Eyetest / Glasses advice for newbie please.

KittyPryde

I don't currently wear glasses but I am about to book an eyetest for which I think I will be told I need glasses of some sort and I'm after advice on the best place to go.

My last (and first ever) eye test was at D+A a few years ago.

It turned out I needed some sort of glasses (I can't quite remember what type) for things like watching TV, driving (even though I don't) and reading I think. They didn't tell me a prescription or anything but I remember at the time I felt really pushed into buying glasses there and then from them (but I didn't) and the pairs the guy was showing me were all like £200-300! :eek:.

I don't really want to go to D+A again as I feel the same will happen.

I was thinking about Boots and wondered if they were any good?


I am in Scotland so my eye tests are free so I don't have to worry about prices of different places.

No one in my family wears glasses and my eyesight isn't terrible at all, it's mainly the writing on the TV I can't see properly as it goes really blurry. Basically, I do want glasses to sort out my blurry eye problem but don't care what they look like, I just want an eye test and to go away with the cheapest glasses so I can see the TV properly again and to not be lied to about needing expensive glasses.


Does anyone know what the cheapest glasses from Boots are likely to cost and if there service is good?

The cheapest ones I can see on the Boots website are about £70 but I'm sure I saw a poster saying something about £25 glasses when I was last in Boots?


P.S. I'm not sure if there are any Tesco's near me that do it but are they any good?

Thankyou. x

McKneff

When you go for your eye test you dont have to buy your glasses from where you have your eyes tested.

You just have to ask for the prescription and take it anywhere you want to.

It depends on your needs as to how much you are going to pay, thin lenses, ecen thinner lenses, varifocals, graduated tints etc, etc.
ask for a quote where you get your eyes tested and then go to another couple of opticians. Add to the cost of the frames or ask them to reglaze the frames that you have already.

I have major short sight and have thin lenses (they would be jam jar bottoms if i got the normal ones) the darken in the sun and i had to pay about £450 for my last ones a couple of years ago.

KarenGentles

Do they have to give you your prescription if you ask for it? How do you go about asking fo it - what do you all say? Thanks x

McKneff

Just say, can i have my prescription please......

As far as I know its the law that they have to give you it.

If yuo really feel you need an excuse tell them you are saving up for them and you'll be back in a mont or so.

KittyPryde

Thanks for the replies.

I looked at booking a test online for Boots earlier and just got called back to confirm a test for Friday

If I wanted to buy glasses from somewhere else like Tesco though, do I need another eye test with them (or should I do that anyway to double check the prescription?).

I also want to pay for one of those eye photo things which cost £10 but I don't want to have to do that again at another shop?

emlou2009

They should really give you your prescrption without you having to ask for it, if they dont and you feel funny about it, just make as if you're walking out and make it sound like an afterthought, turn back and ask for it as if you're surprised they've forgotten to give it to you. Thats what people normally do when I have a airbrain moment and forget to give them theirs!!

Indie_Kid

I've never had to ask for my prescription - from Specsavers or the eye infirmary.

KittyPryde

It was about 3-4 years ago I had the eye test at D+A and I didn't know I was entitled to a prescription so didn't ask. I did want to get out of there quite quickly as he was telling me the cheaper ones didn't suit me lol. Do you think they would still have it on their records to be able to give it to me so I can check if it's similar to my new one? Dunno if it really matters, just paranoid that i'll be given one that's wrong as i've read about people's prescriptions being different from different places :eek:

KittyPryde

Arrrgh I'm totally confused. I went on the D+A website and contacted them asking if my prescription from a few years ago was still available for me as it wasn't given to me at the time. And I just got an acknowledgement email about it from Boots afterwards.

Then googled and it seems that D+A are becoming part of Boots? Confusing lol!

McKneff

Dont even think about using a prescription from the past.
Eyes can change in a few weeks and the optician can pick up any number of illnesses, even those which have nothing to do with the eyes.
My optician asked me had my arthriiis been confirmed. Yes he knew this from looking in my eyes.

No, you will not need to get another eye test. or the £10 test.
You just go in to the optician of your choice and give them your prescription, choose your frames and its a go from there.

Good luck.

Tigsteroonie

Are you anywhere near an Asda? If you're looking for cheap specs, Asda have a £50/pr deal.