Eye test without being forced to buy glasses

Does anyone know a place where I can do just an eye test without being forced to buy glasses and I can get full precription with PD measurement included? Preferably west London Area, Surrey or Berkshire. I can't find any optician who does eye tests only and not selling glasses, every optical place has strict rules of not giving pd measurement on final prescription. I'm willing to pay for the eye test, but even if I want to pay they won't give me pd measurement, I've asked so mamy places like costco, specsavers, leightons and others. I know that I can measure my pupil distance myself but I prefer to be done bu specialist and I want to buy my glasses online,because hight street shops are ripping off people
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  • comeandgo
    comeandgo Posts: 5,731
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    Is this how English options work? When I get my eyes tested I get a prescription which states what I need. I can then take this any where.
  • They give you precription, but they refuse to disclose your pd measurement,
    you can't buy glasses online without pd measurement
    Most opticians offer eye test for free, because they make money on spectacles, they sell very expensive frames, you can buy online the same frames for much less
  • Carrot007
    Carrot007 Posts: 4,534
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    comeandgo wrote: »
    Is this how English options work? When I get my eyes tested I get a prescription which states what I need. I can then take this any where.


    I'm sure it's the same up there!



    PD is not part of the presciption so you don't get it. It will be measured by whoever makes your glasses or there are guides online if you want to buy online. (Is often easier to get someone to do it for you rether than yourself.).
  • Undervalued
    Undervalued Posts: 8,839
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    edited 27 July 2018 at 11:39AM
    Ambers1 wrote: »
    Does anyone know a place where I can do just an eye test without being forced to buy glasses and I can get full precription with PD measurement included? Preferably west London Area, Surrey or Berkshire. I can't find any optician who does eye tests only and not selling glasses, every optical place has strict rules of not giving pd measurement on final prescription. I'm willing to pay for the eye test, but even if I want to pay they won't give me pd measurement, I've asked so mamy places like costco, specsavers, leightons and others. I know that I can measure my pupil distance myself but I prefer to be done bu specialist and I want to buy my glasses online,because hight street shops are ripping off people

    Any NHS eye test must, by law, give you a copy of the prescription on request. You do not have to buy anything from them.

    Sadly they are not obliged to tell you the PD. However, most online places can measure this from an old pair of glasses if you post them.

    How critical it is depends to some extend on the strength of your prescription. If you have Varifocal lenses then the PD and other measurements become more critical. Again this can be measured from an old pair that were satisfactory.

    Note too you PD will be slightly less for reading glasses as your eyes turn inwards at closer distances. So it is important the provider knows what the glasses are for.

    Another alternative is that, if you look, there are quite a few glasses manufacturing business around who work mainly for local opticians. Many these days will deal direct as well, often a similar prices to online. They will measure your PD if you take your prescription and order from them. Often found on small business parks / industrial estates in villages near a largish town. Worth a look....
  • GlasweJen
    GlasweJen Posts: 7,451
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    PD isn't part of an eye test so doesn't need to be recorded in the clinical notes, just the dispensing notes. I'll be honest if someone held a gun to my head after a test I'd probably not remember the PD unless it was something mental or a child's. This is probably the case more than ever now we're all using refractor heads and not trial frames.
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,655
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    edited 29 July 2018 at 8:11AM
    I've always found that if you're in general polite conversation with the assistant measuring you and slip in a requst for the PD, "Oh what was that figure?" they find it difficult and rude not to answer
  • liviboy
    liviboy Posts: 544
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    As above, I’ve never had a polite request for my PD figures refused. They aren’t on the printed prescription but I’ve always had them.

    For reference I’m in Scotland (don’t think it makes a difference though).
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763
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    I did this - 4 years ago - when I first needed glasses - I paid £35 for an eye test and avoided paying £100+ by using the prescription with Glasses direct - who were offering (as far as I could make out) 2 pairs of IDENTICAL glasses for £30 including lenses !
    They fitted perfectly and are still going strong

    How to Measure Your PD?
    1. Stand 8 in. away from a mirror.
    2. Hold a ruler against your brow.
    3. Close your right eye then align the ruler's 0 mm with the center of your left pupil.
    4. Look straight then close your left eye and open your right eye.
    5. The mm line that lines up to the center of your right pupil is your PD.
  • I have an idea that they are supposed to put all relevant measurements on the inside of the glasses handles?

    Just picked up 3 pairs I've recently bought to peer at them to see. A cheapie pair (£25 touch) havent got them, a mid-price range pair havent got them, the dearest pair has got measurements on the handles:

    2227 104 53Q15 135

    in my case.

    I have an idea one of those figures might be it - though couldnt swear to it.
    ??

    Though I've managed to get my pupillary distance out of Boots Opticians before now and that info. is safely tucked away in my filing system. I found I had to "ask firmly" to my local Vision Express to get one of the more standard measurements from them - though got it out of them in the end (so imagine they'd be awkward about giving it).

    What info. one gets given probably does depend, to some extent, on which optician one is using.

    Think the "Oh what was that figure?" approach might be one way to get it from a reluctant optician.
  • GlasweJen
    GlasweJen Posts: 7,451
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    I have an idea that they are supposed to put all relevant measurements on the inside of the glasses handles?

    Just picked up 3 pairs I've recently bought to peer at them to see. A cheapie pair (£25 touch) havent got them, a mid-price range pair havent got them, the dearest pair has got measurements on the handles:

    2227 104 53Q15 135

    in my case.

    I have an idea one of those figures might be it - though couldnt swear to it.
    ??

    Though I've managed to get my pupillary distance out of Boots Opticians before now and that info. is safely tucked away in my filing system. I found I had to "ask firmly" to my local Vision Express to get one of the more standard measurements from them - though got it out of them in the end (so imagine they'd be awkward about giving it).

    What info. one gets given probably does depend, to some extent, on which optician one is using.

    Think the "Oh what was that figure?" approach might be one way to get it from a reluctant optician.

    No those are the measurements of the actual glasses, the eye size, the size of the bridge and the length of the leg.
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