thick glasses

stedwell

Picked up my new glasses today from well known opticians - the ones where I really shouldn't have gone - and even though I paid out for thinner lenses, they are awful. I won't go into the ins and outs of what happens next as the situation is trying to be sorted although it will require more money from me!
I was just wondering if anybody else with high a prescription is finding it hard to get good quality lenses. 10 - 12 years ago I had no problem getting really thin specialist lenses. Now they just don't seem to be offered. Is it too much hassle nowadays to offer a specialist service. Any thoughts or experiences on this. Ta.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I have constant trouble getting a decent pair of glasses that don't look awful. The generally have the lenses sticking out the front of the frames and/or look as if they haven't been thinned down.

It tends to be supermarket glasses I have serious problems with. Their suppliers just can't handle my prescription even after I have rejected them a few times. To be honest, I think the supermarket/high street opticians such as vision express, spec savers ect should stop saying they can deliver a service that they clearly can't.

I am now having to resort to paying out some serious money to get lenses I'm happy with. Going to make an appointment with a good local independent optician.

Gloomendoom

Although I don't have high prescription, I only recently switched from glass lenses to plastic and the extra thickness at the edge is quite noticeable. Comparing old an new, side by side, the plastic lenses must be twice as thick.

geri1965_2

What is your prescription? What type of glasses did you go for - metal frame or plastic? What optician did you go to?

iammumtoone

I am a nightmare to deal with when I get new glasses, I always have them work out in mm how think the lenses will be for the price they are charging. I then get them to work out how much of the lenses will be seen within the frames I have chosen.

The smaller the frame you choose the thinner the lens will be, which is not good as the fashion at the moment is for large frames.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Although I would love a metal frame, I'm stuck with plastic & stuck with wide arms too.

If you have a very high prescription, the optician generally recommends glass lenses. Not ideal because they are much heavier than plastic, but seem to be the better of the two.

Hopefully nedmundo can shed more light on the subject

tidus

The thickness of a pair of glasses is dependant on the refractive index of the lens, the size of the frame and where your pupils sit in relation to the central point of the frame. Its slightly more complex with high plus (+ve) precriptions than with minus (-ve). How they mounted in the frame is largely down to how skilled the technician is, or how suited the frame shape is for the precription type.

Without knowing all this info its pretty hard to be helpful. If you've been happier with the finish of previous glasses, go back with the old ones for comparison and you should be able to get an explanation.

This is bread and butter work to a QUALIFIED optician - the problem is did a qualified optician actually dispense your glasses? I would encourage anyone with a high prescription to make sure this happens.

Moggins_2

I had the same problem my prescription was getting higher so thicker lenses and was spending more money trying to get them thinned out. In the end I've had contact lenses nearly 6 years now as it saves a lot of hassle and means the money is spread monthly rather than in one lump sum

tuftyclub

I'm as blind as a bat (-9) and I get round it by wearing small glasses - inch high , inch and a half long. The smaller the better, I also buy quite a lot online -indian/hk suppliers and find them fine

dinglefoot

Plastic frames can hide some of the thickness of the lenses and if you are a plus prescription going for an aspheric lens will help. Also, as others have said it's a good idea to go for a smaller lens size in the frame as it'll mean less edge thickness. Whatever opticians you go to, the assistants should be able to advise you on what will give you the best finish for your money.

stedwell

Thank you for all your replies! My prescription is +7.50 with added +2.00 for varifocals. I have worn glasses since 2 years old and wore contact lenses from 15 - 30 years but had to stop due to dry eye. I do all the things mentioned such as small frames etc. I tend to do metal frames as I am very small and the plastic ones are HUGE on me! The ones I wear at the moment are from the children's range!!

I think my prescription is also too high as I have made a huge jump - up from 6.25 and so have the dreaded magnified eye look. So unhappy with these glasses that I just want to walk away from them to be honest.

Evidently the dispensing optician was not qualified to offer me an 'out of store' thinner lens *which they are now saying I should have had) although I made it very clear from the start that I wanted as thin as lens as possible and would be prepared to pay what was necessary as they sit on my nose 24/7 for a good few years.

I agree that the high street opticians should reconsider whether they are really in the market for dealing with higher prescriptions. I am going to try and get my money back and head for my usual independent shop. Wish me luck and thank you for your replies. It is good to know that I am not on my own with this horrible and frustrating problem.

PS Bit worried about glass. Could be heavy?