New glasses from Specsavers - not had an issue like this ever before

robthenewboy

Sorry for the long post but there's lots of steps here I need to include:

I've worn glasses since I was 18 (I'm nearly 56).  I've been a Specsavers customer for probably 20 years or so and never had any issues to speak of, certainly never with glasses.

Had an eye test done in September as I felt my specs could do with a slight prescription tweak - so ordered two new pairs of specs coming in at just under £500.  One for distance/general and one for screen work.

New glasses come and I can instantly tell they're not right.

Distance pair: Improved vision in close-to-mid distance, but far distance is slightly less crisp than my old pair.  Reading a motorway exit sign while driving - that kind of distance.  Just not quite as sharp.

Close-up pair:  Worse than my previous pair made for the same purpose.  Nothing on my computer screens is sharper and there is now less vertical area of the lens which is workable for me.  I have to keep my head at a particular angle to have the text at comfortable sharpness.

So I go back to Specsavers. May take a few days or so to get used to them but come in and we'll check the prescription.

So I go back and they perform another vision test and this time they take a bit longer to ensure I'm really choosing the correct strengths.  Turns out first optometrist had made an a error. Fine.  They take the new glasses and order new lenses.

I go to pick up new-new specs and once again, I can tell they're not quite right.  Subtly better than the first ones, but still not quite sharp enough at distance.  Close-up pair still not particularly comfortable to use and and less sharp than my old pair.

So I call back and ask for an aftercare appointment.

I go in the assistant double-checks fit and position etc, and also makes a few adjustments to the bow of the frames so they should improve the vision a bit more but warns they may take a few days to get used to them as the new prescription is slightly weaker in strength than my (very) old pairs.   She also checks I can read the number plate pinned to the wall from the other end of shop - I can.    I take them away and have been wearing the two new pairs full time since last Wednesday.

While I've mostly got used to the distance pair now (still questionable sharpness at far distance but I think I'm OK and certainly road-legal), the close-up pair I cannot accept as being correct.  I've still got that narrow sliver of correct vision while the rest goes slightly blurry in comparison.  They also seem to be focusing a bit closer then my actual screens are away from me - more like reading glasses.  When I purchased them I was very specific about how far the screens are from me.

I've avoiding comparing them to my old pairs for the past few days, but I've just tried the old close-up pair for a few seconds and they're instantly better than the new ones.  Everything  is telling me the new ones are wrong, despite what the prescription numbers say.

So, what do I do next?

Before I speak to SS again, I want to make sure I've got a clear course of action with the law on my side.  Either correct the vision on both pairs or give a full refund.  But what chance do I actually have of getting this?  I'm honestly wishing I just hadn't ordered either pair now and to be honest I feel my trust in SS has gone downhill over this. I've got half a mind just to contact the credit card company and ask for a section 75 but I don't know how realistic that would be.

Suggestions?

Jenni_D

It seems unusual that a new prescription would be weaker than an older one ... usually your eye muscle strength deteriorates as you start wearing glasses, meaning that subsequent prescriptions get gradually stronger - that's certainly my experience.

Then again, I'm long-sighted ... I can read long distance stuff very easily and only need glasses for reading.

Ergates

Jenni_D said:

It seems unusual that a new prescription would be weaker than an older one ... usually your eye muscle strength deteriorates as you start wearing glasses, meaning that subsequent prescriptions get gradually stronger - that's certainly my experience.

Then again, I'm long-sighted ... I can read long distance stuff very easily and only need glasses for reading.

I know at least a couple of people who's prescription have improved *slightly* over time.

kinger101

I only had one eye test done at Specsavers. It was so laughably bad I've never returned even though I can get them free from there via my employer.

My advice would be to get an eye test done by a independent local optician.

As it's a money saving forum, id also say the glasses should never cost 500.  

born_again

If you intend to go S75, then you would need another test elsewhere to prove they are wrong. But eyetests are very subjective & rely on your input. 

Personally I would get another test elsewhere.

lincroft1710

kinger101 said:

As it's a money saving forum, id also say the glasses should never cost 500.  

If you have varifocals and choose frames which are not the cheapest but not the most expensive easily £500 plus

robthenewboy

Jenni_D said:

It seems unusual that a new prescription would be weaker than an older one ... usually your eye muscle strength deteriorates as you start wearing glasses, meaning that subsequent prescriptions get gradually stronger - that's certainly my experience.

Then again, I'm long-sighted ... I can read long distance stuff very easily and only need glasses for reading."

It can happen with age.  Quite common for prescription strengths to go backwards as people get older, even if other aspects change.

robthenewboy

kinger101 said:

As it's a money saving forum, id also say the glasses should never cost 500.  

That's for two pairs, designer frames with the thinnest and lightest lens material they offer.  The lenses cost considerably more than the frames.