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

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.

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.

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 should add this was with the cheapest frames.

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 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?

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.

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

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.

Yeah, I have an eye appointment at the end of this month. I figure it will cost me about $1000 once I've bought new glasses, as I need progressives. It sucks

YANBU I was paying hundreds a year - complex prescription, needed lens thinning, needed several pairs as couldn’t get varifocals to work for me. I coughed up the £9k for lens replacement in the end, as I thought the cost would even out over the years, and more to the point it would cut out years of hassle of multiple glasses, that often weren’t quite right for whatever I was doing anyway.

Ive decided just to go deaf.

Go to asda.. My prescription is - 13 and they do them.

I get my prescription and order online. So much cheaper!

I’ve just checked and they do up to -17 and the 1.74 ultra thin lenses are only £49. If people go for cheap frames you can get glasses for less than £60. I really don’t know why people pay high street prices - it is so easy to order online.

I get a test and then gets loads of glasses and sunglasses from goggles4u. Cost about £30 a pair

I get my glasses from glasses direct. Put my prescription in and choose the frames. I’ve got astigmatism in one eye and shortsighted. Specsavers wanted £600 off me because the lenses pushed the price up. Got two much nicer pairs for £100 online. Refuse to pay it. It’s healthcare at the end of the day and everyone deserves to be able to access it depending on their needs.

I paid about £400 only to bend them, try to straighten and made the arm worse. Then went back and told I need varifocals npw which are looking like £500. Minus ten eyesight.

I need two pairs of glasses every year but my optician has an eye plan where I pay £9 a month and get 40% off. They are independent which might be hard to find, but worth it!

2025 I paid £600+ for varifocals. And that was with a 30% discount as a contact lens plan customer. I only wear them first thing in morning and after dinner.

My lens alone are £425!
My dad was an optical engineer and he says these lens cost no more than 50p to produce.
Absolute rip off.

I just bought a pair of transition glasses with all the added extras, thinning, blue light, protected coating etc, plus a pair of prescription sunglasses for £65 including delivery on goggles4u. Most of my friends buy online too. The only two who don't freely admit that they can't be bothered to put all their prescription details on.

Massively short sighted, astigmatism in both eyes, plus I need varifocals. I also drive, and need them to be spot on for that. I need the ultra thin, best varifocal type. We're talking hundreds. I got my last three pairs online, but, although pretty cheap, it's a bit bit and miss whether they actually suit or not, despite all the 'try on' gadgets they provide. Also it's a bit tricky getting the prescription typed in right, especially if, like me, you only have a phone to do it on. It takes me ages!
All in all, it's worth it for me, simply because of the money saved.
Saying that, Asda opticians is three quarters of an hour away, but from earlier remarks, I might try there next time!

I have +9 and +10.5 with a -6 and -7 astigmatism so I'm completely unable to see without glasses. Luckily I'm partially sighted too so I get free eye tests but the lenses and frames are extortionate! I haven't been for over 2 years now and my lenses are scratched, I really need to go but I'm putting it off because of the cost

-8 here with astigmatism and my varifocals cost £600+ with all the thinning and coatings and whatever.

So it's not at all surprising that people go online or try to find cheaper options. I've used Asda in the past but the glasses weren't that well made, in terms of the optical axes and alignment between the left and right lenses. With a lower prescription or if I still had some accommodation that might not be a problem, but higher, complex prescriptions really do need careful measurement and fitting.

Obviously others may have found no problem with cheaper options, but I found small errors in the optical fit gave me headaches and poor vision, whereas the specs from the high street optician didn't.

Just saying!