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

Torry_Quine

nwc389 wrote: »

It's also not unusual to not get a paper copy of your prescription unless you ask for it .

I've never had to ask for my prescription ever from any optician. It's handy for checking when due to go back as well as if you want to go somewhere else for your glasses.

tom15387202

Then that's your reason.

Always ask for your copy of the prescription which will have the expiry date.

Most Opticians would just give you your prescription automatically

fluffnutter

pmduk wrote: »

But that person isn't buying prescription lenses, which by their very nature, require an up-to-date prescription

I know. But the reason an optician doesn't want to sell glasses without an up to date prescription is because those glasses might not suit their eyes. Which can be said of non-prescription glasses for those whose eyes have deteriorated without their being aware.

I'm not trying to be obtuse and I know I'm labouring the point a little, but honestly, I can't see there's much difference. Perhaps I need my eyes tested

pmduk

nwc389 wrote: »

It's also not unusual to not get a paper copy of your prescription unless you ask for it .

Then ask for it, it's your eyesight, take charge of your eyecare.

shaun_from_Africa

fluffnutter wrote: »

I know. But the reason an optician doesn't want to sell glasses without an up to date prescription is because those glasses might not suit their eyes. Which can be said of non-prescription glasses for those whose eyes have deteriorated without their being aware.

I'm not trying to be obtuse and I know I'm labouring the point a little, but honestly, I can't see there's much difference. Perhaps I need my eyes tested

But there is one important difference.

If my eyesight was 20/20 and I purchased a pair of ordinary non prescription sunglasses, the lenses of these would be made of glass or plastic and there would be no vision correction from them.
It would be exactly the same if my eyesight was extremely poor and I purchased the same pair of sunglasses in that I would then be looking through glass or plastic that would have no detrimental effect on my vision.
It wouldn't improve it, nor would it make it any worse and in effect would be the same as me looking through a glass window.

So if I needed glasses and was unaware of this, I would not make my eyesight any worse by simply wearing "ordinary" uncorrected sunglasses.

no1catman

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

But there is one important difference.
If my eyesight was 20/20 and I purchased a pair of ordinary non prescription sunglasses, the lenses of these would be made of glass or plastic and there would be no vision correction from them.
It would be exactly the same if my eyesight was extremely poor and I purchased the same pair of sunglasses in that I would then be looking through glass or plastic that would have no detrimental effect on my vision.
It wouldn't improve it, nor would it make it any worse and in effect would be the same as me looking through a glass window.
So if I needed glasses and was unaware of this, I would not make my eyesight any worse by simply wearing "ordinary" uncorrected sunglasses.

But there is one important difference -
If you were buying standard non-prescription sunglasses - there wouldn't be found at the Opticians Counter, but elsewhere in the store - probably next to sun cream.
You would select, and pay at the till - so no contact with the Opticians Department or their staff.

shaun_from_Africa

If you were buying standard non-prescription sunglasses - there wouldn't be found at the Opticians Counter

In many cases, the opticians counter or an opticians shop is exactly where you would find non prescription sunglasses.
The "cheapie" ones may well be with the sunscreen, buy higher end ones are often sold in the opticians dept.

Irrespective of where they are located or who sells them, non prescription lenses can't have any effect on your sight (providing that they are reasonable quality lenses) which was why I made the point that this comment:

I know. But the reason an optician doesn't want to sell glasses without an up to date prescription is because those glasses might not suit their eyes. Which can be said of non-prescription glasses for those whose eyes have deteriorated without their being aware

doesn't make sense.
An uncorrected sunglass lens is simply a piece of tinted glass or plastic with no optical properties other than reducing the amount of light it lets through.

peachyprice

fluffnutter wrote: »

I know. But the reason an optician doesn't want to sell glasses without an up to date prescription is because those glasses might not suit their eyes. Which can be said of non-prescription glasses for those whose eyes have deteriorated without their being aware.

I'm not trying to be obtuse and I know I'm labouring the point a little, but honestly, I can't see there's much difference. Perhaps I need my eyes tested

Can you really not understand that a pair of sunglasses without prescription cannot damage your eyes and a pair with an incorrect prescription can?

Have you ever put someone else's glasses on? That feels nothing like putting on a pair of sunglasses.

fluffnutter

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

But there is one important difference.

If my eyesight was 20/20 and I purchased a pair of ordinary non prescription sunglasses, the lenses of these would be made of glass or plastic and there would be no vision correction from them.
It would be exactly the same if my eyesight was extremely poor and I purchased the same pair of sunglasses in that I would then be looking through glass or plastic that would have no detrimental effect on my vision.
It wouldn't improve it, nor would it make it any worse and in effect would be the same as me looking through a glass window.

So if I needed glasses and was unaware of this, I would not make my eyesight any worse by simply wearing "ordinary" uncorrected sunglasses.

OK. Fair dos. But I don't think that wearing a slightly out of date prescription will make your eyesight much worse either. In fact, in the OP's situation, sunglasses at his/her current prescription will still be better (not allowed) than non-prescription sunglasses (which are allowed).

What Boots are effectively saying is 'We won't allow you to wear these prescription sunglasses that might be perfect for you, and even if not perfect will probably help your eyesight significantly but we will allow you to wear these non-prescription ones that won't help at all'.

fluffnutter

peachyprice wrote: »

Can you really not understand that a pair of sunglasses without prescription cannot damage your eyes and a pair with an incorrect prescription can?

Have you ever put someone else's glasses on? That feels nothing like putting on a pair of sunglasses.

'Damage your eyes'? Are you sure about that? Can you show me the evidence that wearing a pair of sunglasses with a slightly out of date prescription for a week's holiday will 'damage your eyes'?

AFAIK, only illness and age can actually damage (i.e. change) your eyesight. Focussing for long periods at an unnatural length might cause the small muscles of your eye to become a little strained I guess but this won't result in permanent 'damage'. And, going back to the OP's situation, if this is the case, then it's already happening with his/her ordinary glasses.