reading glasses - prescription or 'bargain bin' ?

[frankief]

Just had an eye test and I need glasses for reading.
Prescription says add + 2.25 in left column.
I will probably get a cheap pair made from Specsavers, but how would these compare with those in the pound shop?, bearing in mind I'll need a back up pair also.
Are they really made to order, or do they just give you a pair of magnifiers to required strength?

[Sachs]

Hi frankie,
obviously I'm not qualified to give an expert opinion, but!
I've had Specsaver glasses & paid what they cost from there & I've paid a tenner for glasses from Superdrug & all those outlets that sell prescription glasses & to me theres no difference sight wise as long as you remain with the same strength! Regards durability, the cheaper you go, the flimsier My tenner glasses have been great! x

[ACtheTROLL]

my optician said silly spending the extra if the tesco �2.49 pair worked - they do

[sara3]

they're probably fine if both eyes are the same prescription strength. I know mine aren't!

[samuelcat]

Get mine from the pound shop. Work just as well. And you can get lots different ones to suit your mood

[frankief]

So say I buy a cheap pair of +2.25 strength from Tesco.
As Sara says, both eyes are different, my right is good, but my left needs the magnification.
Using a cheap pair both eyes would be looking from the same strength lens. Would this cause any adjustment or wear problems on my eye?
I presume Specsavers etc put in two different lenses, or do they actually ?

[ACtheTROLL]

yep that's your problem
if your eyes are equal - you are fine
if the prescriptions are different - you're in trouble
you need them right - or at best you'll get headaches

as a bodger - I'd take the trouble to DIY a pair

for a couple of quid - two sets with different strengths
or knock out the lens from your good side (they'd use plain glass)
(you'd have to get frames with screw fixings - undo the screws - swap a lens - sorted - but's that's just my nature - not the dosh - I just like fiddling.

[Brinjal]

My eyes are significantly different so I have prescription glasses which I use for work, using computer, and serious reading. However I also have the supermarket readers which are fine for reading labels newspaper and casual reading so if your eyes are fairly even go for the cheap ones.