Do I really need glasses?

[willowsmyname]

I had my first eye test since I was a child today. Mainly because it was free at Specsavers and out of curiosity. The optician told me that I needed to get glasses and probably should wear them most of the time. I'm trying not be too cynical that she was trying to sell me something that I don't really need but was wondering if I could get some views by more experienced people than me. My prescription is cyl -1.0 and sph +1.0 in both eyes. Have a just got used to having poor eyesight or will they really make a difference. Hard to tell when in that little room!

[DobbyLovesSocks]

Does any other optician near you do free tests?

[Missillusioned]

Did they say you had astigmatism? Because I find that can be quite variable day to day depending on what I've been doing. And that prescription isn't very strong.

[willowsmyname]

No others doing free offers as far as I know! Yes they said I have an astigmatism and also long sighted (think that's the +1.00). Suggested verifocal lenses. Maybe I'm just in a grump that I'm getting old and trying to resist it. But reluctant to fork out for something that will make marginal difference

[Missillusioned]

Varifocals are very expensive and I would think you can get away with cheap readers from Tesco at +1. I think they're definitely trying to sell you stuff. I've had specsavers pushing me to buy new glasses for an 0.25 change in prescription. Not necessary.

Can you read a car numberplate from across the car park?

[Mumthedogsbeensick]

Specsavers opticians get paid more for every prescription that is converted into a pair of specs. They can potentially earn £500 a day if 18+ prescriptions are converted. This is what I was told by a locum optician who has worked at our local specsavers anyway. If the free eye exam was an NHS one (did you sign a blue GOS1form?) then you wouldn't be able to claim another free eye exam at another opticians for either one or two years depending on when you need to be recalled for another test.

[Moondancer73]

I wouldn't say that you need glasses all the time with a very mild prescription like that. Mine is much stronger and I don't need glasses all the time.
You certainly don't need varifocals - these usually start at £300 - and having astigmatism doesn't make you anymore likely to need glasses all the time (I have that too).
I think you could just get away with buying some readers at the moment and wait until you have no choice in a few years then spend money on designer glasses when your prescription is much stronger