Which opticians are the best?

[Tatooine_legend1]

I am curious. I used to be with Boots Opticians, but then switched to an independent opticians. I like the customer service at my current one, but feel like the prices are a bit ridiculous. I mean I bought a pair of Tom Ford frames and had the lenses fitted, it came to £300+ and those were for a spare pair lol. I know it's my fault for buying branded ones, but even for ordinary frames, my main pair come to about £250 I think. I have barely used them as I still use my current pair, along with contacts. How are prices compared to the likes of Specsavers?

I don't know what Specsavers is like, but I feel like it's quite limited of opticians to choose. It is either Specsavers, Boots, or an independent opticians. Where do you get your glasses from? I've heard good things about glasses direct online, but seems a bit of a mess about to order glasses online. I prefer choosing in store. How about you?

 

[Snippysnips]

I use specsavers, always have although I do go to the next town to me for it, the one in town I kid you not you can be in there for well over a hour, that's the downside to them, their time keeping is shocking but the next town to me it's a ghost town so I can be in an out in like 10 mins

I don't use branded glasses, I go for the cheapest ones I can, they have frames at £19 up, I'll either go with the £19 or £29 I think is the next one up to that if I can't find good fitting frames (I've a small face), i knew someone who worked making the frames an they said that every frame is made in the exact same factory the same way, all they do is slap a brand name on some at the end, so I have 0 interest in buying a painted on name since the quality of the frame itself isn't any different, usually it doesn't cost me much more after the frame price as my lenses are not too much of a difference an they can have deals on as well with money off so overall am probably just under the £50 but I guess it would depend on you how much the lenses themselves will cost

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

I use specsavers, always have although I do go to the next town to me for it, the one in town I kid you not you can be in there for well over a hour, that's the downside to them, their time keeping is shocking but the next town to me it's a ghost town so I can be in an out in like 10 mins

I don't use branded glasses, I go for the cheapest ones I can, they have frames at £19 up, I'll either go with the £19 or £29 I think is the next one up to that if I can't find good fitting frames (I've a small face), i knew someone who worked making the frames an they said that every frame is made in the exact same factory the same way, all they do is slap a brand name on some at the end, so I have 0 interest in buying a painted on name since the quality of the frame itself isn't any different, usually it doesn't cost me much more after the frame price as my lenses are not too much of a difference an they can have deals on as well with money off so overall am probably just under the £50 but I guess it would depend on you how much the lenses themselves will cost

Are you short sighted or long sighted? I am short sighted and need a stronger prescription, so once I get all the specifications like anti-glare, scratch resistant, and cut down, I find that I generally spend a bit more anyway. Do you buy all your glasses from the store and never gone online to buy glasses?

 

[Suzesnooze]

Are you short sighted or long sighted? I am short sighted and need a stronger prescription, so once I get all the specifications like anti-glare, scratch resistant, and cut down, I find that I generally spend a bit more anyway. Do you buy all your glasses from the store and never gone online to buy glasses?

Just get your prescription and order online. It's much cheaper.

I've tried all the usual ones Boots, Asda, Specsaver...they're all rubbish. I hate when they get you to pay more for say anti glare lenses but they don't even work. They're all a rip off when you see how cheap it is to buy online.

 

[Snippysnips]

Are you short sighted or long sighted? I am short sighted and need a stronger prescription, so once I get all the specifications like anti-glare, scratch resistant, and cut down, I find that I generally spend a bit more anyway. Do you buy all your glasses from the store and never gone online to buy glasses?

Am short sighted, one eye slightly more than the other, but I don't need them all the time, just for driving mostly, I can see OK but the edges are slightly blurred

Yeah I just go into specsavers, get my eyes tested free an then I go pick glasses, am not 100% on this but I think I get all the scratch resistance, anti-glare on mine for free, either that it's really not much I pay for it cause its never alot I pay

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

Just get your prescription and order online. It's much cheaper.

I've tried all the usual ones Boots, Asda, Specsaver...they're all rubbish. I hate when they get you to pay more for say anti glare lenses but they don't even work. They're all a rip off when you see how cheap it is to buy online.

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to glasses. Do you think all the specifications are necessary or not really then? I've never considered it, just bought my glasses and never thought much about it.

I was always told they are good lol. What about it you are looking at a laptop screen everyday? Anti-glare wouldn't be beneficial?

 

[Suzesnooze]

I'm a bit clueless when it comes to glasses. Do you think all the specifications are necessary or not really then? I've never considered it, just bought my glasses and never thought much about it.

I was always told they are good lol. What about it you are looking at a laptop screen everyday? Anti-glare wouldn't be beneficial?

No you can get all the specifications online just at a much cheaper price! I mean obviously it's probably more expensive if you have a stronger prescription but still cheaper.

I hate in Opticians when they try and help you choose a pair and keep saying 'oh those look really nice on you', 'I like those on you', 'those really suit you' and I always end up believing them (because I basically can't see without my glasses so can't tell what the frame looks like when I can't see!). So I order them and and then when I collect them I don't like them!

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

No you can get all the specifications online just at a much cheaper price! I mean obviously it's probably more expensive if you have a stronger prescription but still cheaper.

I hate in Opticians when they try and help you choose a pair and keep saying 'oh those look really nice on you', 'I like those on you', 'those really suit you' and I always end up believing them (because I basically can't see without my glasses so can't tell what the frame looks like when I can't see!). So I order them and and then when I collect them I don't like them!

I agree with that quote.
I do like some of the glasses online at glasses direct, but I'm worried about ordering glasses online in case they mess things up somehow. That's why I like doing it all in store. Where do you recommend online for glasses?

 

[HowlOwl]

I’ve been happy with Asda opticians for years, their lenses are good value. My teenage son had a pair from an independent optician and no anti-reflective coating etc was included! I do realise that the independents have bigger overheads but they’re overcharging for his contact lenses too, I need to look into that (Asda probably! - there’s a reason why we went to the independent but it’s complicated.)

The choice of frames was a bit limited for my latest prescription though. I’ve actually painted them with a paler nail varnish and the colour is much more flattering, but you can see on a close look that they are painted. The lenses themselves are excellent though, and I have astigmatism, a squint (so a built-in prism), and varifocals - all included for £80 with non-scratch/anti-UV/non-reflective coating etc.

 

[HoGi]

How does it work with trying on glasses from online retailers?

I have quite a wide face so can't just assume glasses in the style I currently have will suit me

 

[Kim Mild]

In terms of the actual eye test , they all should be quite thorough and be able to pick up things at the back of the eye , and can refer for further tests if there is a concern. Asda opticians referred my dad due to something they saw in the back of his eye.

I have to specsavers the last few times , mostly due to ease of getting an appointment cos they open Sundays and have branches in nearby towns. Although, years ago , they made my glasses to my old prescription, rather than my new one.

I reckon high street opticians push the coatings and extra as they are basically salespeople, without explaining what these are for .

I have used Selectspecs online a few times , especially for getting prescription sunglasses.

How does it work with trying on glasses from online retailers?

I have quite a wide face so can't just assume glasses in the style I currently have will suit me

They should have dimensions on the website. Some let you order the frames to try on at home prior to ordering your lenses.

 

[MrsBsDayOff]

I use Specsavers, no particular reason other than they were the opticians closest to me when I started wearing glasses as a child. I get the contact lenses mailed out to me on the Lensmail scheme which is convenient. As part of being on the scheme I also get a free eye test each year and a free pair of glasses i think every 2 years (albeit it's from the more basic range of glasses....doesn't bother me as I only wear glasses in my house). I've never compared their prices with others admittedly.

 

[rainbowlemon]

I use specsavers and switched to them from a bad experience at Tesco opticians. Where I went in because they were offering a free eye test. I was told that I had a high prescription and was talked into getting my lens thinned on one spare pair they were offering as they would be "very thick". Felt so duped after getting that pair back and seeing there wasn't any real difference in having the lens thinned and I paid £90 for that. Total £180.

Today I collected the £29 glasses I paid for. Though I did have to pay for the eye test the total was still £39.

Only negative would be that they performed an additional £10 OTC test without even asking me if I wanted it done first. They did take the £10 off when I complained.

My contact lens are from daysoft .

 

[justheretoread99]

How does it work with trying on glasses from online retailers?

I have quite a wide face so can't just assume glasses in the style I currently have will suit me

Some online stores have the option where you can take a selfie and it scans your face and virtually try on pairs. I’m sure I’ve done it with Specsavers, although the quality of the images weren’t brilliant it was good to see how big/small the frames would be on my face.

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

I use specsavers and switched to them from a bad experience at Tesco opticians. Where I went in because they were offering a free eye test. I was told that I had a high prescription and was talked into getting my lens thinned on one spare pair they were offering as they would be "very thick". Felt so duped after getting that pair back and seeing there wasn't any real difference in having the lens thinned and I paid £90 for that. Total £180.

Today I collected the £29 glasses I paid for. Though I did have to pay for the eye test the total was still £39.

Only negative would be that they performed an additional £10 OTC test without even asking me if I wanted it done first. They did take the £10 off when I complained.

My contact lens are from daysoft .

What is the OCT test for exactly? The independent opticians I go to have an offer on for that, but I don't know exactly what it's for. Is it simply a more advanced scan? Does it zoom in further or something?

How do you like Specsavers? Will you stick with them for a while longer? I haven't used them, but my dad does, as does a friend of mine. I do like the independent opticians as they are literally up the road from me, so not far at all. It's just the prices which are a bit high.

 

[rainbowlemon]

An OTC is an extra scan that can detect issues earlier as its usually done at hospitals too. If you have diabetes or other eye conditions, you'd normally be followed up by an opthalmologist anyway. I did pay for my sister to have it done before, but I didn't even realise it was being done and thought it was part of a normal examination where they ask you to put your chin forward on the machine and look at an image.

I've been with specsavers for around 5/6 years and don't think I'll change as its super affordable. They also sometimes have coupons for free eye tests too.

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

An OTC is an extra scan that can detect issues earlier as its usually done at hospitals too. If you have diabetes or other eye conditions, you'd normally be followed up by an opthalmologist anyway. I did pay for my sister to have it done before, but I didn't even realise it was being done and thought it was part of a normal examination where they ask you to put your chin forward on the machine and look at an image.

I've been with specsavers for around 5/6 years and don't think I'll change as its super affordable. They also sometimes have coupons for free eye tests too.

Thanks for the explanation, makes sense. Do you think it's worth having done? At my opticians, they are adding in the oct scan with the normal eye test. Just wondering if it's worth it for eye health check. My opticians charges £70 with OCT scan included. What are the prices for eye tests at Specsavers?

 

[rainbowlemon]

I personally do think it's worth doing.

OCT scan is only £10.

Eye test might also be £10 at the most.

You could also phone up and ask your store specifically but it would be a lot less then paying independent prices.

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

I personally do think it's worth doing.

OCT scan is only £10.

Eye test might also be £10 at the most.

You could also phone up and ask your store specifically but it would be a lot less then paying independent prices.

Bloody hell, it's well cheap lol. I'm definitely being mugged off paying £70 for an eye test

 

[Suzesnooze]

Thanks for the explanation, makes sense. Do you think it's worth having done? At my opticians, they are adding in the oct scan with the normal eye test. Just wondering if it's worth it for eye health check. My opticians charges £70 with OCT scan included. What are the prices for eye tests at Specsavers?

My local Specsavers currently has an offer that if you buy your glasses through them then your eye test is free.

Specsavers always used to have free eye tests on offer but since coronavirus they haven't apart from this new one if you buy glasses with them. I think their eye test is £20/25.