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AIBU?

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AIBU to object to relentless upselling at my child's NHS eye test?

55 replies

Eyetestconcern · 26/04/2026 13:25

I took my young teen for a NHS eye test yesterday at a branch of a national optician chain. The NHS eye test for children is free. My AIBU is the "upselling" that was relentless from the minute we arrived. I understand shops need to make money but playing on parental worries about kid's health does not seem the right way to do it. Examples:

  1. On arrival child was seated for the eye photos bit of the test. The staff member said they could do better photos to check more of the eye and potential health issues with a different photo. Cost £25! Setting aside the fact that the free test has been fine for years and presumably considered clinically adequate by the NHS, I did not like the inference that without the better option a serious issue might be missed and would be my fault for not paying up.
  2. Child has very mild short sightedness in one eye. Usual outcome is to recall in 6 months. However yesterday we were offered very expensive "myopia management" glasses to slow down any potential worsening. Again subtle but strong pressure to buy these glasses despite my child's prescription not even needing glasses at the moment. Certainly fine to wait 6 months .
  3. At the end of the test offered expensive Optegra (?) plan to monitor and predict child's eventual prescription for glasses as an adult. I did not really understand the purpose of this but she was relentless in selling it.
  4. Child mentioned eyes occasionally get dry / sore after gaming / screen time. The optician suggested a warm compress held on the eyes for a few minutes. This is sensible advice but somehow I was talked into buying an eye compress mask costing £20 when google tells me a warm, clean flannel would be fine!
Lastly when we waiting for our prescription print out at the end another staff member came over and said to my child who was browsing the teen NHS frames (free) that most teens chose adult frames which were not free but could take £50 off. Of course my child then picks up a £180 pair of frames! All in all it felt like a sales pitch playing on parent's health worries rather than a medical appointment to check for eye issues / sight problems. AIBU to think this is not OK? or are the optician / staff just doing thier job offering full range of services?
OP posts:
Eyetestconcern · 26/04/2026 13:39

VerityUnreasonble · 26/04/2026 13:34

We get minimal upselling really, they tend to offer the photo thing, which I decline and they are fine with.

It always costs me money for "free" glasses though. They have really limited frame sizes and styles that are covered by the NHS voucher and because DS has a high prescription he really needs frames that are small enough they won't be super heavy (and just slide down his nose) but with thick enough frames to actually take the lens. I also always need to pay extra for the higher level of thinning. "Free" NHS glasses usually cost me £60 a time minimum.

Yes I think if they do need glasses in 6 months then we will need to pay the extra which is not great but I also want them to wear the glasses!

OP posts:
VerityUnreasonble · 26/04/2026 13:34

We get minimal upselling really, they tend to offer the photo thing, which I decline and they are fine with.

It always costs me money for "free" glasses though. They have really limited frame sizes and styles that are covered by the NHS voucher and because DS has a high prescription he really needs frames that are small enough they won't be super heavy (and just slide down his nose) but with thick enough frames to actually take the lens. I also always need to pay extra for the higher level of thinning. "Free" NHS glasses usually cost me £60 a time minimum.

WhereAreWeNow · 26/04/2026 13:32

I had this at local independent recently so I don't think it's just a chain thing. Very annoying.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 26/04/2026 13:30

I'd bet my last fiver that was a large chain

Justmuddlingalong · 26/04/2026 13:29

Go to a local independent next time.

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