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Original poster

If you have a really high glasses prescription where do you get your glasses from?

35 replies

Acunningruse · 17/04/2023 20:09

I am -10.25 in one eye and -9.5 in the other and my glasses have just broken 😞

Last time my prescription changed the glasses were £300+ and that was pre-covid so dreading to think what it'll be now. That was from vision express who I get my (reasonably priced) contacts from.

Any suggestions where will be cheaper for glasses?

Thanks

OP posts:

Ladysamantha · 17/04/2023 20:27

I get mine from specsavers, but I choose from the nhs frames.
My last pair of glasses, which I also have to pay to be thinned down as I have a high /complex prescription came to £160.

rebekahnorris · 17/04/2023 20:29

Boots so them

Daisywithastory · 17/04/2023 20:30

Agree-Specsavers. Do you get the little bit of money off for having a high prescription?

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AuntieDolly · 17/04/2023 20:31

Asda- thin lenses are included in the price

GettingStuffed · 17/04/2023 20:33

My husband has really strong prescription and he goes to boots opticians as Specsavers cannot get his strong prescription right. I also have had eyesight but nowhere near a bad as him. I normally get an NHS discount voucher and my last but one pair was free including a Specsavers offer. I also bought 2 pairs last summer a daily wear pair and some sunglasses. With offers this was around £300 for the two.

I checked my prescription with a couple of the websites that do cheap glasses. They came out at roughly the same price as Specsavers.

Ladysamantha · 17/04/2023 20:37

I get a free eye test for having a high prescription and I think an nhs voucher for~£14 towards the cost of the glasses.

WashAsDelicates · 17/04/2023 20:44

The online opticians won't make glasses stronger than -8.

At -10.25 the OP might be eligible for an extra NHS voucher. Though it might only be for £10-£15.

When you have a high prescription, the frame is a fraction of the cost of the lenses. And being able to see and function are so important that I'm not going to scrimp by buying a cheap frame that then breaks.

In the past I have used Boots, but in recent years I feel that the optometrists and the dispensers have been better at my local Specsavers than at my local Boots. The range of frames is also better, as are the offers.

ChickenSoupAndLokshen · 17/04/2023 20:48

I'm -9 in both eyes. I used Asda. Cost me £80. These are for glasses to knock around in at home as I wear lenses 95% of my waking hours. Lenses were included in the cost of the frames. Not bad value at all, I think!

CMOTDibbler · 17/04/2023 20:51

Asda are amazing for the price. I have complicated lenses and they were still all included - prisms, ultra high index, varifocals and everything else

Doobydoo · 17/04/2023 20:55

@CMOTDibbler Hi. Do you mind telling me how much you paid? I am putting off going to Optician as really expensive. I have a prism in one lens.Thank you.

arapunzel · 17/04/2023 20:55

I’m -12 and also a Dispensing Optician.

You may get an NHS voucher (GOS 3) which for complex prescriptions (over -/+ 10 is about 14/15 £ for single vision)

Lots of opticians practices now do things like klarna or payment plans if that helps to spread the cost.

Most important thing would be a frame that fits well - choosing a small eyesize and plastic frame can help to reduce the appearance of lens thickness, but ideally a high index like 1.74 would give the best outcome.

Ilkleymoor · 17/04/2023 20:56

Specsavers. One eye is as high as yours. Cost me about £140, with the frames I wanted. Got sunglasses a few months back for £130. The most thinned down lenses.

CMOTDibbler · 17/04/2023 20:57

I just checked, and the cheapest Asda glasses, including all the lens options is £45. Their next level up is £120 for two pairs, or £80 for one.
I really must get myself back to them for some sunglasses as I don't have any, my nearest is v inconvenient and a long way but worth the massive amount less than my local opticians.

MrsLampard · 17/04/2023 20:58

-15 and -13.5 with an astigmatism. Asda all the way- thin lenses included, got a pair
of varifocals and a pair of distance glasses for £110

Easterfunbun · 17/04/2023 20:58

They’re all shit for strong prescriptions and all the frames these days are soooooo fucking massive. Nevertheless the least shittest option I’ve found is specsavers. I’ve had a terrible experience with asda glasses.

Dizzywizz · 17/04/2023 21:01

I always go to Specsavers. I get my lenses with them too, which means an extra discount on the glasses. Might be worth seeing if they’re cheaper for the lenses as well? And like pp said, you should also get a discount for having a high prescription.

Iamaslummymummy · 17/04/2023 21:01

-16 and -15 with high astigmatism here.

Asda are excellent and I get 1.9 thinned lenses as standard. I'm on a low income so get a voucher for that and a complex lens voucher but I think it's one or the other. I paid £80 for two pairs after voucher

user1485291191 · 17/04/2023 21:02

Asda all the way. I think I have had every suitable frame over the years as with -14.75 and -14.5 I would but stuck without the thinning included

MirandaWest · 17/04/2023 21:06

Mine are around -11.5. I mostly wear contact lenses but have glasses which I wear in morning and evening. I used to get ones from Asda as they do thinning for free. Think they were about £50.
Got these ones from Specsavers - they ended up not costing much more but I did use the complex lens voucher and got something off as I get my contact lenses there.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 17/04/2023 21:06

Mine is very close to yours and I use Boots. I've tried Specsavers and DH uses Vision Express and both have been awful in one way or another. Boots often do get the second pair half price. But anyway, I would trust them more than the others.

Tilllly · 17/04/2023 21:14

I'm -9 with astigmatism and various eye issues

I get mine from specsavers, 1 normal, 1 reactolite. Varifocal - I get the best of the 5 levels. Plus have them thinned to the max. I get everything I can!

Last 2 pairs were £500 altogether

I really rate specsavers, tho tbf, haven't been anywhere else for years
They look after me well esp as I go in every 6 months with something else wrong with my eyes, and they've always been very helpful

Crabwoman · 17/04/2023 21:24

I am - 6.75 buy have astigmatism with a - 3.00cyl so still pretty thick.
I get my contact lenses from Specsavers and under their scheme I get 50%off.

My most recent pair cost £150 and I am really pleased at how light and thin they are.

gogohmm · 17/04/2023 21:30

Just a warning to everyone with high prescriptions - do be aware of the signs of a detached retina, more common with stronger prescriptions. My dp has had both eyes go, it's an emergency but the surgery went well, it did cause cataracts to accelerate but the surgery to correct that allowed artificial lenses to be fitted that meant no more glasses needed (for distance)!

greyhairnomore · 17/04/2023 21:33

-8. I'm on the Specsavers monthly lens scheme so get half price glasses. Last pair £170 with thinner lenses

Blingstar · 17/04/2023 22:05

Try Iolla. They are very reasonably priced.

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