"Maximilian Fauntleroy III," I hear you ask. "Why do I need to have had my eyes tested within the last two years to order glasses online?"

Well, over time your eyesight may change and so it's important to have your eyes tested once every two years - or every year if you are over 70.

Regular eyetests are recommended by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the Association of Optometrists, and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians. And if they don't know what they are talking about when it comes to your vision, I don't know who does.

In order for you to order glasses online you will therefore need a copy of your prescription.

By law, your optician is obliged to give you a written copy of your eye prescription immediately after your eye test.

But although sales staff are trained to walk you from the test to choosing your frames as if it was the most natural thing in the world, you are under no obligation whatsoever to buy your glasses either on the day of your test or from he optician who performed the eye test.

And let's be honest, why would you when you now know you can save a great deal of money buying the same glasses online?

Most opticians will hand you your prescription as a matter of course, but there will always be those who hold back. If that happens to you simply ask for your prescription.

You can say your doctor wants a copy or whatever you want, but there really is no reason to make an excuse. It is your right to have a copy of your prescription and every optician knows it.

So if you don't already have a current prescription, go to your local optician for an eye test an get one. Then you are ready to order online from the likes of Glasses Direct or, for contact lenses, Lenstore.