I booked an eye test with specsavers, their earliest appointment is Nov 1st. I then called my usual optician and booked an eyetest for tomorrow. I can then decide who I'm going buy specs from. The lenses I want that are made by Essilor are £490 at specsavers. Apparently I paid £498 for them two years ago at my private opticians! Turns out my private opticians has changed hands but reviews are very good on the new shop. Specsavers offered me their 'Tailor Made' lenses at £158 + a second pair free. That's a brilliant deal but I've asked Demon to ask his daughter about the Tailor Made lenses.
'Spec' me an optician
- Thread starter Merlin5
- Start date
I booked an eye test with specsavers, their earliest appointment is Nov 1st. I then called my usual optician and booked an eyetest for tomorrow. I can then decide who I'm going buy specs from. The lenses I want that are made by Essilor are £490 at specsavers. Apparently I paid £498 for them two years ago at my private opticians! Turns out my private opticians has changed hands but reviews are very good on the new shop. Specsavers offered me their 'Tailor Made' lenses at £158 + a second pair free. That's a brilliant deal but I've asked Demon to ask his daughter about the Tailor Made lenses.
Soldato
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My local (Reading) Specsavers have been brilliant since I've needed glasses. No complaints at all. They even do minor repairs no questions asked with no appointment.
All about the optician in place really. I have used Boots in Stafford for years and the reason why is simple.
The optician is the son of my fathers school friend. He looked after my grandmother and my father, both of whom had/have complex eyes (rare versions of glaucoma) and for 20 years he has also done my eyes. I see him every 6 months (because of family history) and he gives me gold class service using latest tech. Before that I went to a popular optician in Lichfield who were poor in comparison, didn't use any of the modern tech and have now closed down. I also get free tests but he is thorough beyond belief and always shares all the digital images, talks me through them etc.
Like any service industry you need to find the good people. I have spent about 8 billion pounds on glasses mind so it's probably why I get the nice coffee.
The optician is the son of my fathers school friend. He looked after my grandmother and my father, both of whom had/have complex eyes (rare versions of glaucoma) and for 20 years he has also done my eyes. I see him every 6 months (because of family history) and he gives me gold class service using latest tech. Before that I went to a popular optician in Lichfield who were poor in comparison, didn't use any of the modern tech and have now closed down. I also get free tests but he is thorough beyond belief and always shares all the digital images, talks me through them etc.
Like any service industry you need to find the good people. I have spent about 8 billion pounds on glasses mind so it's probably why I get the nice coffee.
Soldato
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@Merlin5
You could ask the Dons for a poll.
- Specsavers
- Vision Express
- Boots
- Independent opticians
I'm only in my 2nd year of wearing glasses, but so far I've been using an independent as my vision is shafted and I pay a bit extra for their advanced eye tests.
You could ask the Dons for a poll.
- Specsavers
- Vision Express
- Boots
- Independent opticians
I'm only in my 2nd year of wearing glasses, but so far I've been using an independent as my vision is shafted and I pay a bit extra for their advanced eye tests.
Soldato
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I think most people choose their opticians on location to home and/or work.
Nearest Boots opticians and VE are in Leicester city centre. A pain for me. Yet have a SS ten minute walk.
Nearest Boots opticians and VE are in Leicester city centre. A pain for me. Yet have a SS ten minute walk.
Soldato
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- 22 Nov 2007
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- 4,360
Whats your prescription? Mines -5 and -7 so strongish, i was shocked when she said my glasses would only cost £150!
All about lens quality and frame 'poshness'
I am varifocal and not all varifocals are built the same. The best ones are like magic, no matter where you look they are sharp, the worst ones have clear transition points and are really quite rubbish. Only got one pair of eyes so invest is my mantra. Find a great optician and never cut corners on optics. Spend less on the computer instead if it's a balance (I think @Gibbo might smash my face in now I've said that)
Mines +6 spherical right, +8 left and that's my 2 year old prescription. I can still see and focus very well with these specs but I can tell the prescription has changed a bit.
All about lens quality and frame 'poshness'
I am varifocal and not all varifocals are built the same. The best ones are like magic, no matter where you look they are sharp, the worst ones have clear transition points and are really quite rubbish. Only got one pair of eyes so invest is my mantra. Find a great optician and never cut corners on optics. Spend less on the computer instead if it's a balance (I think @Gibbo might smash my face in now I've said that)
Yes mine are Varilux varifocals made by Essilor, it's top glass. I 100% agree with you that optics is not something to skimp on. I'm probably going to try the Specsavers equivalent of mine first which are much cheaper but my feeling is that I might not be completely happy with anything less than what I've been using for years. We'll see!
Yea I use Varilux in my glasses, I typically have 3 pairs each time my prescription changes. Two normal to different designs and 1 sun glasses. They are one of the two or three best lenses out there, I think a change will leave you disappointed.
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I still get my testing done at the same independent i've always used, but recently bought specs from glasses direct.
Good range of styles and brands and the pricing seems to be very good, plus usually some offer on.
Lenses seen good quality, although not sure what brand they use as I just have single vision ones.
Was skeptical about using online companies, but would now highly recommend.
Only potential issue is getting the PD measurement as most opticians don't give it you unless you buy from them, but fairly straightforward to do yourself.
Good range of styles and brands and the pricing seems to be very good, plus usually some offer on.
Lenses seen good quality, although not sure what brand they use as I just have single vision ones.
Was skeptical about using online companies, but would now highly recommend.
Only potential issue is getting the PD measurement as most opticians don't give it you unless you buy from them, but fairly straightforward to do yourself.
Yeah, I suspect I'll be disappointed too. Still, specsavers are letting me try the cheaper ones for a few weeks and if I'm not happy they'll switch to the glass I like and I just pay the difference, so it's a win win really.
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Asda were doing essilor - that is in an earlier thread -
I have hoya ID's and similarly believe specsavers progressives would not have as wider focus corridor, or be properly fitted -
I have never walked in to ask them if they measure the tilt&distance of the frames you have chosen when you are wearing them,
which was done by an independant on my existing frames, and would also be very difficult for any online service.
been wearing progressives for 15 years and I do not remenber any adaption period - father just had first set of progressives from specsavers,
which he doesn't wear much - because I think they are ill adapted and not like a proverbial glove
recently watched a number of videos on the correct fitting process which re-enforced above eg https://youtu.be/iIYInHdPVH0
I have hoya ID's and similarly believe specsavers progressives would not have as wider focus corridor, or be properly fitted -
I have never walked in to ask them if they measure the tilt&distance of the frames you have chosen when you are wearing them,
which was done by an independant on my existing frames, and would also be very difficult for any online service.
been wearing progressives for 15 years and I do not remenber any adaption period - father just had first set of progressives from specsavers,
which he doesn't wear much - because I think they are ill adapted and not like a proverbial glove
recently watched a number of videos on the correct fitting process which re-enforced above eg https://youtu.be/iIYInHdPVH0
Soldato
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Whats essilor?
Associate
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Obligatory "I see what you did there" for the thread title.
come on guys - slacking ...
come on guys - slacking ...
manufacturer of prescription varifocals - that have a good reputation; their varlux model in particular
eg . https://www.reddit.com/r/optometry/comments/iwlw9i/specsavers_varifocals/
in comparison secsavers (like for hearing aids) obfuscate whose product you are actually buying - with silly titles.
At Specsavers we offer six types of varifocal lenses: Standard, Premium, Elite, Tailor-made, SuperDrive and SuperDigital.
I binned off Specsavers, as already mentioned, they're franchise so the service differs per branch. My local branch are great with eye tests, but the guys who deal with the retail side are incredibly rude and incompetent so I decided to cancel my lens mail subscription.
I ordered a pair of prescription swimming goggles and was given a date for delivery. They called me and told me they would be delayed by a couple of weeks due to lens availability by the manufacturer. This wasn't an issue, I was told they would be late and this was during a time post COVID when supply chains were still distup. Completely understandable.
Weeks went by and I didn't receive a call to update me as promised. I went into store as I was in town and was kept waiting twenty minutes, decided I had enough of watching people come in off the street to get small issues fixed such as loose glasses arms, whilst I was kept waiting. Went upstairs, told them to cancel my subscription - explained why and was then witness to a complete clown show of "your goggles are here, no wait they're not, oh they are, oh perhaps they're not, we can't find them".
Sick to the back teeth of crap customer service and how it's now deemed acceptable since COVID and now I just take my business elsewhere.
I ordered a pair of prescription swimming goggles and was given a date for delivery. They called me and told me they would be delayed by a couple of weeks due to lens availability by the manufacturer. This wasn't an issue, I was told they would be late and this was during a time post COVID when supply chains were still distup. Completely understandable.
Weeks went by and I didn't receive a call to update me as promised. I went into store as I was in town and was kept waiting twenty minutes, decided I had enough of watching people come in off the street to get small issues fixed such as loose glasses arms, whilst I was kept waiting. Went upstairs, told them to cancel my subscription - explained why and was then witness to a complete clown show of "your goggles are here, no wait they're not, oh they are, oh perhaps they're not, we can't find them".
Sick to the back teeth of crap customer service and how it's now deemed acceptable since COVID and now I just take my business elsewhere.
I've been going to Specsavers for a few years now. Always fine, quick, friendly, helpsul and efficient. But I have a simple prescription which rarely changes.
On the other hand I know someone who has a more complicated prescription, varifocals, and a mild eye condition, and Specsavers in hindsight were probably not the place to visit. They sold glasses when they shouldn't have etc and they had a much better experience after revisiting a private opticians.
On the other hand I know someone who has a more complicated prescription, varifocals, and a mild eye condition, and Specsavers in hindsight were probably not the place to visit. They sold glasses when they shouldn't have etc and they had a much better experience after revisiting a private opticians.