Opticians Recommendations

[DamianJ]

Hi,

In more than ready for a new pair of glasses and thought I'd ask for opticians recommendations on here. There seemed to be good advice given on the recent prescription Oakley thread.

My current pair were bought from Specsavers and to be honest they made a mess of the eye test and the glasses. It took them 3 goes to get the glasses made right and as such I'm reluctant to go back.

Any recommendations? Am I better going to a smaller shop? Or sticking with the likes of boots or vision express?

Hopefully I'll be getting some new prescription sunglasses at the same time.

Thanks

 

[Nishy]

I find Costco to be excellent, however it may be different between branches.

 

[Nisse]

If you hop on a plane to Copenhagen Kastrup and take the train to Malmö Sweden I can show you a really good optician

 

[DamianJ]

If you hop on a plane to Copenhagen Kastrup and take the train to Malmö Sweden I can show you a really good optician

Might be an expensive pair of glasses, but thanks for the recommendation

 

[Northam Saint]

I usually go to Vision Express for my eye test and buy my glasses on line through SelectSpecs. Never had any issues.

 

[Steve Bowles]

I used to be a lab technician in the States, and I can tell you that all labs use the same lenses and computer-aided manufacturing equipment. Get your eyes examined by any optician you have confidence in, and then order your glasses from www.glassesdirect.co.uk. You'll pay half as much, and get perfect glasses with a no-quibble return guarantee. You can choose a frame from their website, or send them your current frame. My last pair of varifocal, Transitions, and anti-reflection coating, and frame of my choice, cost me £210 -- less than half what Specsavers wanted.

 

[Northam Saint]

I used to be a lab technician in the States, and I can tell you that all labs use the same lenses and computer-aided manufacturing equipment. Get your eyes examined by any optician you have confidence in, and then order your glasses from www.glassesdirect.co.uk. You'll pay half as much, and get perfect glasses with a no-quibble return guarantee. You can choose a frame from their website, or send them your current frame. My last pair of varifocal, Transitions, and anti-reflection coating, and frame of my choice, cost me £210 -- less than half what Specsavers wanted.

Saved a similar amount on Ray Ban Frames, varifocals, transitions etc. Done this four times now.

 

[Malc6552]

I really must try Costco

 

[Nisse]

I would like to see top of the line lenses from Essilor, Nikon, Hoya, Carl Zeiss, original or rebranded, at online prices

 

[Missoni]

I used to be a lab technician in the States, and I can tell you that all labs use the same lenses and computer-aided manufacturing equipment. Get your eyes examined by any optician you have confidence in, and then order your glasses from www.glassesdirect.co.uk. You'll pay half as much, and get perfect glasses with a no-quibble return guarantee. You can choose a frame from their website, or send them your current frame. My last pair of varifocal, Transitions, and anti-reflection coating, and frame of my choice, cost me £210 -- less than half what Specsavers wanted.

+1 ... my experience with glassesdirect was excellent and half the cost of a high street optician; UK profit margins on glasses and lenses are eye watering and probably only matched by pharmaceuticals and cinema pop corn. That said I have previously used SpecSavers with no issue but I suspect it varies from branch to branch...

 

[DamianJ]

I usually go to Vision Express for my eye test and buy my glasses on line through SelectSpecs. Never had any issues.

Never really thought of ordering online, any idea how good their exchange policy is should it go wrong?

 

[Missoni]

Never really thought of ordering online, any idea how good their exchange policy is should it go wrong?

...all good from glasses direct no problems with returns. It works best if you have an old pair of lenses that previously worked fine so that they can get the pupillary distance correct; otherwise ask for pupillary distance when you get your eyes tested many opticians do not automatically note it on the prescription...

 

[sɐǝɹpu∀]

...all good from glasses direct no problems with returns. It works best if you have an old pair of lenses that previously worked fine so that they can get the pupillary distance correct; otherwise ask for pupillary distance when you get your eyes tested many opticians do not automatically note it on the prescription...

I wonder why that is...

 

[Steve Bowles]

I would like to see top of the line lenses from Essilor, Nikon, Hoya, Carl Zeiss, original or rebranded, at online prices

My shop paid approximately £25 a pair for these lenses; sold them for approximately £70 - £100 pair. (without any coatings).

 

[Steve Bowles]

...all good from glasses direct no problems with returns. It works best if you have an old pair of lenses that previously worked fine so that they can get the pupillary distance correct; otherwise ask for pupillary distance when you get your eyes tested many opticians do not automatically note it on the prescription...

Most PDs for adult males are between 65 - 67mm, unless your head is exceptionally narrow or wide. The mark-ups are extraordinary on both sides of the pond due to overheads, equipment, stock and space rentals. Most frames selling for £200 cost £30 wholesale. Opticians don't automatically take your PD because for the very fact that armed with an Rx and a PD, you can buy your glasses anywhere. They are required, by law, to give you your prescription. They're ot required to give you a PD, and Specsavers won't unless you buy glasses from them.