To think the price of specs is awful

[TheConfusedofthedeadOne]

went and had my eyes tested today, chose a nice pair of specs from the cheapest range, bog standard lenses (without anti scratch, anti glare HD and whatever)

They are varifocal tho.

£325.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do people on low income do!! (yes I know people on benefits can get help, there was a quite a nice range with NHS vouchers) but what about the low earners not getting benefits of any sort!

glassesframesandlenses.com also have unlimited prescription ranges so Idristhedragon check it out!

I go to Specsavers - my frames were £79. I have to have REALLY strong lenses, because they are so strong they are very thick. I have to get them made thinner otherwise the glasses are to heavy to wear and make my skin bleed, etc. So with the lenses they were £280! The NHS gives e £20 towards the cost because of my strong prescription. When I need varificals, etc I guess it will be even more.

I do think they're too expensive, its not my fault my eyesight is so bad. If I didn't pay for glasses then as my eyesight is so bad I wouldn't be able to leave the house, work, etc. Wonder if I could claim incapacity benefit then.

Try Belgium - the cheapest frames I have seen here have been about 450 euros, then you have the lenses on top, plus 21% VAT. That's why I go back to UK to Specsavers!

I was the Op under a different name.

UPDATE:

After spending all that amount, THEY WERE THR WRONG SORT OF FRAMES FOR THE LENSES!!!!!! I should never have been sold them!

They were too narrow for varifocals, and I had to go back wait a hour to be seen, and then when I was seen, the lady serving me had to keep nipping off to help others so it took another hour to sort new frames and have them sent off to be made up.

It was another 3 weeks until they were ready!

Never Never will I Buy from Vision Express again!

If you have anything other than mild-moderate vision problems then I'd say go to an independent optician every time. I switched over when I developed cataracts - my gp recommended an optician who would give her a decent detailed report.

The opticians have been brilliant, I feel that they really try to cater for my needs and they are really supportive and reassuring when I have eye issues. I get to see the same person each time who seems to really understand. The dispensing optician has been great too - he sits down and discusses what I need to be able to do with the glasses and properly fits me. Its like night and day compared to experiences I've had with D&A and specsavers.

Shoshe - ARRRGGGGHHHHHH!! What a PITA... similar thing happened to Dh he wanted the bendy frames, but they couldn't get the lenses to sit in the frames right so his vision was distorted (he has even worse eyesight than me!).
To be fair at least he got a full refund.
I've never rated Specsavers, have always had problems with the frames breaking!