Glasses wearers - give me your best advice!

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

Hello! Im gettig my eyes tested tomorrow and im pretty confident im going to need glasses. This is fine, I dont mind at all. Its dawned on me though that I dont know the first thing about glasses - is there anything I should know? Should avoid? Any brands that are great? Is it worth buying expensive ones or are cheapy ones just as good?

I've worn glasses or contacts for as long as I can remember, my tip would be too try different shape glasses as it might surprise you what suits your face! As I wear them all of the time I bought a pair of designer frames, you can get unbranded that are just as nice but for me it's a worthwhile investment. I get the blue coat on my lenses as I use a computer a lot and I've found my eyes much less tired; I used to have the anti glare but I wouldn't ever get it again. For your first pair I would personally get them from an in person optician in case there's issues/they need adjusting etc.

Comfort is definitely as important as looks. I can't wear glasses with the nose pad bits on them. I got very light weight glasses this time and they are the best I have ever had for comfort.

Can't decide about transition lenses. I love having them in the summer but not so keen in the winter. I hate having to always have sunglasses in my bag in summer and going between 2 pairs of glasses. Transition lenses were brilliant this summer but feel a bit silly when they go dark in winter.

I have worn glasses for years. I just use spec savers 2 for 1 but as my eyes have been stable for over a decade I have about 5 pairs which is great fashion wise. I love having choice. I am short sighted so rarely wear them working on a computer screen. I have occasionally chosen frames from the men’s section too- sometimes they are less fussy

Whichever opticians l go, 2 for 1 offers never seem to apply to me.

I always get the two for one from spec savers, £60 for 2 pairs. Either normal and sunglasses or two pairs of normal. I always get the frames that are entirely plastic and never have the coatings. The cheaper pairs in supersavers, less than £25 are often just left over frames from the moe expensive range.
My attitude is if they break in between I'll buy a new pair at £25 but they never do

@daisypond

I have poor eyesight - and I have astigmatism. The cost of the lenses really mounts up. I have to have the lenses made thinner, plus anti glare/scratch coatings. Etc. It’s several hundred pounds, even with cheap frames. If your eyesight isn’t too bad, you can get away with basic lenses. I’ve never been able to afford a second pair of glasses, so I wear the one pair all the time. If you’re short-sighted, you probably won’t need reading glasses, unless you’re getting older, and then you might need bifocals or varifocals - very expensive. But it sounds like you are just short sighted.

I found my identical eye twin!!

go for the thinnest (i.e.lightest) lenses.

try on lots of frames, some will look very similar on the stand but sit differently on your face.
some frames have saddles some don't but that's a case of preference. without saddles tend to sit higher and further away from your eyes.
chose a frame that works with most of your clothes.
if you have a small face you might need to ask for narrow frames.

when you pick up the glasses get them fitted properly. bend down as if to tie your shoes. turn your head. chew/move your jaw.
the optician will then adapt the arms accordingly.

get lens screening spray and an extra cloth (sometimes added as 'gift' when you pick up the glasses)

and if I havd a frame I really like I get the lenses replaced rather than getting a new pair.

optician will try to sell insurance, but I have not bothered with that. might be useful if you are clumsy or have small dc that like to grab your glasses.

Thanks everyone! My appointment is at 1030 today and im planning to go in early to try some frames on. Im quite excited!

Taking lots of photos with the frames on is useful - the mirrors show the reverse of the photos so it's always a bit of a surprise when I see the frames in photos and see what other people see (also I can't see well enough without my glasses to really see myself!).

My eyes are too bad for any of the online sites to accept my prescription sadly, but it can be good if you don't have a very complex prescription. However, if you have much in the way of astigmatism etc, it's really important the they fit exactly as even slight differences can make it look all wrong. So I'd be careful about using them unless you have quite a straightforward prescription (which you probably do, if you've not needed them before). For complex prescriptions, thinning lenses makes a huge difference, but not so much for straightforward ones. The shape of the frame can also make a difference, depending on e.g., the angle and degree of astigmatism. They can hide the thickest parts of my lenses by being careful about how they are fit into the frames as well, and some dispensers are much better at that than others. Again, probably not an issue unless you end up with a bad astigmatism or something. The size of the frame matters as well for things like that.

If you get them at the optician, they can adjust them for you, and you can go back as many times as needed. Often they seem like they fit fine at first (bit like shoes), but then later you realise you have nose dents or whatever, and they can adjust them again. Or if they really don't seem to be right, prescription wise, you can go back - I've had to have them redone occasionally (again more a problem with bad eyes). They will also replace or tighten screws for you at any point afterwards.

It's actually much easier if you have to wear them all the time, as you then just get used to it, and don't have to faff around carrying a case and remembering where you've put it!

Anti fog and anti scratch coatings are good.

There is probably a dispenser at the opticians who is quite good at advising frame shape based on your face shape, etc. Different places have different brands, so if you have a brand you like and your optician doesn't have it, you can still go to another place (in person) and try their frames. I find that the independent opticians have nicer frames for what I need than specsavers etc, but the two main opticians here do carry different brands (i liked ones by Bevel).