Need some advice about paying high costs for glasses please

Frames in specsavers start at about £20. The ones with flexi sides start at £89 so I start there. I have found them to be great and so much cheaper than private opticians or vision express. I have verifocals with thinner lenses and my prescription has been -12.5/-13. They are always super helpful and will make changes if there is anything you are not happy with.

I can’t use Glasses Direct and other online opticians. As how do you get the arms and nose pieces adjusted? As I need them adjusting as both ears are different at the back.

Specsavers with NHS voucher (due to poor eyesight in one eye). Free eye test as unemployed, £150 for three pairs (2 glasses, one sunglasses) - thinning of lens and polarisation of sunglasses..

Another option is if you like your existing frames is to get just the new lenses put in them. I was quoted a ridiculous fee from Vision Express to do this for my two pairs so went online and found 'lensology' who did it for literally half the price! Excellent service - you can see prices on their website for different thinning etc, sign up to request a quote, they send you a box and you send back your glasses and prescription (via email or form), they see what they can do and for how much *which was the same as their website plus a discount, call/ email you and you agree and only then do they charge you anything. I got my glass back then in 2 days!

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads thank you for confirming what I said a few pages ago from the horses mouth.

Like you, I have an expensive prescription. I have one bad eye, one terrible eye and two fairly unstable astigmatisms. But my last pair of glasses, lens plus frames was about £350. I also go to a private, family-owned opticians, who I've been going to since childhood. The service and attention to detail is fantastic.
But no way would I pay £700 for one pair. I'd shop around a bit if I were you.

My lenses alone are around £350. I contacted my MP about this about 6 years ago as an NHS voucher doesn't even come close & at that time, I genuinely couldn't afford my glasses. Their advice was to register as blind. I was speechless.

Interestingly, I was chatting to a dad on a school trip last week, who is an optician, previously worked for Asda, now Soecsavers, and previously worked for an independent. He said that the price difference is almost entirely down overheads, and that Asda sells specs as loss leaders to get the footfall in what would otherwise be dead space.

Yes, Asda do -10 and they have a reasonable range of frames in various sizes.

For £700 I imagine you have complex lenses, even if you have really fancy frames!!

Take your prescription to Asda - their cheapest varifocals are £45, and they included thinning, anti glare etc in the cost. They often have multi buy deals. I can't see their current offers online, which makes me feel that they have changed, but they will always be cheaper than an independent optician.

I would advise a cheaper high street optician rather than an online glasses manufacturer. With complex lenses you need the glasses measured and fitted so they sit right and are properly aligned.

I have the most expensive varifocals from specsavers with "designer" frames (specsavers don't do gucci or the like). Cost about £350 for 2 pairs with all the bells and whistles anti Glare etc.

Minus 11 with astigmatism wearing varifocal here, I used Asda for years and they were fab. Sadly they struggled with my last pair so I moved to Specsavers.

I find don't look at frames you like or frames which are fashionable, check the size of the frame on the arm. My current pair are 49 x 16. When choosing frames, I will search out all these sizes or similar. Then pick the pair I like the most. I find even a 53 x 16 frame has a massive impact on the lens thickness, but I did pay £700 - £800 a pair when going to independent opticians but paid £400 ISH for 2 pairs. Good luck 🤞

OP I have a very high prescription (12-14) and astigmatism and I’ve never been able to find cheap glasses - Specsavers have prescribed for both and been acceptable (not perfect) standard, but I haven’t tried their varifocals and it’s still quite costly. Do you/have you worked? You might be able to get help from your trade union or a sector-specific charity like EEIBA or the British Legion.

Try vision express. They have an offer buy two pairs, get 20% off, pay interest free over 2 years, free eye tests and if your vision changes within that time they'll replace your lenses for free plus free repairs. Worth a look and makes it more affordable than paying total outright

If your prescription changes they can just change the lenses. You don't need new frames

Thanks.

I was a highly qualified dispensing assistant for years as well as being -12. It annoys me as people don’t understand what they are paying for and can’t end up being ripped off.

Go to asda. Their glasses including lenses thinned coated etc are £80. Even tinted for the same price. Take a copy of your prescription there.

My eyesight is so bad I get free eyetests and a government voucher towards glasses. I need complex lenses. I go to Asda were I get the mega mega super duper extra thin lenses all in for £75. ish. Thereabouts.

OP should just go to Asda.

There should be frames much cheaper than £150. May vary from one part of the country to another, but the opticians i go to has lots that are much less than that. The ones I choose are around £150, but they come with sunglasses that attach to the frame by unseen magnets, so to me they are worth paying for. I could pick from ones that are half the price if I wanted to.

Not sure on what your prescription is but £550 on lenses seems extreme.

My last pair the lenses were around £300/£325 for varifocals. Standard vision lenses would have been less. My lenses are classes as complex because they are approx -12.5 in strength and I have a very mild stigmatism. I have been having lenses that have been thinned for years, because otherwise they would be like milk bottle bottoms.

-6, astigmatism,thinned lenses,verifocals. £400 at Boots opticians.

That's ridiculous. Take prescription to on spec or Asda. Even spec savers will be cheaper.

Asda offer best value for high prescriptions
Do teenage frames fit you?
Try some styles for teenagers just in case they do fit. That could save you £50 easily.

Thank you!

I always want to post this on every discussion about glasses, but I restrain myself as I think it’s just me being pissy about it as I’m an optician! Glad it annoys other people though!

Could you get a price for two separate pairs and also ask for the cheapest frames even if they are men’s or children’s?
Getting a copy of your prescription as others have suggested is a good plan.

Googles4u are excellent. You attach your prescription when you order online. Mine were about £16 including postage and I’m very impressed with them.

My eye test was around £120 from a very good private optician, but there’s no way I would pay at least £600 for a pair of glasses (again)!

I would definitely shop around and get some quotes. I have astigmatism (quite bad in one eye) as well as short sight and have been borderline “complex prescription” for years. From our independent optician it would have been about £600 for glasses. I got them, and sunglasses, from Specsavers for around half that.