How do you replace pairs of glasses for a child who always loses or breaks them, without breaking the bank?

[Fauve]

I'm sure I've seen some info on this here before, but can't find it in the archives.

Both ds (12) and dd (8) now wear glasses, and I spend half my life dragging round their respective schools looking for them. Some pairs have disappeared never to be seen again. Ds has also broken innumerable pairs in the past.

We get ours from Dollond and Aitchison, who appear to be prepared to rectify bent frames, but otherwise we just keep having to buy new pairs. I wonder if other opticians are better on this? D&A dismissed the idea of special insurance, which I thought I'd once heard about.

Anyone got any experience/ideas?

[Blandmum]

I take dd to optical express and we have never paid for replacements (of which we have had several)

[Fauve]

Really? Do you just say you lost them?? [incredulous, I-have-been-fooled emoticon]

[WellKnownMemorablePeachyClair]

Asda do the flexible frames in their opticians. haven't tested them yet, but DS1 is wthout glasses (again) so might just do that next time- they get brokenor lost within days usually, these lasted since Whitsun which could be a record.

[WellKnownMemorablePeachyClair]

(Ask your optopmetrist about haow many pairs they're entitled to on one prescription: specsavers refused us a replacement pair until optomerist yelled at them. we're now in wales so what applies to us mayn't to you)

[Fauve]

Interesting, thanks

[jalopy]

My son has been wearing glasses for five years or so. His prescription exempts him from full payments. We pay little or nothing for his frames and lenses. He is also allowed one free replacement pair a year if broken, etc.

[Furball]

Ds is only 5 and we've had to replace a pair (free of charge) due to them being snapped in half. i was under the impression that they should be free to replace even if they have been lost. I go to a small independant opticians. Have you asked at somewhere like Boots what the policy should be for replacement?

[Fauve]

I'm honestly feeling a bit scandalised that D&A have been so unhelpful Clearly I should've shopped around.

[WellKnownMemorablePeachyClair]

(DH has just pointed out that it was indeed D&A the optometrist yelled at, not Specsavers- apologies Specsavers, though I think we had to get the policy in writing for them too)

[Mistymoo]

My ds's fames broke regularly because his lenses are thick and they seemed to put pressure on the bridge of the glasses and so they kept snapping. We are always given a replacement pair - no questions. He now has different frames which I hope are stronger. In fact I was told to go back in so they could order him a spare pair so he still has glasses if they do break.

[Fauve]

Thanks, I think I'll do some research. I'll try to report back, as well!

[Seona1973]

I know my dd is a bit younger (2.7) but she has had 3 pairs of glasses in the last year due to getting bent out of shape/little bits of glass breaking off, etc and we have not been charged to get them replaced. We use Optical Express - all they do is get us to sign some paperwork and a new pair arrives within a few days.

[MrsMuddle]

We get ours for my DS (11) in Boots, but we've never paid, and we don't pay to get them fixed or replaced either. I think D&A saw you coming, Fauve!

[Fauve]

Well, yes, I was beginning to think that, too! MN saves the day again...

[NikkiH]

We use Vision Express and cannot sing their praises highly enough. DS1 (7) wears glasses and we are always backwards and forwards having them bent back into shape and refitted (they slacken as he fiddles with them) - they do all this free of charge. After he broke his first pair and I had to pay about £7 for a new pair (contribution to the cost of the frames which weren't NHS) I took out their insurance - £20 for 2 years - which entitles us to free replacement glasses whenever they are lost / broken and also gives discounts to other members of the family on the cost of new specs etc. We've more than had our money out of this policy so would recommend it to anyone with active, sport mad kids! I've also taken it out for my glasses too.

[Fauve]

Thanks, Nikki, £20 would be a snip. Brilliant.

[SparklyGothKat]

I used D&A and they have always been very helpful. I normally get the free pair then pay another £20 for a second pair, they have replaced many lost pairs for me. Last week I had to get DD1's new glasses, she chose a pair of normal glasses and a pair of prescribtion sunglasses. When I mentioned that DS really needs sunglasses but had already had his second pair in nov. the lady sorted it so I could get a pair for £20 instead of £110.

[SueW]

We use D&A too and our experience has been similar to SparklyGothKat. DD has two pairs - now she's in the loop we tend to keep the old ones as subs instead of paying for a second pair.

Repeairs have all been done free and I sign an NHS form they produce for me when they need to go off for repair as opposed to being able to be done on the spot.

This weekend she was with my parents and one of the nosepads came off and she lost the little screw. Mum took her to D&A who were closed - DD was distraught - but local Boots opticians fixed it for her - no fee, no form, apparently.

[geekgrrl]

we use Specsavers and get replacements all the time - at least 2 or 3 a year I'd say - and they never bat an eyelid. I usually say they've been lost, or mangled beyong repair.
Agree with the others here re. your D&A!

[agalch]

I use D&A too.My ds1 has had loads and loads of replacement pairs at no charge at all.He got glasses when he was 5 and is now 10.5 and has broken lots of pairs/bent frames and lost them.
My local D&A replace and never moan about it.

[breadandroses]

We use the high street optitian (not chain) and have had 4 new pairs of glasses for dd(4) in 2 years. This is not due to a change in a prescription but cos she breaks them often when she falls over. the optitian has always been lovely and said we need two pairs cos children this age are going to get through them pretty fast. They are always free. Shop around!

[SparklyGothKat]

I used to use Specsavers until they refused to replace DS' glasses because I'd had too many replacement pairs they said that they would only replace them if I paid, so I went to D&A.

[AbbyLou]

We use Specsavers for Charlie who is only 18 months. He has been wearing glasses about 6 months and he has had loads of new pairs. We've never paid a penny. He has three pairs at any one time (although only got the third becasue his childminder knows a girl who works there). I am in there aout twice a week for reshaping and tightening as he has only just started walking and they get mangled all the time.