Refused to sell me prescription sunglasses because my eye test is overdue

nwc389

Spent 20 minutes trying on sunglasses in boots opticians , decided on a pair and mentioned they had my prescription , last contact lens check was nov 2011 and I was also wearing glasses purchased from them about the same time.
I was staggered when I was told I couldn't have them because my last FULL eye test was sept 2010 and I would have to pay for a new test in order to buy a £40 pair of sunglasses for my holidays.
I've been steaming mad all afternoon - I don't want to drive in them , I only want to buy sunglasses that are the same prescription as the glasses I am wearing .
Sorry for the rant but they're my blooming eyes , I'm happily wearing the glasses so all I wanted was a pair of sunglasses in the same prescription to wear when I'm walking about in greece and on the (very) rare occasions we get weather nice enough to wear them here.

nearlyrich

The clue is prescription yours is out of date...it's 10 quid for an eye test at Boots and as you say they are your eyes are they not worth spending a tenner on every couple of years?

custardy

nwc389 wrote: »

Spent 20 minutes trying on sunglasses in boots opticians , decided on a pair and mentioned they had my prescription , last contact lens check was nov 2011 and I was also wearing glasses purchased from them about the same time.
I was staggered when I was told I couldn't have them because my last FULL eye test was sept 2010 and I would have to pay for a new test in order to buy a £40 pair of sunglasses for my holidays.
I've been steaming mad all afternoon - I don't want to drive in them , I only want to buy sunglasses that are the same prescription as the glasses I am wearing .
Sorry for the rant but they're my blooming eyes , I'm happily wearing the glasses so all I wanted was a pair of sunglasses in the same prescription to wear when I'm walking about in greece and on the (very) rare occasions we get weather nice enough to wear them here.

Doesnt matter that they are sun glasses
The eye test isnt just to check your prescription

fluffnutter

I agree that your eyesight's important and a tenner's well worth it to check all sorts of problems.

But... this doesn't make sense. If Boots wanted to be sure that people's eyes were healthy before allowing the purchase of a pair of sunglasses then they should apply this to everyone, not just those who already have a prescription. After all, at some point you go from not needing glasses to needing them. By their logic then, everyone should be tested before sunglasses are bought.

Sorry, but I'm with the OP on this one.

custardy

fluffnutter wrote: »

I agree that your eyesight's important and a tenner's well worth it to check all sorts of problems.

But... this doesn't make sense. If Boots wanted to be sure that people's eyes were healthy before allowing the purchase of a pair of sunglasses then they should apply this to everyone, not just those who already have a prescription. After all, at some point you go from not needing glasses to needing them. By their logic then, everyone should be tested before sunglasses are bought.

Sorry, but I'm with the OP on this one.

The OP wants prescription sunglasses
not just plain old sunglasses anyone can buy

peachyprice

fluffnutter wrote: »

But... this doesn't make sense. If Boots wanted to be sure that people's eyes were healthy before allowing the purchase of a pair of sunglasses then they should apply this to everyone, not just those who already have a prescription. After all, at some point you go from not needing glasses to needing them. By their logic then, everyone should be tested before sunglasses are bought.

Sorry, but I'm with the OP on this one.

A pair of sunglasses with no prescription isn't going to damage your eyes further, a pair with an incorrect prescription has the potential to.

There's nothing stopping OP buying non-prescription sunglasses elsewhere or buying clip-on sunglasses for their existing out-of date prescription glasses.

Torry_Quine

They were totally correct. Glasses should only be dispensed from a recent prescription which is deemed as less than two years. You should have had your eyes tested before now anyway and especially as you drive.

patman99

I was told I only need an eye test every 2 years, but as I had cataract surgery, I like to have mine done every year. Better safe than sorry.

DCFC79

Instead of being steaming mad why not book an eye test ?

debsy42

Instead of being cross at Boots be glad they are trying to help, I've recently discovered through having an eye test that I've got Occular Hypertension and I've had NO symptoms at all, this is a risk factor for Glaucoma.

Like you I wear glasses and contact lenses and thought I was fine, you say they are your bloomin eyes but remember you only get one pair and if the worst happens you'll be blind, have a think about it and stop being cross

elsien

I remember being told by another optician that if the eye test was over 6 months old they wouldn't use it.