Opticians

[surreyman]

I am looking for your opinions on the best/worst high street opticians to deal with.

Unfortunately time has taken it's toll and it looks like bi-focals/reading glasses are now the order of the day.

All the big operators ( Specsavers, Vision Express, Dollond & Aitchison, Boots ) are local to me in Richmond, Surrey.

Thanks in advance.

[andy-hughes]

I have used Boots for my last three prescriptions, and found their service to be excellent.

It really is a matter of personal choice, I think that any optician who is in business will possess the necessary professional skills to prescribe for you - check out a few and go with the one you feel comfortable with.

[shaneystar2]

I have been going to Specsavers for a good few years now.
I used to go to the one in Wimbledon Broadway ..excellent service.We have now moved to Norfolk and I go to the one here and they are excellent too. It is personal choice though..I know someone who thought Specsavers were awful..but I have always been happy with them.

[Buenchico]

D&A and Boots both seem to be rather dearer than SpecSavers and Vision Express. I've used both SpecSavers and Vision Express and they seem equally good to me.

However, for the lowest prices (but still with a high standard of service), you need to go just a few miles along the North Circular to the Park Royal Asda. There you'll find an in-store optician with by far the best value in your area.

Chris

[smurfchops]

Wherever you go, always keep your RECEIPT as invariably your frames will fall apart, screws will come out etc during the first or second year of use. Then you can take them back and get them put back together without having to buy a new pair. Or am I just unlucky ??

[smurfchops]

Sorry post script : I live near you surreyman and I find that sometimes the smaller independent opticians are cheaper in the long run, and frames last longer !! You should have your eyes checked every two years anyway. Good luck !

[eash]

I think D&A are excellent. Yes a bit more expensive than the others but take your persciption (did i spell that right?) elsewhere for the glasses. I find D&A's service and advice and staff all very helpful.

[dzug]

The big operators will vary a bit between individual branches depending on how good the local staff are. I think most of them are franchises.

Try whichever are cheapest and if you are happy stick with them - otherwise move upmarket.

I've found Specsavers OK - they screwed up the dispensing once but put it right very quickly. Always happy to replace the occasional screw FOC even without a receipt (I guess they recognise their own designs)

[nickymitch]

My daughter (5yrs) and I both wear glasses and between I think we've had experiance of all the major opticians! Here's what we think -

D & A - excellent personal service before and after, but as others have said they are expensive and there is little choice of frames. They even refused to selll my daugher one pair of frames because they didn't fit properly.

Vision express - Pretty much the same as D&A but cheaper.

Specsaver - Excellent service, excellent prices and excellent choice. But, you do not get the personal service that you would get from a smaller company.

Boots - Overall, I have been disappointed with Boots. My daughters glasses are very thick so, I have always paid for them to be thinned which generally costs around �15, Boots would have cost me �125 - they suggested I just have them made up without be thinned as they probably wouldn't be that bad, but of course they were and she couldn'd wear them. They after service is also poor they have been very put out when i've been back to have frames adjusted.

It's really all about who you get to served by on the day, wether or not you get good service - so good luck!!

[surreyman]

Thanks for all the advice. I've booked an eye test with Specsavers, the general opinion is that they have the widest range of frames with very competitive prices (although those ultra thin lenses seem pretty steep!)

Hopefully by this time next week i can put my magnifying glass back in the top drawer where it belongs.

[surreyman]

Just an update. I ended up going to Specsavers in Richmond and found them extremely professional and helpful. I had to wait about 10 days for the glasses because it was quite a high prescription but i have had my new varifocals about a week now and just about got them sussed (they do take a bit of getting used to).

Thanks again for all your comments, i really did find them very useful.