How to Get Your Current Eye Prescription

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As someone who has worn glasses for most of my life, I know the struggles of forgetting your prescription the second you need to order a new pair. 

Luckily, there’s a way to tell your prescription without having to go back to the doctor or call them for your records. GlassesUSA is one of our top picks for the best places to buy glasses online, not just because they have thousands of brand-name frames that are constantly on sale but also because they offer a free Prescription Scanner App that makes it easy to figure out your prescription at home. 

The app helps you accurately figure out your current prescription in minutes without going to an eye doctor, and it’s completely free. But, of course, it’s worth noting that the Prescription Scanner App doesn’t eliminate the need for routine visits to your eye doctor. It retrieves the prescription from your current glasses, which is convenient for lost prescriptions, buying a second pair, or anyone with a prescription that hasn’t changed.

I tested it myself, and the app was accurate in reading my prescription. It then made it easy for me to order a new pair from the brand’s site, which I did with a promo code provided by GlassesUSA. The selection of frames was very impressive, and the shipping time was much shorter than the lead times at typical eyewear stores.

How the GlassesUSA Prescription Scanner works

In order to use the Prescription Scanner App, you’ll need a smartphone, a computer, your current glasses, and a credit card (for measuring size, not to pay for anything). The first step is to connect your computer and phone via the Prescription Scanner App. You can have a direct download link to the app sent to your phone from here. Once you’ve got the app on your phone, open it and scan the QR code on your computer screen to pair both devices.

Next, you need to calibrate the size of your screen using a credit card. This makes sure that the measurements to follow are accurate. All you have to do is place your card on your computer screen in between the dots and line up the guidelines on your phone to match.

Once that’s completed, you’re ready to scan your current glasses for their prescription. While holding your glasses in the space between your computer and your phone, you’ll follow a few in-app voice prompts to accurately read the lenses. The prompts include holding the lenses center with the eyes on the screen and slightly tilting the glasses back and forth. This step is the longest part of the process, but is still very quick at maybe 3 or 4 minutes. Keep in mind that the app only works on single vision prescriptions between -6.00 and +3.00 and a cylinder measurement lower than -2.50. Most people fall in between that threshold, but if your lenses are very strong, very weak, or bifocals, it won’t accurately read them.

Next, you’ll use your credit card again to measure your PD or pupillary distance. This is an important part of prescriptions because it ensures the power of your lens is at the center of your eye, not off to the side. Once the app is ready, it’ll take a selfie to get the measurement. 

Next, you fill out basic account information (name, email address, password, etc.) so that you can access your prescription results. The process was about 15 minutes from start to finish, and I was pleasantly surprised with a prescription that was identical to the one I had received from my eye doctor a few months back. 

The bottom line

The app is extremely helpful for lost prescriptions, and it accurately reads prescriptions. Even without 20/20 vision, the GlassesUSA Prescription Scanner App is a clear winner.

Start using the GlassesUSA Prescription Scanner App here.

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