New Glasses dilemma

JVRMac

Can anyone please advise if I can return prescription glasses? I've returned them once as the varifocals in my new glasses were not right and I couldn't see out the middle distance. I returned them and they have upgraded the varifocals lenses to a smaller depth, but I still can't see properly. Unfortunately it is the first time I have taken my prescription to another place to buy glasses. I intend to go back to Specsavers to check my prescription but the glasses I bought from a small independent store are rubbing on my cheeks and starting to feel uncomfortable. Literally only picked them back up today and I'm thinking I just want to get my money back. Any advice on what I can do?

TELLIT01

Presumably you chose the frames yourself, so there may be less room for arguing that they aren't suitable.  If you can't see properly through the new glasses that needs to be addressed by the optician.  I had a similar problem some years ago when I chose a slightly shallower frame and could never find the sweet spot.  Fortunately for me, the optician who was trying to sort it out was getting p'd off and said the frames weren't really suitable for varifocals because they were not deep enough.  That gave me the leverage to say that I should have been informed of that at the time.  I did get suitable frames and lenses in the end.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Generally speaking after 1 failed repair attempt or 1 replacement you have the final right to reject the goods (for a full refund within 6 months or a reduced refund after 6 months).

An optician's job is presumably to check everything and ensure you have the right glasses (as if you could do this yourself why would they be needed), unless you purchased something against their advice I don't see how you are to know whether certain glasses will be suitable or not. 

soolin

This scenario is why I have always avoided using different places for my lenses and my prescription. I’ve done it twice, I had trouble both times , the first time I paid an absolute fortune to a small independent optician as I fell in love with some frames but had a spec savers prescription . I could not see out of the lenses and they changed the varifocals twice , tried to blame specsavers and in the end took the glasses back to investigate. Luckily for me (but not for them alas) they closed suddenly and the receivers said they had lost my glasses and just refunded me for the entire cost a few months later. (There were some angry and  letters, but that’s a long story) 

Previous to that and some years earlier I had bought sunglasses on a varifocal Specsavers prescription from a shop, again couldn’t see a thing despite the lens frame being the same size as my existing glasses , they changed them once and then just refunded me in full. 

Since then I’ve stuck with Specsavers for both test , lenses and frame. I was told though that if you are used to a particular make of lens that even the same prescription in a different make can make a lot of difference. For anyone like me with a very complicated blended prescription and a complete mis match between my eyes I won’t risk changing anymore.

I have no idea though exactly what legal standing prescription lenses have. If they are made precisely to a prescription but a person can’t get on with the lens, does that count as faulty ? 

MattMattMattUK

If the glasses match the prescription and are in the frames you requested then you are stuck with them, the fact that you might not get on with them is unfortunately you issue, not theirs. 

Pollycat

I think I would have had my eyes tested by the optician I was buying the lens & frames from.

I'm quite new to wearing glasses (only since 3017 and only for reading at the age of 64) but sometimes I don't sit them correctly behind my ears and they sit on my cheeks until I adjust them.
I also have a habit of pushing them too close to my face and my long, straight eyelashes brush on the lenses.

kirtondm

Just some general comments

1. Splitting the testing and dispensing practically makes dealing with the problem much harder
2. Most problems with varfiocals are due to the centring of the lenses / varifocal design / Frame choice / Patient expectation i.e. mostly dispensing issues.
3. With that in mind and given the dispensing practice has the contract and the money what is supposed to happen is they deal with the patient and then come to an arrangement with the practice supplying the prescription if it truly is a prescription error ( This doesn't really happen in practice ).
4. If the frame is not suitable then the optician that sold them to you is responsible this has been previously tested in court ( They are the professional and dispensing is a regulated activity ).

sheramber

I would suggest that you go back to the optician who supplied the frames and explain they are not comfortable. If they are not sitting in the position your vision through varifocals will be compromised. There is  only a small area for your vision at each distance.

The measurements for the frames  may be wrong or it could be that that frame does not suit your face. The lense area may be too large.

If adjusting the frames doesn't  sort things out then the next step would be to check that the prescription is correct.

TELLIT01

MattMattMattUK said:

If the glasses match the prescription and are in the frames you requested then you are stuck with them, the fact that you might not get on with them is unfortunately you issue, not theirs. 

Broadly true, unless as in the case I outlined, the opticians knew the frames were not suitable for varifocal lenses but still  sold them.

JVRMac

Thanks everyone for responding, after struggling with the lenses, I returned to Specsavers and they checked my reading distance and found the prescription to be incorrect. As a goodwill gesture they have agreed to replace the lenses free of charge. Lesson learned in future I will stick with Specsavers.

Ath_Wat

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Generally speaking after 1 failed repair attempt or 1 replacement you have the final right to reject the goods (for a full refund within 6 months or a reduced refund after 6 months).

An optician's job is presumably to check everything and ensure you have the right glasses (as if you could do this yourself why would they be needed), unless you purchased something against their advice I don't see how you are to know whether certain glasses will be suitable or not. 

You are missing the point here.

Specsavers gave them the wrong prescription.  They took that prescription elsewhere and the place they took it to gave them glasses that fitted that prescription.  That second place had no obligation or opportunity to check that the prescription was correct for the OP.

As it is it is Specsavers, NOT the place they bought the glass from, who have rightly rectified their mistake.

JVRMac said:

 Lesson learned in future I will stick with Specsavers.

Seems rather strange. It was Specsavers who made a mistake, and have agreed to fix it.  I am not sure why you would stick with the place who made a mistake and avoid the one who didn't do anything wrong.