis between 1° and 180° and an accurate Dual PD.
Do I need 1.61, 1.67, or 1.74 high-index lenses for my prescription?
For prescriptions within ±3.00 D, 1.56 (US$10/pair) or 1.61 (US$15/pair) is already slim; between ±4.00 D and ±6.50 D, 1.67 Thin High-Index (US$55/pair Single Vision) delivers the best thickness-to-price value; upgrade to 1.74 Ultra High-Index (US$100/pair Single Vision) when your power exceeds ±6.50 D (supported down to -20.00 / +16.00 D), and pair strong powers with a 40–44 mm frame.
Can you buy progressive glasses online under $100 without getting dizzy?
Yes. Pairing any US$16.90 Everyday Picks or SSBC-T frame with US$60 1.56 Clear Progressive lenses brings a complete no-line multifocal pair to US$76.90 before shipping (US$81.90 delivered), with Standard, Upgrade, Advanced and Office corridor tiers all included at US$0 tier surcharge; to avoid swim or dizziness, enter Dual monocular PD and choose a full-rim frame with sufficient vertical lens height.
How do I convert Single PD to Dual PD if my doctor didn't write it down?
Divide a Single binocular PD (50.0–80.0 mm) by 2 to get symmetrical right and left values for mild single-vision prescriptions (for example, 63 mm equals 31.5 mm OD and 31.5 mm OS); if your prescription exceeds ±4.00 D, includes high astigmatism, or uses progressive multifocal lenses, request or measure separate Dual monocular PD numbers (17.5–41.0 mm per eye) instead of dividing.
What do the 3 numbers inside my glasses mean (e.g. 49-22-145), and which frames fit me?
The three numbers stamped inside your temple arm represent Lens Width × Bridge Width × Temple Length in millimetres (for example, 49-22-145 means 49 mm lenses, a 22 mm nose bridge and 145 mm arms); stay within ±2 mm on lens width and ±1–2 mm on bridge width of a comfortable pair you already wear, and pick 40–44 mm lens widths for narrow faces or strong prescriptions.
What lenses reduce night driving headlight glare: polarized, photochromic, or driving lenses?
Never wear dark polarized sunglasses at night, and note that standard UV photochromic lenses stay mostly clear inside a car because windshields block UV light; choose high-transmission Day & Night Driving Lenses (all-inclusive US$32 in 1.50, US$36 in 1.61, or US$39 in 1.67 for both Single Vision and Progressive) for night headlight glare, and Polarized Sunglasses (from US$45) for bright daytime highways.
Can I use FSA or HSA to buy prescription glasses online if I pay with PayPal?
Yes. Corrective Single Vision, Progressive, Prescription Reading, Magnification Readers and Prescription Sunglasses are eligible US FSA and HSA medical vision expenses (0.00 non-prescription plano glasses and frame-only orders are excluded); pay via PayPal at checkout, then save your itemized USD PDF receipt from My Account → Orders → View to submit to your FSA/HSA administrator for reimbursement.
How do I hide thick edges on strong minus (-5.00 to -14.00 D) glasses?
Pick a full-rim cellulose acetate frame with a 40 to 44 mm lens width whose geometric center sits within 3 mm of your pupillary distance, then pair it with 1.67 Thin High-Index (US$55/pair Single Vision Clear) for -4.50 to -6.50 D or 1.74 Ultra High-Index (US$100/pair) past -6.75 D.
My eye doctor wrote a plus (+) CYL for astigmatism: how do I enter it online?
Transpose a plus-cylinder prescription in three optical steps: add the original SPH and +CYL algebraically for your new SPH, change the CYL sign from plus (+) to minus (-), and rotate the Axis by 90 degrees (add 90 if Axis is 1 to 90, or subtract 90 if Axis is 91 to 180), or email your slip to michael.optical.csr@gmail.com for free verification.
Can I use my regular distance prescription for 24-inch computer monitors, or do I need office lenses?
If your prescription has no ADD value (typically under age 38), your regular Single Vision distance Rx works comfortably at 20 to 26 inch monitors (from US$26.90 Clear or US$36.90 Blue-Light complete); if your prescription lists an ADD power (+0.75 to +3.50 D), choose Office Mid-Range or Near-Range Progressives (from US$76.90 Clear or US$91.90 Blue-Light complete, US$0 tier fee) so you do not tilt your chin up all day.
Why do my glasses keep sliding down my nose (or pinching behind my ears)?
Glasses slide down when the nose bridge is more than 2 mm too wide, the temple arms extend too far before bending behind your ears, or thick front-heavy lenses pull the frame forward; pick adjustable nose-pad metal frames in the US$38.90 ZA Collection for low or narrow bridges, or match your current bridge within 1 to 2 mm in our 17-model millimetre matcher.
Acetate vs. metal and titanium-alloy vs. TR90 frames: which material holds up best for daily wear?
Choose hand-polished cellulose acetate (US$25.70 EM Collection) for hypoallergenic colour depth, custom heat-adjustable temples and thick-lens edge concealment; choose memory-flex TR90 (MICHAEL 8019, US$25.70) for featherlight sweat-resistant commuting; or choose titanium-alloy and metal frames (US$38.90 ZA Collection) when you want slim wire rims and adjustable nose pads.
Are photochromic light-adaptive lenses worth it, or is a second pair of prescription sunglasses better?
Choose Photochromic lenses (from US$56.90 complete in 1.56 Single Vision) if you walk indoors and outdoors on foot and hate carrying a second case; choose dedicated Polarized or Colored Prescription Sunglasses (from US$61.90 complete, or US$88.80 total paired with a US$26.90 Clear pair) if you drive in bright sun, visit beaches, or have astigmatism stronger than -4.00 CYL.
Does my eye doctor have to give me my prescription and PD so I can buy glasses online?
Under the federal FTC Eyeglass Rule (16 CFR Part 456), US optometrists and ophthalmologists must provide your signed eyeglass prescription automatically right after your refractive exam at US$0 extra fee; pupillary distance (PD) is regulated at the state level, so if your clinic leaves PD blank, check a prior eyewear receipt or measure your Single or Dual PD in millimetres.
How do I build a 2-pair prescription glasses bundle (everyday clear + sun or driving) under $100?
Place two US$16.90 Everyday Picks or SSBC-T frames in the same cart so one flat US$5 contiguous US shipping fee covers both: a 1.56 Single Vision Clear pair (US$26.90) plus a 1.50 Dedicated Driving pair (US$48.90) totals US$80.80 delivered, or US$93.80 delivered with 1.56 Polarized Prescription Sunglasses (US$61.90), with US$0 astigmatism fee.