AIBU or the optician re cost of kids prescription sunglasses

[KidsInSpecs]

How much do you pay for kids prescription sunglasses?

Both my children (ages 3 & 5) have fairly high prescription glasses (7+). I asked the optician we get their glasses from usually about getting sunglasses. Apparently the lenses will cost £118 for each child (not including the frames) and we can't get a voucher to use against the cost of sunglasses. Is this true?

We could pay this, but it seems a lot of money and I'm worried it's excessive - particularly for the 3 year old, who I'm not convinced will actually wear the sunglasses much anyway.

[Gizlotsmum]

My son got his from spec savers , they do buy one get one free on kids glasses and include sunglasses in the range. His NHS vouchers went on the main pair ( so free repairs) and the free ones were sunglasses

[Birdsgottafly]

I was just about to say the same, about Specsavers.

I'd certaintly price round.

[neighbourhoodwoes]

Our local optition do them free with a normal kids pair . Ive also seen this in specsavers

[dementedpixie]

I have never paid more than about £30 for sunglasses for Dd. I would ask another optician if they could do them cheaper (you would need a copy of the prescription)

[neighbourhoodwoes]

Sigh ignore spelling.

[TurnOffTheTv]

The NHS won't issue a voucher for RX sunglasses, you would have to pay privately. £118 is super expensive though. I'm an independent so would charge £65 for sunglasses prescription lenses and a free frame. Places like tesco/specsavers will do them cheaper though.

[ShtoppenDerFloppen]

For my DD, I paid the difference between the cost of her regular lenses and Transitions lenses. She wears them all the time - they change pretty quickly and it was less than buying her separate glasses.

[KidsInSpecs]

Thanks. Specsavers offer came up when I googled. Could be what we need, except already ordered the standard lenses from our local optician (to go in existing frames - not sure I Specsavers would even do this, as the frames weren't from them?!)
The optician said their prescriptions were too high to be able to get transition lenses, so I don't think that is an option.

[TurnOffTheTv]

You've already ordered the sunglasses lenses from your optician?

[Shapebandit]

We've have them from specsavers before. You get 2 pairs of glasses with one voucher there. I get one normal pair and one sunglasses, you just pay for the tint on top. I paid £30 for 5.5 prescription

[KidsInSpecs]

No, not ordered any sunglasses yet.
Got prescription & voucher from hospital (where DCs have their eye tests) and gave it to optician for their normal glasses (DC5 free pair, DC3 we pay £13 to have new lenses put into existing frames as special flexible ones cant get with nhs)
I asked about sunglasses, but didn't order anything - but also don't think I can do Specsavers as already used the voucher fir their normal glasses

[KidsInSpecs]

Starting to think "I should have gone to Specsavers" !

[CMOTDibbler]

Look at Asda opticians - they do two pairs for £99 inc thin lenses and sunglasses tint and I'm super pleased with my complex prescription from there

[TurnOffTheTv]

Yes, voucher will already have been used, that's a bugger! Did you do it today? You may be able to ring and cancel order and get voucher back?

[KidsInSpecs]

DD got hers a while ago. Ds I just ordered today - but those are the ones for existing frame, so I probably have to get them here anyway?! Although I wonder if Specsavers would still work out cheaper, without a voucher, for the sunglasses... Perhaps they'll let me do buy one for child 1 get one free for child 2 if I'm lucky

[MaryPopped]

Could you get them online? We did that for DH and it was a fraction of the cost in store. He wouldn't want to do them for his main pair, but was happy to do it for sunglasses which only get worn a few times a year.

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

You can't get glasses for children online. The law stipulates all glasses for under 16's have to be fitted by a trained optometrist.

[BikeRunSki]

If the prescription has not changed much, and you don't think your DD will wear sunglasses much, could you have an old pair of everyday glasses tinted? DH has done this in the past, cost about £5!

[mineofuselessinformation]

Definitely shop around for offers, but if your dcs have an eye condition which makes sunlight difficult for them, they should be able to get a prescription with a tint allowance on it (but you will still have to pay for the second pair).

[chanie44]

DS has a prescription of +7 too. Last year we got him a pair of prescription sunglasses from ASDA for £15.

We don't get his glasses from there, but I was walking by when I saw the offer and ordered some.

I may be popping in tomorrow as I need to get DS a new pair. I'll let you know if they are still doing them.

[TudorLady]

If you have some old (but not too off-piste prescription wise) you could get them tinted - they just dye the existing glass. Only a few pounds.

[KidsInSpecs]

Thanks chanie. I checked ASDA's website - looks like they are doing them
opticians.asda.com/info/our-complete-price-on-glasses
child prescription sunglasses £15

I will phone the opticians we use tomorrow to ask for DCs prescriptions (which I didn't think to keep a copy of myself) & go to ASDA with them.
£15 sounds much more reasonable than £130+ for sunglasses that they are liable to break etc !!

Hopefully that will work out.

[Arion]

My DH's prescription is over -10 (he's only a couple of grades off being partially sighted), he has transition lenses, with a complex prescription - v strong and an astigmatism.

[chanie44]

When DS was 3/4, we bought him prescription sunglasses for £100+ and he never wore them!!! Even now, he doesn't like wearing sunglasses for too long (he prefers his glasses), but it's nice to get them for a reasonable price!!!

We recently bought him swimming goggles for £24 from Costco.