Specsavers Glasses. Real difference in quality v price?

[Karl]

You shouldn't really need to 'get used' to new lenses or if you do, it only takes a few minutes. From what you've described, something is way off. Don't struggle to get used to them, get them fixed.

My first pair were instant, but lots of online sources say it can take up to a couple of weeks.

 

[Scort]

Not just prescription its the pupillary distance and the other missing stuff thats not on the prescription thats the problem with buying online, get that wrong and its very uncomfortable at the very least and may even harm your sight or so I've heard. Some people are campaigning to get prescriptions changed to add those things to it as well. Remember when the sales guy took all sorts of measurements afterwards of your face and eyes that wasn't part of the test? Thats whats missing.

That's quite interesting actually.

I've had my new pair from Specsavers for about a week and a half now, and I'm really struggling to gel with them - it seems that unless I'm looking directly straight on with something, then I get a 'ghosting' around things such as text; the sort that squinting often sorts.

They never took any pupil measurements in retrospect, but they have on previous pairs of glasses - so I might pop back in, and get them to check these new ones out.

 

[esoteric]

Got my glasses from Specsavers around 2004, somewhere between £120 and 150 all in for 1 pair of glasses and 1 sunglasses. Still have them I'm wearing them now, same prescription though I don't know what mine is because it's been 15 years and they don't have me on record anymore.

All I've had done to my glasses was get the pads changed last year. ASDA did it for me and it was free.

 

[Siliconslave]

They never took any pupil measurements in retrospect, but they have on previous pairs of glasses - so I might pop back in, and get them to check these new ones out.

I've had glasses with incorrect PDs in the past and it feels like your drunk the whole time.

You will feel a bit weird if you've changed the size of the 'glass' (ie gone from tiny frames to huge ones) or changed the prescription significantly however if they are feeling off its worth going to get it checked.

 

[Scort]

I've had glasses with incorrect PDs in the past and it feels like your drunk the whole time.

You will feel a bit weird if you've changed the size of the 'glass' (ie gone from tiny frames to huge ones) or changed the prescription significantly however if they are feeling off its worth going to get it checked.

For me, it's more about the peripheral vision appearing doubled or out of focus - it's almost like there's a tiny area slap-bang in the middle of the lens that is fine, but any deviation from that is out of focus.

The lenses are slightly larger than my previous glasses, but probably by less than 5-6mm in height - width is maybe 2-3mm larger.

Going to book an appointment to get them checked I think.

 

[jpaul]

For me, it's more about the peripheral vision appearing doubled or out of focus

they're straight single vision ? varifocals can be more sensitive to mis-prescription



I'll repost this last frame fitting I had, for varifocals .. no way you could do this for an online purchase (so I haven't yet used one) .. earlier threads got lots of good info
... there can be some acclimatization to varifocals

Anyone who has used specsavers , how extensive is their fitting process ?

looked back at the last 'fitting' I had which measures a lot of stuff to ensure varifocal lense is positioned correctly for frame. (eye glass distance ....)

Spoiler: fitting

This seems a good online store with branded essilor/hoya/nikon lenses from £175

I would need convincing that Specsavers own lenses are as good

For an online store how can they possibly get all the fitment details. ?

 

[Soviet]

I did the 2 for £125 offer at Specsavers a year or so ago and haven't had an issue. I did knock my glasses which loosened the fit slightly but I took them in and they adjusted them for free.

 

[jamoor]

I recommend zenni

 

[jpaul]

No opticians in OC family then ? to give us the low down on the correct fitting process for single/multi vision lenses

(sorry Boris overuse of family word's catching)

 

[Scort]

they're straight single vision ? varifocals can be more sensitive to mis-prescription

Yes, these are single vision - never noticed such an issue with past glasses.

 

[dirtychinchilla]

I have a friend who's an experienced optician - it all comes down to the lenses. The way in which lenses are manufactured from somewhere like Glasses Direct compared with a high street opticians is dramatically different - for example, with the cheap lenses the assumption is that your pupil is exactly in the middle of the lens, and therefore that area is targetted to give you perfect vision. In theory, if you aren't looking through that spot i.e. at the edge of the lens, the image will be distorted a bit. What they do in a high street opticians is measure where you pupil is, and then they produce the lenses so that no matter where you look, you will have a consistent and not distorted image.

Whether this is noticeable or not is questionable, but lens are where all the money goes.

 

[Werewolf]

Whether this is noticeable or not is questionable, but lens are where all the money goes.

That doesn't surprise me, as the frames are pretty simple to make, but the lenses have so many variables (including cutting to fit into the frames), and any mistake at any point requires the lens to be dumped and for them to start again from scratch, with the final QC being done on arrival at the opticians from what I can tell.
My father has complex lenses* and no matter what optician he's gone to there has always been a chance that they'd reject the glasses on arrival, IIRC one pair was apparently redone about 3 times before the optician was happy to hand them over, and he's had delays at least 4 or 5 times that I can remember where the optician has rejected other pairs (this has happened at Boots, Specsavers and the local indie over the years).

One of the reasons I tend to be "happy" to pay the price in the opticians is I know that if there is a problem they'll fix it, often within minutes of me popping in, as over the years I've had them replace lost screws, restring glasses, new pads etc all done free even on older pairs.


*For years he had to have 3 sets of glasses (long, reading, computer), with prisms in one lens, usually with a new set at least once a year:/ He now has to have one lens frosted (apparently one of the opticians he went to was oddly excited to do that, he was a younger one and it was the first time he'd had the opportunity to frost a lens).

 

[dirtychinchilla]

Given the price you pay, I'm not surprised they do small repairs on your glasses. My friend also said that they do stuff like coating in store quite often. As another, dramatically less interesting, example he mention that the coating that Nikon do for glasses is the best he's used. I have my Glasses Direct glasses coated with some anti-scratch, anti-glare coating and it's utterly useless. He says that the Nikon lenses can genuinely reduce headlights to small circles - mine definitely don't!!

When we went to the shop he works in, he was able to cut the cost of the frames but couldn't discount the lenses at all. So, I imagine they make most of their money on frames and not lenses.

 

[jpaul]

My friend also said that they do stuff like coating in store quite often

name and shame because I wouldn't be going there ....

quick google http://assets.markallengroup.com/ar.../uploads/importedimages/dispensing-part-7.pdf

Hard coatings are generally specified in one of two ways, on their own, solely for improved durability or as part of a multi-layer reflection-free coating. The main types of hardcoat application are: Vacuum deposited – commonly manufactured by depositing a layer of around 1.70μm of SiO2 (Siloxane-based matrix) particles onto the lens using a vacuum coating machine. Because the SiO2 is a glass-based compound, this method produces any extremely scratch resistant coating. However, it has a very low permeability that necessitates the substrate being tinted before the coating is applied. Adhesion problems can also occur due to stress between the glass based hardcoat and substrate lens when softer plastic substrates are used. Absorbed coating – applied in a similar way to conventional tinting. This method can be very convenient for in-practice labs providing a quick and easily applied hardcoat. However, the chemicals used are often combined with low friction ingredients resulting in a very thin coating considered inferior to other methods.

the anti-glare stuff is probably a pre-requsite for night driving .. not obective, but relatives, who have gone to specsavers complain;
the prevalence of badly ajusted led/hid's doesn't help.

edit: progressive lense fitting process
https://www.aoa.org/Documents/optometric-staff/Articles/Fitting-Progressive-Lens.pdf

Spoiler: excerpt

Frame Measurements:  Place properly adjusted frame on patient (30% of the vertical height should be above the pupil). If seated, the paraoptometric should adjust to the patient’s height to mark each lens or have the patient stand in front of a mirror, looking straight ahead.  Mark each lens at the pupil center with a felt-tip marker.  Draw a horizontal line on each lens.  Check to see that the lines are at the center of each pupil.  Have the patient close his or her eyes and lower his or her chin to the chest – instruct patient to slowly raise head and to open the eyes when the head is raised (this will help determine the patient’s natural head position). Check again for the position of the horizontal line. If it is on pupil center, it is correct; if not, repeat the procedure.  Fitting height will vary depending on the type of progressive lens used. It is important for the paraoptometric to know and fit the progressive lens that is chosen with the correct measurements.  Measure fitting height from the deepest point of the lenses to the pupil center

 

[melmac]

For getting your eyes tested is better to go to a local Optician rather than Specsavers?

Do you get better lenses than from Specsavers?

 

[jpaul]

For getting your eyes tested is better to go to a local Optician rather than Specsavers?

I'd like to know what the medical qualifications are in opticians too .. maybe the local small options eg scriveners.
have a medically qualified optician who rotates around branches for consultation/prescription on particular days ?

in France, anyway. the doctor(opthalmologist ?) who makes the prescription is separate from the opticians.

 

[Yaayuh!]

So I’ve been wearing glasses for the past few days and come to the conclusion that the very little it does for my sight is not worth anywhere near the annoyance of having to wear glasses and the cost associated.

I also think Specsavers did a very good job to try and persuade me otherwise in the first place. So I’m going to go back there and try for a full refund as I really feel as though I’ve swindled somewhat.

 

[Things change I've changed]

So I’ve been wearing glasses for the past few days and come to the conclusion that the very little it does for my sight is not worth anywhere near the annoyance of having to wear glasses and the cost associated.

I also think Specsavers did a very good job to try and persuade me otherwise in the first place. So I’m going to go back there and try for a full refund as I really feel as though I’ve swindled somewhat.

How have you been swindled? If they improve your eye-sight then they are doing the job you've paid for.

I was also was not keen on wearing glasses which is why I choose the cheapest frames for my first time as a bit of a test run, couldn't really get used to them so they are in my draw!

 

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[jpaul]

...... should have gone to radio-rentals .. you knows the form

I'd like to know what the medical qualifications are in opticians too ..

looks like two potential types https://www.visionexpress.com/eye-health/opticians-optometrists/
I'm looking for the latter for next test

Optometrists
An eye specialist
When you have your eyes tested, you are most likely to encounter an optometrist. Optometrists are not doctors, but highly trained specialists who can recognise, treat, and write prescriptions to help manage most common eye conditions and anomalies. They can prescribe and fit glasses, contact lenses, and low vision aids – such as telescopic glasses or magnifying glasses – as well as recommending eye strengthening exercises and vision therapy. Some optometrists are also qualified to undertake vision therapy and can prescribe certain medications to treat conditions or diseases

Ophthalmic medical practitioners
A doctor who specialises in eye conditions

An ophthalmic medical practitioner is a medically qualified doctor who specialises in eye-care. Their responsibilities are broadly similar to optometrists’ in that they examine your eyes for abnormalities or conditions, assess your sight, and prescribe corrective lenses.