Glasses - soooo expensive!

[Pennyplant19]

Someone please make me feel better - just been to Specsavers and spent £500 on 2 pairs of glasses (with the 241 frame offer!)
one pair of varifocals, 1 pair occupational
is that about right?
I’ve bought online before with varying success, so decided to be properly fitted. I just need to that this is about right these days, and I’m just behind the times!
My prescription is -4.50 and I have astigmatism.

Yeah. It’s the specialist lenses that cost. Plus if the frames are designer, you’re easily looking at £250 each for a decent pair.

I’ve just spent the same. It’s the varifocal element. My adult dd paid £30 for a pair at specsavers as she gets the cheapest frames and they are just for reading.

If you decline the 241 offer you can normally negotiate discount on the first pair instead of the free second pair if that helps another time. I think varifocals make it more expensive.

Asda are the best for varifocals. They don't charge additional for them. Go to Asda next time.

I get all of mine from Firmoo now, I just take the prescription with me from Specsavers.

I get my glasses from glasses direct .You upload your prescription. It normally works out about a third of what I spend in vision express

I’ve just bought one pair of varifocals and one pair of computer glasses on the Specsavers 241 deal for about £250 for both. They are Specsavers frames though. And they gave me a 50% off voucher that I’m going to use for some vf sunglasses.

I think you've done well to get two pairs for that!
My last pair, about 18 months ago, cost the best part of £500. Fairly cheap frames but good quality varifocals catering for astigmatism; transition lenses with anti scratch coating all adds up.

Asda all the way. Two pairs of varifocals, one occupational, for £140.

And they work better than Specsavers glasses too.

If it’s not complex lenses it’s a lot cheaper.

for the last two years I have been wearing (all day every day) a pair of Specsavers £35 frames and they have been fine. Like always I am ready for a change now but they have lasted. I have a simple prescription though so no extra for lenses

I was in specsavers last week, also for variofocals and astigmatism. For their best varifocal, and their mid range thinning of the lenses, it would have been about £250 for 2 pairs. That was for the £70 frames.

How much were the frames you chose OP, because that is double what I was quoted for 2 pairs!

Agree. I have -8.75 prescription and an astigmatism. My glasses with reactive lenses cost £160

Yep it’s about that if you need complex lenses. I’m -9.50 in both eyes with astigmatism and need varifocals and I’ve just paid £600 for two pairs with specsavers. Before that my last pair was £750 at an independent opticians. I’ve tried Asda before and found the field of vision in their varifocals wasn’t nearly as good as the lenses I’ve had from the independent one. Even specsavers isn’t as good as those but I prefer the frame choice in specsavers. It does make me laugh that if you’re entitled to a complex lens voucher from the nhs it’s around £60 (!) you can’t even get lenses for that!

I got laser eye surgery 13 years ago because I figured the cost of buying a new prescription every few years (plus contacts) would work out the same. In hindsight it would have been more expensive. I used my savings so it was a big investment but it was the best money I've spent. My mother has worn glasses all her life and god knows how much she's spent.

I am in another country and have just bought varifocals for £50. Always stock up here.

My last pair of glasses cost over £600 not with expensive frames, my eyes are

• 11and - 12. I am resisting varifocls.

One pair £130, one pair £100. The £100 ones were their own brand.

I’ve have astigmatism and just got two pairs of varifocals from Specsavers for under £300. Did you choose expensive frames OP?

I just get the £6 ones at select specs. Admittedly I'm single vision. But I doubt even varifocals would cup up to £500.

Thank you all so much. I feel better now! I have bought from Glasses Direct before and had varying results, and because I’m so picky about frames (I have a really round face) and they aren’t doing their home frame trial atm I didn’t feel confident!

Deff going to shop around next time tho - I had no idea Asda even did glasses!

Can i please ask, how do they do the measurements for the varifocals if you buy online? And how do you get the frames adjusted to fit your face when you get the glasses?

David Cluelow take about £30 a month from me, which is a 0% finance deal on my glasses. Think the cost is £600? Something stupid. But I pretend it’s ok because I get a free annual eye test, and they replace the lenses free if they get scratched. So I definitely try not to scratch them.

Asda for the eye testing,been going there 12 years, glasses direct. Ds has used select specs,he wears glasses all the time. No way could I afford these eye watering amounts,on a state pension. Specsavers messed up 3 separate branches,no thanks.

I'm in a similar boat.

I bought a couple of pairs 3 years ago for £50 a pair. I chose the cheapest available.

I went back a couple of months ago expecting the same and walked out and hour later having paid close to £200 for two pairs. Double the price in just 3 years!