D & A opticians - beware

newleaf

ellay864 wrote: »

I had my first pair of glasses at the age of 42 (3 years ago) from Boots and was fine with them...I'm near sighted but over the next couple of years approaching my next check up I knew that was getting worse so knew I'd need a new prescription. When the time came I had an offer with substantial discount from D&A so went there. Was prescribed varifcoal but never got on with them so got refund and ended up back with another pair of 'standard' lenses just for the near sighted bit. My eyes have got a bit worse the other way but I can cope with that so wasn't bothered by that though I did feel the lenses I got weren't as good as they could be. But the frames were a nightmare. Had to take them to be adjusted within a week, within another fortnight they fell apart with each lens coming out on separate occasions. Took 3 times repairing before they replaced the frames, but even then they have still needed adjusting. I'm back with Boots next time

Unfotunately, Boots & D&A are now one and the same, following their merger.

Kaleidoscope27

I've been with D&A for almost a year and haven't had a problem. I was very impressed with the first eye test I had with them last June.

I have fortnightly lens sent by post (short sighted) and I was wondering if £30 was a bit much but I have astigmatism in both eyes so I figured that plus postage and stuff was why it's more expensive than the lens I had from my old opticians. But I'm now thinking of enquiring for price checks in other opticians, see if I can get the same lens cheaper (I really like the lens'. They've the best ones I've ever had.)

Saying that, my ex boyfriend got his first pair of glasses from D&A, less than a year later was having a lot of trouble with headaches etc so I dragged him back to have his eyes tested and yes his prescription had changed but they also discovered his glasses didn't fit across the nose! They were too tight and they couldn't alter the bridge (so were applying pressure which was causing headaches) so he had to fork out for a second pair of glasses in under a year! They weren't cheap either.

Okay so saying all that, maybe D&A aren't perfect. But I've yet to hit up against any problems personally.

lisa061

It might be worth checking out how much your particular lenses are when buying directly off the net, it gives you a good idea how much the opticians are adding on to the monthly price and weather it's acceptable or if cheaper to buy online and pay for a yearly check at an optician.

I'm going to try Specsavers once the lenses I bought run out

gregg1

our experience with D & A have been a nightmare. incorrect prescriptions on many occasions, refusal to hand over prescriptions, poor after service etc. They are the worst I opticians I have ever been to.

Eenymeeny

I cancelled my contract with D&A after dealing with them for years. The optician I had always seen was still fine but I found the sales staff bad mannered and quite aggresive in their sales technique. I was kept in a small back room and told that I must order new glasses as I might get an eye infection then I wouldn't be able to use my contact lenses. I have always just used my 'old glasses' as a rest pair if necessary before bedtime Not worried if they are the latest fashion or not (and have never had an eye infection in the twenty years that I've worn contacts)
In the end I ordered some, just to get out of the shop and rang the next morning to cancel. I was told that it was too late and work could have already started on them! After informing them that I had every right to cancel them the girl said that she'd asked the manager and he would let me this time! I wrote to their head office, complaining about the treatment I'd received and cancelling my contact lens contract.
Didn't receive reply or apology. Contacts just stopped. I still get letters telling me that I MUST make an appointment soon or they won't supply me with my lenses. I now deal with a local optician who gives us a good personal serice. (My OH moved there too.!)

luce83_2

newleaf wrote: »

I stopped going to D&A when they refused to tell me my PD. The optician who tested my eyes was great, but the shop staff were another matter entirely. Plus I find D&A ridiculously expensive for (spectacle) lenses.

As someone who previously worked for D&A opticians, the PD measurement is not part of the eye test. Its part of the dispense. They are under no obligation to tell you that unless you dispense and I suspect 99% of other opticians wouldn't tell you that either.

unholyangel

luce83 wrote: »

As someone who previously worked for D&A opticians, the PD measurement is not part of the eye test. Its part of the dispense. They are under no obligation to tell you that unless you dispense and I suspect 99% of other opticians wouldn't tell you that either.

Under no obligation and not allowed to are 2 different things though. Is there an actual valid reason why they would refuse to tell you? According to the first few google results, it suggests you should ask your optician and although they're under no legal obligation to, many of them will..........

However heres a link on how to measure your own PD
http://www.specsonthenet.com/measuring-PD.jsp

crabyducky

newleaf wrote: »

Unfotunately, Boots & D&A are now one and the same, following their merger.

That could explain why ive had some problems with local instore staff.

I never use D&A and advise anyone i can not to go there.

I used them only once and that was enough.

About half way through the test the optician turned round and told me i was lying, because my eyes could never have deteriorated as much as they had, ( i had been told by a previous optician that my eyes were very bad and it was possible that i would be blind by my 20s). When i explained this to him and told him i hadnt been to an optician for approx 2 years and that i was supposed to go every 6 months minimum he still would not accept that i was telling the truth. So i stood up and walked out stopping at the counter and informing them quite loudly in the middle of the shop that i would like to complain abou the optician as i did not like being told i was lying about my eyes, the staff were very unhelpful.

hollydays

it does seem strange though that you didnt go to an optician after being told that.

Ladyhawk

Yep - I completely agree - D&A are completely useless.

I have had a litenary are problems from being shouted at by staff for wearing my contacts for 8 hours! To having my free contact lens review voucher being refused. The very expensive glasses that I got from them have never fitted me and I have to go back once a fortnight to get them adjusted. And generally the staff being exceptionally rude. I went to one in Hampshire once to get them adjusted and the guy there told me that he couldn't believe that they had sold me these frames as they were so completely wrong for me.

AVOID AVOID AVOID!