Free Eye Test at Tesco

Dustangle

I asked if I could take my prescription and said that I would call in the following day and choose, when I had more time.

I think it let's the cat out of the bag that you are getting your glasses online.

but I suspect that as this is a 'Tesco sight test' you may not be given the opportunity to take a copy of the prescription away

More than one person posting here has suggested that they have felt it necessary to dissemble or make some pretence when they decline to buy anything from an optician carrying out an eye test.

When you go to an optician for an eye test, whether you're paying for it yourself or the state or your employer is paying for it, or the optician is waiving the charge, that is the service they're providing.

The benefit to the optician is that they get the chance to try to get you to buy specs from them. But there's no obligation and should anyone try, complain both to local Trading Standards and to the NHS which regulates them.

People should take the test report and walk out without feeling any obligation to buy anything from the firm carrying out the eye test. The people who run opticians firms in the UK have a very profitable business - the local branch of Black & Lizars near my work where I get my eyes tested always has big Mercedes with personalised number plates in the staff car park.

No wonder, when they probably get loads of things made in China and Pakistan from the same people who run Goggles4U and my favourite, Optical4less.

misty_optic

A recent study by Imperial College in London found that it costs an optician nearly £40 to test your eyes, taking into account rent/rates staff and all that equipment.

They need to sell spectacles to make a living.

Who do you think will give you the most impartial advice? Someone who you are paying for their time? Or someone who is giving you a "freebie" to get you through their door?

The government only pays opticians in England £19 to do an NHS test. In Scotland they get paid nearer £40! So the government is relying on "cross-subsidy", i.e. spectacle wearers paying over the odds, to keep opticians in business.

frogglet

Lütz_Pangaloo wrote: »

Yes - I did exactly that three years ago - bought my glasses from

http://www.perfectspecs.co.uk

Excellent prices and service - will use them again this time. The Gant frames with thin coated lenses are cracking value compared to Boots.

The only thing is the standard eyetest results don't include your "interpupil distance", and when I asked for it the girl at Tesco said it would cost another £20 just for that! I think it let's the cat out of the bag that you are getting your glasses online.

I ended up measuring my own with a rule and a mirror (62mm) and I must have got it right as my glasses have been fine.

Good luck!

Does that mean if I want to buy glasses from them I have to pay an extra £20 for the interpupil measurement?
Or do they do it but just not give it to you?

soxblue

:j

Lisa46 wrote: »

Thanks for this! I was only thinking today that I must get my eyes re-tested. Has anyone any experience of Tesco opticians/glasses, please?

i got my eyes tested free at tesco they have got some ok glasses too bench and morgan 1s and at the moment they got offer on them if you buy glasses over 90 pounds you get a free 2nd pair and it only took 2 days to get my new glasses

penny22

My sister had a tesco free eye test today, and chose some cheap glasses, when paying she thought she was over charged, the price of the glasses were right and the eye test was free but there was a charge for optomap of £10, when she asked what this was she was told it was the puff of air, we thought this was part of the eye test, are we wrong or have we been charged for the eye test?

SamP_2

Thx for bringing this up. perfect timing for my eye test

Lütz_Pangaloo

frogglet wrote: »

Does that mean if I want to buy glasses from them I have to pay an extra £20 for the interpupil measurement?
Or do they do it but just not give it to you?

No, there is no extra charge if you buy your glasses from them. And if you were to take the prescription to another optician, they will measure it themselves and not charge extra for it.

It's only an issue when you intend to buy your glasses online, but as I said it's easy enough to do yourself.

misty_optic

penny22 wrote: »

My sister had a tesco free eye test today, and chose some cheap glasses, when paying she thought she was over charged, the price of the glasses were right and the eye test was free but there was a charge for optomap of £10, when she asked what this was she was told it was the puff of air, we thought this was part of the eye test, are we wrong or have we been charged for the eye test?

Optomap is an instrument that takes a laser pictureof the back of the eye to look for any abnormality.

bubblegumcola

No matter where you get your eyes tested you are entitled to a copy of your prescription. You can take your presciption elsewhere and get your glasses wherever you wish and are not tied to where you get your eyes tested.

ps. If you live in Scotland everyone is entitled to free eye tests.
(I think you can get one every two years.)

penny22

misty_optic wrote: »

Optomap is an instrument that takes a laser pictureof the back of the eye to look for any abnormality.

Thanks for that, but is that part for the test or do you pay extra for it?