To ask if you wear them how much your last pair of spectacles cost

[JaceLancs]

I have worn glasses since I was 7, then contact lenses from 18 up until my 40s when I developed dry eyes and other problems which meant I had to give them up
Now at 51 am having to consider varifocals
I have quite a strong prescription so usually have the lenses made thinner, prefer rimless styles and due to allergies have to have either titanium or stainless steel frames
My current pair are also transitions as I found that cheaper last time than buying a second pair even with the offers around
I've tried 3 local independents along with vision express and specsavers
Cheapest quote I've had was around £400 dearest £600+
That was not for custom varifocals but not for the very basic ones either

REading glasses - poundland £1 I splashed out on a £4 pair in Tiger once though

£500 from Boots Opticians.

Varifocals with thinned and coated lenses and designer frames BUT they are the first thing I put on in the morning and the last thing I take off at night and I calculated that the cost per day over the two years until I renew them is less than 70p.

mine are ridiculously expensive because i have a really high prescription so i get them super thinned. last pair was £350 and that was a cheap frame and with an nhs voucher.

£318 for 2 pairs of varifocals from Specsavers. No thinning - I have a wonky rather than a strong prescription.

I'll try somewhere else next time, though. They've changed the lenses and I don't like them.

If you can tell me your RX I can recommend which index you will need just to make sure they aren't trying to rob you

£75 for two pairs from Glasses Direct - it was their Sale and I had a code. Brilliant quality and very pleased a few months on. They're only a simple prescription though not varifocals...

I was at Vision Express on Saturday, total cost was 438. Varifocals, with thinner lenses, pretty decent frames and some kind of insurance. That price had a 10% discount. My budget was £500.00. They'll need to last me a few years (4 at least hopefully).

£150 for two pairs of designer glasses from specsavers on their buy one get one free. They're luffly.

Complex prescription, varifocals, thinned lenses - at least £600. As the lady overlraf said those things make glasses expensive.

My rationale is I wear them every day on my face. Therefore I am entitled that they be as good as they can be. £850 every three years (yes, because I include a pair of sunglasses) works out at less than £1 a day - two coffees a week for something that sits on my face and everyone sees!

£500 boots opticians. Frame was £170 all the rest were lenses. I bought the best varifocal lenses I could afford.

£3.99 from the chemist across the road from work when my expensive ones snapped. I've had these about a year now!

£67 glasses direct with extra thin lenses and anti glare. Love them

I have eyezen lenses (think that is what they are called - a sort of intro varifocal type lense anyway), short sighted, astigmatism, thinned lenses with antiscratch etc. my new frames were £140 and the lenses were £190 I think, not had them long so prices would be pretty current.

to be honest it was less than I expected, I got new prescription polarising sunglasses too which came to a similar sort of price.

200 or so. I'm in a health cash scheme though so usually get some money back.

My first pair of varifocals from my independent optician I've been going to for years were £500+ similar to you with paying extra for thin lenses etc.

My last pairs were from Asda on the 2 for £99 deal, I figured I can replace them every 6 months if necessary and still be saving money. I got them last july and still on the first pair which are doing fine. Normally I get glass lenses as they don't scratch like plastic and I seem to scratch them somehow. So I'm a convert to cheapie Asda varifocal glasses...

390 varifocals but then got a free pair of artificial sunglasses

Local independent last month - just under £150
Frames - 45 ish (optician's own brand)
Lenses - 100 ish, ultra thin, hi index, anti glare coating etc. Optician's make their own lenses. Single vision still, fortunately!

Usually around £200 but the last pair I bought was just after I had DD3 so money was a bit tight. I went to specsavers and with one of their deals I ended up paying £30 in total. I like the gasses I got but much prefer my older ones as they are better made.

Asda opticians

£15 eye test
£70 for the glasses (frames and varifocal lenses) it's 2 for £100 at the moment.

I used to go to boots but it was too expensive!

2 pair of rimless reading glasses delivered from select specs for £25.

They have a store in Kent if that's near you?
www.selectspecs.com/store/

DH wears glasses every waking moment, needing thick glass and also wanting to look good. We were spending around £400 per set every 3 / 4 years, our lovely optician would clean and service them. We then "invested" in a beautiful pair of Cartier glasses at around £900. They will last many many years, he looks after them well and it's worth the investment. They are in use almost constantly, handle a battering and look great.

I just had to replace mine - the quote from insurance was £700. Mid price designer frames (about £100) then the rest on lenses - really short sighted (7.25) so get super thin lenses in mineral glass because I am clumsy and end up scratching the plastic lenses. I find this outrageously expensive but then the cost per wear is not terrible if you use them every day. Make sure your insurance would cover replacement if they get damaged/ lost.

Eye test was free designer frame and lenses were £199. Never again they fell apart in a few months.

Current glasses from the £50 range in local independent opticians and they are holding up well. Single vision lenses with quite a big prescription, I don't get them thinned.

£280 but I got a big discount because I'm on a monthly contact lens replacement plan with the opticians I bought the glasses off (I think the frames were half price). The lenses were pricey because I needed ultra thin.

Thank you all for really helpful responses
I think it's mainly that I've never had varifocals before that is making the difference and that I'm being advised to go for the high end of varifocals
The frames aren't the issue - most of the ones I've found are between £90 and £150 and as others have said I want to be happy with them and feel I look the best I can as I will be wearing them all the time
I do have some astigmatism - in my worst eye prescription for distance is minus 9.25 and for near vision plus 1.50
Looks like I might be asking my nearest and dearest for money in lieu of birthday presents and putting the balance on my credit card