Varifocals??? Specsavers

[Neednewspecs]

I have realised I can’t go around with one pair of glasses on my head and the other on my face as I swap from working on the computer to doing chores!
last time I got new specs I promised I would think about varifocals. But I get such polarising views on them.

I’ve got a choice of local independent or Specsavers. I know that the former will be close to £1000 for two pairs. Got to have a spare

specsacers have their premier lens at only £180 plus frames (and two for one) so about £350 all in

would I be foolish to go to Specsavers. My understanding of the independent shop is that people are not always satisfied with what they end up with but think Specsavers isn’t very good quality
eye test on Friday so any views welcome. Even if to say stick with different glasses and different prescriptions!

TIA

Specsavers are great. Why would you pay more?

Specsavers (and all the other high street and online opticians) are fine for varifocals. Over the decades I have bought from all these options with no problem. All that you get from independent opticians is a lighter pocket.

My specsavers varifocals are way better than my previous opticians pair. I'm more than happy with mine and the choice of designer frames

DH has quite difficult varifocals. He had problems with some from specsavers, tried an independent place. They weren't any better. He's found that Specsavers will try again until they get it right.

Apart from them being made correctly, the fitting is pretty crucial too.

I didn’t think about the complexity of the prescription, mine are pretty straightforward. Astigmatism, long sighted with age related degeneration.

I prefer independent opticians, however as I wear contact lens I jumped ship to spec savers as monthly direct debit was a lot cheaper.

I have just had varifocals from specsavers but they aren't cheap and I got a discount as I'm on their contact lens scheme.
I think their 241 only applies to frames and basic lens.
As soon as you start to upgrade to varificals, thinner lens etc the price stacks up so beware it may not be cheaper than your private optician.
Glasses however were fine.

I went to Asda. I have to say after 3 months, I gave up. They made me feel like I had vertigo. I fell down the stairs more than once and I just could not get on with them. I'm back to swapping and it's annoying but feels safer 🤷🏻‍♀️

That was my experience with Specsavers,they told me I had to adjust my expectations. I told them I expected to be able to see! Looking back I don't think they fitted/measured them properly. As I said earlier, I put the ones on from Boots and could wear them straight away,they were amazing.

My Dad's eye consultant recommended he went to Specsavers. As they are a larger organisation with a higher volume they can invest in the latest technology, etc.

He had very, very complex prescription and eye condition - which is why he was under the consultant. In fact, when he was a kid he used to get paid to go along to the local eye hospital once a year to be used as a learning resource for the students!

I have never had a problem with Specsavers, and would have stayed with them except, after reading the outstanding reviews about a newly opened local optician, I gave them a try.

They were even better than Specsavers.

I agree with a pp that Specsavers will keep adjusting your glasses until they are right.

The 2 for 1 is the price for standard lenses, but if you buy 2 pairs and 1 of them is varifocal they will still usually work out some form of discount, or tinker with things to get the best price. DH did this a couple of weeks ago - he was buying mid distance glasses and sunglasses and was having coatings etc, and the optician (it was an optician, not a dispensing assistant) went through a few costing permutations until she arrived at the best price.

The 'best' Specsavers varifocal lenses are a lot cheaper than high end lenses from an independent. But the optician we spoke to (at SS) was very knowledgeable and honest about it. She looked at DH's current glasses and could see exactly what lenses they were, and was able to tell him in great detail about the difference between that and SS lenses, and advised him that he would probably feel like he was compromising if he switched.

Having said all that, a caveat... SS branches are franchised, and the experience can vary hugely from one to another. I recently switched to the branch I'm referencing above from my old one after 6 attempts to fit my new glasses didn't get me anywhere. I happened to go into the second branch when I was passing and the first person I spoke to could see straight away why they didn't fit and said the frame would never work for me. I took my glasses back to the original branch and switched over to the other one, where I've since had dealings with 2 opticians and 2 or 3 dispensing people and they have all been excellent.

They've got 2 for 1 on varifocals as well at the moment. I found out when I went in last week.