Buying prescription glasses, why so expensive?

[bevelino]

I wasn’t sure where to post this question. Please can anyone explain why buying prescription glasses is so expensive in many shops on the high street?

I went to buy new glasses and found a pair of rimless frames for £159, however by the time they had added the cost of my prescription the cost was £650. I was given all the blurb about the thinness of the lenses and scratch resistant etc, but felt it was all a rip off. I am still searching and does anyone have recommendations for reasonably priced glasses?

Another vote for Asda. I always used to spend hundreds in Vision Express until I discovered Asda, I was a bit sceptical at first but I have been using Asda for a few years now, the frames are always really good quality, never had any problems with them.

@Callmerusss, thank you for your post. I am stunned at the mark up, which is way more than can be explained by the cost of overheads and salaries etc. Am off to Asda shortly to try my luck there first.

Glasses Direct are superb. Two pairs of prescription glasses for £19 and they're perfect. It's disgusting how much high-street opticians charge.

I am stunned at the mark up, which is way more than can be explained by the cost of overheads and salaries etc

Again, it's isn't specific to glasses. It's across the board.

*So the actual answer to your question is cross subsidy.
The business model for optometry is that the professional expertise is given away for fuck all and has to be recouped somewhere and that’s why glasses are so expensive. And also why places like glasses direct can sell them so cheaply because they don’t fund the loss leading eye exams. *

^^ This. It's expensive to operate a nationwide chain of opticians, do eye tests, staff the shops. If you want to order frames online you need an accurate prescription, which means someone has to have the equipment to do your eye test. If the big chains went out of business, I sincerely doubt online-only frame sellers would be able to keep going, as no-one would know what strength lenses they needed.

£650!!! That’s obscene.

Glasses direct all the way for me - you try a few on for free at home first before they make up your prescription. I get the £19 ones.

I have just ordered a new pair of rimless specs from Asda for £80 and have saved a bundle of cash as the exact same ones were £650 in Brompton Opticians and £469 in Boots.

OK I'm sold! I've been holding onto my prescription for weeks as I was dreading the cost of new specs (having had some expensive dental work recently) but off to ASDA I go! 👓

Ever seen a poor optician? Specsavers and the like are franchises and they make a lot of money.

I really need to start buying my glasses online or at least not from Boots. I went to the opticians on Saturday and it turns out I need new glasses one year after the last pair. My total bill (I also needed one of my contact lenses replacing) was £595! They are just a basic Boots frame, not designer, but I went for transition lenses this time. I get a free eye test and a £15 NHS voucher as I have complex lenses. I would have saved thousands over the years if I wasn't short-sighted. On the plus side I certainly have lots of Advantage card points now.

Glasses direct all the way. My last order I got two pairs for £40. One sensible pair and a red pair for when I'm feeling jazzy.

From time to time Money Saving Expert has a Glasses Direct discount code which can be used with GD's own discount offering.

I have a simple prescription and I have had 2 pairs for £14!

Anyone know if you can have new lenses put into old (already owned) frames?

@WaywardTraveller yes you can, I had one pair reglazed a couple of times however they do warn you it depends on the integrity of the frame.

Got mine from glassesdirect.co.uk and I'm so happy! Only downside is you can't try frames, but the website allows you to upload a picture of yourself and you can see how different frames look on you.

Frames were £40, plus £10 for the lenses. But got a deal where I got another pair of frames absolutely free, just paid another £10 for the lenses.

@bananamonkey

Good to know, thanks. I'm guessing it wasn't an online service?

I've been having my eyes tested at spec savers for as long as I can remember (been wearing glasses 30 years) and since I started needing them thining and varifocals I now get my prescription from ss and go to asda as the thining and varifocals are included in the price there

Glasses direct here as well - 2 pairs for £75, and they both had thin lenses as I'm very short sighted.

The pupillary distance thing they got me to hold a credit card (not numbers showing) on my forehead and take a photo, they can then scale the pupil distance off as they know how big the credit card is.

@WaywardTraveller I’ve had it done at Specsavers and online but I can’t recall the website, sorry.

I thought GlassesDirect still do the frames to try at home?
www.glassesdirect.co.uk/free-home-trial/

Actually looking at it GlassesDirect do reglazing and there seems to be tonnes of others now, mine were done a good few years ago when there was less choice.

I am pretty short sighted (about -11.5 in both eyes so need lenses thinning to avoid the bottle look). I mostly wear contact lenses but got my glasses from Asda for £45 which includes the thinning.

Places like glasses direct would cost more for me as their charge for thinning is more

MolyHolyGuacamole With Glasses Direct you can try frames - they send you up to 4 pairs to try at home. You just post them back for free once you've tried them all. If you don't like any, you can choose more to to test out.

Mine are asda too, moved from specsavers to asda about 4 years ago. Lens price difference was £420!! All the add ons specsavers charge for are standard at asda. £120 for two pair at minimum thinness