I went to the opticians today - £133!

[WalkLong]

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?

@PieonaBarm but some DO need those wipes, such as for staph blepharitis. Not all, for sure. Those wipes are insanely expensive tho, no matter where you buy. We mark up £1 a pack. Easier not to sell, to be honest, but some patients get very grumpy if we don’t have them.

Why didn’t you just ask them to write the names of the products down? My independent never refuses this.

You'd guess incorrectly.

Full retinal scan.
The air blowy test.

Each and every time.

If you pay monthly for a "scheme", how on earth can you then say you get free glasses once every 2-3 years, or a free test? You have paid for that service each month! Specsavers are expensive, they just hide the cost.

Because the op is paying for contact lenses too (presumably monthly) but not getting eye tests/contact lens check ups included at her optician

@TenThousandSpoons the OP will not be buying her contact lenses from this independent opticians. She wants her prescription to buy elsewhere. She didn't buy glasses either.
She paid for their professional services but is moaning at having to pay an premium for her dry eye treatment. Warm water is not the same. Baby shampoo may work ok but do you have the time each day to do that regime?
They will be lucky if they broke even with your visit today. Patients like this we do not recall as they do not value our exceptional service. They want something for nothing, I honestly am so shocked you are complaining at being given a treatment plan for something to help you but having to pay about £2/3 more than the products on Amazon.
Next time go to specsavers and see if you get out the door without signing up to their monthly schemes.

That's a horrendous POV.

How can the costs vary so much? So mine, full exam including scans costs £26 not the 25 I said earlier, fully expect that to be 28 on my next visit.

They absolutely do recall me. Every year without fail.

They also call my eldest every 2 and youngest every year.

They fit me in when I had an urgent eye issue (which I then found out was covered by the NHS fully, unexpected) and during that check, re did the full eye exam just to be sure.

I have terribly dry eyes - caused by medication, I think. Would this heated bag help me and do you have a link for one please?

@Snapfel if you have MGD, yes a hot compress can help. You can’t self-diagnose it though (it is diagnosed by an optician looking and being able to see blocked glands on your lid margins, they are very very small). Other causes for dry eye include blepharitis, tear insufficiency etc - an optician will be able to advise on the cause and a treatment plan

The "free" test/glasses/check ups are factored in to the monthly direct debit paid. Nothing is free. A local nail bar is charging £35 for a pedicure. How on earth can anyone complain about a £30 fee for an eye examination? Have you any idea the amount of training an optometrist has?

@JustFrustrated it’s good you’re getting an retinal scan (guessing an Optomap). An OCT wouldn’t go amiss. The blowy caper is to check your intra ocular pressures, it’s pretty unreliable and tonometry has superseded its use. An eye examination is so so important for way more than just how our vision is. I’m glad you’re getting good care :)

@sydsmum This! And then to work for effectively £15 an hour. Same as the poor beleaguered doctors.

I don't think this is totally the fault of the patient, though. I've has RGP lenses since 1978. I'm religious at getting them checked every year and I pay the fee happily. I also have had my eyes checked every other year for my glasses prescription. I've also paid for extra tests which they recommended because I trust them and my eyes are important.

However, I have felt gouged over the cost of my contact lenses. I can get them for £70 a pair from the US online. At my opticians, they charge me £200. They've said they can't even get my lenses for the price I pay online. Why can't they? Now, I want to support all my local shops because I don't want any to disappear from the high streets. And I could go to have eye tests by qualified opticians at Asda etc. I did that once because I needed glasses urgently and couldn't get an appointment at regular optician. I didn't feel I got as good a service so I stay with my optician. But £130 difference in price is a lot. I'd happily pay £100 to support them with my checks as extra. A few years ago I bought multi focal lenses from the optician. £175. They didnt work at all. So really they were a waste of money. And I used to get sold insurance in case I Iost one and the insurance was more expensive than I could buy them online for and in the past haven't always paid out.

And glasses. I can buy a pair from Asda for £45, frames lenses and coatings. It's not a great choice but they're just for home so as long as they're comfortable and suit me a bit. In the opticians the last pair I bought, frames, lens, coating was £600. I loved them but just updating the lenses cost a fortune. I've looked to buy cheaper frames from the optician - clearly I accept significantly more than £45 - and they just don't have any that are suitable for me. It's not like I'm not trying.

There are so many alternatives to buying from the opticians and I'm one of those customers that really want to support my optician and am happy to spend more than online prices. But I like to feel that were both going away from the transaction thinking we've both been treated fairly, and I'm not sure I always do.

I'm starting to wonder if your optician is the same one as the one I used, they sound suspiciously similar. Did they also take the money for 'contact lens check', tell you that you need a different brand, take the money for them, then tell you they're not going to be available until the end of the year, and never get in touch ever again??