Getting specs - are all the extras worth it?

[Dustmylemonlies]

Need new glasses and trying to avoid having to sell a kidney to get them. Have had some truly awful experience with the big chains over the years (Boots optometrist noted down my prescription incorrectly. Specsavers fitted me glasses that were both incredibly uncomfortable and had the focal point marked in the wrong place.) So tend to go to a trusted independent these days. However they are pricier and with cost of living etc I'm so skint!

Are all the extras - scratch resistant lenses, anti reflective coatings etc actually worth the money. Has anyone ever not bothered at all and had a perfectly decent pair of glasses.

I'm tempted by some of the online opticians but I have quite a small face, between a teen and an adult and they don't tend to have as much choice as the High Street for my face size. Plus I'm really put off not being able to try before I buy....

If you’re desk based and have many Teams calls, or if you need them a lot for night driving, definitely get the anti-reflective coating. That’s usually effective enough to warrant the extra IMO. I’m on calls a lot and you can tell when someone hasn’t got the coating on theirs because of the reflection on their lenses.

IIRC the blue light option isn’t actually very necessary - have a Google.

I’ve had spares from Glasses Direct. I bought them straight out but I know there are ways you can try the frames for free before buying. I’m pretty happy and would definitely buy from them again, especially for spares. The only thing I’d say is they don’t clean quite as easily as my Specsavers ones. I think the coating is different but it was still worth it.

I have astigmatism and suffer migraines so the anti-glare coating is needed, and I have a 3yo who has been known to set himself a mission to break my glasses so I need the anti-scratch too.
My prescription is also ridiculous so I have the lenses thinned.

After pricing up various options for my most recent pairs (main and sunglasses), I got mine from Asda. The extras are included in the cost and the cheapest frames were around £40.
I bought both my pairs for less than the cost of 1 in Vision Express.

Every day I curse myself for getting anti-reflective lenses. They are impossible to keep clean, unlike my previous glasses. I will never get the coating again.

I’ve worn glasses my whole life, work in an office with computers etc. and I’ve never gone for any of the extras and never had an issue.

Second vote for Glasses Direct, have used them for years and love the fact that you can use their offers (BOGOF etc) with different prescriptions which is brilliant if there is more than one speccy in the house!
I get blue light coating (desk job) and scratch resistant coating (I’m a dropper) and I think both are worth it.
You can defo try before you buy on GD as well

Antiglare waste of time I think. I bought from Vooglam - tried a pair of varifocal, reactive first to use as sunglasses and they were so good I bought another pair.

I usually get an expensive pair with all the bells and whistles and a cheapo pair in case I lose them....the anti reflective coating really did make a difference imo.

Wouldn’t be without antireflective coating.

If your lenses need thinning, Asda opticians thin lenses for free and thin lenses automatically have anti reflective.

I had always bought from Boots with all the extras - vari, correct astigmatism, thinner, anti glare etc - cost over £400. As my prescription changed due to fast deteriorating cataracts I bought a cheap vari focal, thin lens, correct astigmatusm from Asda - £45! The frames were their cheapest but quite nice. Sorting out catracts at the moment, 2nd eye being done then will go to Asda for another cheap pair, probably only need vari fir driving and reading.

I think the stronger your prescription, the more you need the extras.
You could give Specsavers another try though. Ime, they've been fantastic, and you can get a refund if you're not happy.

I got the blue coating thing and then immediately had to have it removed because I had electric blue splotches showing up in photos and on zoom calls etc. So id say beware of that.

I'd get the thinning depending on your prescription. I didn't bother once with a BOGOF spare pare and regretted it as they were so heavy and uncomfy they were totally unusable! I'm a -4 so fairly heavy duty prescription but not crazy I think. I get anti-scratch as I'm a bit clumsy with them so that one depends on how careful you are I think.

Depends on how you wear them.

I'm a desk jockey for work so the anti glare is really important for me.

I don't bother with the scratch coating and I'm not in need of thinning (yet) with my Rx.

The one thing I wouldn't skimp on is damage/ breakage cover. It's been an absolute godsend when they have been left somewhere and got a bit squashed.
Personally I do buy all the extras for my specs as they are on my face every day and I have an extremely complicated prescription (astigmatism/ varifocals etc) but it's like anything you can go top dollar for more or spend less for less depending on what you prioritise .

Your frame size is on the arms of the glasses.

Go to a retail shop - try some on, get the frame number and size and order online
couldnt be easier.

I like the light weight frames - and have ordered the same ones over and over for less than 75% of shop ones

I think it depends on your prescription I was -10 before having cataracts done so I always paid for maximum thinning but that was it.
If you drive at night they anti glare may be worth paying for
My glasses used to cost around £400 and that was with the complex voucher!
so glad I just need cheap readers now
if you have less than -6 glasses direct do them.

I like the anti glare. My prescription is really low but I struggle with lots of screen time and super bright headlights at night. I have sunspots on the back of my eyes and general light sensitivity so possibly wouldn’t be necessary for everyone

Thanks, this is helpful. I don't need thinning as vision is not that bad yet but have astigmatism and struggle with night driving so maybe anti-glare is a must-have after all.

I was the biggest fan of glasses direct and have used them for years, but last pair were faulty. I returned and it’s taken me 6 MONTHS to get a refund. They have moved their customer support and it’s now a place in the Philippines and they’re terrible. They’ve finally refunded me, could only do it to PayPal and now the money is on hold as there’s an issue with how they sent it

DO NOT USE GLASSES DIRECT. (Ex customer of many years)

I have to have anti glare for night driving as I’ve got astigmatism too and the lights are blinding halos otherwise.

The anti-reflective coating is a non-negotiable for me. Seeing my eyeballs reflected back at me when the light hits at a certain angle is just horrible!

I went through a phase of having to have new lenses every year. Ditched the designer frames, went for nice enough opticians own brand with no added extras. No coatings, nothing. Much, much more reasonable.
DD had poor fitting glasses from one high street chain and ExDP from another. I pay the money and go to one a trust.

I don't think I've got those and I am minus 10 prescription. It was already costing an arm and a leg!!

Op don't write off Boots. I used to go to an independent. Specsavers were OK but the glasses didn't really fit.

Found some in Boots. They are probably a tiny bit wide - arms always feel like they could be a smidge stiffer to bend - but I honestly had tried on 300 pairs across the big opticians! Like you I need a small frame but in the end went for a wider nose bridge and small frame which sorted the issue of lining up with me eyes. Love the frame and colour, suits me perfectly.

Would I have been happier if I'd gone independent? Can't say I would.