How do opticians survive?

BananaRepublic

Having now gone through the process of buying new glasses, what strikes me is the ignorance of many of the assistants in opticians. You would think that an indie would pride themselves on providing a higher level of service than SpecSavers et al. I splashed out on some spendy frames and lenses with hard, AR and hydrophobic coatings. The woman in the shop was completely unable to explain the difference between the basic coatings, and the more expensive Lutotec ones. I did some research and learnt that the expensive ones have a hydrophobic coating that avoids condensation, which in my case is invaluable as I ice skate and condensation is problematic. She also knew next to nothing about the frames I wanted to buy. And she had no idea of the advantages of Trivex versus polycarbonate lenses. I was buying rimless specs hence the basic lenses were not an option. I have since learnt that poly is susceptible to cracking at the drill holes, Trivex isn’t, so I should have gone for Trivex or a high index alternative and not poly. The assistant just said she couldn’t see any difference between them, Coincidentally after four years my last glasses cracked at the side, next to the drill hole in the poly lens. Otherwise the frames are like new. Another optician also recommended poly not Trivex. The assistants seem to be as ignorant as those in Currys and PC World. Or was I unlucky?

I guess glasses are seen as an item of fashion wear, or a utility item. You choose a style that suits you, then choose the coatings if wanted eg anti reflection and hard coat, and that’s about it.

I had great problems with contacts from SpecSavers. They were very good in many ways, but I really had to argue forcefully for them to sell me RGP and not disposables which I tried for six months and hated. RGP are much better for my purposes.

pmduk

My one experience of buying from an indie drove me to Specsavers, never to look back. I'm very fortunate in that the branch I use is so good.

BananaRepublic

pmduk wrote: »

My one experience of buying from an indie drove me to Specsavers, never to look back. I'm very fortunate in that the branch I use is so good.

I've found several local branches to be very good indeed, but sadly the range of frames is rather limited, no doubt I have unfashionable tastes.

BananaRepublic

I found this very worrying study:

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2017/10/two-out-of-five-eye-tests-not-up-to-scratch-according-to-which-probe/

The sample size is too small for clear conclusions, but it does suggest indies are much better for eye tests.

Crater

Thank you for that. We've just been through a situation where a big chain optician gave my husband a fail on his field test, which was very worrying as there is glaucoma in his family and he's in his 60s. One very expensive private appointment (and one much slower NHS appointment) later, he's been told there is nothing wrong.

I've also found that they didn't give him an eye cover, or allow him to wear his glasses when doing this - some other opticians (chain) Do do this - so it's not that surprising that he got a bad test.

We are now pondering what to do. It's cost us about £500 and two days off work. Glad to find that there is no sight problem, but it should not have been misread in the first place.