To think £500 for reading glasses is just too much?

[Goldangel]

DH has just called to say he got his first pair of reading glasses for £500!!! Frames cost £200 the rest on lenses! I think he said yes to everything they suggested at the opticians, his eye sight isn’t that bad!!

We’re both late 40’s and been getting by using cheap reading glasses so this is a HUGE step up!!

In all fairness he doesn’t spend much on himself but I’m so annoyed at him as it’s something he’s likely to lose!

How much are average prescription reading glasses anyway?

AIBU to be annoyed he’s spent so much?

Thanks

Do varifofals cost more?

They cost much much more because they correct both long distance vision and close up vision. If he has always had good eyesight he will just need single vision glasses for reading. They should be much much cheaper than both glasses for distance vision and varifocals. I usually pay about £5 for a pair. My distance vision glasses cost about £150 and varifocals would cost about £400.

You DH has been ripped off.

Slightly different opinion here but I'm very short sighted so need glasses or contacts on at all times and my last 3 pairs of glasses going back approx 12 years have all been around the £500/600 price range.

The DH isn't short sighted though. He just needs reading glasses like most people over 45. They are very cheap to buy if you are not short sighted as well.

I’d definitely clarify what exactly he’s got, ie reading glasses only or varifocals?
Has he had “extras” - photochromic? High index? Any coatings? These can all add to the cost

I’m pretty short sighted (about - 11 in both eyes). Not got age related long sight (yet - am 43 so will happen soon).

I wear contact lenses most of the time and have glasses from Asda in the morning and evening. Have been fine so far

Admittedly my last pair of varifocals are not what you would call fashionable but I paid £69.

Admittedly my last pair of varifocals are not what you would call fashionable but I paid £69

It depends on how short sighted you are, how complicated your prescription is and what you use them for.

If he only usually wears a +1.50RR then I doubt his NV prescription is that high now so anything above a 1.6 index lens is probably unnecessary.
I don’t think he’s been conned as PP have said, I think he’s probably just said yes to everything that’s been recommended.
If he does find a distance prescription helps somewhat when looking at a chart, and he needs to use a computer and read then they possibly said to get varifocals, mainly so he wouldn’t have to mess about putting them on and off.
I’d check his receipt and just check what he got.
With a 15% discount inc. in the price though, it sounds like he’s gotten Zeiss lenses!

David clulow is seriously overpriced! Vision express also charge loads.

Specsavers and ASDA are much better value,

Incidentally I was quoted £650 for new lenses in my existing frames this morning and laughed outright at them - vision express are convenient for my eye test but I will be taking my prescription elsewhere!

so the £500 was after a 15% discount? Sounds like daylight robbery to me. Specsavers have always been great for me and DH, have also used Glasses Direct and they were good. Two pairs for £25, one sunglasses, for spares. I would want solid gold specs for £500.

Mine were £80 opticians but I prefer the prescription ones I brought online @ £15

Easy to order and arrived quickly much lighter than the optician ones

My varifocals only cost250 and I thought that was loads. Dh spent similar on reading glasses. Not sure how.

I ordered a new pair of prescription reading glasses last week, for about £20, of which a quarter was postage.

I just ordered two pairs of prescription reading glasses on select specs last night.

They are trendy plastic frames - one pair in "demi" and one pair in black - £17.95 including postage, cases and cleaning cloths.

Same two pairs in Boots would cost about £150. Select Specs, Specs by Post and Speccy Four Eyes are all really good. If you are not sure you can upload your prescription and let them work it out.

YANBU ... He is being WELL ripped off.

No need to pay more than £100 - even for decent ones (or strong lenses if your eyesight is a bit shit and you need strong lenses.)

Try Asda or Tesco. Their optician service is good.

I would be fucking fuming.

Look on the arms
3 number - big one say 175 is the arm length
The smallest number is the bridge across your nose
The other one is the diagonal of the glass

Then you add in the prescription

Not many frames types really it's just down to colour

*3 number - big one say 175 is the arm length
The smallest number is the bridge across your nose
The other one is the diagonal of the glass *

This doesn't correspond to the numbers on my glasses. One pair has two numbers and one pair has four. If it was that easy, the online opticians would be able to make them for me but they can't. Last time they asked me to send an old pair and even then they got it completely wrong.

Having said, that if the OP's DH does needs reading glasses they are easy and cheap just to buy without going to an optician.

Thanks for all the replies, an expensive lesson has been learnt. DH was not able to cancel the order as his glasses will be ready tomorrow. 😫 They did offer him a £30 refund fwiw.

Who knows what he was thinking to pay so much without shopping around, he was once measured for golf clubs at a golf show years ago, he left with the paper prescription only, not a brand new golf club as he knew he could get one he wanted elsewhere and cheaper, why he didn't apply that concept to his first pair of glasses is beyond me!

Ah well, we live and learn, thanks again and for the great tips for when I upgrade.

!!! Take them back. That's outrageous, vastly overpriced.

Thanks for all the replies, an expensive lesson has been learnt. DH was not able to cancel the order as his glasses will be ready tomorrow. 😫 They did offer him a £30 refund fwiw.

They can't demand he pays for them if he hasn't taken them yet. They took advantage of his lack of knowledge.

I get mine in Primark for £2 or £3. Aldi had packs of 3 for £5 last week, really nice ones. I honestly think most expensive reading glasses are a con.

@dungeondragon15
I totally agree, but he's already paid for them, he spoke to them 5 times this morning on the phone and they aren't budging and now pushing the order through, I feel sick just thinking about it 😫

My eyes are bad and I buy 2 for £99 glasses from Asda.

The cheapest place to get them are online (less than £20)

*They can't demand he pays for them if he hasn't taken them yet

If they're like many high street opticians they' probably insisted he paid upfront. All I can think of now is whether there's some sort of cooling off period (which may not be so on "personally tailored" items)

Without doubt, now so many go online or buy off the shelf, they're trying to claw back what they can from those who'll order in store ... as OP said, an expensive lesson learned for next time

OP, when your DH collects the glasses he should also ask for his prescription if he hasn't already been given it.
If he does just require simple reading glasses he should complain to www.opticalcomplaints.co.uk/

They have really taken advantage of his ignorance with regard to glasses.

My last glasses which was early this year were £20 for both frames and lenses on perscription from tesco optician, the sight test was also free. His glasses were massively overpriced. My most expensive were £60 and that was due to lenses being thined. My £20 pair are very comfortable and looked alot better than some of the designer ones, asda optician and spec savers are also a good price