Timing depends on your insurance and the laboratory your plan requires. Some plans require glasses to be made by an outside lab, which adds time.
For the current status of an order that has already been placed, call our office at 805-925-9575 and we will check.
What actually affects the wait
The frame is the fast part. The lenses are what take time, and a few things change how long that is.
Your insurance plan. Some plans require a specific outside laboratory. That is usually the single biggest factor, and it is out of our hands.
Your lens design. A single-vision lens in a common prescription is straightforward. Progressives, high prescriptions, and specialty designs involve more work.
Coatings and treatments. Anti-reflective, photochromic, and polarized treatments are applied as extra steps.
Your frame. Rimless and semi-rimless frames need more precise edging than a full plastic frame.
Whether anything needs remaking. Occasionally a lens does not pass inspection and is redone. We would rather send it back than hand you a lens that is not right.
Why we avoid quoting an exact number
We could give you an average, but averages are not much use when your plan routes the order somewhere specific.
When you place the order, ask us what to expect for your particular situation. That answer is more useful than a general one, and if anything changes we will let you know.
What happens when they arrive
- We contact you when the glasses are in.
- We check the lenses against your prescription before you put them on.
- We fit and adjust the frame so it sits level and comfortably.
- You wear them for a while and come back if anything needs adjusting. Small tweaks are normal and there is no charge to have them adjusted.
That last step matters more than people expect. A well-made lens in a poorly adjusted frame does not work properly, because the lenses are no longer positioned where your eyes look through them. More on that in personalized eyewear and lenses.
While you wait
Keep wearing your current glasses. If your prescription changed significantly and the old pair is genuinely hard to use, tell us and we will see what is possible.
If you wear contact lenses, that is another option in the meantime. See contact-lens exams and fittings.
Common questions
Can you rush an order?
Sometimes, depending on the lab and the lens. Ask us and we will tell you honestly whether it is possible.
Why did my friend get theirs faster?
Usually a different plan, a different lab, or a simpler lens. Two orders placed the same day can take different amounts of time.
Will you call me?
Yes. If you have not heard from us and you are wondering, call 805-925-9575 and we will look it up.
My new glasses feel odd. Do I wait it out?
Some adjustment is normal. See why new glasses sometimes feel strange at first for what is expected and when to come back.
Does CenCal cover glasses?
CenCal eyewear benefits may apply depending on eligibility and coverage. See does CenCal/Medi-Cal cover eye exams and glasses.
Come see the optical
We are an optical office as well as an optometry office, and you are welcome to browse before you order.
Request an appointment or call 805-925-9575.
