Optician taking the ****?
Discussion
So, at the age of 42, I now need glasses for reading/screen work.
I got my eyes tested and was recommended varifocals by the same optician. I ordered the glasses, with anti stratch coating in some nice frames. I think the frames were £120 and the lenses were £240. I think I was a bit naive!
Anyway, the lenses were absolutely rubbish for screen work. Because they were varifocal, only the bottom half of the screen werewithin the prescription area of the glasses. I kept having to move my head and look down my nose. I went back and asked for single vision lenses.
I was told the price of the single vision lenses were the same as the varifocals.
Surely they should be cheaper and I should be due some money back?
Interested in opinions because at the moment, I feel like I want a full refund and go elsewhere....
I got my eyes tested and was recommended varifocals by the same optician. I ordered the glasses, with anti stratch coating in some nice frames. I think the frames were £120 and the lenses were £240. I think I was a bit naive!
Anyway, the lenses were absolutely rubbish for screen work. Because they were varifocal, only the bottom half of the screen werewithin the prescription area of the glasses. I kept having to move my head and look down my nose. I went back and asked for single vision lenses.
I was told the price of the single vision lenses were the same as the varifocals.
Surely they should be cheaper and I should be due some money back?
Interested in opinions because at the moment, I feel like I want a full refund and go elsewhere....
You paid £360 for a pair of glasses?
http://www.zennioptical.com/
www.glassesdirect.co.uk
or Costco.
They saw you coming! (obviously they are opticians after all)
And yes single visions are always cheaper.
http://www.zennioptical.com/
www.glassesdirect.co.uk
or Costco.
They saw you coming! (obviously they are opticians after all)
And yes single visions are always cheaper.
Edited by jamoor on Monday 2nd October 02:34
alolympic said:
Because they were varifocal, only the bottom half of the screen were within the prescription area of the glasses. I kept having to move my head and look down my nose.
I wear varifocals but look through the centre of the lens for screen work. I only use the bottom part for reading.How far away is the screen? What happens when you're driving - can you see the speedo clearly?
brickwall said:
Glasses can be expensive, but for me it's one thing I don't skimp on. I've worn glasses since I was a kid, and I'm sufficiently blind that I really can't function at all without them.
I have multiple pairs of prescription sunglasses, all bought online and discounted (£150 for a pair of Ray-Bans etc.), as I don't wear them that often and it's not the end of the world if they break or something.
However for normal glasses I simply have a main and a backup pair. Given how much I wear them (all day, every day), I really don't mind paying whatever to get the right pair. I take extreme care over choosing, and don't look at the price.
Think the last pair was >£500...
I look at it like the above, only one set of eyes, dont skimp on anything. I have multiple pairs of prescription sunglasses, all bought online and discounted (£150 for a pair of Ray-Bans etc.), as I don't wear them that often and it's not the end of the world if they break or something.
However for normal glasses I simply have a main and a backup pair. Given how much I wear them (all day, every day), I really don't mind paying whatever to get the right pair. I take extreme care over choosing, and don't look at the price.
Think the last pair was >£500...
I have just paid ADU $430 for a good set of frames, very thin lenses and they react to sunlight to go dark too, I also have the ray bans and contacts for when I dont want the hassled of glasses.
The only way out for me is $4000 on laser treatment, but as my glasses last me on average 5+ years or until OH is completely disgusted with the state of my glasses, Im not sure I can be bothered to go for laser just yet.
Du1point8 said:
I look at it like the above, only one set of eyes, dont skimp on anything.
I have just paid ADU $430 for a good set of frames, very thin lenses and they react to sunlight to go dark too, I also have the ray bans and contacts for when I dont want the hassled of glasses.
The only way out for me is $4000 on laser treatment, but as my glasses last me on average 5+ years or until OH is completely disgusted with the state of my glasses, Im not sure I can be bothered to go for laser just yet.
Agree with this. When I wore glasses they were very expensive because I had a wide variation in prescription so had to equalise the thickness of the lenses and my ears aren’t level so had frames made to hide that or they wouldn’t sit level on my face. They are the first thing people notice about you and they are dealing with your eyes. Don’t skimp.I have just paid ADU $430 for a good set of frames, very thin lenses and they react to sunlight to go dark too, I also have the ray bans and contacts for when I dont want the hassled of glasses.
The only way out for me is $4000 on laser treatment, but as my glasses last me on average 5+ years or until OH is completely disgusted with the state of my glasses, Im not sure I can be bothered to go for laser just yet.
On the subject of laser. I don’t know how old you are Du1point8 but if you are heading towards 50 get your eyes lasered now if you want to do it. Once you get to around 50 plus it’s not so easy and your only alternative is lens replacement.
craigjm said:
Du1point8 said:
I look at it like the above, only one set of eyes, dont skimp on anything.
I have just paid ADU $430 for a good set of frames, very thin lenses and they react to sunlight to go dark too, I also have the ray bans and contacts for when I dont want the hassled of glasses.
The only way out for me is $4000 on laser treatment, but as my glasses last me on average 5+ years or until OH is completely disgusted with the state of my glasses, Im not sure I can be bothered to go for laser just yet.
Agree with this. When I wore glasses they were very expensive because I had a wide variation in prescription so had to equalise the thickness of the lenses and my ears aren’t level so had frames made to hide that or they wouldn’t sit level on my face. They are the first thing people notice about you and they are dealing with your eyes. Don’t skimp.I have just paid ADU $430 for a good set of frames, very thin lenses and they react to sunlight to go dark too, I also have the ray bans and contacts for when I dont want the hassled of glasses.
The only way out for me is $4000 on laser treatment, but as my glasses last me on average 5+ years or until OH is completely disgusted with the state of my glasses, Im not sure I can be bothered to go for laser just yet.
On the subject of laser. I don’t know how old you are Du1point8 but if you are heading towards 50 get your eyes lasered now if you want to do it. Once you get to around 50 plus it’s not so easy and your only alternative is lens replacement.
jamoor said:
You paid £360 for a pair of glasses?
http://www.zennioptical.com/
www.glassesdirect.co.uk
^^^This^^^, quality eyesight is paramount but opticians are the biggest modern retail rip off, I paid £300 for my first prescription pair but now pay less than £10 and the quality is excellent http://www.zennioptical.com/
www.glassesdirect.co.uk
Edited by jamoor on Monday 2nd October 02:34
ReallyReallyGood said:
For decent lens quality I don't think that is ridiculous at all. It should last you many years.
Don't scrimp on glasses or mattresses.
I think it is,Don't scrimp on glasses or mattresses.
I paid £160 for my frames plus lenses, my lenses are made by zeiss.
Yes Zeiss may not be the absolute best in terms of lens brand but they have to be half decent surely? The lenses were also only £60 of the cost, the rest was the frame. You can also get much, much cheaper frames and the lenses will be the exact same.
jamoor said:
ReallyReallyGood said:
For decent lens quality I don't think that is ridiculous at all. It should last you many years.
Don't scrimp on glasses or mattresses.
I think it is,Don't scrimp on glasses or mattresses.
I paid £160 for my frames plus lenses, my lenses are made by zeiss.
Yes Zeiss may not be the absolute best in terms of lens brand but they have to be half decent surely? The lenses were also only £60 of the cost, the rest was the frame. You can also get much, much cheaper frames and the lenses will be the exact same.
I was having problems focusing on the screens at work (and was having problems reading), so went to the local opticians (which at that point was at Tesco). Eye test done, 2 pairs of glasses that now make working and reading a pleasure. Both have the coating for VDU work.
Not particularly strong (around +1 iirc), but the two pairs cost me around £220 (there was a deal going with buy one, get one half price - that didn't cover the anti reflective coatings)
Last time I used a national chain of opticians the glasses I got back were wrong, I couldn't see straight through them, the shop assistant said that they would help to train my eyes !!!!
To do what ??
I used to take sh*t like that when I was a kid but not when I'm in my 50s FFS
Wearing specs since I was 14 my eyes should be trained well enough by now
Next lot weren't much better so went to local independent and have been using them since
To do what ??
I used to take sh*t like that when I was a kid but not when I'm in my 50s FFS
Wearing specs since I was 14 my eyes should be trained well enough by now
Next lot weren't much better so went to local independent and have been using them since
hal 1 said:
Last time I used a national chain of opticians the glasses I got back were wrong, I couldn't see straight through them, the shop assistant said that they would help to train my eyes !!!!
Wearing glasses all my life and wife and both kids wear them too I've had a lot of experience of this. The big chains are far better at changing things if there's a problem. The smaller indies will try and tough it out.On my second pair of varifocals they made them with a 'split-prism' - I'm still not sure that that means but it's done to even up the thickness of the lens top to bottom. However it made everything jump about when I moved my head. I'd bought two pairs (one with photochromic lenses) and they changed them without question.
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