Optician Prescription Duration - Am I being ripped off?

garynuman

Hi all

Until fairly recently, I was a member of the Boots Contact Lens Reward Scheme. This entitles customers to several benefits (lenses posted monthly, free after care and lens checks, etc.). However, as my lenses were stock-piling (and you can only postpone delivery a limited number of times), I find it more convenient to purchase them online from Boots as and when I require them. I am happy to pay aftercare, check-ups, etc.

Yesterday, I had a contact lens check-up for which I paid £50. No changes to my prescription.

On my return home, I checked my prescription and the renewal is for just 12 months. When I was a member of the loyalty scheme (where these checks were free), the script lasted 24 months?! It has been 24 months for a number of years until I am now no longer a member of the scheme.

This seems like a money-grab to me; "you're not a member of the loyalty scheme any more so we'll get you coming in more regularly (£50 a time) to make up the shortfall." This seems an unnecessary requirement if 24 months was appropriate beforehand.

I am waiting on a response from Boots Opticians so they have right to reply. I have explained that I have an eye test next week and asked if the script can be amended then - I'm not holding my breath and expect them to come up with an excuse of some kind.

Has anyone else come across this type of behaviour?

Gaz

garynuman

I will also add that I have been a customer of Boots Opticians for over 10 years.

badmemory

A few weeks ago I had a disagreement with my sister about my eye tests etc.  She had a go because my opticians, not Boots, had put me back on every 2 years not every year.  She, with Boots, is every year & believes that is how it now should be which she believes is an age thing.  Do you think it is possible that you have fallen foul of this.

Albermarle

badmemory said:

A few weeks ago I had a disagreement with my sister about my eye tests etc.  She had a go because my opticians, not Boots, had put me back on every 2 years not every year.  She, with Boots, is every year & believes that is how it now should be which she believes is an age thing.  Do you think it is possible that you have fallen foul of this.

Not an expert but the OP's issues seems to be connected to using contact lenses and having to have some new ones at regular intervals.

For non contact lens users, I think you are recommended to have an eye test once a year, over a certain age anyway. However if you had a test, got a prescription and got some new glasses, it would entirely up to  you if you went back in a year or 5 years. 

Ectophile

Albermarle said:

badmemory said:

A few weeks ago I had a disagreement with my sister about my eye tests etc.  She had a go because my opticians, not Boots, had put me back on every 2 years not every year.  She, with Boots, is every year & believes that is how it now should be which she believes is an age thing.  Do you think it is possible that you have fallen foul of this.

Not an expert but the OP's issues seems to be connected to using contact lenses and having to have some new ones at regular intervals.

For non contact lens users, I think you are recommended to have an eye test once a year, over a certain age anyway. However if you had a test, got a prescription and got some new glasses, it would entirely up to  you if you went back in a year or 5 years. 

It's normally 2 years unless you have any specific medical conditions.  I can buy glasses made to any prescription up to 2 years old.

LightFlare

I use specsavers for lenses (and have for 20+) years.

they let you change the quarterly delivery between 90,60 and 30 pairs of lenses and adjust the cost accordingly.

if you don’t like the service being offered by Boots, you could give others a try

garynuman

Albermarle said:

badmemory said:

A few weeks ago I had a disagreement with my sister about my eye tests etc.  She had a go because my opticians, not Boots, had put me back on every 2 years not every year.  She, with Boots, is every year & believes that is how it now should be which she believes is an age thing.  Do you think it is possible that you have fallen foul of this.

Not an expert but the OP's issues seems to be connected to using contact lenses and having to have some new ones at regular intervals.

No.

My point is that for the last 10 years my prescription lasted 24 months when the lens check-up was free of charge as part of the loyalty scheme.

If a 24 month lens check-up was appropriate when they were footing the bill - why do they require more visits now (at my expense) that I'm no longer a member of the scheme?

It could be age-related (I am 55 now) but I would have expected them to mention the necessity of more frequent check-ups - or am I being unreasonable?

As stated, it looks like a cash-grab.

I guess I'll see what they say later in the week.

Thanks for replies.

oldagetraveller1

I had a routine eye examination, last month, at my usual independent Optition's.

I was advised that our "wonderful" N.H.S. has now decided that 2 years is the period for over 70s, between examinatons. (N.H.S. funded, that is). Penny wise, Pound foolish beancounters strike again.

cannugec5

I’m in Scotland. Here NHS eye tests are 2 yearly if aged 16-59. Everyone else is entitled to an annual test. 

( There are of course exceptions for specific conditions ) 

sheramber

oldagetraveller1 said:

I had a routine eye examination, last month, at my usual independent Optition's.

I was advised that our "wonderful" N.H.S. has now decided that 2 years is the period for over 70s, between examinatons. (N.H.S. funded, that is). Penny wise, Pound foolish beancounters strike again.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/how-often-can-i-have-a-free-nhs-eye-test/

If you're eligible for a free NHS sight or eye test, you can have a test every 2 years.

You may be able to have a free NHS sight test more often than every 2 years if your ophthalmic practitioner or optometrist recommends you do.

Murphybear

sheramber said:

oldagetraveller1 said:

I had a routine eye examination, last month, at my usual independent Optition's.

I was advised that our "wonderful" N.H.S. has now decided that 2 years is the period for over 70s, between examinatons. (N.H.S. funded, that is). Penny wise, Pound foolish beancounters strike again.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/how-often-can-i-have-a-free-nhs-eye-test/

If you're eligible for a free NHS sight or eye test, you can have a test every 2 years.

You may be able to have a free NHS sight test more often than every 2 years if your ophthalmic practitioner or optometrist recommends you do.

If you think your eyes have changed quite a lot you may be able to get a test paid for earlier.  This happened to me.  I booked an appointment about a year after the first one and the optician confirmed my sight had changed enough to need new specs so I didn’t need to pay for the test