What International Customers Expect from Optical Shops in Korea Is Changing
Recently, as I read emails from international customers contacting EYEDAQ Optical in Myeongdong, Seoul, I have noticed an interesting change.
In the past, most inquiries were about eyeglass prices, available brands, and how quickly glasses could be made.
These days, however, more customers are asking detailed questions about the accuracy of eye examinations, prescription lens design, and personalized eyeglass fitting.
They are not simply looking to buy glasses while visiting Korea. They want eyewear that is carefully made to suit their individual vision needs and facial features.
Accurate Eye Examinations and Professional Eyeglass Fitting
Yesterday, I received an email from a foreign couple planning to travel from Jeju Island to Seoul specifically to purchase new glasses.
Their two main priorities were comprehensive eye examinations and professional fitting.
They explained that they did not want their prescriptions to be determined solely by automated refraction equipment. Instead, they requested thorough examinations, including subjective refraction and any other appropriate tests.
They also made it clear that the amount of time required for the examinations was not a concern, provided the results were accurate and reliable.
After their glasses were completed, they wanted careful adjustments to the nose pads and temples, verification of the optical alignment, and checks of their vision while wearing the finished glasses.
They were even willing to pay additional fees for these services if necessary.
Their expectations were clear.
What mattered most was not how quickly their glasses could be made, but how accurately and comfortably they could be fitted.
Customers Who Want Detailed Examination Records
Another international customer recently visited EYEDAQ Optical, underwent an eye examination, and ordered two pairs of glasses.
Afterward, the customer requested detailed measurement records.
These included prescription information, pupillary distance (PD), fitting height, pantoscopic tilt, and frame wrap angle.
The customer also asked about corneal topography and tear film examination reports, although the availability of such records would depend on whether those examinations had actually been performed and whether the data could be provided.
The purpose of the request was to keep the information for future eye examinations in the Netherlands.
This experience reminded me that some customers want more than a pair of glasses. They also value having a clear understanding of their vision measurements and how their eyewear has been fitted.
Growing Interest in Specialized High-Index Lenses
I also received an interesting inquiry from a customer with high myopia.
The customer specifically asked whether we could order Tokai 1.76 high-index double-sided aspheric prescription lenses.
They also wanted to know whether it would be possible to fit these lenses into a frame they already owned.
When making glasses for high myopia, choosing a lens with a high refractive index is only one consideration.
The frame size and shape, pupil position, lens design, and manufacturing requirements must all be considered.
A higher refractive index alone does not guarantee thinner-looking, more comfortable, or better-performing glasses in every situation.
It was interesting to see a customer researching a particular lens design before contacting an optical shop.
Detailed Questions About Progressive Prescription Sunglasses
An Israeli customer planning to visit Seoul also contacted us about progressive prescription sunglasses.
The questions were particularly detailed.
The customer wanted to know the lens manufacturer, exact progressive lens model, UV protection, total cost, and production schedule.
They also asked how we would handle fitting problems or difficulties adapting to progressive lenses after returning to Israel.
Reading these emails, I can see how carefully some international customers evaluate optical services before deciding where to purchase their glasses.
Why Personalized Eyewear Requires Time
EYEDAQ Optical has long welcomed many Korean customers who have experienced difficulties with their glasses.
Some have high myopia or significant astigmatism.
Others have struggled to adapt to progressive lenses or have purchased several pairs of glasses without achieving a satisfactory fit.
For these customers, the process often requires considerable time.
We need to understand their previous experiences, examine their vision, select suitable frames, and make adjustments according to their facial features and wearing habits.
Sometimes, understanding the source of a customer's discomfort and deciding how to address it takes longer than the actual lens edging and assembly process.
Recently, I have noticed similar expectations among some of the international customers contacting our store.
Of course, not every international customer has the same priorities.
Many still value fast service and reasonable prices, particularly when visiting Korea for a short period.
However, an increasing number of customers who contact EYEDAQ are specifically looking for careful examinations, professional advice, and precise fitting.
The Challenges of Serving International Customers
These changes also give us much to think about as opticians.
Communicating in English is important, but language skills alone are not enough.
We must understand each customer's concerns, explain examination results clearly, discuss the characteristics and limitations of different prescription lenses, and recommend appropriate eyewear.
For customers returning to their home countries, the situation can be especially challenging.
Once they leave Korea, returning to our store for further adjustments may not be practical.
This makes it particularly important to discuss the expected production time, fitting requirements, and after-sales service limitations before accepting an order.
At EYEDAQ Optical, I believe that making good glasses involves much more than selecting expensive lenses or using advanced measuring equipment.
Even a high-quality lens may not provide a satisfactory wearing experience if it is unsuitable for the customer's visual needs or the way the glasses sit on their face.
Accurate refraction, appropriate lens selection, suitable frame dimensions, and careful fitting must work together.
The experience and professional judgment of the optician also play an essential role.
Whether our customers come from Korea or overseas, their expectations are fundamentally similar.
They want glasses that provide clear vision and feel comfortable in everyday life.
Being able to make glasses quickly is certainly useful.
But understanding why a customer has experienced discomfort with previous glasses, and making every reasonable effort to address that problem, is even more important.
This is the approach we believe in at EYEDAQ Optical in Myeongdong, Seoul.
Why We Sometimes Decline International Eyewear Orders
There is another side to providing responsible optical services.
Although we appreciate the trust international customers place in us, there are situations in which accepting an order may not be in the customer's best interests.
The Israeli customer who contacted us about progressive prescription sunglasses later asked whether the glasses could be completed after an in-person visit and shipped to Israel.
After carefully considering the circumstances, we decided not to proceed with the order.
Below is the substance of the reply we sent.
Our Reply to the Customer in Israel
Dear Customer,
Thank you for your interest in EYEDAQ Optical and for the trust you have placed in us.
We understand that you are looking for high-quality progressive prescription sunglasses, and we would certainly like to provide eyewear that meets your expectations.
However, after carefully considering your request, we believe it would be best not to proceed with an order that requires international delivery after your visit.
For progressive lenses, accurate refraction and personalized lens design are extremely important. Equally important is the final fitting process, during which the completed glasses are checked while being worn by the customer.
Even when the prescription and lens manufacturing are accurate, changes in the frame's wearing position, pantoscopic tilt, or vertex distance can affect the visual experience.
In some cases, relatively minor fitting adjustments can resolve these issues.
However, if you experience discomfort after returning to Israel, it would be difficult for us to examine the actual cause and provide the necessary adjustments.
Even when there is no problem with the lens design or manufacturing, discomfort related to the wearing position could result in requests for returns or remakes.
This could create unnecessary inconvenience for you and practical difficulties for us.
At EYEDAQ Optical, we believe our responsibility extends beyond simply selling glasses.
We consider it equally important that our customers can wear their completed eyewear comfortably and receive appropriate after-sales care when necessary.
If we cannot reasonably provide that level of service, we believe it is more responsible not to accept the order.
For these reasons, we must respectfully decline your request for progressive prescription sunglasses to be shipped internationally.
If you have an opportunity to visit Korea again with a more flexible schedule, we would be pleased to assist you with a thorough consultation, careful vision examination, eyewear selection, lens production, and final fitting.
We regret that we cannot accommodate your request on this occasion and sincerely appreciate your understanding.
Thank you again for considering EYEDAQ Optical.
Kind regards,
EYEDAQ Optical
Myeongdong, Seoul, South Korea
Our Commitment to Better Eyewear
Every customer brings different visual needs, facial features, expectations, and previous experiences.
Our responsibility is not simply to recommend the most expensive lenses or complete an order as quickly as possible.
It is to understand those individual needs, explain what we can realistically provide, and help customers make informed decisions.
Sometimes that means spending more time on an examination or making several careful fitting adjustments.
And occasionally, as in the case above, it means explaining why we cannot confidently provide the level of service a customer deserves.
We believe that responsible optical care begins with understanding the customer and continues through the final fitting and appropriate after-sales support.
As more international customers discover EYEDAQ Optical in Seoul, we will continue working to improve our consultation, examination, fitting, and communication services.
Our goal remains the same: to provide carefully made prescription eyewear suited to each customer's needs.
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