Needing new glasses

GeorgeStorm

GeorgeStorm

GeorgeStorm

Associate
Joined
12 May 2011
Posts
394
Hi all,
Due to unfortunately kind of sitting on my glasses I'm after a new pair (they didn't break but they're not quite right, and I got an eye test to check my prescription and it has actually changed a touch so maybe not a bad thing) and I'm wondering on where to get them from.
Current pair were from glasses direct which I've been happy with, and looks like I could get a couple of pairs for pretty cheap (£40-70) as I'm not really fussed by designer brands and so were a much better option than specsavers/boots etc, however I was recommended to check out iolla this time as something a bit different/possibly higher quality, which seems to be a single pair for £85 which is obviously more, but wondered if it's worth it?
Have people had experience going for a more independent/nicer brand vs cheaper online?
My vision isn't crazy (-2.50/-2.75) without any other issues so not needing anything specialist.

Cheers
 
Last edited:
My current pair is from my local independent opticians and a backup pair from Specsavers. Both have been fine, but my current pair from my local independent opticians feels higher quality than the Specsavers one.

I've never bought glasses from Iolla, but I've heard good things about them. If you've got an Iolla branch near you, I'd say pop down and try out some frames.
 
Just get some that are comfortable to wear and fit your face. If that's Glasses Direct, then fine. Generally speaking I would not pay for premium brands for glasses as really they are overpriced and essentially the same as the cheap ones.
 
My last pair I got from glasses direct after being quoted from spec savers over £500.00 cost was £ 270.00 reduced to £135.00 varifocals and all the rest of extra's, very happy with them.
 
GeorgeStorm said:
Due to unfortunately kind of sitting on my glasses I'm after a new pair (they didn't break but they're not quite right, and I got an eye test to check my prescription and it has actually changed a touch so maybe not a bad thing) and I'm wondering on where to get them from.
Click to expand...
I used/recommend simplespex for a couple of reglazed pairs, a fixed distance spec ( Hilux Eyas 1.60 Hi-Vision Meiryo+) ~ £100, also a pair of more expensive varifocals,
with anti-reflextive/scratch coatings.

more importantly started my home insurance with Admiral after checking they would cover accidental glasses damage after similarly damaging earlier pair
(they needed to check with underwriter they'd be covered following several phone calls)
 
I’ve used Glasses Direct for 3 years and not had any problems.
Generally buy Oakley as I prefer the straight style arms, but they aren’t that bad a price on their site.

My independent used to be great and the one guy always took his time to get them adjusted right, but he left and their prices were just too high to justify anymore.
I don’t mind paying a slight premium for local, but double the price was too much!
 
I tend to pay top dollar for my specs... it's something that I wear every day and when you break down the price of a pair to day cost, it's next to nothing.
The discount I get for a contacts lens plan, really shaves off a lot.

I did think about doing the online thing... but I heard night mare stories from a lot of my friends... but having said that, if you want to save a few bob, look for a frame in the stores that you like the look and fit off then go online to buy the frame only. Take it to any store, even boots will do this for you.. or so she tells me; and then get them to fit the lens in and custom the frame fit.
 
slinxy said:
I tend to pay top dollar for my specs... it's something that I wear every day and when you break down the price of a pair to day cost, it's next to nothing.
The discount I get for a contacts lens plan, really shaves off a lot.

I did think about doing the online thing... but I heard night mare stories from a lot of my friends... but having said that, if you want to save a few bob, look for a frame in the stores that you like the look and fit off then go online to buy the frame only. Take it to any store, even boots will do this for you.. or so she tells me; and then get them to fit the lens in and custom the frame fit.
Click to expand...

Yeah same. I am with Vision express. I have a contact lens plan and a pair of Rayban as my main glasses. With the deals you get through the plan I bought a spare set with all the coatings etc for £55. I also prefer it that way as I get the reminders for eye tests etc so another thing not to worry about booking etc. Having someone professional who knows what they are doing and the latest knowledge when it comes to contact lenses is real handy too. Especially as I wear toric in my right eye.
 
Last edited:
I’ve always used vision express to by my Oakley glass. I used glasses direct to buy some cheap £40 to use around the house and they have been great.

I lost my £330 Oakleys I had just got from vision express. I looked online and found them for £140 so took a chance and ordered them. My old ones eventually turned up and I can’t tell the difference between the £330 vision express and the £140 online ones.
 
In the past, I've found a pair I liked in a chain store, found the frames online for cheaper, then went back and asked them to just put prescription lenses in (though Specsavers don't offer this - Vision Express did).

I just recently tried an online store called SmartBuyGlasses because of the range of frames they offered. Pretty good experience the multiple times I tried. First pair was in stock, took a couple of days to get the lenses prepared, then when it shipped (from Hong Kong to the UK), it took just 4 days to arrive. The fit and prescription were spot on, though buying frames online will always be a shot in the dark.

I bought another pair from them; they had to order the frames in so that took a few weeks, then it was another 4 days exactly to reach my door after they shipped it. This pair I decided against them and went for a full refund (which is still in progress, but I haven't had any issues so far).

You can find discount codes online pretty easily to take about 10% off.
 
Oh I definitely think if I was after a specific 'branded' pair then going online would be the way as there shouldn't be any difference and can save a bunch.
I like the idea of using a smaller uk company so am leaning towards getting one slightly nicer pair but am also going to grab a cheap pair from glasses direct I think for a backup, with codes and whatnot can get a pair with anti glare/scratch coated lenses for around £20 delivered which really can't complain about!
 
GeorgeStorm said:
Hi all,
Due to unfortunately kind of sitting on my glasses I'm after a new pair (they didn't break but they're not quite right, and I got an eye test to check my prescription and it has actually changed a touch so maybe not a bad thing) and I'm wondering on where to get them from.
Current pair were from glasses direct which I've been happy with, and looks like I could get a couple of pairs for pretty cheap (£40-70) as I'm not really fussed by designer brands and so were a much better option than specsavers/boots etc, however I was recommended to check out iolla this time as something a bit different/possibly higher quality, which seems to be a single pair for £85 which is obviously more, but wondered if it's worth it?
Have people had experience going for a more independent/nicer brand vs cheaper online?
My vision isn't crazy (-2.50/-2.75) without any other issues so not needing anything specialist.

Cheers
Click to expand...

I think even with that prescription, I'd want them properly measured on my face to ensure the lense is optimised for your specific pupil location.. My Mrs had two cheap pairs online when she first needed glasses but only when my daughter started working at Specsavers did she find out her cheap glasses had the incorrect PD and heights.. even without discount it was only £100 for two pairs of branded single vision glasses (they start at £70 for two pairs) and she immediately noticed her peripheral vision improvement and less eye fatigue, something she just thought was 'normal' with the online glasses..
Since then she's also had the odd frame that just felt uncomfortable after a few days and swapped those out for free to a different design under their generous return policy..
 
Demon said:
when my daughter started working at Specsavers did she find out her cheap glasses had the incorrect PD and heights..
Click to expand...

I thought there was a lot of leeway for pd and heights on single vision glasses compared to varifocals
- leastaways the fixed vision ones I had from simplespex I can put them on my nose at different levels without impacting accuity as I'd intended
for lounging on sofa, driving, tv in bed (but they are good lenses)
compared to varifocals where correct position on the head and fitment is vital (and the back vertex distance, panto angle, bvd reasonably important too)

I had two pairs of frames reglazed so they could also take measures from existing lenses -
none of the highstreet stores boots/scrivens/ss could do a reglaze as they didn't have a license from the frame manufacturer, I discovered.
 
jpaul said:
I thought there was a lot of leeway for pd and heights on single vision glasses compared to varifocals
- leastaways the fixed vision ones I had from simplespex I can put them on my nose at different levels without impacting accuity as I'd intended
for lounging on sofa, driving, tv in bed (but they are good lenses)
compared to varifocals where correct position on the head and fitment is vital (and the back vertex distance, panto angle, bvd reasonably important too)

I had two pairs of frames reglazed so they could also take measures from existing lenses -
none of the highstreet stores boots/scrivens/ss could do a reglaze as they didn't have a license from the frame manufacturer, I discovered.
Click to expand...
There is more leeway but its not inconsequential.. One of the pairs was around 10mm too low (larger frames) and 3mm horizontally, she thought they were fine, but it only took a few days of wearing the correctly measured but equivalent prescription glasses before she realised that she had less eye fatigue and less distorted peripheral vision..

Reglazing from existing is exactly what we've done with sunglasses, for some reason high street stores are very expensive for those, but we both saved a lot by buying those online based on sending in frames with normal lenses so they could measure..
 
yes both my current pairs are <40mm high/rimless - none of these supersized frames a la mode
jpaul said:
New glasses - well re-glazing, first time online because neither boots/scrivens could do it : hoya id varifocals + far-sight,
... spares for the espresso machine too
qds4OXf.jpg
Click to expand...
 
jpaul said:
yes both my current pairs are <40mm high/rimless - none of these supersized frames a la mode
Click to expand...

That makes sense. Keeping the lenses under 40mm and using rimless frames should make the fitting less awkward. The difference in eye fatigue and peripheral distortion sounds like a good reason to get the measurements right.
 
Last edited:
Don't think I've had a problem with eye fatigue or anything and have had different styles of frames over the years, have gone for similar/slightly smaller than my current which were bigger than what I've used before, had to provide PD measurements so will see as I've gone for them so hopefully will get them next week!
 
My Mrs didn't think she had eye fatigue or that the peripheral vision wasn't perfect until she'd worn the new glasses for a couple of days, but the TV was the thing she noticed late evening that seemed 'still really clear' and after 2 weeks noticed her eyes didn't feel as tired but would have otherwise said her previous glasses were 'perfect'.. It's also worked the other way, she's had new glasses from the high street and one pair would feel 'off' compared to the other and then found out it was measured incorrectly and corrected for free.. had she not had the second correct pair to compare against, she'd just have soldiered on with the imperfect pair.

Considering you only have 1 set of eyes and good eyesight is something you want to hang on to for as long as you can, at £70 for two pairs of bog standard glasses/lenses that will be measured to your face/eye position seems a no brainer, but I can't deny that if you don't really care and are perfectly happy you can get two pairs for under £40 online these days..
 
My prescription is fairly basic, so I just get then cheapest ones from select specs. Apart from the fairly long lead time they're been fairly good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom