Any advice please for online prescription glasses.

25Avalon

I had a long overdue eye test back in June and changed opticians because of Covid. I had always gone to Vision Express but their website had no Covid instructions on it at all, whereas a nearby independent optician had very detailed Covid info on his site so I felt reassured, and all was well.

I expect Vision Ex were following guidelines but the fact that they hadn't made the effort to put them on the website put me off..... plus the layout of the VE store (long and narrow) didn't allow for much ventilation whereas the small independent place did.

grumppa

It sounds as if all you need is a new screw, or at most a new side. Why not take it to the optician you got it from and ask them to fix it for you? Surely the waiting room is decently ventilated.

That's what I was thinking. If all that's needed is a new screw, take them in, hand them over, stand back and somebody will fix them - for a couple of pounds.

Mail order glasses are made to your prescription. How else would they make them to suit different eyes?

You send a copy of the script, add a photo of your face with a credit card on your forehead (first time only and to check pupil distance) choose the frames and that’s that.

If you are not happy with anything you can return them within 30 days for standard lenses and 90 days for varifocals.

It sounds as if all you need is a new screw, or at most a new side. Why not take it to the optician you got it from and ask them to fix it for you? Surely the waiting room is decently ventilated.

Mail order spectacles will not be made to your prescription, so cannot accommodate such things as astigmatism.
My advice would be to go to your local optician, Our Specsavers are very good. You can take them in and wait outside while they repair them, if you can't wait until your eye test and the new glasses that will almost inevitably follow.
Probably all it will need is a screw being tightened or a new one fitted, which should not take long.
Take them in and pop across the street for a coffee while the work is being done!

As someone who has worn glasses for a long time I would definitely advise you to visit the optician. I have done do recently and felt quite safe. The eye test is comprehensive and flags up any problems you may not be aware of. I feel a regular test is an important part of looking after yourself.

At my recent appointment with Specsavers opticians I was diagnosed with Macula degeneration. The ophthalmologist was very thorough, everything was 'Covid safe'. Nothing to fear. Sometimes it is possible to repair spectacles. Perhaps go into your nearest opticians and ask.

If you use a good Optician they may be able to fit your current lenses into a new frame or even fit a new front to your current glasses (depending on what’s damaged) to see you through to your next eye examination. At least this saves the cost of new lenses.

dogsmother can you explain how they managed to centre them after the lens had ben cut please? If this was indeed possible it may be a solution - but I don’t understand how it can work.
Thank you.

Our local independent opticians are great. Appointments only and mask wearing by all. A bit more expensive than online but great service and are always there for after sales problems. I did use my prescription to buy swimming goggles online though.

I have always used Specsavers and found them excellent they found that I was suffering Wet AMD after a routine eye health check and it has been dealt with very quickly and restored my blurred vision back to normal,I have looked at on line ordering but you don't get that personal service and they obviously can't diagnose any future problems that you are unaware of.

Any of the opticians are really only as good as the staff who work there. But I would say I got new glasses during a lockdown and just got on with them. But was mighty glad when I went in to the opticians to get them properly centered and tightened, it made so much difference on comfort all around. Just that little bit of tweaking unavailable from online purchases.

I don't like Specsavers either. It's just that the OP was concerned about going inside a shop and our local Specsavers will talk to you at the door.

PS these bad glasses were metal frames, and I always have plastic frames now

I was advised by someone who works as a technician in an online glasses service to "just pop over for a proper measurement" so he could see not only the distance between pupils but how high the glasses sit on the bridge of my nose. That way he knew where to place the centre of the lens.

If it's a temporary measure, and cheap, fair enough.
I wouldn't do it for my "real" glasses.

I wear specs from Glasses Direct. They are, in general, cheaper than those from independent or chain opticians, and there is a bigger range of frames. You can send them back if there is a problem.

should have said the bits on the bridge of the nose on the same level as the eyes.

I have lost most of the sight in one eye and so supermarket 'readers' suit me fine as I use only one eye for reading and computer..

I'd always buy returnable glasses or select them from a supermarket or other shop such as garden centre. I once bought glasses online and the nose things that fit against the bit above the nose bone were made of some metal that gave me permanent small red marks .

I’ve had a bad experience with Specsavers too, I now use Asda.
I used glasses direct some years ago for varifocals, someone came to my house to check fit etc, not sure if they still do that.

My Macular Degeneration was first diagnosed by an optician examining my eyes properly so I was grateful he did find the problem.
There are usually very cheap frames at the opticians- maybe not the height of fashion but will do you fine. It is the lenses that cost the money.
I also would not go to Specsavers. My local advertise in the street which I do not think is professional.

That is my concern Pittcity. Many years ago I felt giddy and had headaches from glasses that weren’t cantered properly. My then optician told me it was because I had to get used to them. I changed optician and it was rectified. I’ve always been a bit wary ever since. I don’t like Specsavers tbh.

It's great to have a pair in every room - as I forget where they are (if they're not perched on top of my head).

I must've just been unlucky. I'm sure I used glasses direct and I wasn't happy at all with them.

Pittcity, the credit card photo deals with the measurements, as the pupil distance doesn’t change. I use varifocals and their glasses (I have several pairs) have been fine.

Snap, elless?