'Spec' me an optician

Indepenent.
Kaleyes in Uxbridge have been fantastic for me for years, I used to go to Costco but I was having some issues with my eyes and they just couldn't seem to solve it. Went to Kaleyes and they were great, they worked out the issue and how to stop it.
I no longer live in the area, but I still make an effort to travel to them because they were that good.
 
I had a good experience with a Vision Express branch located in my local Tescos. I'm guessing they use contracting opticians to do the eye tests so I suppose it depends if you get lucky with a good one.
 
Picked up my glasses from specsavers yesterday. Given my prescription is -5 and -7, the -7 lens is usually a fair bit thicker than the frame at the end but on these glasses the -7 barely sticks out more than the -5. How is this possible for £150 compared to my previous pair at an independent costing £450ish. The frame is the same level of thickness as well.
 
Bassmansam said:
Picked up my glasses from specsavers yesterday. Given my prescription is -5 and -7, the -7 lens is usually a fair bit thicker than the frame at the end but on these glasses the -7 barely sticks out more than the -5. How is this possible for £150 compared to my previous pair at an independent costing £450ish. The frame is the same level of thickness as well.
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It is a bit of con if you ask me when it comes to the cost, considering single prescription lenses cost double / triple if you want them "thinner". Exactly how much does it cost to manufacture them using the various types of plastic. I had proper jam jar specs as a kid but now opt to get them as thin as possible but buy them online using various vouchers. I generally opt to buy from GlassesDirect when a 40% total discount is available.

I opt to use local Boots for the eye test; all much of a muchness if you ask me and when I have visited others places, the prescription is the same. For the last few years, I now need varifocals but I still opt for online when buying.

I have a plus 6 in both eyes.
 
*NUDGE*

any recommendations - Online sites to try out of frame styles with photo upload.

current style seems to be large rimmed Clark Kent style - I don't need anything that large, just 30mm or so to accomodate a varifocal lense,
have previously had rimless, but they can't take the occasional knock, albeit, are inconspicuous,
 
SPG said:
Go private, avoid Specsavers like the plague.
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Specsavers have never ripped me off.
I go for a yearly eye test because of diabetes , the Optician will ask what I'm using now and I'll say £3 off eBay 1.5 lenses and he/she will say carry on with those if they work.
 
Just got 2 pairs of glasses and a pair of prescription sunglasses from Specsavers for less than i paid for 1 set at a private opticians. Yes its like a conveyor belt but you cant knock the price...

I'm picking them up on thurs so lets see how they are.

A friend of mine works in a chemist across the road. After a fight with a druggy her glasses got smashed. The local Specsavers found her the exact same pair and swapped over the lenses FOC.....
 
My wife and I used Specsavers last year, I found the eye test very good, we both bought glasses from there, both bivocal and that is where it goes pearshaped. I got my glasses and could not read with them so took them back. lens were incorrect, also told to wait to see if they were ok before getting my second pair, got the new pair after a week, not much better but told to try them for a month to see if my eyes adjusted, meanwhile after a few weeks my wifes glasses had an arm break off, same day as we were offto France, so rushed down there got to the meet and greet dick at the door explained to him and showed him what had happened, he said not covered by warrenty, had a few words about that paid £45.00 for repairs.When I got back hom quick email to Headoffice and went on holiday. When we got back had an email back saying go back to the branch and got a refund, asked about my second pair and they couldn't order themon their computor.
 
As others have said. If you find a good optician stick with them.

I went to spec savers and they must have got something right. Cos I'm still using the same prescription 12 years later.

I usually get my glasses from Select specs because I'm a peasant.
 
As long as the optician gets your prescription right and can do an eye health check you’re nuts going to a fancy private optician.

Everyone does designer frames so just pick one.

There are a handful of eye glass manufacturers who make the lenses for all the glasses, Essilor for some big name boutique also make the glasses for boots.

Specsavers used to use Pentax (I think they still do) who were brought by Hoya then merged, if you search for an optician on the Hoyavision website there are some of the most expensive opticians in the country.

On top of that, they’ll all use virtually the same machinery in their labs.

I used to produce contact lenses, we supplied Boots, Moorefields Eye Hospital and several top end opticians who charged double what the others did yet we sent the same quality contact lenses to each
 
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An eye test is a scientific and methodical process and in theory your prescription shouldn't vary from one Optician to another. Just keep in mind that they make their money by selling glasses and not from testing eyes.
 
marl said:
An eye test is a scientific and methodical process and in theory your prescription shouldn't vary from one Optician to another. Just keep in mind that they make their money by selling glasses and not from testing eyes.
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Absolutely but I need to tell my story and I'll try to shorten it.
About 15 years ago had my first test, had two pairs of glasses for £50 and they were useless, went back to Vision Express but they confirmed they were correct.
I put them in a drawer and carried on with my £3 +1.5's.
A year later I'd figured out what was wrong, they test for distance and reading but don't test for a computer monitor distance.
I asked Vision Express to test that distance but they refused saying they only do distance and reading so I walked out and went to Specsavers.
Specsavers were happy to do my monitor distance because my distance and reading were OK.
The optician asked if I use anything now and I said I use eBay £3 +1.5s and they work great.
She confirmed I was 1.5 and 1.25 so said I didn't need prescription glasses and they've said the same thing for the last 15 years.

The point of this story:
If your problem is with your computer monitor distance ask them to check that.
 
I am just about to get my fist varifocals. I tried them before but the optician got things wrong. Now closed.
I have been quoted about £470 for the lenses and £140 for the frames. It's a bit toppy but I trust the optician.
 
Merlin5 said:
Time for me to get a new eye test as it's been over two years. Actually, I already have a very good optician in my high street that I can always pop in and get something fixed on the spot like if the frame gets a little out of shape or whatever. But I was wondering if anyone here uses/recommends Specsavers? My prescription is always varifocals, and because of higher magnification for my weaker left eye, it costs more to keep the lenses thin as possible. I always have Essilor/Varilux glass with anti scratch coating and whatever else addons they recommend, plus a strong metal frame with flexible arms. So I'm usually in the £400 to £500 bracket. But I never get a second pair free from my optician. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Specsavers do buy one get one free at a certain price point? And maybe they'll work out cheaper I don't know. In my opinion, when it comes to eyes, it's not worth skimping on quality of service and lenses, but are Specsavers worth trying or am I better off staying with a trusted optician?
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Just up the A1 from you is Radlett Opticians
 
jpaul said:
*NUDGE*

any recommendations - Online sites to try out of frame styles with photo upload.

current style seems to be large rimmed Clark Kent style - I don't need anything that large, just 30mm or so to accomodate a varifocal lense,
have previously had rimless, but they can't take the occasional knock, albeit, are inconspicuous,
Click to expand...

I would highly recommend against this... and do the opposite..
You can't tell how the frame curves, the viewing area of the lens part and in general how it sits on your face.

Go to the stores, try the frames on to see how they fit.. then if you want to save some cash, buy them online and take it to the a store for the lens and for them to fitted.

Everyone 4 eyes that I know who has purchased glasses online have moaned about the fitting either of the frame, the lens forcus point or both.
 
Just went for my eye test a few weeks back, and I was dreading it.. glasses is the one thing I don't cheap out on.

I know I'm having issues reading small print up close, but to my suprised both eye tests (glasses and contacts) recommended that I don't swap my prescription so I didn't have to fork out for a new pair of glasses.

Good thing too as last time I brought a pair of raybans and oakleys, cost me a heavy stack with the lenses too.

Due to lock down, I kept wearing the Oakleys and only started wearing the raybans as the AR coating had come off the lens for the Oakleys.
 
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