Cheapest Place to buy glasses.

pmduk

Tesco eye tests are always free.

teddysmum

I threw away the last bag, so can't check, but on the side of Boots prescription bags is an eye test voucher to use of give away. The test was either free or £10 (can't recall).

C_Mababejive

This is a lamentable situation. In a civilised country such as the UK with one of the biggest economies in the developed world we have people who are compelled to blunder around and unable to lead normal lives simply becase they cannot see and the cost of specs and other tests/apparatus is too expensive/beyond their means.

In the media recently we have had reports of labour and conservative rebels challenging Government over the so called tampon tax,a 5% levy of vat of sanitary products.

Since 2001 HM Government has allowed the charging of VAT on specs,contacts and various tests and treatments just so that people can see.

I was waiting in an optom the other day and overheard a chap asking about specs and leaving as he couldnt afford them !

Maybe instead of charities collecting unwanted specs for redistribution in the third world, they should look a bit closer..

GlasweJen

C_Mababejive wrote: »

This is a lamentable situation. In a civilised country such as the UK with one of the biggest economies in the developed world we have people who are compelled to blunder around and unable to lead normal lives simply becase they cannot see and the cost of specs and other tests/apparatus is too expensive/beyond their means.

In the media recently we have had reports of labour and conservative rebels challenging Government over the so called tampon tax,a 5% levy of vat of sanitary products.

Since 2001 HM Government has allowed the charging of VAT on specs,contacts and various tests and treatments just so that people can see.

I was waiting in an optom the other day and overheard a chap asking about specs and leaving as he couldnt afford them !

Maybe instead of charities collecting unwanted specs for redistribution in the third world, they should look a bit closer..

Problem with that is legally we aren't allowed to give out anything but the correct prescription give or take a reference range to people, the rules in developing nations are much more relaxed.

Fact of the matter is glasses start at a tenner in the supermarkets, £25 in specsavers and the like. There is a low income scheme for people on benefits but even that won't cover a pair of glasses that have been lost. The NHS will give an adult a new pair of glasses every 2 years (more often if there's been a prescription change) and they are expected to last 2 years unless they are damaged in a serious accident or as a result of disability. If you can't look after something as precious as the things that help you see for 24 months then that's not the fault of the NHS, grow up and take a bit of responsibility for yourself.

pollypenny

That's very harsh, glasgowjen.

Have you never lost something? I lost my specs years ago and found them two years later, wedged behind the sideboard. They hadn't reached the floor.

C_Mababejive

A lot of people labour under the illusion that you can buy a pair of specs for fifty quid at specsavers or even benefit from one of the plethora of 2 for 1 offers that abound.

That is indeed the case if all you require is spherical lenses upto a couple of dioptres but if you are a mid to high myope or similar and throw in a few prisms well you can easily be talking a starting price of £100 for low end lenses alone..

theoretica

C_Mababejive wrote: »

A lot of people labour under the illusion that you can buy a pair of specs for fifty quid at specsavers or even benefit from one of the plethora of 2 for 1 offers that abound.

That is indeed the case if all you require is spherical lenses upto a couple of dioptres but if you are a mid to high myope or similar and throw in a few prisms well you can easily be talking a starting price of £100 for low end lenses alone..

Which the NHS acknowledges by making people who require complex lenses (+/-10, prisms etc) eligible for vouchers which are not means tested and have a higher value than those for people who can use cheaper glasses.

In the old days before bifocals became so good and comparatively affordable more people spent a lot of their lives swapping between different pairs of glasses, which is as good a solution now as it was back then.

savingfortomorrow

Head to tesco opticans.their glasses start at 15 all in and are nice. they fit and are adjusted in store. i bought on line and was disappointed.

for a budget, tesco is really good option.

C_Mababejive

pollypenny wrote: »

That's very harsh, glasgowjen.

Have you never lost something? I lost my specs years ago and found them two years later, wedged behind the sideboard. They hadn't reached the floor.

I guess the problem is that if you dont have your specs and you misplace them,well you cant find them as you cant see !

tidus

C_Mababejive wrote: »

This is a lamentable situation. In a civilised country such as the UK with one of the biggest economies in the developed world we have people who are compelled to blunder around and unable to lead normal lives simply becase they cannot see and the cost of specs and other tests/apparatus is too expensive/beyond their means.

In the media recently we have had reports of labour and conservative rebels challenging Government over the so called tampon tax,a 5% levy of vat of sanitary products.

Since 2001 HM Government has allowed the charging of VAT on specs,contacts and various tests and treatments just so that people can see.

I was waiting in an optom the other day and overheard a chap asking about specs and leaving as he couldnt afford them !

Maybe instead of charities collecting unwanted specs for redistribution in the third world, they should look a bit closer..

There is no VAT on sight tests, contact lens fitting and aftercare or any other professional service provided by an Optician. Spectacles and contact lenses are liable to VAT, but spectacle sales are often structured so that the price includes an element of professional service (I.E measuring up) to reduce the amount of VAT payable by the customer.

Sanitary products are another story - pretty sure there's some problem with EU law meaning they are already at the lowest rate? Its only 5% anyway - I know its the principle of the thing but there are bigger fish to fry surely?