To think the NHS eyesight voucher should cover the cost of the child's glasses?

[N0numbers]

My dd needs a new pair of glasses as her prescription has changed.

We chose a "free" pair of frames and lenses with the NHS voucher, but because of her prescription I had to pay an additional £150 to get the right lenses.

Well it was the choice between food on the table or the glasses, unfortunately she won't be seeing the food we are eating!

I feel like the worse mother in the world right now at not being able to provide the glasses.

AIBU to think it should be possible to get free glasses on the NHS for children or is this a luxury and in these days of austerity i should be paying for glasses?

I will be saving up to get the new glasses but suspect it will be another month before she gets the. So she will get them eventually.

WTFIS when we got DS2's thinned lenses, we were shown a graphic which showed how thick each other options would be with his prescription.

Yay for Asda!

I never thought I would type that. The place normally fills me with dread.

Sunseeker - for children it is paid for by the NHS. It's not like they don't get paid at all.

I got my latest glasses (v short sighted, astigmatism, prisms in two directions and now I need bifocals) at Asda. £99 for two pairs with all that, and high index lenses.
I am delighted with them, and though I felt rather dubious about going there as my lenses are so complicated, the optician and dispenser were excellent.

This is interesting to read. I have spent a lot on my DS's glasses in the past - when he was younger he was constantly breaking them and I was told the NHS prescriptions will only fix/replace them so many times. I've usually had to pay about £40 for thinning (so they aren't too heavy and slip down his nose) but of course you can't get the thinned lenses replaced for free if they get damaged so you have to pay for it all over again....also the NHS prescription is only for one pair, fortunately many stores now do offer second pairs for free. We have just afforded it, but I have often thought it must be very hard for families on low incomes, I don't think it's very fair when glasses are essential not a luxury!
Hope you get it sorted OP let us know how you get on.

Very interesting! I have tricky eyes - v shortsighted, but diabetic retinopathy and astigmatism on top. I was impressed with specsavers last time I got glasses. The independent opticians I used to use charged me over £500 for glasses inc thinning (1.67), cost with Specsavers for the same was something like £150.

DS1 (age 5) has recently got glasses (long sighted), we got 2 pairs for 1 NHS hospital prescription from them, got to choose which was the designated NHS pair and told they were eligible for unlimited repairs and replacements. Astonishingly we haven't had to have either yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time

For the first time in my dd's life I have not had to pay a penny for glasses.

Great selection of frames - the most I would have had to pay was £12, but dd wanted one that happened to be free.

Great service, friendly staff.

Asda I am available for your marketing because I cannot sing your praises enough.

I've always had to pay around the £100 mark previously in Specsavers to get the lens thinned enough.

I know op. Maybe i should have kept quiet as i need new glasses as my last asda ones after 5 years are on their last legs. They still work but the frame is tried. I love the fact that the thinning of lenses, stratch proof etc is included.

I have a 5yr old with a high prescription of +7.75 with astigmatism of -1.50. Her 1st glasses we got were from vision express, we got 2 pairs (Bogof) and had both thinned. Cost us £120 as they do not take into account B voucher, they only take A off which is disgusting...
The next year we went to Boots opticians where I used to work, had a discount voucher. Came out a lot cheaper but only had one pair, which we had thinned. I made the mistake of not buying their glasses cover (insurance) for £25, which will cover you for a year of unlimited repairs and replacements. So when my daughter scratched her lenses I had to pay £60 for the thinner lenses as Boots won't cover that with the NHS repair voucher.
This year after reading this discussion I thought I would try Asda! WOW!! Great knowledgeable staff. Wasn't many frames to choose from, but daughter chose Disney Princess plastic modern frame and I said I wanted her to have lenses with a 1.67 index. They lady said they would be completely free!!! Couldn't believe it!! Then when she put the order through, the computer said she could have 1.74 index lenses (the thinnest!) absolutely free!! She also said that if they get damaged then they will be completely free to replace using the NHS repair voucher!! No extra for thinner lenses!!
Will collect them in 2 weeks. Will ask how much to buy a spare pair.
Definitely the place to go if your child has high prescription!!
Everyone else obviously a rip off!!!

Moving on to 2019 my child has a very debilitating eye problem he could have free contacts but is not comfortable with them so because he has very strong lenses 16+ - 18+ they go over the voucher amount so I am expected to pay the extra and that's at Specsavers a previous options asked us to leave as they wouldn't cover the top up. This is outrageous! Without his glasses he is almost blind! I am Going to look into this further once I calm down.