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

Last pair 59, im naughty i always go over a month or so on recommended date to go bak and the last 3 time iv been sent a reminder with a voucher for free test and 50 off frames

You can get someone to measure your pupil distance (pd). The opticians will never tell you it for obvious reasons.
However, the last pair I had, ordered online but based on a Boots' optician's script, were completely wrong because the optician had recorded the wrong value in one lens. I have no compunction in taking my business elsewhere.

Mine were 400 all in but paid for grinding them down and extra coating. Probably the most expensive thing I own

Mine are about £500-600 for lenses. I'm -15 and have astigmatism. I need them thinned too or I can't wear them because they hurt my nose or ears from the weight (they're always properly fitted). But they can't be thinned all the way down (can't remember why but think it's much, much more expensive) so still are quite heavy.

I really suffered at uni to pay for them. I had an NHS voucher that gave me about £50 off..better than a kick in the teeth, but not a huge help.

I can't wear contact lenses for my prescription because they all hurt my eyes now. Used to wear gas permeable but can't any more. So, I wear soft lenses which are comfy and correct most of it, but need another set for driving whilst wearing the contacts.

Main glasses are just for getting up/going to bed and when I'm sick.

About £400.

I only et new ones about every 10 years.

Once I had a prescription, I went online and got a couple of stylish (I think) pairs for £25 each.

Haven't seen the frame design anywhere in the shops ...

Eye test - free because my prescription is high.
Frames - £45 for two from Specsavers.
Lenses - about £150 including being thinned.

I paid around £200 all-in so maybe the lenses were a bit more, but I wouldn't pay anything more than that. That was last summer.

Varifocals, glass slimmed down, bogof, £228 specsavers, yesterday.

£150.

But mine are just raybans with the 'special' lenses that don't scratch obviously they are badly scratched.

I was using the Boots contact lens scheme when I bought them and that means you get frames half price I think.

£65 with ultra high index lenses, online from Glasses Direct or something. Mind you I am very unfussy about frames.

I have this problem, I have to have the lenses thinned down otherwise they are like jam jar bottoms, and are too heavy to wear. With the varifocals etc. even with specsaver offers the cheapest are around £400 now, I can't go out or function normally at all without glasses, so have to pay it. I haven't tried any internet suppliers though.

If you've got a complete prescription you could try buying online?

Are you unable to wear plastic ones? I'm allergic to the nickel in most metal frames, so it's stainless steel or titanium for me too, but titanium is expensive. I got my current spex from Specsavers and you don't have to pay more than a couple of hundred BUT they will try to talk you up, add in this and that. Stick to what you need and when they offer you ultra thin lenses etc ask 'how much extra is that?' and say 'no' when they tell you.

No way to get around the price of the thin lenses - I'm in my forties and have worn glasses since I was five. I never got on with lenses, so I only wear them if going out, so my glasses need to be up to the daily abuse. I replace around every three years, the current pair are the most expensive ever - around £650, going on three years ago so they will do for another year I hope. The price was a combination of lenses as thin as I could get, anti-scratch and anti-reflection coatings and Prada frames. The lenses were about 60% of that. I love these though, and as I wear them every single day I don't begrudge the money. Intrigued by Internet suppliers though - can they handle lenses with cylinders?

BTW I am facing the reading glasses/varifocals thing I think, recently I've started to take my glasses off to read - I'm turning into one of those women who hold jars in the supermarket at arms length whilst peering over her glasses to read the ingredients. A glamourous look I think we can all agree.

500ish with the anti glare, super thin lense options etc and Dior frames. I find most current frames too narrow and so get very picky.

Don't know how crucial it is with certain prescritions to have them made through an optician, but if it was me I think I'd definitwly speculate £75-£100 or so to see if they might be possible - a loss leader I suppose, potentially saving loads of money and meaning you're not stuck wearing the same specs for years.

269 and not even varifocals. sigh.

I would recommend Glasses Direct highly. They often have deals on, 50% off, etc. I combined two deals a few months ago and got two pairs of glasses for £25. Admittedly, not varifocals, but I'd still go to them if I needed varifocals.

I would never, ever pay high street prices - they are ridiculous.

Bloody hell, you lot pay a fortune for varifocals! I just go to Specsavers; I can't remember how much I paid, but it was well under £200, including anti-reflective coating.

My most recent pair (only pair) bought 4 years ago, were £650!

They are varifocals, with anti-scratch, anti-reflective, transitions lenses. I wear them all day every day.

BTW I am facing the reading glasses/varifocals thing I think, recently I've started to take my glasses off to read - I'm turning into one of those women who hold jars in the supermarket at arms length whilst peering over her glasses to read the ingredients. A glamourous look I think we can all agree.

Yep. I have reading glasses as well (and, when feeling flush, reactolite ones too!)
I thank God for my kindle, so at least I don't struggle with books anymore, just newspapers. Labels are becoming impossible with whatever glasses I use.

I would never go online as I really do need them properly fitted to be able to see properly. High prescriptions are a nightmare to live with.

£285 just for lenses to be put in old frames this week. I have a strong prescription

My last glasses were around €700. I'm a -7 though, so need the expensive thin lenses.

'BTW I am facing the reading glasses/varifocals thing I think, recently I've started to take my glasses off to read - I'm turning into one of those women who hold jars in the supermarket at arms length whilst peering over her glasses to read the ingredients. A glamourous look I think we can all agree'. Me too, Katie. I have to slide my glasses down and peer over them in order to read. I'm only 31 but definitely need reading glasses.

Those of you who buy glasses online, how do you know if they fit/suit you/are comfortable?? Can you return them?

£60: Stella mccartneys with 1.67 lenses, anti glare, anti scratch. Fairly strong prescription.

All via eBay.