DirectSight unfit for purpose glasses for pensioner?

nedmundo

From a professional point of view, a 1.74 lens would have have been flatter and reduced the gap.

But - the edge thickness is still excessive in my view. That probably results from them using a stock lens rather than a custom surfaced lens to achieve minumum thickness. Surfaced lenses cost far more than stock.

So - if they have made lenses up to the correct prescription and in the index ordered, then they have fulfilled their end of the bargain. Yes a custom surfaced job would have been thinner, but presumably they haven't claimed that they would do that. Therefore - there is nothing you can do but put it down to experience I'm afraid.

You pays your money and takes your choice, but you get what you pays for I'm afraid. Sometimes (frequently) the cheapest option isn't the best and you can't expect an expert dispensing to be done remotely.

Herongull

With lenses you get what you pay for especially if you have a very high prescription and need varifocals (which your friend probably needs given her age).

Decent lenses for someone in this situation cost several hundred £.

If you paid less than £100 then you must expect lower quality thicker non-custom lenses - exactly what you got.

Lenses (particular high prescription varifocals) need very careful measurements by a dispensing optician.

But you haven't learnt from the experience - you are going to try to get a "bargain" from yet another online supplier when what your friend needs is glasses from a High St optician.

arcon5

'Ripped off a pensioner?' Her age really had nothing to do with it to be fair.

How much are you loosing here?
I don't wear glasses so purely a laymans observation, but id certainly expect the lens to be the same shape and fit in the frame.
Also the nose padding looks ridiculous.

How much will it cost to sort out?

If you paid less than £100 then you must expect lower quality thicker non-custom lenses - exactly what you got.

Despite a lower quality product, would you not expect the lens to fit the frame shape at the very least?

Herongull

I agree that it would have been nicer for them to warn her about the result of choosing cheap lenses before implementing the order.

Her previous lenses were probably supplied by a good optician who took everything into account when making recommendations about lens and frame suitability. My optician always discusses my requirements with me and makes sure I understand what the end result is likely to be like.

But this sort of advice (as well as the detailed measurements) is the difference between getting glasses from a High St Optician and getting them online where all they do is give you what you ordered.

You get what you pay for. I am fussy about my glasses - I wear them every day so I wouldn't risk getting them online.

Marathonman2000

The lenses are not varifocal, they are standard distance lenses, +6 both eyes.

DirectSight claim these are custom made lenses and that is one of the reasons they are refusing to refund.

DirectSight also claim the new lenses were 'traced exactly from the original lenses' which were in the frames when we sent them. So why are their lenses a completely different shape to the frames? The original lenses were also described as 'Ultra Thin' and fitted perfectly.

I think Doreen's age is relevant as they know her age and that she is a pensioner and yet have shown no compassion, good will or frankly even basic customer care towards her. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I still think a little respect for our elder citizens is called for.

I get that people are 'annoyed' at me as I seem to be expecting the earth for next to nothing but that is not the case. I believe the price we paid was a fair one for lenses only from an online company, which can offer reduced rates due to reduced overheads etc. We had the right to expect at the very least wearable glasses in return. We didn't get that and I feel we should have been fully refunded by DirectSight under the circumstances.

I'm not going to let this put me off shopping online despite the fact it is one of a number of recent unfortunate online shopping experiences I have had. I will however, be resisting the urge to help and encourage others into online shopping, which is a shame really.

Thanks again all.

Paul

nedmundo

I think you are making it too complex. You sent the specs off to a 'glazing' company, who inserted lenses to your budget and specification. By cutting lenses to the shape, they have produced a custom product (i.e. it can't be reused for anyone else).

Any dispensing, which often requires specialist knowledge to achieve best cosmetic and optical performance would therefore have been done by yourselves. Unfortunately the responsibility lies with you.

Marathonman2000

nedmundo wrote: »

I think you are making it too complex. You sent the specs off to a 'glazing' company, who inserted lenses to your budget and specification. By cutting lenses to the shape, they have produced a custom product (i.e. it can't be reused for anyone else).

Any dispensing, which often requires specialist knowledge to achieve best cosmetic and optical performance would therefore have been done by yourselves. Unfortunately the responsibility lies with you.

With all due respect I think you are the one making it too complex. If you order a pair of glasses, online or in the high street, you should be able to wear them to correct your sight. That is what they are made for. These glasses were unwearable and therefore useless. It is as simple as that.

Paul

nedmundo

But that's the point, you didn't order a pair of glasses - you sent them a frame and asked them to glaze lenses into it, which they did.

It's a subtle but very significant difference.

Herongull

If you order online, you choose to save money by not having a full service including the input of a dispensing optician.

According to http://www.prospects.ac.uk/dispensing_optician_job_description.htm

"A dispensing optician is trained to dispense and fit spectacles and other optical aids, working from the prescriptions written by optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Dispensing opticians advise patients on various types of lenses and spectacle frames..."

Dispensing opticians are trained professionals and their input can be important in ensuring you get a suitable pair of glasses

Marathonman2000

nedmundo wrote: »

But that's the point, you didn't order a pair of glasses - you sent them a frame and asked them to glaze lenses into it, which they did.

It's a subtle but very significant difference.

I get what you are saying but no, what we did was send a pair of glasses which were becoming unusable due to scratches on the lenses, to have the lenses replaced to make them usable again. They made them unwearable and so failed to do that.

Paul