Standards and compliance

All of our frames carry the European CE mark. Our lenses are glazed (ground) in the UK, in a highly regarded ANSI and ISO compliant lens laboratory, and the process is overseen by a General Optical Council member in good standing.

We take payments via Visa and Mastercard and comply with all of their rules. We run our site on Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant servers and routers, and serve all pages over SSL for improved security and privacy.

We have a no-quibble 30 day return policy, and when we say no quibble we mean it. We are actively looking for opportunities to follow best practices regarding user experience, service quality, product quality and after-sales support, because doing so is better for our customers, makes us a better company, and is therefore better for us as well.

Frame standards

The internationally recognised standards for eyewear are developed and revised periodically by industry representatives, facilitated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). These standards are adopted globally and augmented and controlled by the appropriate national and international bodies — such as the FDA in America, the European Standardisation Committee in Europe, and the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO).

All of our frames and lenses are chosen for their high standards of quality and comply with the standards and requirements of each of our worldwide markets.

Europe — the CE mark

Since 14 June 1998, the CE (Conformité Européenne) labelling stipulations have been in force for products to which EU directives and the appropriate standards apply. The CE mark is the consumer's guarantee that the minimum safety and performance requirements are met by the product to the extent stipulated by standards. All of our frames have the CE mark.

USA — FDA classifications

Lens standards

All of our lenses are chosen for their high standards of quality and comply with the standards and requirements of each of our worldwide markets.

Europe — the CE mark

Since 14 June 1998, the CE labelling stipulations have been in force for products to which EU directives and the appropriate standards apply. The CE mark is the consumer's guarantee that the minimum safety and performance requirements are met by the product to the extent stipulated by standards. All of our lenses have the CE mark.

Europe — DIN EN ISO 14889 and DIN EN ISO 8980-3

These standards, DIN EN ISO 14889 and DIN EN ISO 8980-3, which were compiled with the participation of international experts, stipulate the basic requirements to be met by finished uncut spectacle lenses. These requirements cover such subjects as physiological compatibility, flammability, testing for mechanical strength, and the transmittance of uncut finished spectacle lenses.

USA — ball drop test, FDA standard 21 CFR 801.410

In the basic impact test, a 1 in (2.54 cm) steel ball is dropped on the lens from a height of 50 in (127 cm). In the high velocity test, a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) steel ball is shot at the lens at 150 ft/s (45.72 m/s). To pass both tests, no part of the lens may touch the eye.

All of our lenses are sourced from manufacturers who meet or exceed the FDA requirements listed below. Follow a regulation for its full details.

Sunglasses and readers (OTC)

Europe — EN 1836:2005

The European standard tests UV transmittance and categorises four filter levels (0 to 4). The British standard, BS EN 1836:2005, tests sunglasses against their UV transmittance. All sunglasses that meet the British standard carry the CE mark, which should be visible on the sunglasses.

USA — ANSI Z87.1-2003

This standard requires all sunglasses, including toy sunglasses that can be worn as fashion sunglasses, to be tested for UV and visible light transmittance, as well as meeting the FDA standard 21 CFR 801.410 for impact resistance.

USA — ball drop test, FDA standard 21 CFR 801.410

In the basic impact test, a 1 in (2.54 cm) steel ball is dropped on the lens from a height of 50 in (127 cm). In the high velocity test, a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) steel ball is shot at the lens at 150 ft/s (45.72 m/s). To pass both tests, no part of the lens may touch the eye.