Need help? Check out some of our most frequently asked questions.
What do I get for $69?
Each pair is responsibly crafted from the highest quality materials, including CR39 lenses with anti-scratch, anti-glare coatings and 100% UVA/UVB protection. All purchases include a lifetime warranty, protecting your purchase from manufacturer's defects for the life of your frames. It also means that you get 25% off a replacement pair if your lenses get scratched up or your frames break due to wear and tear. Furthermore, for every Dharma frame that you purchase, we will a percentage of each sale to OPTOMETRY GIVING SIGHT. Buying something never felt so great. To find out more about Dharma's responsibility, head over here.
What kind of voodoo magic do you use to make Dharma frames?
We use a few different materials in the manufacturing of Dharma frames:
Handmade Acetate: Our "plastic" frames are made from cellulose acetate, a high quality, durable, hypoallergenic, dye-able material whose creation dates back to 1865. One of Italy's oldest and most respected and renowned family-owned plastics companies produces our acetate materials.
Ion-plated Metal: Our metal frames are ion-plated within our factory in order to give your frames a coating that will last you ages. Ion-plated coatings are eco-friendly; the process produces no waste. Compare this to the traditional coatings, which produces hazardous, carcinogenic chemicals that have to be dumped into the environment.
Aerospace-grade Nylon: Our Air Collection is made from this incredible material which is as light as a feather, yet highly durable.
Sustainably-sourced Wood: Our Buddha Collection is made from wood sourced from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to be managed sustainably.
Where are Dharma frames produced?
Dharma frames are crafted by highly-skilled craftsmen and women in a select few factories in Asia that also produce frames for the world-renowned brands you already pay far too much for. These factories are fully-audited to ensure safe working conditions, high standards of management and labor, as well as state-of-the-art manufacturing processes (like ion-plating) which use the latest and greatest technologies.
What do I get for $49?
Each pair is responsibly crafted from the highest quality materials, including CR39 lenses with 100% UV protection. Polarized lenses protect your eyes from glare, increase color acuity and perception, and increase comfort in bright sunshine. All purchases include a lifetime warranty, protecting your purchase from manufacturer's defects for the life of your frames. It also means that you get 50% off a replacement pair if your lenses get scratched up or your frames break due to wear and tear. Furthermore, for every Dharma frame that you purchase, we will donate 5% of your purchase to OPTOMETRY GIVING SIGHT. Buying something never felt so great. To find out more about Dharma's responsibility, head over here.
What kind of voodoo magic do you use to make Dharma frames?
We use a few different materials in the manufacturing of Dharma frames:
Handmade Acetate: Our "plastic" frames are made from cellulose acetate, a high quality, durable, hypoallergenic, dye-able material whose creation dates back to 1865. One of Italy's oldest, most respected, and renowned family-owned plastics companies produces our acetate materials.
Ion-plated Metal: Our metal frames are ion-plated within our factory in order to give your frames a coating that will last you ages. Ion-plated coatings are eco-friendly; the process produces no waste. Compare this to the traditional coatings, which produce hazardous, carcinogenic chemicals that are dumped into the environment.
Aerospace-grade Nylon: Our Air Collection is made from this incredible material. It's as light as a feather, yet highly durable.
Sustainably-sourced Wood: Our Buddha Collection is made from wood sourced from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to be managed sustainably.
Where are Dharma frames produced?
Dharma frames are crafted by highly-skilled craftsmen and women in a select few factories in Asia that also produce frames for the world-renowned brands you already pay far too much for. These factories are fully-audited to ensure safe working conditions and high standards of management and labor, as well as state-of-the-art manufacturing processes (like ion-plating), which use the latest and greatest technologies.
What's so special about polarized lenses?
Polarized lenses filter light to block out glare and harmful rays from the sun. They also increase color acuity and perception, and reduce eye strain. You will see polarized lenses on the faces of skiers, golfers, bikers, joggers and especially beach volleyball players. While polarized lenses are more expensive to produce, we think you'll love them, so we went ahead and included them in our sunglasses.
My PC or smartphone display looks funky when I wear your sunglasses! What gives?
Because of the way polarized lenses filter incoming light they can cause a wavy effect when looking at LCD displays, such as TV's, computers and smartphones. Don't worry, they're not broken - and nor are your eyes!
Can you put Hi-Index lenses in my Dharma sunglasses?
Yes, indeed! Just choose Hi-Index polarized prescription lenses from the drop-down menu on any product page. This will add $150 to your order.
How can I place an order for prescription frames?
Easy. Go to any product page, click the "Buy" button and you'll see a pop-up. Choose the right type of lenses for you.
If you're a little confused, standard high-quality CR39 lenses are fine for prescriptions under -4.00. Anything between -4.00 and -6.00, Opticians recommend Hi Index 1.67 lenses, thinner and lighter than standard lenses. Anything above -6.00, Opticians recommend Hi Index 1.74 lenses, our thinnest and lightest lenses.
Then, let us know how you'll submit your prescription to us. You can e-mail it, fax it, or have us call your eye care professional. Next, enter your Pupil Distance if you know it; if not, no worries, you can measure that later. Finally, click the "buy" button again and in a week to ten days, you'll have your new prescription glasses!
How long will it take for my glasses to be delivered?
You should receive your new frames within 7-10 business days. Normally you'll receive them sooner than that, but sometimes there are unavoidable delays. If we have an issue with your order, we'll contact you! If you want to expedite your order, please contact us and we'll take care of it.
What's the status of my order?
To find out the status of your order, click "Login" on the top right and you should see your order status right away. Or chat with us below, e-mail us at info@dharmaco.com or chat with us.
How can I make changes to, or cancel, my order?
To make changes to or cancel your order, please chat with us below, or e-mail us at info@dharmaco.com.
Help! I'm not sure which lenses I need.
If you're a little confused, standard high-quality CR39 lenses are fine for prescriptions under -4.00. Anything between -4.00 and -6.00, Opticians recommend Hi Index 1.67 lenses, thinner and lighter than standard lenses. Anything above -6.00, Opticians recommend Hi Index 1.74 lenses, our thinnest and lightest lenses.
Can you replace the lenses in my Dharma lenses?
We'll be happy to replace your lenses! Standard prescription lens replacements will cost $49; polarized lens replacements will cost $49; polarized prescription lens replacements will cost $99; 1.67 AR high-index lens replacements will cost $99; 1.74 AR high-index lens replacements will cost $125. Just head here to start the process.
Do you offer bi-focals or progressive lenses?
At the moment we do not offer bifocals or progressive lenses, but stay tuned: we are working with optical shops around the country to service your needs! If, however, you have a prescription for bifocals or progressive lenses, we would be happy to process your lenses using either the distance or reading prescription... just let us know!
How do I clean my lenses properly?
Gently clean your lenses using lukewarm water. Once they're dry, wipe them down with the awesome microfiber cloth we sent you with your frame purchase.
Can you put Hi-Index lenses in my frames?
Of course! For your optical frames, we can offer you super-thin, 1.67 anti-reflective high-index lenses for just $50. If your prescription is very strong and you want to go even thinner and lighter, you can upgrade to 1.74 anti-reflective high-index lenses for $80. Both lenses come with 100% UVA/UVB protection.
For your sunglasses, Hi Index polarized prescription lenses will cost $150. Just choose the right lenses after you click "Buy" on any product page.
What's so special about polarized lenses?
Polarized lenses filter light to block out glare and harmful rays from the sun. They also increase color acuity and perception, and reduce eye strain. You will see polarized lenses on the faces of skiers, golfers, bikers, joggers and especially beach volleyball players. While polarized lenses are more expensive to produce, we think you'll love them, so we went ahead and included them in our sunglasses.
My PC or smartphone display looks funky when I wear your sunglasses! What gives?
Because of the way polarized lenses filter incoming light they can cause a wavy effect when looking at LCD displays, such as TV's, computers and smartphones. Don't worry, they're not broken - and nor are your eyes!
What is a PD?
A PD is 'Pupil Distance', or the distance in millimeters between your pupils. This measurement is important, because based on where your pupils are, that is where our optician will "center" the lens. Lenses are centered on your pupils so your vision is crystal clear. The higher the prescription, the more important the PD measurement becomes to ensure the best vision.
How can I measure my Pupil Distance?
You can measure your PD here:
http://trylive.com/demos/trylive-eyewear/pupil-distance
Please note, you’ll need a computer with a webcam (not a smartphone or tablet) and a credit, debit, or store loyalty card to use as a reference object.
Please complete the process twice for the most accurate result. Once you get the 2 digit measurement, please e-mail it to info@dharmaco.com with your order number.
Do you charge my credit card before or after you ship the frames?
After, of course! Once you complete the checkout process, we will authorize your credit card, but we will not charge you until we ship your frames.
Your prices are ridiculously low... how did you manage that?
Dharma was born from a family business that has been manufacturing eyewear for the past 40 years. In the eyewear industry, there is a monopoly that controls the production, the brands, the designs, even the vision insurance companies, and most importantly to you: the prices. By going against the grain and cutting out the distributors, we are able to design, manufacture and sell our high-quality frames directly to you.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards and PayPal for your convenience.
How secure is my payment information?
We have in place many levels of security to protect your payment information. Our payment gateway uses what's called SSL, or Secure Socket Layer, which protects your information from unwelcome eyes. Our payments are processed by Authorize.net, widely regarded as the most popular and secure form of payment on the Internet. If you still feel worried, feel free to use PayPal which is widely used and is widely regarded as both extremely secure and convenient.
Can I use my Flex Spending or Health Savings Account card to purchase Dharma frames and sunglasses?
As long as your FSA or HSA card is a MasterCard, Visa or AMEX, then yes!
Where can you ship Dharma frames and sunglasses?
We ship to the contiguous United States free of charge. We also ship to a select few countries outside of the U.S., which you can see during checkout. If you don't see your country on the list, contact us and we'll arrange something for you. We'd love to have you as a customer!
When can I expect to receive my glasses?
We try to process and ship out your glasses as soon as possible. However, issues do arise, and we ask that you give us a total of 10 business days to receive your prescription frames. Non-prescription frames will be received much quicker!
What is your return/exchange policy?
For 30 days, feel free to exchange or return your frames free of charge. Chat with us below or e-mail us at info@dharmaco.com to make a return or exchange.
Do you offer a warranty on your frames and lenses?
Yes - and we're the only company selling eyewear online that does this! All of our frames and lenses include a lifetime warranty. We'll replace your frames and lenses if there are manufacturing defects, no matter what, subject to a small processing fee. But because high-quality frames and lenses are expensive, we ask that you cover some of the costs for damage due to normal wear and tear or accidental damage. The costs will be dependent on the product in question. To start the replacement process, a href="http://dharmaco.com/pages/warranty-request">please fill out this form.
Can my lenses be replaced under warranty?
Yes! Lenses come in a variety of different strengths, thicknesses and with different coatings, and can become very expensive. Therefore we just ask that you cover some of the costs. To find out more, go here.
Any other questions? Please e-mail us at info@dharmaco.com or chat with us below.