Complex lenses and high-street opticians

Agent_C

Does anyone with a complex lens prescription have any experience of eye tests and glasses from high street opticians? I have not had new glasses for many years and I am loathe to pay the high prices of local opticians. My prescription is about -7 in each eye plus an astigmatism of about -5. I had an eye test done at Boots for VDU use at work, and the optician did seem a little unsure as to whether she had got it right. When I showed it to my contact lens practitioner he said she had got the prescription wrong - she had made it too strong and given me a reading addition, which he said I won't need for a few more years. He said that with my prescription I'll never get 20/20 vision, but he has made my contacts so I can see better close-up, as I do a lot of VDU use at work.

Vision Express currently have a buy 2 for £99 option - although I know I'll have to pay extra for each pair to make them thinner etc, it's still good value, especially as it includes some designer frames - there is a limit to the frames I can have because of the lens thickness. Does anyone else with such a high prescription have experience of these and other high street opticians?

wishiwasarichgirl

I am an optician, and with complex prescriptions I would advise having the sight test done in the same place as you buy your glasses, it makes it so much easier to sort things out if anything does go wrong! All optometrists are qualified to the same standard in the UK, although some will have more experience than others, if you are not confident with the prescription from boots have another eye test (even if you have to pay for it).

All "high-street" opticians stores will vary, like anything, you will find some better than others, so it is best to ask for recommendations from friends/colleagues. If you have a complex prescription it may be worth checking who will actually be dispensing your glasses (taking the measurements & deciding on lens types) It really should be an optometrist or qualified dispensing optician, and not an optical advisor/assistant.