Reading glasses I can’t read with

PS Not keen on S——— -S—————! Too frantic for me and a lot of smoke and mirrors!

I have horrible problems in art galleries and museums because, unless I get really close to the explanatory information on the wall, I can’t read it. I wear bi-vocals and the information seems to fall somewhere between the long-distance and the close-up, so I have to get really close up and peer!

I went to a local optician (short sighted, easy prescription) and when I collected my glasses he told me “glasses are like false teeth, you must wear them all the time, don’t take them off”. Outside the shop I found I was standing on a hill, the buildings round me fell away alarmingly and I was scared to step off the kerb. I went back. He said there was nothing wrong with his prescription, it was that my brain couldn’t cope with it! I demanded my old glasses back, he said they had just been destroyed. I went to another optician. This one said “there’s nothing wrong with YOUR brain, it’s his! He said in order to get my money back I had to make a complaint which he would support. I eventually did get my money back and have been with Boots Opticians ever since,

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it. I didn’t realise about the distance being different for reading and the computer screen. I’m going to take them back as they’re as much use as a chocolate fire guard. As for finding a family optician, the only one I found is out of my price range.
Will have to look through the bottom of a pint glass to read the menus in the Argy Bargy

I have middle distance glasses for the computer - could never get by with reading glasses and sphere of correct vision with vari vocals is too small to work on the computer with

My DH went to spec savers and couldn't see and ended up having a retest and a month for his last pair of glasses. I had to raise my voice as we were getting fobbed off will be going elsewhere next time

We both go to a long established family firm. We pay slightly more but I think we get better service.

I wear lenses - one eye for reading and one for long distance. I find they work perfectly for reading, driving and the computer. First thing I wear reading glasses which my optician charged £10 for.

I went to Vision Express at Tesco. They were very clear on the options even giving me a card explaining exactly the difference between the different lenses. She even told me in my case she didn't think I needed the more expensive option of the three. Same with the frames when I picked one I liked but couldn't afford she looked through them all and found something very similar at half the price. She also gave me charts to read for my reading glasses but pointed out that I probably would hold my book I a different position than my computer and the computer would be further away. So my reading glasses are great as I chose them primarily for reading books. She even told me to have rimmed glasses as if I did the lenses would have to be thinned which would be an added expense. Definitely worth trying a cheap pair of reading glasses to see if they suit.x

I've had appalling experiences with SS so went to VE. Glasses are you made better, but I find the £1 better and I can have several different colours! Now I buy 6 pairs at a time in +3 from Amazon

Merseybelle2 I would certainly take them back and get yourself retested,this has happened to me with the same company they had put the lenses in the wrong way around.
After that I have been back to them and must say they have been brillient ever since.
They got me through my cataract surgery with no problem and since I have had that done I don't need reading spec's so go and ask if you are ready for the surgery,I was scared stiff but it was so easy and painless well worth considering imo.

I have varifocals from Specsavers. They are fantastic. I use them for everything - reading, watching tv, computer and general walking about. Perfect.

I have half a dozen pairs of pound shop reading glasses. They're great. I have a really light pair that are ideal for knitting as they sit on the end of my nose when I'm looking down. I also have glasses from the optician and they are no better. Take yours back and complain!

I have had bifocals for decades, now I can`t live with my latest prescription.. I think everything, well most everything has changed,, and not such good caring, whatever nowadays.. let`s just have your money!

Your reading distance and computer distance are at different distances from your face - unless you usually read at arm's length away !
Reading prescription is worked out at the distance you would normally read, so your computer prescription is usually worked out between long distance and reading.
If they didn't ask if you need to use prescription for computer use, they should have so sorry, you need to go back and tell them and they will change them at no charge. A lot of people need an extra pair of specs for computer use, believe it or not - some can accommodate the difference between the two, but some can't !

Which magazine did a survey on the big suppliers some years ago on eye tests and Boots came out best but only with a "satisfactory" rating. To my mind it is far better to go to a long established Family Optician for the test as it is much more comprehensive and, if you want to chase the cheapies, take your prescription elsewhere but risk the possible lack of quality after sales service.

I have a special pair of glasses for the laptop. My optician explained that the distance to the screen is different to the distance when reading. It’s further away which is why you cant read the screen. I have bifocals as well for distance and reading. You need to go back and get s pair just for the computer.

Take them back, Merseybelle2. I was ‘persuaded’ to go to a very well-known optician chain instead of my independent optician. As soon as I tried the specs on I knew they weren’t right, but the optician said ‘give them a few days for you to get used to them’. Well, after a few days I went back and it was discovered that the lenses were in the wrong side of the specs (right in left ...). Now I know I shouldn’t have gone to S...!

I had a problem a few years ago that necessitated going to see a consultant. He was adamant that we should all be seeing the same optician every time we go. This is because each person will interpret what they see differently and the notes they make in their own style are understood more exactly by them because they are their own. This is the best way to ensure any problems are picked up in the early stages.

So I have taken this to heart and now see the same person every time for my prescription - and then take it wherever I like to have it made up.

The other thing I have learned, bizarrely from a phone conversation with an online glazing service (!), was to make sure I had my glasses properly fitted. The centres of the curve of the lenses needs to be exactly in line with your pupils when you look straight ahead. I hadn’t thought about this before but it’s obvious really!

My husband is still reeling 6 months on from paying £550 for his varifocal glasses from our local optician which he reckoned he didn't need. His distance vision has always been amazing but obviously he started to need reading glasses (bought from the cheap shops) some years ago. On his last eye test at the beginning of the year she said his distance vision was below the legal driving limit hence the varifocals. He can't see his computer screen without tilting his head back so does get frustrated with them although he mostly wears them all the time. TBH I wasn't that shocked at the price as my glasses are usually in that region anyway - I can't have varifocal lenses in them as I have complex prescriptions but my contacts are varifocal. I only wear glasses to get downstairs on a morning and when I get into bed on a night so don't change them that often thankfully!

I've heard varying reports about S***s****s - mostly poor but I would take your reading glasses back even if it is some time since you got them. Paying for something you can't use is just a waste.

Twiceasnice

Error on my part, I meant vision express, not specsavers

Always go to Vision Express. My local one had a wonderful optician she is brilliant . Can’t fault them

Yes my husband Magoo is a sucker for a pretty face ( but he made an exception marrying me !)

I’m quite a fan of spec savers, but I literally buy what I need, my husband always comes home with a couple pairs of designer glasses, insurance, special coatings, they must see him coming!

It is upselling indeed, and bamboozling, starting with the BOGOF. I could never leave the store without having spent around £300. I've learnt now, my very stylish readers are from a local independent pharmacy.

You’re absolutely right Grannyknot they have upselling down to a fine art. I always go for the most basic as at my age I’m past caring how hideous I look