Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

elizabethhull

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

I have used glassesdirect  very successfully. A LOT cheaper than high street stores, and they accept your full prescription details. You can ask for frames to be sent by post to try them out for look and comfort, 4 at a time, and you post them back via a postbox (don't need a Post Office). You can keep doing this until you find frames you like.
Another thing - depends just how poor your eyesight is, but they don't do really strong glasses (allowable measurements are in the FAQs).

Voogueme have tons of fabulous very cheap frames, but once you add in the lenses, not so wonderful. Also (and I think it was them, but not 100% sure) they didn't accept the point 5 detail of the axis. So whilst the difference between a whole number and a .5 might not sound much, I need glasses all the time, reading and distance, and didn't like the idea of them not being perfect. No frame trials, but you can upload a picture of yourself and 'try them on' digitally ! I have actually just ordered the amazing frames and taken them into Boots for the lenses.

You often also need your pupillary distance (from eye to lens), which is a number your optician can measure and put on your prescription, but often don't unless you ask, because without it you might not be able to buy glasses online. But they can't refuse the information. The link below tells you how to measure it yourself if your optician is awkward.

https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/measure-pupillary-distance/#:~:text=Close your right eye, and,need to subtract 3 mm.

Sorry this is long ! Hopefully someone has experience of another online company for comparison.

Hope you're having a relaxing weekend.

Sun_Addict

It’s lovely to hear you sounding so positive despite everything going on. Really good to see your healthy savings balances too, you must feel so much more secure knowing you have a cushion should you need it. I’m also missing sitting in a coffee shop with a coffee (a takeaway isn’t the same), missing seeing DS and the GKs, holidays and meeting friends for lunch. We just need to stay safe for a bit longer then we can start to slowly rebuild our lives 🙏

HairyHandofDartmoor

elizabethhull said:

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

I have used glassesdirect  very successfully. A LOT cheaper than high street stores, and they accept your full prescription details. You can ask for frames to be sent by post to try them out for look and comfort, 4 at a time, and you post them back via a postbox (don't need a Post Office). You can keep doing this until you find frames you like.
Another thing - depends just how poor your eyesight is, but they don't do really strong glasses (allowable measurements are in the FAQs).

Voogueme have tons of fabulous very cheap frames, but once you add in the lenses, not so wonderful. Also (and I think it was them, but not 100% sure) they didn't accept the point 5 detail of the axis. So whilst the difference between a whole number and a .5 might not sound much, I need glasses all the time, reading and distance, and didn't like the idea of them not being perfect. No frame trials, but you can upload a picture of yourself and 'try them on' digitally ! I have actually just ordered the amazing frames and taken them into Boots for the lenses.

You often also need your pupillary distance (from eye to lens), which is a number your optician can measure and put on your prescription, but often don't unless you ask, because without it you might not be able to buy glasses online. But they can't refuse the information. The link below tells you how to measure it yourself if your optician is awkward.

https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/measure-pupillary-distance/#:~:text=Close your right eye, and,need to subtract 3 mm.

Sorry this is long ! Hopefully someone has experience of another online company for comparison.

Hope you're having a relaxing weekend.

Thank you Elizabeth . That's really helpful information. It's not for me it's for DS3. He got some new glasses from a high street optician but has decided he made a mistake and doesn't like the frames very much, so he wants to get another pair without having to pay too much. There's nothing complicated about his prescription, he's just shortsighted.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sun_Addict said:

It’s lovely to hear you sounding so positive despite everything going on. Really good to see your healthy savings balances too, you must feel so much more secure knowing you have a cushion should you need it. I’m also missing sitting in a coffee shop with a coffee (a takeaway isn’t the same), missing seeing DS and the GKs, holidays and meeting friends for lunch. We just need to stay safe for a bit longer then we can start to slowly rebuild our lives 🙏

Thanks SA . I'm trying to be positive and believe that the end is in sight. I do feel much better knowing I have a financial cushion.

Fidelia

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

elizabethhull said:

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

I have used glassesdirect  very successfully. A LOT cheaper than high street stores, and they accept your full prescription details. You can ask for frames to be sent by post to try them out for look and comfort, 4 at a time, and you post them back via a postbox (don't need a Post Office). You can keep doing this until you find frames you like.
Another thing - depends just how poor your eyesight is, but they don't do really strong glasses (allowable measurements are in the FAQs).

Voogueme have tons of fabulous very cheap frames, but once you add in the lenses, not so wonderful. Also (and I think it was them, but not 100% sure) they didn't accept the point 5 detail of the axis. So whilst the difference between a whole number and a .5 might not sound much, I need glasses all the time, reading and distance, and didn't like the idea of them not being perfect. No frame trials, but you can upload a picture of yourself and 'try them on' digitally ! I have actually just ordered the amazing frames and taken them into Boots for the lenses.

You often also need your pupillary distance (from eye to lens), which is a number your optician can measure and put on your prescription, but often don't unless you ask, because without it you might not be able to buy glasses online. But they can't refuse the information. The link below tells you how to measure it yourself if your optician is awkward.

https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/measure-pupillary-distance/#:~:text=Close your right eye, and,need to subtract 3 mm.

Sorry this is long ! Hopefully someone has experience of another online company for comparison.

Hope you're having a relaxing weekend.

Thank you Elizabeth . That's really helpful information. It's not for me it's for DS3. He got some new glasses from a high street optician but has decided he made a mistake and doesn't like the frames very much, so he wants to get another pair without having to pay too much. There's nothing complicated about his prescription, he's just shortsighted.

I know of lots of people who buy specs online but my own experience of doing it has been very negative.  The glasses were really nice and the price even nicer but I couldn't find a pair that fit exactly right.  I must have a strangely shaped face!  At least with any bought from High Street sellers you can go in any time and get fine-adjustments made for nothing.  My last pair (one of the cheapest options from Specsavers) has lasted for about 7 years.  My prescription hasn't changed over that time so I don't need to fork out on new ones and as I only wear these indoors don't need to keep upgrading to anything more stylish.  These specs have really had a hard life, been sat on numerous times and bent out of shape and after years one of the nose pads came off.  Each time I just popped into Specsavers and they refitted them and replaced the pad for nothing even though they must have realised the specs were ancient.

If your son has the same prescription for both eyes and doesn't need anything stronger than 3 has he thought about buying a pair of those ready to wear ones on sale at all sorts of outlets?.  DH has used them for years, he just needs his for reading. He has a proper eye test every couple of years though. The 'off the peg' ones can cost as little as £1 a pair although I don't think he's ever paid quite that little for his!  Definitely less than £4 a pair though.  Not a vast selection of frames but perfectly acceptable if your DS has a good rummage for something he likes.  DH has several pairs scattered around the house as he's always 'losing' them.  No problem at that price.  As your son is short-sighted he might need his glasses most of the time including going out and, being young, probably wouldn't be seen dead in ready-made glasses.  I think they are just 'reading' glasses. An idea for anyone else though.  I've also used them myself, never had any issue with them.

BalanceBy50

What about somewhere like Asda opticians HHOD? DH  goes there for his and they are very very reasonable xx

doingitanyway

Well done on your savings. Very impressive.
Lots of helpful glasses advice too.
You sound well

Onebrokelady

My DD1 has used Glasses Direct and they were really good 😊

HairyHandofDartmoor

Fidelia said:

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

elizabethhull said:

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Can anyone recommend a good online optician? I want somewhere that will offer good value but be reputable.

I have used glassesdirect  very successfully. A LOT cheaper than high street stores, and they accept your full prescription details. You can ask for frames to be sent by post to try them out for look and comfort, 4 at a time, and you post them back via a postbox (don't need a Post Office). You can keep doing this until you find frames you like.
Another thing - depends just how poor your eyesight is, but they don't do really strong glasses (allowable measurements are in the FAQs).

Voogueme have tons of fabulous very cheap frames, but once you add in the lenses, not so wonderful. Also (and I think it was them, but not 100% sure) they didn't accept the point 5 detail of the axis. So whilst the difference between a whole number and a .5 might not sound much, I need glasses all the time, reading and distance, and didn't like the idea of them not being perfect. No frame trials, but you can upload a picture of yourself and 'try them on' digitally ! I have actually just ordered the amazing frames and taken them into Boots for the lenses.

You often also need your pupillary distance (from eye to lens), which is a number your optician can measure and put on your prescription, but often don't unless you ask, because without it you might not be able to buy glasses online. But they can't refuse the information. The link below tells you how to measure it yourself if your optician is awkward.

https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/measure-pupillary-distance/#:~:text=Close your right eye, and,need to subtract 3 mm.

Sorry this is long ! Hopefully someone has experience of another online company for comparison.

Hope you're having a relaxing weekend.

Thank you Elizabeth . That's really helpful information. It's not for me it's for DS3. He got some new glasses from a high street optician but has decided he made a mistake and doesn't like the frames very much, so he wants to get another pair without having to pay too much. There's nothing complicated about his prescription, he's just shortsighted.

I know of lots of people who buy specs online but my own experience of doing it has been very negative.  The glasses were really nice and the price even nicer but I couldn't find a pair that fit exactly right.  I must have a strangely shaped face!  At least with any bought from High Street sellers you can go in any time and get fine-adjustments made for nothing.  My last pair (one of the cheapest options from Specsavers) has lasted for about 7 years.  My prescription hasn't changed over that time so I don't need to fork out on new ones and as I only wear these indoors don't need to keep upgrading to anything more stylish.  These specs have really had a hard life, been sat on numerous times and bent out of shape and after years one of the nose pads came off.  Each time I just popped into Specsavers and they refitted them and replaced the pad for nothing even though they must have realised the specs were ancient.

If your son has the same prescription for both eyes and doesn't need anything stronger than 3 has he thought about buying a pair of those ready to wear ones on sale at all sorts of outlets?.  DH has used them for years, he just needs his for reading. He has a proper eye test every couple of years though. The 'off the peg' ones can cost as little as £1 a pair although I don't think he's ever paid quite that little for his!  Definitely less than £4 a pair though.  Not a vast selection of frames but perfectly acceptable if your DS has a good rummage for something he likes.  DH has several pairs scattered around the house as he's always 'losing' them.  No problem at that price.  As your son is short-sighted he might need his glasses most of the time including going out and, being young, probably wouldn't be seen dead in ready-made glasses.  I think they are just 'reading' glasses. An idea for anyone else though.  I've also used them myself, never had any issue with them.

Thanks Fidelia. I have a pair of supermarket glasses as my spare pair as I only need them for reading, but I don't find them as comfortable as my prescription reading glasses. As DS3 wears his glasses all day he would need some that were better quality, plus as you say being young he is fashion conscious .