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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

284 replies

LarryForPrimeMinister · 08/09/2026 14:29

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?

OP posts:
TheJuryIsOut · 16/09/2026 15:09

zingally · 16/09/2026 10:52

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.

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But that's the whole issue of the thread isn't it? The fact that it's extortionate and so many people struggle to afford it. I get it, you don't care.

Auburngal · 16/09/2026 20:42

drspouse · 16/09/2026 14:49

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.

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Like getting the frames adjusted to fit around my two different ears?. I must have spent 30 mins getting the arms adjusted the last time I picked my specs up

Ved · 16/09/2026 21:23

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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Exactly. There is no situation where my DH will ever buy glasses online. As I have said already (and some others have said too about their eyes, or their partner's,) his eyesight is far too complicated, and fragile, and precious. (He has several issues, and has previously had treatment on them.) No way are we risking damaging his eyes, and causing further issues by getting £29 glasses of the internet, that are like jam jar bottoms with his extreme prescription.

Good for others if they find this OK.

Ved · 16/09/2026 21:32

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.

Exactly. The ones championing cheap glasses online, will be kicking off when their eyesight gets tricky and complicated and awkward, and they get different issues with their eyes, and there's nobody to go to. because the high street opticians are all closed down!

It's easy to look down from your ivory tower at others going through different experiences to you, and judge them. People are not spending £600 on 2 pairs of glasses because they've got more money than sense. People are spending this out of necessity, because of a very complicated prescription, and because 'online' doesn't work for them. It annoys me that a few people are not getting that!

!

Auburngal · 16/09/2026 22:30

This is one of the biggest reasons why I don’t buy my glasses online. Have two different ears.

When I worked in call centres and the last 4-5 years at the supermarket (when introduced headsets) when only one ear piece, I wore on the left ear. As it’s flatter against my face

I rather spend £150 more getting the right fit etc than constant headaches

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 16/09/2026 22:50

We get free eye tests at work and so much off glasses provided they’re for the computer but yes this time I needed 3 pairs! Distance glasses, distance sunglasses and now reading glasses. I think it’s got worse but I’m too scared to get them tested again!

ostell · 17/09/2026 12:56

Summerishere123 · 08/09/2026 14:58

I lost mine and it was £130 to replace them. Not even a complicated prescription and no extras such as thinning, anti glare etc. I got my prescription and bought them at glasses4U. 2 Pairs for £47 I paid!

Or another company. goggles4u.co.uk cheaper

GasPanic · 17/09/2026 13:04

Ved · 16/09/2026 21:32

Exactly. The ones championing cheap glasses online, will be kicking off when their eyesight gets tricky and complicated and awkward, and they get different issues with their eyes, and there's nobody to go to. because the high street opticians are all closed down!

It's easy to look down from your ivory tower at others going through different experiences to you, and judge them. People are not spending £600 on 2 pairs of glasses because they've got more money than sense. People are spending this out of necessity, because of a very complicated prescription, and because 'online' doesn't work for them. It annoys me that a few people are not getting that!

!

Edited
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Nothing wrong with people pointing out there are cheaper options available that others may not know about.

No suitable for everyone, sure.

I'm not sure you can expect people not to use the best option available for them, which may be the cheapest, especially when the cost of living is so high.

There is no way I will be paying extra cash for my glasses in the vain hope it will keep high street opticians alive.

They will either survive because they provide a service that people want that on line doesn't in spite of the high prices, or they won't.

zingally · 18/09/2026 14:09

TheJuryIsOut · 16/09/2026 15:09

But that's the whole issue of the thread isn't it? The fact that it's extortionate and so many people struggle to afford it. I get it, you don't care.

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Finally! Bit slow.

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