To think specsavers is being a little unfair....

[Fairylea]

Genuinely not sure if I am being unreasonable or not. There's nothing I can do about it anyway but I am a bit perplexed by this.

I am extremely short sighted with astigmatism (-9.50 both eyes). I need complex lenses which are thinned down - these cost £150 at specsavers (more elsewhere, I have rang around everywhere and I cannot order online as they need to take measurements and for my type of lenses it is more risky to get right).

I get my contact lenses through specsavers for £13 a month. Part of this deal means I also get a free pair of glasses every two years. I have a pituitary problem which affects my eyes so I need to give them a rest from contacts in the evening as my eyes become sore.

The free glasses deal doesn't cover the whole cost of my glasses because of the lenses I need. So I end up with extra to pay as the deal is limited to standard lenses.

I am entitled to an nhs eye voucher which comes to £90 ish or thereabouts.

However, I have been told that I cannot use the nhs voucher with the free glasses offer as they are both "offers".

Surely that is wrong though? The nhs voucher isn't an offer, it is an entitlement because I am on a low income (for health reasons if anyone is interested).

I think it's a bit unfair really. I don't know how anyone with really bad eyes like me is supposed to afford glasses when the cost of the voucher doesn't even cover them and you cannot use it with a deal!

Surely an offer and an nhs entitlement are two separate things?

Janine. You are entitled to a voucher automatically, as well as a free eye test with that prescription. The optician should have told you that and was being negligent if they didn't.

That's what one person there said, another told me it was 'after care'- both after an initial person told me it was necessary the first time you have lenses.

There are three kinds of test. First is a sight test. This checks the general health of your eye and gives you a prescription for glasses.
The second is a contact lens fitting. In this they measure your eyes for contact lenses and decide what kind will work best for you, they will then teach you how to put them in, take them out and care for them. You will then need to go back after a week or so. You have this once only.
Third is an after care. This is an annual test where they check the fit of your contact lens and make sure everything is ok with them.

Just to clarify here.
Opticians are only obliged to accept NHS vouchers at face value.
However many make up the difference between the face value and the cost of basic lenses and frames.
It could be that the 'special offer' is the difference. Often if you wish to use your voucher against contact lenses then you will only get face value.

I have never had a good experience with Specsavers so I use Vison express now. Literally they are just terrible with mistakes and misinformation, they even mixed mine and my DH contact lenses up once and sent me his but my brand they wouldn't admit it happened.

Terrible company

So glad they're honouring it.

I just got glasses from there - got my test done elsewhere, as they usually get it wrong, took my NHS voucher in there and they were fine.

They said I could use it two ways - get free glasses upto the £69 range, I think. Or convert my voucher into money, and get that off any deal.

I wanted the free pair of glasses, so I paid £20 out of my own money for two pairs of glasses - I think both from the £85+ range.

Glad you've gotten it sorted. I was told by the person in the shop that I should use the voucher with the offer as I got a good deal that way. So clearly the information changes in different stores. A matter of training in individual stores perhaps?

Get your test done at opticians you're buying specs from. If it is wrong ( the prescription) the company who tested you will have to stump up the bill, very messy. They also measure your eyes, distance apart, where to insert bifocals and so forth.

A matter of training in individual stores perhaps?
All Specsavers are franchises. This leaves them open to local 'interpretation' of offers.

Get your test done at opticians you're buying specs from. If it is wrong ( the prescription) the company who tested you will have to stump up the bill, very messy. They also measure your eyes, distance apart, where to insert bifocals and so forth.

I second that. The problem you can have if you can't see with your new glasses is that the opticians who made the glasses will say the prescription is wrong, go back to the place you were tested and the testing opticians will say the glasses have been made wrong.

The distance between the eyes can be taken by either the optician testing or the optician dispensing but the measurements for bifocals can only be taken by the shop that is dispensing as the measurements are dependent on the frames. If you have a high prescription - over + or - 8, then they should also measure where the centre of your pupil sits in the frame and the front of your eye to the back of the lens.

Pipibin - the voucher for over -10 do I need to apply somehow? I am -10 and have always paid full price (at specssavers) my last glasses were £300 I have never had a voucher mentioned or heard of one!

The voucher for over + or - 10 should be automatic. You shouldn't pay for your test and you should then be issued with a voucher as part of the paperwork following the test. The form you sign for a free test is blue, the voucher is yellow and an A4 sheet of paper. You only get one though if your prescription has changed.
The voucher is yours to take away don't let them hold onto it for you.

You should never pay for your test if you are + or - 10. You are entitled to a free one every 2 years unless the optician says that they need to see you sooner. Species are a bunch of c*nts and if they thought they could get away with getting you to put more money in the till then they would.

You won't be able to claim for it in retrospect as the paperwork needs to go through at the time of test and the sale of the glasses. If you are feeling ballsy then go in a kick up a stink. They know damn well that you are entitled to the test and voucher. Who knows, they might give you some money back.

Glad you stood your ground and got them to back down. I have to use SS as my company pays for free testing and a voucher towards part payment as I use glasses for something other than just VDU work. As I was getting money off you could see they were itching to sell me some other offer to claw back extra money.

Pipbin I get the standard voucher for high prescriptions, and its £36 now. Better than nothing.

I must admit, I didn't know about Asda's prices, but the nearest is in the next town so not surprising really. Might look into it and see what the difference could be next time (I've just bought some so will need to wait a bit).

Itsjustme, I had my eyes tested at Specsavers (as they know my history) and the optician there told me that I was entitled to a free eye test and voucher due to my prescription. I wouldn't have known otherwise. A member of staff gave me a voucher to take away after the test.

Asda is awkward for me to get to (we never normally go there) but I made an effort as it saved me hundreds on my glasses.

Thanks Fry, I knew it wasn't much, but as you say, better than nothing.

Well done Fairylea.
Can I ask if anyone knows the rules for pregnant women? I have my free prescription certificate but couldn't find anything on the above link.
Thanks

Maybe it's changed, but I used to be allowed to use the nhs voucher against the cos of contact lenses. So maybe use the nhs voucher on your lenses and then pay the extra cost for the glasses with the money saved on lenses iykwim.

Get your test done at opticians you're buying specs from. If it is wrong ( the prescription) the company who tested you will have to stump up the bill, very messy. They also measure your eyes, distance apart, where to insert bifocals and so forth.

Pregnant women get zilch. Being pregnant does not affect your eyes, unlike general health or teeth.
You will only get help if you are claiming benefits.

Sorry, I meant to put Can I ask if anyone knows the rules for pregnant women? I have my free prescription certificate but couldn't find anything on the above link.
Thanks in bold, not the other bit. Good job the last thing I copied wasn't anything personal!

I used to work in Specsavers. I always get my eye tests and glasses elsewhere.

being pregnant certainly does affect your eyes! progesterone surges can weaken eye muscles and worsen your eyesight.....

You don't get free eye tests though by being pregnant.

I wouldn't know,but you said being pregnant doesn;t affect your eyes, and you are wrong.

Well I wouldn't know as I've never been pregnant, and chances are I never will be.

I'm sure before eye tests became free in Scotland pregnant woman got them for free.

As an eye specialist , pregnancy does very often cause changes in prescription as well as muscle,problems .

Sorry, rather touchy. Appointment for 3rd and final IVF tomorrow.

As far as the NHS are concerned it doesn't affect your eyes enough to warrant free eye tests.

Posted at exactly same time pipbin. Hope tomorrow goes well