Eye prescription by law??

MORPH3US

Hi all,

To cut a long story short...

Girlfriend needed a check up / eye test for her contact lenses so asked around town and found one for £19.95 if she took their lenses or £20 if she didn't (don't ask why its 4p difference - i don't know!!!)

Anyway she went in, had the test and the bloke said he needed her to try some new lenses for a week and them come back to check they were the right ones. She did that and went back in today and they seemed fine, so she said she wanted her prescription.... the bloke refused saying that because she had changed prescription from the lenses she had before, she had to have three months of their lenses to make sure they were the right ones... he even said that he would not charge her for the test as part of the "free trial" (I assume he means the week she had them for...)

So she has now paid for 3 months worth that she didn't want as she usually buys off the net.

I have read on here before that he has to give her the prescrption by law but have never seen this anywhere and I wondered if they could worm their way around it by giving her the free trail or something....

Anyway we've just had an argument because she never listens to what I say, but if some idiot in the optitions tells her that he doesn't have to give her the prescription then she believes him.... it !!!!es me off that she wastes money like this even though its her money, not mine....

Can anyone advise on where it says that they have to give the prescription by law and does this law apply to the case above?!?!

Cheers

M

airbag

I think I read somewhere by law they have to give it you too but not sure. Kick up a fuss and get it.

I've got to get tested as my online lens supplier wont supply me till I do.
Its £20 at optical express for this check up. I thought it was free but thats just a normal eye test.

If anyone knows a cheaper test , please post. Thanks.

IamBroke

Hi

I go to Specsavers and have never had a problem getting a copy of my prescription. I just ask, whether its glasses or lenses and say I want a copy for my records. Maybe call up the HO for the branch you went to and ask them why she was refused.

Does she want to carry on with the new lenses? If not then why not ask for a prescription for the old lenses that have been tried and tested?

I changed lenses in Specsavers, they gave me a months free trial I went in after 3 weeks they were fine. I got my prescription and ordered them online.

I do not recommend this method at all. But if she has not opened the lenses, they can be returned. She can then order from abroad and you do not need a valid prescription. But like I said I do not recommend this as if you check out the Contact Lens thread posheyes said you are not guarenteed by UK Law.

Best thing to do is call up HO and find out the where you stand.

iglimpse

The law is, they have to give you the script.

LondonDiva

If she paid for the test, then the prescription is part of the contract. Easy peasy, quote the Sale of Goods Act.

If any problems after that, call the PALS at your local PCT

littlekitten

Hi,

Although by law you need a prescription to get lenses sold/ shipped to the UK, if you know anyone abroad and are having problems getting your prescription then you can get them shipped abroad from the UK.

I get my lenses sent to my parents in ROI and they then post them to me, so my lenses go from the UK to Ireland then back again!!!That way I don't need to go through the hassle of convincing my optican to give me a copy of the prescription and then providing it to the internet company.

wishiwasarichgirl

opticians do have to give you a copy of your contact lens prescription by law when the fitting is complete, unfortunately there is no set length of time it should take for a "fitting". it is generally defined as the length of time it takes for the optician to be satisfied that the lenses are suitable for the patients eyes, and this can take between 1-3months (not generally any longer than this though) I'll dig out the actual regulations later

Alfie_E

As wishiwasarichgirl says, it’s a grey area. I also have to say that my experience of Specsavers matches IamBroke’s. It was time for me to have a contact lens fitter. My previous lenses had been discontinued, so I had to change the type of lens. For my £20, I got a fitting, a pair of the new lenses to try, followed by a check up and my written prescription. I think that’s extremely good value for money.

msmicawber

Hi Morph3us,

Here's a link to the guidelines covering dispensing opticians:

http://www.abdo.org.uk/membership/pdfs/section2.pdf

Section 13 states:

13. Registered dispensing opticians are reminded that under the Sight Testing (Examination and Prescription) (No 2) Regulations 1989 immediately following an eye examination, whether NHS or private, irrespective of whether the prescription is dispensed at the same practice or elsewhere, the prescriber is required to give the patient a copy of any prescription issued (together with an NHS voucher if appropriate) or a statement indicating that no prescripton is necessary. Although the onus is on the prescriber, a registered dispensing optician has a moral public duty to ensure compliance. This enhances the reputation of the profession: the prescription is the patient's entitlement and must be given back to the patient on completion of the dispensing.

That appears to me to cover your GF's situation. I had trouble getting my prescription out of Specsavers, unlike other posters here, but just pointed out that their own regulations prevented them from withholding it and they complied. Using a very loud voice in a busy store helped too, I think!

Alfie_E

Section 13 only relates to the sight test, rather than contact lens fittings. The two are separate and distinct. The sight test only covers glasses. There are more constraints on contact lenses. With the correct prescription of lenses, the worst a a pair of glasses could do is give you a sore nose. An adverse reaction to the use of contact lenses could result in serious and possibly permanent damage to the surface of the eye.