Glasses Buying Cost Cutting Plan Article Discussion Area

patbateman

sghughes42 wrote: »

SWMBO has just had her eye test and has been told her eyes have got worse and so she will need new lenses. She already needs a very strong prescription, so it looks like the new lenses will cost her around £300. She is on income support at the moment so will get £75 or so towards this, but as you can imagine she will find it very difficult to find the balance. Apparently the lenses need to be thinned a lot so they will fit her current frames. She doesn't want thick lenses due to the appearance - she is suffering depression at the moment, so please don't make light of this as she needs everything to help her self-esteem she can get.

Is there much in the way of savings to be had by shopping around on the high street when you need glasses this strong? She went to the same small, local optician she has always used, rather than a big 'chain' but I don't know if that matters for the more specialised glasses. (I don't need them myself, so I don't have any experience of buying)

I've seen discussions about buying online - is this likely to be an option for such a strong prescription? I understand from other threads there may be some risks associated also - how much should she be worried about this?

Any advice on this would be most appreciated...

Hi sg, can you post roughly what power the prescription is ? including whether it has a plus or minus at the beginning.

Helix

Hi

I sent off a HC1 form last Wednesday but obviously haven't received a response yet. I don't think I will be entitled to a HC2 certificate as I live at home whilst at Uni but I may qualify for a HC3 certificate.

I had an eye test last Thursday at a local opticians which isn't part of a chain . They gave me a prescription for glasses but the ones this opticians stocked were rather expensive therefore I was planning on using my prescription to get glasses from somewhere like Specsavers (as they offer student discount) or possibly online.

I know I am able to claim a refund from the NHS if I am issued with a HC3 certificate (for the amount on the certificate) but I was wondering if having my eye test and purchasing the glasses from different places would affect this.

Thanks
Craig

patbateman

Helix wrote: »

Hi

I sent off a HC1 form last Wednesday but obviously haven't received a response yet. I don't think I will be entitled to a HC2 certificate as I live at home whilst at Uni but I may qualify for a HC3 certificate.

I had an eye test last Thursday at a local opticians which isn't part of a chain . They gave me a prescription for glasses but the ones this opticians stocked were rather expensive therefore I was planning on using my prescription to get glasses from somewhere like Specsavers (as they offer student discount) or possibly online.

I know I am able to claim a refund from the NHS if I am issued with a HC3 certificate (for the amount on the certificate) but I was wondering if having my eye test and purchasing the glasses from different places would affect this.

Thanks
Craig

Hi Helix,

This shouldn't affect your entitlement to a refund, however it may be better, if you are able, to hold off purchasing the spectacles until after you recieve your HC3 back as a good number of opticians offer some sort of additional discount on top of the straight NHS voucher value to customers who are entitled to one. You will not in most cases recieve this additional discount unless you produce your HC3 at the time of purchase tho.

Lunasweets

I purchesed a pair of glasses from a company I'm sure was on one of Martin's links. However I can't for the life of me remember the name!

They charged $30 for any pair of glasses and shipped worldwide. They also did either very cheap or free reaction type coating as well as scratch resistance.

I need another pair as my daughter has broken my current pair.

duncan1980

I am looking for some wraparound (wrap) prescription sunglasses for around £30.
Can anybody recomend a site that sells such sunglasses?

They have a pair I like at http://www.opticalmailorder.co.uk/ . Has anybody used this site?

I also like this pair:
http://www.exclusiveeyes.co.uk/prescription-sunglasses/e10-psg-m-53-18-115.htm , but have heard they have poor customer service and their orders don't always turn up?

Please help!

Vegeta

So which online specs site is the best? Goggles4U?

Also, does the optician have to legally give the pupillary distance (PD) on the prescription, if not then how much do they usually charge to give this measurement?

patbateman

Opticians do not have any legal obligation to provide the pupillary distance, but if it is taken at the time of the sight test and noted down, you do however have the right to request a copy of your records (This usually has to be applied for in writing and an admin fee applied). This measurement is usually only taken though when frames are selected and there is intent to be dispensed with them. The cost of the dispensing function is usually paid for as part of the frame/lens price (hence part of the reason specs are cheaper online) An optician can charge any amount they see fit for this measurement to be taken for specs to be purchased elsewhere.

Vegeta

I see so if I purchase glasses from them then they will provide me with a pupillary distance without fuss?

How much are opticians known to charge to provide the pupillary distance if you don't buy glasses from them? £10?

I have a free eye test voucher for Specsavers so that is where I'll be going. How well known are they for providing the pupillary distance and is it really only needed once for a couple of years or every time you take an eye test?

I am going to purchase a pair of glasses from them but the ones I buy online will be spares or have a special feature like driving glasses, reaction lenses etc.

Bella_b

I had a free eye test at D&A and when I asked about pd measurement they said it would be £10! :O I thought forget that.. I can do it myself at home!

patbateman

Vegeta wrote: »

I see so if I purchase glasses from them then they will provide me with a pupillary distance without fuss?

How much are opticians known to charge to provide the pupillary distance if you don't buy glasses from them? £10?

I have a free eye test voucher for Specsavers so that is where I'll be going. How well known are they for providing the pupillary distance and is it really only needed once for a couple of years or every time you take an eye test?

I am going to purchase a pair of glasses from them but the ones I buy online will be spares or have a special feature like driving glasses, reaction lenses etc.

Your PD measurement shouldn't really change throughout your adult life, only as you are growing up you will find any significant difference. For higher prescriptions and more complex lenses, fit and position of the frame as well as working distance for close work prescriptions need to be taken into account for the measurement.