To think nowadays you need a mortgage if you need glasses?

Have you looked at eco eyewear frames. They have little magnets hidden in the frame, and come with a sunglasses front that matches the front of the frame. Put the sunglasses part near the main glasses, and the magnets hold it in place. Being able to just take them on and off, instead of having to completely change glasses or wait for lenses to adapt to light levels is a game changer. I get them from my local independent optician, but they are sold in chains like specsavers too.

Take your prescription to Asda. They included thinning in their price and don’t charge extra for it!

Where is your new pair from? Do they have a good return policy if you aren’t satisfied with your glasses?
I similarly paid £300-ish for new glasses from Specsavers then learnt about Asda. Found a nicer frame in Asda and they included thinning. Bought the Asda pair for less than half what I’d paid in the other store, and returned the original as they weren’t nearly as nice as my new pair.

I paid £500 last year for new varifocals and new frames. That was the first new frames I’ve had since 2018 though I’ve had a few new prescriptions put in. I also have some bud only glasses for work (via Specsaver) that I got a voucher from work towards. The optician told me I should now be tested every 12 months as I get older, anyone else been told that?

I've always found opticians to claim they cannot get the lenses out of current glasses because it would break the frame.... "so unfortunately you are going to have to buy new frames" funny that!

Last time i chose a Kylie Minogue pair that literally unscrew on the corners to get the lens out. Fuckers cant try the same line with me next time 🤣

ETA - wrong quote sorry - was in response to a different poster who had new lenses in old frames

I should add this was with the cheapest frames.

I’ve always had to pay a fortune for glasses. Both eyes are really bad -7.5 and -8 so have to have ultra thin lenses. I can’t remember the last time glasses cost me less than £300.
It’s a lot of money!

I had an eye test today at specsavers. I have -12 eyesight with astigmatism so get a free eye test, but I had to pay £10 for the OCT scan. The complex vision voucher only gives me £15 off glasses (Wales).

For new glasses including a spare pair (which I can’t be without with -12 eyesight!) I was quoted £370! And that’s with their BOGOF offer. As it doesn’t include the thinning which is essential with my prescription 🙄

It’s not an option to buy online with that prescription and get glasses that you can see through properly! Everything needs to be measured.

It’s worth giving the cheap ones from Firmoo a go. I tried them as I could live with losing £20 if it didn’t work out. They were actually brilliant. They got my prescription spot on and I wear those more than the ones I got in the opticians.

Hi - honestly I am -14 with astigmatism, used my local opticians prescription online with Vooglam for £80 a pair, I was very pleasantly surprised

No, it's not.

It's easy if you have a piddly little -5 prescription.

I'm -13.5 with astigmatism. Not easy to circumvent high street prices, in fact it's not possible.

There is no way I could cope with wearing thick or heavy lenses though. I get regular migraines and the extra weight is actually painful 😒. Same reason I gave up wearing contact lenses as you need to take them out to sleep and I can't cope with trying to take them out with a migraine. I just get them to often.

I would have loved to have tried something like that at some point but my prescription has never been stable enough.

Thanks for that I haven't come across them before, looks like there is one not to far from me. I'm going to book an options appointment and then go along and see what they can offer.

Laser eye treatment that cost £2500 20 years ago and I still don’t need glasses sounds like I’ve more than had my money’s worth with these costs

I have a VERY complex prescription and bought two pairs online from Vooglam and I’m very happy with the results. About £160 for two pairs

That's kind of a feature of MN.
Nobody RTFT 🤷🏼

I think it's quite charming that everyone wants to be helpful and hey, kudos to specs direct for getting several recommendations👍🏼

I think people don't need to keep repeating the same suggestions over and over again.

Yep sure - but just because it’s not suitable for everyone doesn’t mean it’s not a helpful post does it? Do you think no-one should mention any options just because they don’t work for every single case?
just trying to help!

My last pair of varifocals were £750. I admit I chose Lindbergh’s, frameless glasses, which I know are expensive.

I was absolutely shocked this time, when they quoted me £1,400 for clear frames, not Lindbergh’s and thinned varifocals. I refused them, saying the price was too big a jump for me!

I’d be grateful to pay £300! After DH’s experience in a large chain, when he couldn’t see through the glasses, they had had made for him (complex prescription with thinned lenses), it’s put me off the high street chains! They also refused him the two pairs for the price of one offer!

Using a dentist, as no NHS around here, really takes my breath away.

The cost of glasses seems small fry. 🙄

Same here! I just buy reading glasses from Poundland now. They’re not the best quality but they do the trick.

my brother has glaucoma so for the past 10 years or so I’ve had free eye tests on the NHS. I was 60 a few weeks back so I think I now get free eye tests for being an oldie.

@ved It is difficult, You have my sympathies. I have a complex prescription for high myopia etc and am still vain enough to want to wear my contacts although I am in my 60's and that is another cost. My prescription is still changing year on year .
@namechangetheworld
I wonder if you have an Asda optician near you where you could have a chat? The reason I ask is that they do my transition varifocals with thinner lenses for about £140. My prescription is just over -15 in both eyes with astigmatism.
You may qualify for a complex prescription voucher worth £40 as your prescription is more than over -10 too.
You do need to ask for this as I have never been offered it and only found this out recently.
Good luck as it is no fun wearing thicker lenses as they are heavier and then your specs can slip down needing constant adjustment, I feel for you.

As multiple posters have said now, not everyone can do that. Some of us have complex prescriptions and can’t access any of the online services.