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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think I am a total dunce and really should have said, NO I AM NOT PAYING THAT.

32 replies

Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby · 10/02/2010 14:18

I had to get my eyes checked, not much difference but need new lenses anyway as old ones scratched and frames looking a bit old now. So I got them done, decided to go for transition lenses (because similar price to my usual ones)... anyway... totted the price up, all ok... went along with it... BUT BOY are glasses expensive, and it's not like I can do without.

All I can say is should'a gone to the OTHER place....

I feel very cross and tetchy with myself now.

FGS £300 for a pair of glasses...a rghhh my gran just said the other place did her varifocals as transitions for £160. ARGHHHH I can't even cancel now.

Very very annoyed (with myself... it might be robbery, but I guess the optician can charge what they like).

OP posts:
Kaloki · 10/02/2010 14:25

Glasses are so expensive! My prescription changed (enough to give me headaches) and they couldn't fit new lenses in my old frames, so I was stuck paying. Not fun

Coldhands · 10/02/2010 18:37

Thats a ridiculous amount to pay!! I hate it that glasses are so expensive as it is something that you can't go without.

I went to the other place, when they had a deal on and I got free transitions lenses. My frames were £80, thats all my glasses cost me, which I still think is too much for something that is a necessity.

I used to go to a small independant opticians, but when I asked how much their transitions lenses were, I didn't go back again and stick to where I 'should' have gone.

CarGirl · 10/02/2010 18:42

dh is entitled to free eye tests as his eye test is so bad, but the lenses cost £240 alone and he has virtually no choice of frame as they have to thin them so much. His contacts were also £250.

What is the point of free eye tests due to extremely poor vision if there is no help with the cost of lenses!

Joolyjoolyjoo · 10/02/2010 18:44

I went to that other place too- I have contact lenses, and went for an eye test. My prescription had changed very slightly, and so they started to ask about glasses. I have a pair of glasses I bought last time and have literally worn once, as I hate the feeling of glasses on my face, and have the 24/7 contact lenses. I got the big speil about if I got an eye infection etc etc, and ended up forking out for another pair of glasses which I will never wear! However, I was quite proud that I managed to stick to almost the cheapest pair they had, despite much wheedling to try the lovely designer (expensive!) glasses! They get you all ways!

Pixel · 10/02/2010 18:45

Oh do tell me about transitions lenses, what are they?

Coldhands · 10/02/2010 18:48

Pixel They react to the light. When you go outside, they basically turn into sunglasses. You don't even notice it. They are fantastic!

Dirtgirl · 10/02/2010 18:49

DH gets his glasses from specs4you.com and they cost £30. He's got quite a strong prescription too, not just reading glasses. They're obviously not Gucci frames or anything but they're not grim.

maristella · 10/02/2010 18:55

ive used selectspecs.com a couple of times, loads cheaper

Pixel · 10/02/2010 19:00

Thanks Coldhands, a newer version of reactolite then? Sounds good, I get sick of carrying seperate sunglasses around.

Actually I was hoping they were going to be an alternative to varifocals. I've been told I will need these soon but I'm resisting as I've heard that they are horrible if you suffer from sea-sickness (which I do).

fernie3 · 10/02/2010 20:05

I hate my glasses ! I am really short sighted and so I need the very thin ones (If i dont get these I cant have most types of frame as they wont hold the lenses!) so my last pair were £400. They have a huge scratch down the front thanks to my darling son and they want £250 for the lenses to be replaced!

ImSoNotTelling · 10/02/2010 20:09

How do you do it on the internet then? With the numbers and the fitting and everything?

cloelia · 10/02/2010 20:25

Pixel, I was told I needed varifocals for the first time: in thin lenses, my prescription, £380 for lenses alone! Plus I had heard lots about how hard they can be to get used to. so after lots of thinking, I have got myself a stronger pair of glasses for driving, and am putting up with the previous prescription for everything else. Seems to be working very well. I think we get hoodwinked into sticking with the place where we have the eye test, so I do sympathise with the OP, I have always stuck with the one optician (a funny little local shop).

tyler80 · 10/02/2010 20:30

Specs4you doesn't exist anymore.

I haven't paid for frames for while, but lenses alone cost me 180

BikeRunSki · 10/02/2010 20:31

GGrr the cost of glasses really bugs me! It's not like I chose to be madly short sighted!I can't get them on the www because they have to be fitted so that the centre of the lense is PRECISELY in the centre of my eyes, as the my lenses are so strong, I get crazy distortion otherwise.

Particlalry P'ed off when DS (17 months) broke my frames beyond repaid last month, when the lenses didn't even need changing.

PAH!

maristella · 10/02/2010 20:40

you have to take your glasses prescription with you. opticians won't like it, but it is your prescription!
you will also have to decipher their handwriting
if needs be take the prescription into another opticians and ask them to decipher it
and try on the glasses you want in the opticians before you order!

Pixel · 10/02/2010 20:55

Cloelia, I can still see perfectly well with this prescription for everyday stuff, driving, watching tv etc, but just lately I've found myself having to take my glasses off to read or sew which I never had to do before! So I guess I can just carry on as I am for now .

wifeofdoom · 10/02/2010 21:00

www.spex4less.com/

I think your optician has to give you your prescription legally iyswim.

I've bought about 3 pairs from the people above - the rimless ones - they were great and very cheap. You just put the numbers in your prescription in.

Good luck!

Eeek · 10/02/2010 21:02

I have varifocals and they are absolutely fine. I suffer horrible sea-sickness and I've had no trouble with them at all. The only thing that takes a bit of getting used to is walking down stairs as you're looking through the 'wrong' bit of the lens. I also have varifocal contact lenses which I did take a bit longer to get used to. Do try varifocals if your optician thinks you need them - usually they won't recommend them unless they think they really will help

NoahAndTheWhale · 10/02/2010 21:06

I dislike having such useless eyesight that I get a free sight test and a voucher worth something small (about £13 I think) towards glasses but then the lenses cost so much.

And as I get older I will need varifocals as well. I am so looking forward to it

beammeupscotty · 10/02/2010 21:48

The moral of this story is you always ask the final price for anything you buy. It might be vulgar but it saves you dosh

twoistwiceasfun · 11/02/2010 11:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarGirl · 11/02/2010 14:33

I just looked at all the on line places and guess what once his lenses need replacing because his eyes have deteriorated more then he can't get them done on-line. They only go up to "10" which is where he's at already

BooHooMonkey · 11/02/2010 14:38

I useglasses directwhich are very cheap and usually have good offers

NoahAndTheWhale · 11/02/2010 14:55

I have a similar problem Cargirl (mine are 10.25, but at least not getting any worse).

NoahAndTheWhale · 11/02/2010 14:58

Just looked at glasses direct and they go up to + or - 8.00. Sadly no good for me.

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