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Original poster

I went to the opticians today - £133!

89 replies

WalkLong · 04/04/2023 20:25

And I didn't buy any glasses or contact lenses!

They're a very reputable independent practice that I've been going to for 40 years. I've always know I could get it cheaper, but I'm happy to support this business where I've always had excellent service. E.g. when in pain in the early weeks of lockdown they opened up specially for me. However, I think they saw me coming today.

I had sight test - £35
Contact lens check -£55

Then to treat my dry eyes I needed

  • Eye drops £14 (I know the same ones are £13 on Amazon, that's where I'll get the next lot, but support the local business...)
  • Lid cleaning wipes £9.50 for 20 to be used daily! . Who knew there was such a thing but apparently I have a build up of microscopic dust on my lashes that is contributing to the dry eyes and that only these will shift.
  • A heated eye bag £20. A thing that goes in the microwave to warm my tear ducts daily. Apparently way better than anything else you can buy because it's made to fit the eyes and will mold to shape better.

I've always trusted them to give good advice more than the big chains, but I fear I was properly upsold today, unless any one can tell me lash dust is a real thing and requires specialist cleaning?

OP posts:
JamieNorthlife · 04/04/2023 21:29

Moorfields Eye Hospital staff advised me to use baby shampoo to wash my eyelids, massage daily and use a warm towel to rest my eyes.

For dry eyes check this Moorfields Hospital leaflet, info on the right-hand side.

Patient information leaflets | Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/content/patient-leaflets

Shesasuperfreak · 04/04/2023 21:58

I just spent £100 on a 13yr at the opticians today!
£60 just for the lenses to be thinned.
I dont know what his glasses would look like if I couldn't afford it.

It feels unfair as you can't help your eye sight, its not like brushing your teeth or exercising.

MarshaMelrose · 04/04/2023 22:01

Shesasuperfreak · 04/04/2023 21:58

I just spent £100 on a 13yr at the opticians today!
£60 just for the lenses to be thinned.
I dont know what his glasses would look like if I couldn't afford it.

It feels unfair as you can't help your eye sight, its not like brushing your teeth or exercising.

At Asda, thinning is part of the cost of the glasses which come with lenses. It might be worth just having a look at the range if you do a bit of shopping there.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
LuckOfTheDrawer · 04/04/2023 22:11

@JamieNorthlife, can you possibly check the link, and let us know which leaflet we should look for?

getwhatupayfor · 04/04/2023 22:28

This really is a very sad post for me to read. You are paying for a health professional's time and expertise.
The eye exam £35- was it a detailed health check? I assume you value this detailed and comprehensive sight and eye examination.

Independent opticians are just that. They are charging the appropriate fee for the chair time. It's estimated it should be valued at £90. Multiples like specsavers have devalued the eye examination as their way of making money is selling cheap glasses.

£55 for lens check is again professional time. I assume for you to be charged this you don't buy your contact lenses from this Optometrist?
If you purchase your lenses from them this would be included in your monthly direct debit.
Where I work we really don't want patients who just come to us with their problems to sort then moan about being given a treatment plan. We charge £70 as they just aren't worth the hassle or chair time.
You are going to them with your eye /contact lens problems. I assume you have been told you have Blepharitis which requires a lid hygiene regime to reduce your symptoms.
Again I can assure you the optometrist isn't running off to the Maldives with you buying artificial tears and lid wipes with the couple of pound mark up from what Amazon costs.
From an independent opticians they will be making minimal profit from you.

How much do you pay your hairdresser for their time?

Original poster
WalkLong · 04/04/2023 22:31

getwhatupayfor · 04/04/2023 22:28

This really is a very sad post for me to read. You are paying for a health professional's time and expertise.
The eye exam £35- was it a detailed health check? I assume you value this detailed and comprehensive sight and eye examination.

Independent opticians are just that. They are charging the appropriate fee for the chair time. It's estimated it should be valued at £90. Multiples like specsavers have devalued the eye examination as their way of making money is selling cheap glasses.

£55 for lens check is again professional time. I assume for you to be charged this you don't buy your contact lenses from this Optometrist?
If you purchase your lenses from them this would be included in your monthly direct debit.
Where I work we really don't want patients who just come to us with their problems to sort then moan about being given a treatment plan. We charge £70 as they just aren't worth the hassle or chair time.
You are going to them with your eye /contact lens problems. I assume you have been told you have Blepharitis which requires a lid hygiene regime to reduce your symptoms.
Again I can assure you the optometrist isn't running off to the Maldives with you buying artificial tears and lid wipes with the couple of pound mark up from what Amazon costs.
From an independent opticians they will be making minimal profit from you.

How much do you pay your hairdresser for their time?

I have no objection to the cost of the checks, that's why I keep going back. It's the (I suspect) slightly spurious upselling that has me raising an eyebrow.

OP posts:
ExtremelyDetermined · 04/04/2023 22:34

The lens check is totally different to the normal sight test, as well as checking the prescription (which is different to that for glasses) there are lots of extra checks for the fit of the lenses and health of the eyes as well as discussion about how you are wearing them, comfort etc. It really is worth the money when you consider how many years of training the optometrist will have had, the CPD, the equipment etc.

getwhatupayfor · 04/04/2023 22:42

@WalkLong what is the upselling though?
I assume you had problems with your contact lenses comfort and blepharitis was diagnosed?
Lid cleaning regime is the treatment.
Artificial tears at £14 is usual is it was a good artificial tear. You said yourself Amazon sold for £1 cheaper. You walked away with them today. Good Lid wipes and good heat bags retail at this price.
You appointment today would have been minimal profit to their business.

BungleandGeorge · 04/04/2023 22:53

I’m the same I dont mind paying for the professional services but the vastly overpriced extras do annoy me. As a medicine the drops will have an RRP hence the cost was in line with other places but the money for wipes and eye pillow sound expensive. You could have said no though?

Quveas · 04/04/2023 22:56

Shesasuperfreak · 04/04/2023 21:58

I just spent £100 on a 13yr at the opticians today!
£60 just for the lenses to be thinned.
I dont know what his glasses would look like if I couldn't afford it.

It feels unfair as you can't help your eye sight, its not like brushing your teeth or exercising.

Thanks for that. I'll just exercise a lot more with my fucking severe spinal/ hip. neck/shoulder arthritis should I???? That's before my MGD impact on eyesight. Sorry your 13 year old needs money you think you shouldn't have to pay. Please let me know when I get let off my disability because it wasn't my fault.

Daffodilsandtuplips · 04/04/2023 23:09

I’ve got dry eyes, the main cause is the lubricating oil in the glands along your eyelids hardens as we get older. The heated eye masks really do work, the heat gradually softens the plugs of hardened oil.
Mine was about a tenner from Amazon, I buy the lid cleansing wipes from there too. Optbase Tea Tree lid wipes are good, really soothing.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 04/04/2023 23:10

@Quveas what are you on about?
The poster didn't say that people with disabilities should have to pay more for their treatment to save her money. You seem to have tried to find a way to be offended when no offence was delivered.

Shesasuperfreak · 05/04/2023 00:30

Quveas · 04/04/2023 22:56

Thanks for that. I'll just exercise a lot more with my fucking severe spinal/ hip. neck/shoulder arthritis should I???? That's before my MGD impact on eyesight. Sorry your 13 year old needs money you think you shouldn't have to pay. Please let me know when I get let off my disability because it wasn't my fault.

Show quote history

Get over yourself. No one gives a shit about your disability. This is a thread about the opticians.

bumblefeline · 05/04/2023 00:34

getwhatupayfor · 04/04/2023 22:28

This really is a very sad post for me to read. You are paying for a health professional's time and expertise.
The eye exam £35- was it a detailed health check? I assume you value this detailed and comprehensive sight and eye examination.

Independent opticians are just that. They are charging the appropriate fee for the chair time. It's estimated it should be valued at £90. Multiples like specsavers have devalued the eye examination as their way of making money is selling cheap glasses.

£55 for lens check is again professional time. I assume for you to be charged this you don't buy your contact lenses from this Optometrist?
If you purchase your lenses from them this would be included in your monthly direct debit.
Where I work we really don't want patients who just come to us with their problems to sort then moan about being given a treatment plan. We charge £70 as they just aren't worth the hassle or chair time.
You are going to them with your eye /contact lens problems. I assume you have been told you have Blepharitis which requires a lid hygiene regime to reduce your symptoms.
Again I can assure you the optometrist isn't running off to the Maldives with you buying artificial tears and lid wipes with the couple of pound mark up from what Amazon costs.
From an independent opticians they will be making minimal profit from you.

How much do you pay your hairdresser for their time?

This, barely any profits from these wipes and drops. Contact lenses are the same, barely any profit. I think people will genuinely be happy when all independents are gone.

starfishmummy · 05/04/2023 00:50

For years I was told to bathe my eyes with a tiny drop of non sting Bby shampoo in water for blepharitis.. Now it's buu this solution or wipes instead.

They haven't mentioned the heated eye pad yet, but since we don't have a microwave it wouldn't be much use

Mycathatesmecuddling · 05/04/2023 00:58

Quveas · 04/04/2023 22:56

Thanks for that. I'll just exercise a lot more with my fucking severe spinal/ hip. neck/shoulder arthritis should I???? That's before my MGD impact on eyesight. Sorry your 13 year old needs money you think you shouldn't have to pay. Please let me know when I get let off my disability because it wasn't my fault.

Show quote history

How is any of what you said even relevant to the post you were replying to? What a bizarre reply

Ladybug14 · 05/04/2023 01:11

Boots eyelid wipes are cheaper. I expect there are even cheaper ones around. At Savers for example

I use a flannel heated under a hot tap to bathe my dry eyes. Very effective

Try Celluvisc eye drops

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 05/04/2023 01:14

Shesasuperfreak · 05/04/2023 00:30

Get over yourself. No one gives a shit about your disability. This is a thread about the opticians.

Show quote history

did you need to be quite so cunty about it?

Ponderingwindow · 05/04/2023 01:15

I use the special wipes for cleaning my eyes when my dry eye flares up. I have extreme dry eye problems as a side effect of a necessary medication though. They do make a difference. I don’t bother using them if I’m not in a flare.

Shesasuperfreak · 05/04/2023 01:16

I did. I didn't start listing my d'ss disabilities that have nothing to do with his eyes as a one up man ship.
This person needs to here it straight. They are not the only one dealing with disabilities and I don't need to be told about a strangers as a way to disprove my point about expensive glasses.

Shesasuperfreak · 05/04/2023 01:17

Gosh forget my typos I'm sleepy

Original poster
WalkLong · 05/04/2023 06:31

getwhatupayfor · 04/04/2023 22:42

@WalkLong what is the upselling though?
I assume you had problems with your contact lenses comfort and blepharitis was diagnosed?
Lid cleaning regime is the treatment.
Artificial tears at £14 is usual is it was a good artificial tear. You said yourself Amazon sold for £1 cheaper. You walked away with them today. Good Lid wipes and good heat bags retail at this price.
You appointment today would have been minimal profit to their business.

No, I had no problems that I was aware of.

OP posts:
Original poster
WalkLong · 05/04/2023 06:33

Dinoboymama · 04/04/2023 20:50

Do you not get free eye tests?

In Scotland I've never paid for an eye test.
Glasses can start at £15 but I always tend to get more expensive ones under a 2-1 offer so I can get sunglasses to.

HaHa lots of things free un Scotland that aren't fee in England. They're only free here if you're on certain benefits or have certain health issues.

OP posts:
Original poster
WalkLong · 05/04/2023 06:36

OhcantthInkofaname · 04/04/2023 20:59

They saw you coming. Somebody made a great commission today.

Yes. I was happy to pay the higher price for the checks on the basis that they were more medical professional and less salesman, but if that's changed I may as well go to one of the chains.

OP posts:
ExtremelyDetermined · 05/04/2023 06:38

starfishmummy · 05/04/2023 00:50

For years I was told to bathe my eyes with a tiny drop of non sting Bby shampoo in water for blepharitis.. Now it's buu this solution or wipes instead.

They haven't mentioned the heated eye pad yet, but since we don't have a microwave it wouldn't be much use

You can get eyepads with a gel insert that you heat in a cup of boiling water instead of the microwave.