i think i need glasses

[lotsafun]

hiya all, how much do the avergae pair of glasses cost?, last time i went ot the optitions was just after my daughter was born 2 years ago and i was told then that i had a stigmatism in each eye, was 'boarderline' on needing them at that point and said i could go witout them, but obviously if my eyesight got worse i would need to get some. Well, my eyes have got worse and im finding it hard to focus on signs etc im also getting headaches alot too. The things is despite my partner working and the cost of bringing up 2 kids and running the house etc we cant afford to do the above. Ok we could stretch to a eyetest but whats the point if i cant afford the glasses hey? Do you know of any optitions that do payment plans or anything? thanks

[grasscarp]

Get your eyes tested and ask for a copy of the prescription. (Sometime Tesco has free eyetests when there is an in store optician.). Then go on a cheap website like Glasses Direct and order using your prescription. My favourite glasses cost me around £34, and I got £8 back by going on to their site through Quidco.com (which is a site that gives you money off for many on line purchases).

[askyourgran]

Do as grasscarp suggests. Don't go to Specsavers, I thought I was on to a winner 2 for 1 from £89 so I opted for sunglasses with prescription lens and a new pair of specs, although the frames I chose were £125.
My eyesight has deteriorated over the last 2 years therefore the varifocal lens were more expensive, I also got anti-glare on the lens. I nearly fell over when it came to the bill for £285. I will be able to claim around £65 on the health insurance that I have but I won't fall for that again.

[lotsafun]

thanks guys i will try that :-)

[maggie21]

Good answer from the OP`s above i`d just like to say
if you cant get a free eye-test in tesco, specsavers are charging £10.00, don't go to Dolland and Aitchison they wanted £28.00 for an eye-test.

[cls14]

Have a word with you local council. It's thankfully impossible in the UK to not have glasses if you really need them just because of cost.

[Jemisa]

a y g -- I too fell for that "bargain" rubbish from 'Optical Express' the bill in the end was £265, what con artists they are, I'll never do that again, I too went on line and with the frames I chose it came to £98.In fact my 2 years is up & I will be getting some more soon,
jem

[Old_Geezer]

Yes I believe the cheapest option (saving getting a welfare type payment, which may be worth looking at) is to buy from the Net. Not tried these Net sites personally, but overheads are obviously minimal so they can get costs down.

The low cost from places like Specsavers & Optical Express and elsewhere are not a con as such; you get what you ask for. Go for dearer than the cheapest frames and start adding extras, and of course it adds up. They do price each part.

[Jemisa]

Yes OG but they plaster ads everywhere saying 2 for 1 or Special offer but in v/small print it says that little word "from" but we can't see it because we need glasses.
A N D they know it. Also they don't sit you down and say "It will be an extra £15 for this, £20 for that, £25 for summat else, NO they wait till they've trapped you at the end, then drop the bombshell. I still say its a con. OR 'A sprat to catch a mackeral'
I'm older and wiser now.........
jem

[joko]

get your script details then go to budgetspex.com (or co uk)

rubbish name, i know but plenty of glasses there for cheap...

you can also send them old frames to reglaze for £8.99 - i went to a local clothes shop and looked throught the racks of reading glasses they sell...as long as they have 2 sets of tiny screws near the lens on each side they can be reglazed...i found some really nice ones

i have had no problems at all with lenses or frames....ive done it a few times for spares and the whole lot cost me around £15-18 inc frames and p&p

[daffidazey]

I have had a few pairs of glasses from Zenni Optical (www.zennioptical.com).
They are an American based company that get their glasses made in Hong Kong. Prices are in dollars with glasses starting at $8 which I believe is about £6 for single vision lens. I think delivery is around £5 and they take 2 - 3 weeks to arrive.
Like has already been mentioned, Tesco often do free eye tests and you just need to ask for a copy of your prescription. x

[grasscarp]

Some opticians leave off the prescription the item distance between the pupils. (as they dont want you to take the prescription elsewhere). I got round this by taking a ruler and looking in a mirror to get the distance myself.