Acquiring new glasses cheaply

OneYorkshireLass

emperorstevee wrote: »

So to confirm, Oneyork, I use a voucher acquired online for a free eye test in spec savers, determine my prescription and dimensions and then order from a cheap online store like the one you provided?

Yes, that's correct.
As an example, this Specsaver store has a free eye test voucher (to the right of the map):
https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/morley
Others, I've noticed, offer £5 eye tests, and some offer nothing at all. So if your nearest doesn't have an offer try a little further afield.

Make sure you get a print out of your prescription as you'll need it to buy glasses elsewhere. They should give you it anyway, but just in case they don't, do ask for it.

p.s I waited to get my glasses until Glasses Direct had an offer on of half price lenses/frames

mrcol1000

Avoid Speccy Four Eyes. I brought from them and have a complex prescription and it took 6 weeks to get my glasses. My OH has a very simple prescription and they took 8 weeks.

emperorstevee

So, I can get a free eye test from spec savers. What is next step

IAmWales

emperorstevee wrote: »

So, I can get a free eye test from spec savers. What is next step

Book an appointment!

Hiw complicated can this be?!

Given your difficulties I would stick to a high street optician for your glasses.

teddysmum

They have to give you a prescription and you are not committed to buying from them.


I doubt a strong prescription would be available online and if bought locally you can go back if the lenses aren't correct and if you are eligible for an NHS voucher that will go a long way to paying for one pair of glasses.

mrcol1000

teddysmum wrote: »

They have to give you a prescription and you are not committed to buying from them.


I doubt a strong prescription would be available online and if bought locally you can go back if the lenses aren't correct and if you are eligible for an NHS voucher that will go a long way to paying for one pair of glasses.

I have a strong prescription and buy all my glasses online. For extra thin lenses in high street shops the bill often is £150+ I can get glasses with extra thin lenses for £60+ online. If you are not entitled to NHS help then high street opticians will rip you off.

teddysmum

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I have a strong prescription and buy all my glasses online. For extra thin lenses in high street shops the bill often is £150+ I can get glasses with extra thin lenses for £60+ online. If you are not entitled to NHS help then high street opticians will rip you off.

You, obviously, haven't used Asda's opticians, which include thin lenses at no extra charge. I bought 4 pairs with thin lenses all round, for the price of 2 at Specsavers with only one thin lens per pair.


'Strong' is a relative value, but I'm almost sure that it was someone on here who mentioned the measurement limits on online prescription glasses.

FBaby

Also recommending Asda. Been with them for more than 10 years from far the cheapest but decent service and glasses. I liked a model at Specsavers, but didn't realise that unlike Asda, they add everything to the price on the glasses. With Asda, it's all included and you can get two pairs for only a bit more than the price of one.

Chorlie

I have my eye tests done at Specsavers and normally see what it would cost me buying glasses from them.

I then go to https://www.selectspecs.com

And see how there prices compare.

I've bought several pairs from Selectspecs over the years and never had an issue with any of them.

They aren't the cheapest online place for Specs but the cheaper ones don't do the higher index lenses I need or the frames I like.

teddysmum

Chorlie wrote: »

I have my eye tests done at Specsavers and normally see what it would cost me buying glasses from them.

I then go to https://www.selectspecs.com

And see how there prices compare.

I've bought several pairs from Selectspecs over the years and never had an issue with any of them.

They aren't the cheapest online place for Specs but the cheaper ones don't do the higher index lenses I need or the frames I like.

Specsavers prices are not a good comparison point, as they are among the dearest suppliers, because everything is an extra to be paid for.


I've had two occasions where buying online would have been a problem: once my brain could not accept the prescription for one eye, so it had to be downgraded and one pair didn't feel quite right and a recheck showed that the lens wasn't fitted with the correct orientation.