Specsavers Contact Lenses Fitting

clkaz

I have my specsavers contact lenses fitting tomorrow. I have been advised that if I go through with purchasing lenses from them, the fitting will be free of charge, but if I go through with the fitting and trial, etc, I will be charged £20 if I do not go through with it.

I was wondering what to expect, what do they do at a fitting, how long is the trial?

My main concern is not knowing potentially how much my lenses will cost. I will not want to go through with it if the lenses are too expensive.

I am only 18 and starting university.

Any advice/tips would be appreciated.

Also, do all opticians charge a fee if you don't go through to the direct debit scheme of purchasing lenses from them.

acc

That Specsavers person is conning you, if you have not already had a contact lens free trial from Specsavers in the last year.

See http://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/try-contact-lenses-free/, where the terms and conditions state:

Trial subject to suitability and includes easyvision lenses only. Excludes other brands, coloured, gas permeable or hard lenses. One free trial per person per year. Current prescription required. Alternatively, an eye test will be required at our standard charge. Direct debit scheme min. 3-month pack. Half-price glasses offer applies to one pair of standard PENTAX single vision glasses or sunglasses from £69-£125 ranges to your prescription per year. Other lenses and Extra Options available at an additional charge. Offer available in store only.

Say to that Specsavers person that there is no condition for charging anything for the trial and fitting, and if that person insists, go to another optician such as Boots.

Ask why the trial is for easyvision lenses only, when another brand or type may be more suitable for you, and may be cheaper if you decide to buy.

The opticians don't do much at the fitting, basically advise you on the different types of lenses and which might be best for you, depending on your prescription, how you will be using the contact lenses, how dry your eyes are, etc. The trial is about a week, where they give you a few sets of free lenses, and tell you how to insert the first pair and confirm you know how to insert and remove the lenses. You are advised to wear the first pair for maybe 3 hours, then build up the wearing time on the other pairs, eg 4 hours on the next pair, 5 hours the third pair etc. At the end of the trial, about a week later, you return and tell them how you have got on, whether you feel you can continue wearing contact lenses, and so they can assess whether the prescription and type of lens are right for you.

You must already have a current prescription, and if not, get a free eye test from say Tesco.

Assuming you decide to go ahead with contact lenses, I do not think Specsavers can force you to buy the lenses from them or use any continuous purchase scheme with them. You should challenge any pressure and ask to see the terms and conditions in writing.

clkaz

acc wrote: »

That Specsavers person is conning you, if you have not already had a contact lens free trial from Specsavers in the last year.

See http://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/try-contact-lenses-free/, where the terms and conditions state:

Trial subject to suitability and includes easyvision lenses only. Excludes other brands, coloured, gas permeable or hard lenses. One free trial per person per year. Current prescription required. Alternatively, an eye test will be required at our standard charge. Direct debit scheme min. 3-month pack. Half-price glasses offer applies to one pair of standard PENTAX single vision glasses or sunglasses from £69-£125 ranges to your prescription per year. Other lenses and Extra Options available at an additional charge. Offer available in store only.

Say to that Specsavers person that there is no condition for charging anything for the trial and fitting, and if that person insists, go to another optician such as Boots.

Ask why the trial is for easyvision lenses only, when another brand or type may be more suitable for you, and may be cheaper if you decide to buy.

The opticians don't do much at the fitting, basically advise you on the different types of lenses and which might be best for you, depending on your prescription, how you will be using the contact lenses, how dry your eyes are, etc. The trial is about a week, where they give you a few sets of free lenses, and tell you how to insert the first pair and confirm you know how to insert and remove the lenses. You are advised to wear the first pair for maybe 3 hours, then build up the wearing time on the other pairs, eg 4 hours on the next pair, 5 hours the third pair etc. At the end of the trial, about a week later, you return and tell them how you have got on, whether you feel you can continue wearing contact lenses, and so they can assess whether the prescription and type of lens are right for you.

You must already have a current prescription, and if not, get a free eye test from say Tesco.

Assuming you decide to go ahead with contact lenses, I do not think Specsavers can force you to buy the lenses from them or use any continuous purchase scheme with them. You should challenge any pressure and ask to see the terms and conditions in writing.

Hmmm...they said the £20 would be for the fitting. I am not sure if the fitting encompasses the trial as well.

I already have my prescription so don't need an eye test. It does say minimum 3 months. hmmm...I was planning on cancelling after first month, and ordering cheaper online

Enterprise_1701C

If your prescription is a normal one, it may not be the one you need for contact lenses, they are often different.

acc

The normal eye test prescription is fine for the optician to base the contact lens prescription on, simply weakening the prescription slightly for each eye to take account of the fact that the contact lens sits on the surface of the eye whereas the spectacle lens is a small distance from the eye.

acc

clkaz wrote: »

Hmmm...they said the £20 would be for the fitting. I am not sure if the fitting encompasses the trial as well.

I already have my prescription so don't need an eye test. It does say minimum 3 months. hmmm...I was planning on cancelling after first month, and ordering cheaper online

Ask Specsavers where the £20 fitting charge is stated in writing, and what the distinction is between a fitting and the trial, ie what exactly does the fitting entail. Can Specsavers give the customer a contact lens trial without a fitting?

Fortnightly or monthly contact lenses can be cheaper than dailies, but incur the costs of solutions and containers, and there are possible hygiene issues, etc.

Prices are certainly much cheaper online.

rubberbullet

I hope you won't mind my hijacking the thread, but I had the SS contact lens fitting, which consisted of a very moody, impatient, assistant rushing through the process and getting very stroppy with me when I couldn't get the lenses out again!

spent about 15-30mins with her, and decided to stick with glasses instead!

anyone know of anywhere in London where fittings are a bit more relaxed and patient, even if it does mean paying a little extra?

Thanks!

C_Mababejive

£20 for a contact lens consultation/fitting is very cheap.

acc

rubberbullet wrote: »

I hope you won't mind my hijacking the thread, but I had the SS contact lens fitting, which consisted of a very moody, impatient, assistant rushing through the process and getting very stroppy with me when I couldn't get the lenses out again!

spent about 15-30mins with her, and decided to stick with glasses instead!

anyone know of anywhere in London where fittings are a bit more relaxed and patient, even if it does mean paying a little extra

I find the staff at Boots Opticians more friendly and helpful, but maybe that Specsavers person just happened to be in a bad mood or she is not suited to the job. She should encourage the customer to take as much time as necessary, rather than lose the customer through poor attitude.

The overall process, including the consultation with the optician, discussing lens types and trying different prescriptions to achieve the best vision, followed by the 'training' with an assistant in the removal and insertion of the contact lenses, takes about 60 minutes in total.