How to Buy Prescription Glasses Online Without Your PD
Ordering prescription glasses online is simple, but one question often stops people from completing their order:
“What if I don’t know my PD?”
The good news is that not knowing your pupillary distance, often called PD, does not need to stop you from ordering glasses online. At Burghley & Co, many customers already have a valid prescription but do not have their PD measurement written down.
In this guide, we explain what PD is, why it matters, why you should never guess it, and how our ordering process makes it simple to provide your measurement after placing your order.
What Is PD?
PD stands for pupillary distance. It is the distance, measured in millimetres, between the centres of your pupils.
This measurement helps ensure the optical centre of each lens sits correctly in front of your eyes. When the lenses are positioned correctly, your prescription can perform as intended.
An incorrect PD can cause issues such as:
- Blurred vision
- Eye strain
- Headaches
- Difficulty adapting to new glasses
- Reduced comfort when wearing your glasses
Why You Should Never Guess Your PD
Guessing your PD might seem harmless, but it can cause real problems with the finished glasses.
A few millimetres may not sound like much, but in optics it matters. If the lenses are made using an inaccurate PD, the prescription may not sit where your eyes naturally look through the lenses.
This is especially important for stronger prescriptions, reading glasses, varifocals and lenses worn for long periods of time.
At Burghley & Co, we would rather take an extra minute to get the measurement right than rush an order with a guessed figure. Your glasses should feel clear, comfortable and properly made — not “close enough”.
Can I Order Prescription Glasses Without Knowing My PD?
Yes. You can order your prescription glasses from Burghley & Co even if you do not currently know your PD.
You can place your order first, then provide the measurement afterwards. This means you do not need to delay choosing your frames while you look for the measurement.
Once your order is placed, we will contact you if we need any additional measurements before your prescription lenses are made.
Browse all prescription glasses
How Burghley & Co Makes It Easy
Our process is designed to make ordering glasses online feel simple, even if you are unsure about your measurements.
For PD, we recommend using the EyeMeasure app. The app uses your phone to help measure your pupillary distance from home.
The process is straightforward:
- Choose your frame online.
- Enter your prescription details, or send your prescription after ordering.
- If you do not know your PD, use the EyeMeasure app.
- Send us your PD measurement.
- We check the details before your lenses are made.
This is much more reliable than guessing or trying to estimate the measurement yourself.
What If I Still Need Help?
If you are unsure about your prescription, your PD, or which lenses to choose, you can ask us before or after placing your order.
Burghley & Co is owned and run by a Registered Dispensing Optician, so you are not left to work everything out alone.
You can also read more about our prescription lens options if you are unsure which lenses are right for you.
Need Help With Your Prescription?
Ask Scott for help with your prescription, PD measurement or lens choice before you order.
Why Accurate Measurements Matter
Ordering glasses online should not mean compromising on accuracy.
Your prescription tells us the power of the lenses you need. Your PD helps position those lenses correctly in front of your eyes. Both are important.
This is why we do not recommend guessing your PD or entering a random average measurement just to complete an order.
If a measurement is missing, we will help you obtain it properly before your lenses are produced.
Order Prescription Glasses Online With Confidence
If you have a current prescription but do not know your PD, you can still order glasses online with Burghley & Co.
Choose your frames, place your order, and provide your PD afterwards using the EyeMeasure app. If you need help, we are here to guide you through it.