Opticians charges?

Chestnut I’ve been to my dentist twice recently, needed an extraction. I had no choice in that, I’d cracked a tooth, an abscess had developed and I was in severe pain until the antibiotics he prescribed kicked in.
I should have had my check-up appointment on Wednesday just past, but got a call to say it was cancelled, my lovely dentist has COVID.

Can you explain why you feel fobbed off? Surely that is the price and you didn’t have to pay it if you felt it was too much? Am I missing something?

I really don't think you need to worry about hygiene because opticians and dentists are very aware that they work close to their patients and they take great care to sterilise everything. They wear masks and anything you touch is sterilised. I didn't feel unsafe at all when I was tested a few days ago.

Chestnut and others. Thank you for your replies. I’m still going to wait a wee while, COVID numbers are still very high here (east coast, Scotland), the local hospital is packed with patients with various strains. So far, I’ve managed to avoid catching it. I’m not CEV, but I do have asthma and a couple of other conditions.
My daughter and g’son have both had frames from an online company, with great success. But, tbh, I think I’d feel a bit guilty buying online, as up here in Scotland, eye tests are free. So Asda optometrist would do the work, but not get the sale.
Soozikinzi I assume Asda opticians can keep the costs down because of the volume of sales they have.

Mollygo I also like my (expensive) rimless glasses which are also slightly bendy but as they are on my face each waking moment I have not tried that.

It was an optician around 20 years ago who diagnosed Macular Degeneration although we did not know the diagnosis then- I hot-footed it to Moorfields.

"Luckily" it was "dry" with no cure whereas if it had been "wet" every day without diagnosis would have counted.

I have taken part in an American 2 year trial where monthly injections have stopped my worst eye from deteriorating anymore.

Please get your eyes tested annually because Glaucoma and cataracts can be diagnosed and the appropriate treatment carried out at an eye clinic.

Kim19

I have frameless and they're even more expensive. Work that out if you can. I never have.

I share your pain, but I love my rimless glasses.
My mum said it’s like strappy sandals-less leather, higher price!

mokryna

Nandalot I had the problem of seasickness with one new pair, so I returned to the shop but they told me it was normal I had to get use to them. I went away and tried but in the end I gave up and wore an old pair. Two years later I went to have my eyes tested in another place and took the ´new’ pair. I was told it was understandable I had felt ill because they weren’t centred correctly.

I had the same problem with glasses not centred correctly. I felt sick, had bad headaches, and couldn’t negotiate stairs safely. Optician said I just needed to get used to it! I went elsewhere and the problem was diagnosed and I got a refund from the previous one (after a while). Now I have a very good optician who I always go to. I would rather pay more. As it is l’ve just paid £207 for one pair and half price for second sunglasses pair and am very pleased with both.

astigmatism, varifocals etc etc, last pair cost £600 2 years ago. I am psyching myself up to go again. I think it will cost £700 this time

I am so grateful that I paid extra to have some 3D scans two years ago as when I had another routine eye test, the optician spotted some significant changes that indicated that I’d had a stroke ( TIA) and she immediately referred me to the eye hospital and the stroke clinic.

Turned out my blood pressure was dangerously high and my cholesterol was slightly high so now I’m on statins and blood thinners. I have permanently lost vision in about 1/4 of one eye as a result. Had I not gone to the optician, I could have had a full blown stroke witching a few months! I almost postponed the appointment due to Covid.

I now need an annual eye test at the Eye Hospital as well as at my optician. I’ve taken out a payment plan of £20 a month which gives 40% off all new glasses, free repairs and some other things. Well worth it as I have three different types of glasses now which even with cheaper frames, came to over £600 so got £240 off and will probably need two of them replacing next year as I adjust to the loss of vision.

We go to a glasses repair guy in Bolton. He owns a lab that makes lenses.What he doesn't know about glasses is not worth knowing and he also says he doesn't know how Asda make the varifocal , thinned , or whatever type lens you need for what they make them for ! So it's asda for us !£169 for my husbands last pair of variofocals with transition lenses . Which he lost on our last holiday but that's not Asda's fault!

My last rimless varifocals glasses from silhouette cost well over £600 with photochromic lenses, about 4 years ago.
This time I very hesitantly tried ASDA. The optician suggested a type of varifocal which was most like my previous one and promised that if I did not get on with it it they would change it for the essilor lens, like my old ones, at an reasonable extra cost or I could have a refund. I got one pair of titanium, as I like light glasses. They had anti scratch and anti glare coating. I didn't want the reactolight. They were £129. They were fine right from the start, and I'm very pleased with them. The only problem is my nearest ASDA optician is a good 25 miles each way but I recommend them.

I have just ordered from Glasses Direct online, having found them very reliable in the past. I too am in the bottle-bottom bracket with astigmatism as well as very short sight.

They sent me 4 frames to choose from - free, and free return - you have a week to make a choice, or send them back and get another 4 to try as you wish.

I chose a pair with £99 frames, and all the highest quality in terms of lens thickness etc., and varifocal; and the total came to £302. I could then choose a second pair free or money off the ones I chose, which is what I went for, so they will cost me £242.

You just need your prescription and your PD (pupillary distance - which the optician is obliged to give you - it does not appear on most prescriptions). I just rang up for mine.

As I said I have had good service and quality glasses from them in the past. I had thought my difficult prescription might be a problem, but all was fine. You have 120 days to return them if you do not like them.

Re Covid precautions, I did not have to wait outside this time, but there was hand sanitiser readily available, and a notice saying “masks are compulsory for NHS optical services” . Plenty of wiping of equipment took place.

Grannydarkhair my optometrist wore a medical mask during my eye exam ( as did I) a few weeks ago. Every frame I tried on was put aside to be zapped to kill any virus etc, before anyone else could try it on, and i had to wait in my car- or outside until called in. I paid extra for the retinal scans, so they are not necessarily part of an NHS sight test everywhere. It was well worth it as something unexpected was discovered and a change in my medication resulted from that finding.
My new progressive glasses were significantly more costly this time- ( than 3 years ago) apparently most ( all?) progressive lenses are part made / developed outside the uk. My lenses are a German design I think. The frame cost was only about a quarter of the total. I do wear my glasses all waking hours and my new ones are far better for use on the computer due to a more technical lens design and anti reflection coatings. I’ve always declined extras like coatings in the past ( to keep costs down) but due to struggling working from home some of the time during Covid my priorities changed and I am glad I upgraded my glasses.

Thank you for all your replies. Made very interesting reading.

grannydarkhair That's what I thought (breathing close to my face) but they don't do that any more! I just had a test and it was done with machines. No-one comes up to your face. What used to be called a retinal scan (for which you paid an extra charge) is now part of the eye test. It's all very different now.

I’m another Asda opticians fan, I couldn’t believe how cheap they were compared to other places. I don’t have a simple scrip, different strengths in each eye, slightly astigmatic. Two pairs of varifocals with the thinnest lenses possible cost £130 (if I recall correctly) about a year before the first lockdown. One of the pairs I wear a lot more than the other, I can honestly say they are the comfiest pair of specs I’ve ever had and I got my first pair when I was 11 (56 years ago). I’m overdue for an appointment, been putting it off because of COVID, really didn’t fancy anyone breathing that close to my face.

I’m with you LadyStardust I think they’re brilliant too, I’ll be going back soon for my eye test which is due.

I've been using Asda opticians for my glasses and contact lenses for decades. Never had a complaint. Contact lenses are as cheap as anywhere else, even online and check ups are free. My last pairs of varifocals cost me £120 for 2 and I could've added tints, anti reflective coating or thinner lenses for free. If I had wanted just the one pair it would've cost £80. The premium designer range are 2 pairs for £180 or £110 for one pair. I have an astigmatism too but not a hugely strong prescription. Any tweaks or repairs needed, (and this is rare) are done promptly and of course free of charge if your glasses are under 2 years old. Oh and they do a budget range for £45. I don't work for them honestly!

Nandalot I had the problem of seasickness with one new pair, so I returned to the shop but they told me it was normal I had to get use to them. I went away and tried but in the end I gave up and wore an old pair. Two years later I went to have my eyes tested in another place and took the ´new’ pair. I was told it was understandable I had felt ill because they weren’t centred correctly.

My current pair are 3 years old and they were expensive but I have complex needs.

I'm with you Rio24.
I used my local opticians because I wasn't well enough to travel to Specsavers. Non scratch and whatever else they added on doubled the price from £120. Same for reading glasses.
Would have been much cheaper at Specsavers. The advantage is its a ten minute walk. Rather than 20 min car journey. And no other customers there.

I had an eye test today. My varifocals from last year are still fine, but I have ordered new reading glasses, as that is where I am struggling. The frame cost £50. Lenses plus one step thinning, plus reflective coating - or do I mean non- reflective? Cost £240.
I have tried the cheap reading glasses off the rack in other shops and they are no good. I need prescription glasses. So they cost.
I could possibly have got them cheaper at Specsavers, but this optician is so very professional and does not get things wrong.

My last two pairs, glasses and sunglasses, varifocal with astigmatism, glasses are transitions, so darken in the sun. This was two years ago, £212 for both from Asda.
I’m due an eye test, I may get some new ones.

I wear my varifocal glasses all day every day and change them every 2 years.

I recently paid about £700 for glasses, sun glasses and reading glasses. And I had a sight test, eye scan and advice.

The cost per wear is not that bad.