Page 11 | To think nowadays you need a mortgage if you need glasses?

LarryForPrimeMinister · 2026-09-08T13:29:18+00:00

Today I went for my usual eye check up. £40. Asked if I wanted photos taking of behind my eyes to check my eye health additional £20. My prescription has gone up to - 5 in both eyes. So needed a pair of frames, £100. Wasn't even the expensive pairs. And then I was told they have 3 different price ranges for thinning the lenses. If I don't have them thinned they stick out like a eyesore. £80 to have them slightly thinned, £140 for medium thinned o £200 for super thinned. Walked out £300 lighter! Now I wear glasses all the time I am blind as a bat without them but jesus christ I nearly died at the expense. Two years ago it cost me £200 for the same thing now £100 increase! Aibu to think opticians are taking the piss and becoming like dentists?

Lentilcakes · 15/09/2026 12:27

DH gets his eyes tested with the prescription (they have to give it to you) and gets them online from Glasses Direct.

Jintx · 15/09/2026 12:40

Iagreewithmrsdevere · 15/09/2026 10:45

Not true - my prescription and online purchase in the picture- I did not go for lense thinning as I only wear them around the house

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What index lenses did you get? Do you not find them very heavy? I have a very similar prescription but normally wear rgp lenses and very rarely wear my glasses outside. I got the glasses that become sunglasses from asda which I sometimes wear out.

Allseeingallknowing · 15/09/2026 12:40

zingally · 15/09/2026 12:21

Yeah, mine are about the same, if not more.

I'd be non-functioning without mine though, so it's a necessary expense. I do have savings specifically for my glasses though, so it's not such a horror when I need new ones.

I think my optician is at the pricier end though... It's a family run business, and I've been going there since I was 6 years old. It's a lovely, friendly service. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

Lovely service or not it’s not worth being overcharged for. This sort of loyalty is misplaced.

Allseeingallknowing · 15/09/2026 12:42

Like hearing aids, glasses are vastly overpriced, and as they are essential people will pay whatever is asked

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 12:53

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 15/09/2026 11:32

That’s still a very simple prescription - when you add in astigmatism and other issues it all becomes much more complicated.

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He had astigmatism also

readingmakesmehappy · 15/09/2026 12:57

The myopia tax is real! The £1000s I have had to spend on glasses over the years which my 20/20 vision friends have never even considered.

Sunbringer · 15/09/2026 13:30

That’s really not that expensive tbh. Not for what is essentially healthcare.

Iagreewithmrsdevere · 15/09/2026 14:02

Jintx · 15/09/2026 12:40

What index lenses did you get? Do you not find them very heavy? I have a very similar prescription but normally wear rgp lenses and very rarely wear my glasses outside. I got the glasses that become sunglasses from asda which I sometimes wear out.

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Hi- I’ve checked and actually it seems that 1.74 is an upgrade so maybe a bit thinner? I never wear them for long to notice the weight, but the vision is excellent

Jintx · 15/09/2026 14:04

Iagreewithmrsdevere · 15/09/2026 14:02

Hi- I’ve checked and actually it seems that 1.74 is an upgrade so maybe a bit thinner? I never wear them for long to notice the weight, but the vision is excellent

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Thank you.

TheJuryIsOut · 15/09/2026 14:48

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 12:53

He had astigmatism also

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I've never been able to find an online company that do my level of astigmatism

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 14:58

TheJuryIsOut · 15/09/2026 14:48

I've never been able to find an online company that do my level of astigmatism

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Unlucky.

TheJuryIsOut · 15/09/2026 14:59

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 14:58

Unlucky.

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It is isn't it.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 15/09/2026 15:12

TheJuryIsOut · 15/09/2026 14:48

I've never been able to find an online company that do my level of astigmatism

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Me neither. Some of us genuinely have no choice but to spend hundreds of pounds to be able to function every year - it's ridiculous.

Last time I went, my optician cheerfully told me I saved £45 with a voucher. The bill was still nearly £600 😂

TheJuryIsOut · 15/09/2026 15:25

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 15/09/2026 15:12

Me neither. Some of us genuinely have no choice but to spend hundreds of pounds to be able to function every year - it's ridiculous.

Last time I went, my optician cheerfully told me I saved £45 with a voucher. The bill was still nearly £600 😂

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It's extortionate! I'm lucky that I do earn enough to be able to afford it but I do have to save for them. I keep my last pair as a spare because I certainly can't afford to get two pairs.

I really need a new pair as this one is scratched but it'll probably have to wait until after Christmas at least

halfeatenspaghettihoops · 15/09/2026 15:26

I’m the lucky one whose husband works for a glasses company so makes my glasses for free 😁

drspouse · 15/09/2026 16:00

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 11:23

Using yourPD reading. You can ask the optician for it when you get your eye test although I don't know why they don't put it as standard on prescription

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What if the ear pieces don't fit, or when they arrive they aren't quite in the right place? I always have to have adjustments when mine arrive at the opticians.

Of course, if nobody got their glasses fitted at the opticians then we'd soon find we can't get our eyes tested at all.

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 16:17

drspouse · 15/09/2026 16:00

What if the ear pieces don't fit, or when they arrive they aren't quite in the right place? I always have to have adjustments when mine arrive at the opticians.

Of course, if nobody got their glasses fitted at the opticians then we'd soon find we can't get our eyes tested at all.

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Not a clue Never had fitting issues. I have a frame I'm keen on so when the prescription changed I bought new glasses with the same frame that I know fits well and suits me.

If they are no good they can be returned

And you originally said only works online with low simple prescriptions etc. When people have said otherwise you are trying to think up more and more reasons to buy expensive ones in the shop

No one cares how much you spend on your glasses but don't try and say the rest of us that buy them online are walking round half blind

zingally · 16/09/2026 09:43

Allseeingallknowing · 15/09/2026 12:40

Lovely service or not it’s not worth being overcharged for. This sort of loyalty is misplaced.

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I don't recall asking for your opinion.

I am ENTIRELY comfortable supporting a local, family-run business, who have given me nothing but excellent service - not to mention catching a potentially serious eye issue early - for 35 years.

And if that means I pay a few quid more than I would at Specsavers, or Vision Express, I'm happy to do it, and can afford to do it. I'm very much aware that my eyes are "complicated" - I've had 3 eye surgeries in my life - and I feel safe and comfortable in their care. The money is genuinely irrelevant.

Crosswurd · 16/09/2026 09:49

Allseeingallknowing · 15/09/2026 12:40

Lovely service or not it’s not worth being overcharged for. This sort of loyalty is misplaced.

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People can spend their money how they like and see value in different things. Supporting a brick and mortar store for those who can afford it and want to is good, means less likely to all be stuck with online only.

climbintheback · 16/09/2026 10:06

Don’t moan about high streets becoming unloved and unused when most of you buy specs online from China - opticians disappear from high streets never to return.

TheJuryIsOut · 16/09/2026 10:08

zingally · 16/09/2026 09:43

I don't recall asking for your opinion.

I am ENTIRELY comfortable supporting a local, family-run business, who have given me nothing but excellent service - not to mention catching a potentially serious eye issue early - for 35 years.

And if that means I pay a few quid more than I would at Specsavers, or Vision Express, I'm happy to do it, and can afford to do it. I'm very much aware that my eyes are "complicated" - I've had 3 eye surgeries in my life - and I feel safe and comfortable in their care. The money is genuinely irrelevant.

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It's not irrelevant if you can't afford it

zingally · 16/09/2026 10:52

TheJuryIsOut · 16/09/2026 10:08

It's not irrelevant if you can't afford it

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But... I CAN afford it. If I couldn't, then I probably would have gone elsewhere long ago.
Whether other people can, or can't afford it, is none of my business. Clearly plenty of other people locally are choosing this particular opticians, as it's seemingly thriving and staying in business since the 1930s.

HoppityBun · 16/09/2026 11:11

I think I’m mortgaged to Vision Express for life. I am short sighted, long sighted and I have astigmatism. I pay monthly and if it weren’t for being able to do that I wouldn’t be able to see.

Allseeingallknowing · 16/09/2026 13:02

zingally · 16/09/2026 09:43

I don't recall asking for your opinion.

I am ENTIRELY comfortable supporting a local, family-run business, who have given me nothing but excellent service - not to mention catching a potentially serious eye issue early - for 35 years.

And if that means I pay a few quid more than I would at Specsavers, or Vision Express, I'm happy to do it, and can afford to do it. I'm very much aware that my eyes are "complicated" - I've had 3 eye surgeries in my life - and I feel safe and comfortable in their care. The money is genuinely irrelevant.

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I thought airing one’s views on things was allowed on Mumsnet!

drspouse · 16/09/2026 14:49

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 16:17

Not a clue Never had fitting issues. I have a frame I'm keen on so when the prescription changed I bought new glasses with the same frame that I know fits well and suits me.

If they are no good they can be returned

And you originally said only works online with low simple prescriptions etc. When people have said otherwise you are trying to think up more and more reasons to buy expensive ones in the shop

No one cares how much you spend on your glasses but don't try and say the rest of us that buy them online are walking round half blind

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I would love to spend less on my glasses but not at the expense of actually having somewhere to get my eyes tested.
However, I have yet to see anyone fully explain how buying your glasses online gives you all the parts of my glasses fitting I need.