Best place to get glasses? Are they all the same?

TheBigCheese

TheBigCheese

TheBigCheese

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6 Sep 2005
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Hi everyone

I need to get a new eye test and I know that I will require new glasses as my eyes have got worse. :(

I usually order from my local opticians and the glasses take a week to arrive, however I'm going away in two weeks and by the time I get the appointment they may not get here in time.

Can anyone tell me of their experiences of places like Specsavers and Vision Express where you can get glasses made up by the next day and what the quality of them are.

Thanks! :)
 
My local Specsavers is oustanding. I've recommended them to friends and family and everyone whose tried them have commented about how much better they are than their old opticians.

I'm sure there was a thread about this a couple of weeks ago.

By the way Gilly, how'd you get such an astronomical post count?!
 
get them off the net, from India takes a few weeks so no good but from the UK can get them damn quick. Just ring around for an appointment i would be amazed if you can't get one somewhere tomorrow.
 
I used Specsavers a couple of years ago. For £120 I got an eye test and 2 pairs of glasses from a good selection of frames. I'd use them again.

My mum used Vision Express about a year ago and got ripped off. Spent far too much on a single pair of glasses.
 
Thanks very much for the posts guys, that's really helpful! :)

I'll pop into Specsavers when I've had my eye test and see what they can do and for what price...hopefully bagging a two for one deal.

As for laser eye surgery...I would be keen, but I'm happy to wait a few years yet.

Of course now you realise that I won't be able to read anything about laser eye surgery without hearing *pew pew* in my head...thanks very much...

:D
 
Specsavers use lower quality coatings than more premium counterparts, like Vision Express (you pay for what you get). The lens coatings start to yellow within 18 months of using the glasses.

However, if you use them regularly, the chances are they'll start to fall apart before then anyway.

Specsavers shift volumes at low cost. Independents and Vision Express sell fewer, more quality.
 
Hmm, ive had 4 pairs of glasses from specsavers, not one has yellowed or fallen apart, and thats after 5 years for 2 of the pairs.
 
Hatter The Mad said:
Specsavers use lower quality coatings than more premium counterparts, like Vision Express (you pay for what you get). The lens coatings start to yellow within 18 months of using the glasses.

However, if you use them regularly, the chances are they'll start to fall apart before then anyway.

Specsavers shift volumes at low cost. Independents and Vision Express sell fewer, more quality.
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Awwww that's not what I was wanting to hear, I appreciate the post though. :)

Good quality is what I'm looking for really...with the ones I have now are designer frames (entirely not necessary for me but apparently they suit my face) with multi coated optics (98% light transmission apparently) and scratch resistant lenses...they wouldn't let me have Canon L glass in them :(;)

They are great when they are clean, they are so clear you can't tell you have anything in front of your eye but they get dirty very quickly (the optician did warn me the multi-coated ones did).

Cost me about £200 two years ago (ouch)...going from that, am I going to notice a big difference downgrading?
 
TheBigCheese said:
Cost me about £200 two years ago (ouch)...going from that, am I going to notice a big difference downgrading?
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I say yes in terms of build quality and the quality of the glass (Pentax or not [in fact, they just license the name, but that is another matter]).

All the other opticians (independent or chain) aren't in some price fixing scheme, and Specsavers the only one out of the loop. Specsavers will sell you two pairs for £99 ("Buy one get one free") because the quality of manufacturing and materials is lower, therefore the cost it. They rely on shifting big volumes to make up their margins.

I've had Specsavers before (so have many of my Uni friends), and they do not last anywhere near as long as something more premium, and there is a noticeable difference in the quality of the glass.
 
Hmmm, speaking of glass quality, Vision Express offer Zeiss lenses...it'll be licensed again I guess but it has to be of a certain standard to quality of the Zeiss branding...that will be worth a look!

Bet they aren't on the 2 for 1 though.
 
Specsavers, if you return for an eye test ever 1/2 years depending on your eyes it's only a tenner. I've had my glasses well over a year and their still going strong, they were designer with an ultra clear coating (well anyway it basically feels like you're not looking through any glass unlike my other pair) and also a 2nd set free without clear coating for around £130 including the first eye test I think.

I would only recommend with the clear coating or w/e they call it, I never use the other pair but they were free anyway. As fair as quality goes they look great, do the job and I've had no problems with them at all, plan to renew every 2 years maybe 3 might be pushing it though.

If your glasses are designer from a decent seller and they don't last you more than a year then you can only blame yourself tbh.
 
TheBigCheese said:
Hmmm, speaking of glass quality, Vision Express offer Zeiss lenses...it'll be licensed again I guess but it has to be of a certain standard to quality of the Zeiss branding...that will be worth a look!

Bet they aren't on the 2 for 1 though.
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Actually, they're not just licensed - they're bought in to order. However, Zeiss do not come as standard. The 'addon' is vastly more expensive (I think it was at least £100 on top of the standard lens price). Apparently they give perfect focus across more of the glass surface (don't degrade as fast as others the further away from the centre you go). The optician told me that you only notice the Zeiss difference on stronger prescriptions (2 and above).
 
I had a mare with Vision express when I used them about 10 years back and started using an independent but now Ive moved to London i'll be trying them again. Avoid David Clulow they're rip off merchants, my last pair came to about £300 in the end, although they are Oliver Peoples so got stung with the designer tag I guess. They were Amongst the cheaper pairs in there though!
 
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