Can an eye test result be incorrect? (Specsavers)

[Batmanisaplaceinturkey]

Got some new glasses from Specsavers but they feel 'off'. It feels uncomfortable to see through them and vision feels slightly blurry.
I went back but, after checking my eyes with a machine (the one where you look at a picture of a balloon), they fobbed me off a bit. Whilst I was there a couple in the waiting area mentioned they experienced a wrong prescription three times.

My actual eye test felt rushed and I was unable to blink properly because of their machinery pressing on my eyelids.

I have another appointment, because I insisted on being rechecked properly by another optician, but I'm doubting myself now.

Is it possible for opticians to get it wrong?

My prescription has numbers for sph, cyl and axis.

Personally never had an issue with specsavers but Dsis had to have hers corrected.
A friend really had issues with vision express, initially told nothing was wrong with test or glasses and to perserver , then had new test, same result, went to an independent who disagreed with results, got new glasses without any issues. Think she eventually got compensated.

Google says it’s a joint venture partnership , sounds like a franchise?
I know my local one is owned by the head optician

Learn more

Yes, Specsavers is a franchise in the UK:

Model
Specsavers is a joint venture partnership model, where each store is part-owned and managed by its own directors.

Partners
Directors are usually an optometrist and a dispensing optician, audiologist, or retailer.They pay a management fee to Specsavers and keep any profits.

Support
Specsavers provides support services to partners, including marketing, accounting, IT, and wholesaling.

Specsavers absolutely IS a franchise (ex employee here).
Optometry is a regulated industry and all optometrists have to be qualified to be able to practise & conduct eye examinations - no exceptions.
Dispensing is different and you do not need to be qualified to dispense glasses (apart from for children / complex prescriptions).

And it’s always been a fully qualified optometrist who’s done my eyesight test. Dd had a nearly qualified student once who was seeing people on her own but she was doing /just finished her degree.

How’s Asda for comparison?

They vary because they’re a franchise business. Ours is fantastic, the owner does my eye tests and he’s the dog’s. They acknowledge that eye tests can be wrong, that’s why there’s a no questions asked return period.

We've used the local Boots opticians for ages. But the most recent tests felt rushed, and whilst my husband's glasses are ok, mine were completely wrong and ended up going back as I can see better with my Home Bargains £2.50 reading glasses. Won't be going back to Boots, and from this thread looks like we will be giving Specsavers a swerve too. Our local Costco does tests and glasses, does anyone know if they're any good?

Specsavers got my hearing test wrong - said I had much worse hearing in one ear and referred to GP to refer to audiology. NHS audioligy wait was ages so went private. £250 later the private test showed no differences between my ears. Nice coffee though.

I wouldn't be too bothered if Specsavers didn't always get things right, but mistakes seem to be far too frequent. What really bothers me is when they deny that there is a problem. And no, there should be no question of "getting used to them" or "try them for a few weeks". If you can't see clearly - they're wrong and they have to put them right.

I got but didn't realise trainees for my glasses and contact lenses appointments. The glasses are a bit off and one pair I really can't wear. The contact lenses were worse than the old ones, got a retest new lenses with vastly different prescription (which took ages to arrive for some reason), and one was faulty totally fogged. Seriously considering going somewhere else next time, but very limited choice locally. I really don't want to be going back and fore for endless appointments for them to get things right! Too many unqualified people doing the testing these days, they used to be good.

I used Costco once and they were good, but a bit far away for me to use regularly, although thanks for reminding me, maybe I will make the effort next time.

I have a fabulous optician in my specsavers, never had a problem….their audiology on the other hand 🙈

Me and DH used SpecSavers but I was never completely happy, although DH was fairly relaxed. We have just changed to the independent in our village and it is much better. We both paid to have the additional OCT test which our optician talked us through in detail. We both felt she took time with us. Although they’re more expensive we feel we got a much better service.

Optometrists carrying out the sight tests are fully qualified professionals and are members of the General Optical Council, they must maintain continued professional development in order to maintain their membership and therefore their ability to practise. Dispensers or optical assistants are not qualified professionals but trained in house, they can undertake further studies to become dispensing opticians which also requires a degree but they would still not be qualified to perform sight tests. The pretests and visual fields tests can be done by optical assistants and DOs.
Specsavers is definitely a franchise.

My brother went as a young teen in a mood and decided he couldn't possibly understand what was meant by which colour is brighter so said red to them all and came out with needing glasses for (if I remember rightly) acute astigmatism.
Once DM had established it was his answers not a real test he was retested under threats to behave and didn't need those glasses any more!

Not quite the same but still wrong glasses.

I think they are optical assistants in my local branch.
Wiki says it's not a franchise.

specsavers missed serious problems in both my kids, including one that has needed an eye hospital referral after being seen elsewhere.

If it’s uncomfortable to wear your glasses and your vision is blurry, they have absolutely done something wrong. Either the original prescription was wrong or the glasses weren’t made accurately. Something must be wrong so don’t be fobbed off!