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

There’s an online PD checker you can use. You just need something the size of a bank card or driving licence.

They legally have to give you your prescription as others have stated. The pupillary distance isn't part of the optometrists prescription and is usually calculated by the dispensing optician.

To my knowledge the optometrist themselves shouldn't be on commission, but the dispensing opticians certainly will be, which is why the PD can be tricky to get hold of.

The eye tests are, however, very heavily subsidised by the opticians glasses / aftersales and it's worthwhile being aware of this when dealing with the staff involved.

I personally would prefer if the model changed so that it was possible to pay an appropriate fee that actually covered the eye test cost.

Until it does then a certain percentage of customers will have to work around the issue as others have said. However, I'm sure if the opticians were losing money with the current arrangement overall it would change pretty quickly, so I don't personally feel too bad about it!

My employer gives us vouchers for a free eye tests from boots. But their glasses are more expensive than elsewhere. So I take my prescription and buy the glasses at a different optician.

I may be wrong, but I think some opticians have more advanced equipment which allows for more in depth examinations, hence why you may prefer to have your test done at one place over another.

If specsavers charge you £250 I would suggest you may have a 'complex prescription' and may not find it easy to buy on line.

I go to an independent opticians. They automatically give me a print of my prescription every time.

But in your circumstances why not just say, “I won’t be choosing new glasses today but I would like a copy of my prescription.”

I understand why the OP does this.

But not the other posters who purchase their glasses from another bricks and mortar optician... in that case, why wouldn't you get both done at the same place?

If you actually meant "you do you", you wouldn't have needed to say it.

Have you checked with your employer about the eye tests ?
Both DH & I have got tests & glasses paid for by our employers as we both work with screens.

I’ve bought my glasses online for years and have never had an issue just leaving with my prescription.

They have to give you your prescription but not your PD measurement as that is measured when they measure for glasses. - if they're not making up glasses for you they don't measure it so don't have it to give you.

They are obliged to give you the prescription. No need to "stand up" to anybody.

Just pay for your test and then, if asked, tell them the truth - that you want to shop around for major purchases like that, though I have to say that I certainly don't find Specsavers overly expensive. I have to get bifocals, with transitions lenses (flat, cheap sunglasses are just no use to me, can see nothing with them) and thinned down too. So wherever I go it comes to over £200 and believe me I have tried it.

No need for the obfuscation or overthinking.

They refused to give you her prescription? You paid for the test, it's yours.

Good reading. My daughter just got prescribed glasses two years ago. First year we just got them from the place she got her eye test done. 2nd year she had to go back for a check up, she had asked me if she could get nicer glasses from some of the places advertised online, had a look, needed to know the prescription, optician fully refused to give us it. Told us they "don't do that". I found it strange, obviously, but I've never had glasses and don't know much about how it works. Never really bothered looking in to it. Now we know 😂

Yes. And a lie, but you do you.
However it is not their prescription, it is yours.
Wondering how you'd cope with a car salesman.

I went to Specsavers recently. They handed me the prescription after the test and told me to have a little browse and someone will be with me shortly to help me choose. I browsed for about 5 seconds and walked out.

I usually say I need a second opinion on them then go round the corner to the independent glasses place and order from there.

I’ve looked online and with my prescription etc it isn’t much cheaper than the place I go to and I’m happy with the glasses and service I’ve had there.

You or your organisation are paying for the prescription. The opticians are not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. They’re getting paid to provide a service and you’re completely entitled to it without any further engagement. Just say ‘No thank you. I don’t want to get them yet’.

I went to Specsavers last month and they automatically gave me the prescription without me asking. They then asked if I wanted to choose frames (and seemed surprised when I said yes). It was about £70.

I was going to say - is it really worth getting them online? Will they fit them correctly, adjust if needed, guarantee you are fitted well?

Because she wants to buy them online?

I had to be very firm with my opticians over this for the same reason.

I was just honest and said I wanted to buy them online because they were cheaper, with more variety.

So I'd tell them to email me the prescription, although one time I had to keep ringing to insist.

You have to just be ready for them to be a little rude and not worry about it. I asked (very politely) for a copy of the prescription, the sales person said rudely and aggressively "you're just going to go somewhere and get the glasses!". I said "well yes probably". If they are rude about it, who cares, let them be rude.