How Much Should Opticians Be Charging?

[Stargazer]

I just had to pay £535 for varifocal lenses using my own frames. That includes a £67.50 voucher which I received because I am in receipt of Pension Credit. I upgraded to the best lenses but am still gobsmacked at the cost charged. I have had varifocal lenses for the past several years. I am picking them up this afternoon. Am I entitled to ask for a copy of my prescription? I have paid in full but intend to ask for a breakdown of this amount. Previously I have paid nothing, using my own frames and always at the same Opticians for forty years. It is under a different name now as original optician retired several years ago.

[Jackdaw33]

That is daylight robbery. Of course you can ask for a copy of your prescription and I suggest you do so and in future take it to an optician who is not wearing a mask (the Dick Turpin type).

[grumpy01]

Seems rather expensive to me,especially with your own frames.

[grumpy01]

How many pairs though Stargazer?

[barry1010]

Depends on your prescription. My lenses are very expensive but my wife's varifocals cost her only £110 with frames for varifocals from Asda.

[SparklyKid]

Look on the bright side. As you are fortunate enough to get pension credit, think of all the associated freebies, TV licence etc etc.

[barry1010]

I hope they made the price clear before you ordered them, Stargazer.

[barry1010]

Sparklykid, those perks don't add up to much. It is a struggle surviving on pension credit. I don't begrudge anyone getting that extra - they need it.

[Vagus]

Didn’t they tell you the price of the upgraded lenses you chose?
I once had a quote for something which sounds similar and it was a huge amount, from our local optician.
I took my prescription to Asda and bought my specs from them..two pairs for about a quarter of the price quoted for one pair, both varifocal, probably not ‘top of the range’ lenses but very good.

[gulliver1]

Do a Dominic, and go to Specsavers.

[Milo2]

I’m always given a copy of my prescription after my eye test.

[woofgang]

Opticians are private concerns and can charge what they like. Yes they have to give you a copy of the prescription and should do so without being asked. I think once you have agreed to and paid the charge there is not a lot you can insist on but you can of course ask for a breakdown but better done before you agree the price and pay the bill. Some opticians will add a charge for re using frames or using customer provided frames like corkage in a restaurant, especially if they are accepting responsibility for any damage to the frames.

[Maydup]

I think the retired optician was a bit of a fool to charge you nothing for new lenses, but the current optician is trying it on.

I doubt there is much you can do about it now, but you are wise to shop around in the future. Even the most complicated perscriptions are roughly half that price at Specsavers or the supermarkets. Avoid Boots though, they are nearly as bad as your independent.

[Stargazer]

Always used this (local) Opticians. I always had the bog standard lenses in the past, varifocal, but only the centre of the lens being my prescription. I was offered to upgrade to having the whole lens made to my prescription which included coatings and scratches covered for 2 years. I did choose that option but still think I was overcharged.

[Jackdaw33]

Could never get the hang of varifocals. Bifocals for me every time.

[Maydup]

We used the local optician once but sadly its way out of our price range. We stick to the chains now.

Lenses are usually similar shapes and sizes, designed to fir the frames on sale so it might have cost you more to have them made to fit your frames.

[Sqad]

All good answers.......supermarkets, specsavers and online purchasing is the answer.

[ladybirder]

My lenses are very expensive as well Barry but I got everything included for £110 at Asda including thinned lenses. I was paying near £600 for the same thing until I saw Asda recommended as a Best Buy in Which magazine.
https://opticians.asda.com

[barry1010]

Take your prescription to Asda and see if they can do them for you. They can't do mine but my wife is very happy with hers.

[Vagus]

I don’t think it’s the type of prescription which is costing a lot, I think, from what’s been said, it’s the type of upgraded lens which is so expensive.
Certainly that’s what it was in the similar quote I had...ordinary varyfocal prescription but some kind of super duper lens.

[theshedman]

When I asked about getting mine put in the frames I had I was told it would be more expensive. I use a chain store but the amount you have been charged does seem over the top.