How to stand up to the optician and walk away with only a copy of my prescription?

I just started going to Asda opticians, they just give you your prescription and you’re not hounded by them.

Specsavers are annoying as hell, never again.

😂
And shout "Should've gone to Specsavers"

I completely agree with this - we used Asda for eth first time and were hugely impressed. . i got 2 sets of varifocals, one of which was prescription sunglasses , for £140.) they'd have been £500 + at Vision express where we usually go

Just ask for your PD. You’re paying for the test so the information is yours - that’s what my optician told me when I asked!

Our local Specsavers give it to you un-asked and then ask if you want to get your glasses there?

I’m a long term glasses wearer.
Opticians have to give you your prescription by law, but not your pupillary distance.
I’ve tried local my local independent optician - lovely, nice shop, cool frames - no change from about £600 for my varifocal prescription, even with cheaper frames. DD(14) gets her glasses from there - single vision with an NHS kids voucher is much more affordable.

I’ve tried online - even with my PD they were never right. There’s quite a bit difference between my eyes and my glasses really need fitting personally.

I’ve tried chains - fine when I single vision lenses, but costs ramped up once I went into varifocals.

My favoured opticians is actually Asda Opticians! They have 3 price points, buy one get one half price, don’t charge extra for varifocals, thinning, anti scratch etc. The prescription they gave me was exactly the same as from my local independent, and I got two pairs of varifocals for £140! Those glasses are now nearly three years old and not started delaminating yet, which has always been my experience with all my other glasses. And they’re open on Sundays.

I go to a local branch of a national chain. They have been fantastic in a crisis and always just hand me the prescription. I’ve never had to ask.

Ask
Other people have done it.
Is there a more budget but ok version they supply?.
I would tell them without guilt it is cheaper to buy online.

My 16 year old managed this the other week. She just said that her mum told her just to get the prescription. You could try that?

I rang up specsavers and asked for a copy sent over to me a few days later. Then bought my glasses on firmoo, absolutely no regrets

Tell them their frames are really boring and you will look elsewhere.

Can I just have my prescription please, thanks?

I hear that sentence everyday of the week as I work in an opticians, doesn't bother me in the slightest. You don't need no excuses!

I’ve never had them try to upsell me anything, but I have had them tell me to come back in 2 weeks because they’re going to have a special offer on.

Goodness how do people cope in their daily life. You needed someone to tell you what to do op.
you simply just ask and why would you bother making excuses?
how do you cope at the hairdresser when they offer you new products?
You simply say thank you, I will think about it and come back if I need to. That is ALL.

I have never had to 'stand up to' them. They test my eyes, they give me the prescription, I leave. It's been years since you have been obliged to buy your specs from the high street optician.

You’re lucky - I wear lenses, but when I have to get new glasses as well, usually only every 7-8 years I daren’t get them online as I have one ear slightly higher than the other and need to get them properly adjusted. £400 last time.

Since my optician retired and sold to another practice I’ve noticed they seem keener to persuade you to get new glasses or at least upgrade the lenses. I only wear them for a couple of hours at night and first thing in the morning. I’m going to wait until at least one more slight prescription change. I’m not paying £400 every three years on top of £50 a month for lenses. I’ve checked the lenses price online and they aren’t any cheaper unfortunately.

I have a complex prescription but Glasses Direct (online retailer) cope admirably.

You don’t need to go through a performance. You just ask for your prescription, say thanks and leave. There is no condition attached your appointment that means you have to buy your glasses there.

I would say your range is out of my budget. I’ve already found a pair online that I like.
It’ll be good for your confidence to be direct. I understand that it can be hard to find your voice.

Yes. I bet my specs from Boots but I also bought a spare pair online ( Optical Express). They are nice but the vision never felt quite right. I took them with me when I went for a check-up at Boots and asked the optician to have a look. She said the distance between the middle of both lenses is 59mm and I need 65mm! So they just fit the lenses into a frame, without actually fitting them to you individually.

This. It's simple.

You can buy pupil distance measures from Amazon for a fiver