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Original poster

do i have to pay for ten year old's glasses?

8 replies

pukkapatch · 09/01/2008 08:36

or cani get them for free? i'm not on any benefits. but dont really want the added burden of another pair of glasses iyswim

OP posts:

KatyMac · 09/01/2008 08:39

I thought all children were entitled to a voucher which should cover the cost of their glasses - but I could be wrong

DD's glasses (about 5 yrs ago) we added a bit to (£130/£15?) so her glasses were a bit nicer, but the ones covered by the voucher were OK

Original poster

pukkapatch · 09/01/2008 08:44

i dont mind paying a bit more to get the pair he wants, but being a glasses/cotntact lens wearer myself, i know how much they cost, so woudl really appreciate the help.
thanks. so i do get a voucher off.

OP posts:

Sidge · 09/01/2008 09:02

My DD had a choice of "free" glasses. They were all really nice. If we wanted something different we would have been able to order them and pay the difference.

figroll · 09/01/2008 12:45

You can get them free from specsavers and I think Dolland and Aitcheson also do free glasses. However, it all depends on your son's prescription.

My dd2 has specs and is long sighted with a squint and a relatively thick lens. We chose frames that were about £25 but had to pay for the lenses to be thinned (they are very heavy on her nose otherwise) and then we bought a spare pair which aren't covered by nhs vouchers and she really needs to have them because of her squint.

All in all, our last visit to the optician cost me £150 for 2 pairs of glasses.

So yes, you can get them free, but my dd is now 12 and I have spent a small fortune on glasses since she was about 12 months old.

figroll · 09/01/2008 12:46

Sorry I don't know why I thought you had a son!

UniversallyChallenged · 09/01/2008 12:47

We go to Boots as they have a pretty good free range. DD has broken hers 3 times and they have never charged me for replacing them

Original poster

pukkapatch · 11/01/2008 08:37

i do as it happens fig. you've probly chatted to me on some toher thread.
i know my parents spent a fortune on my glasses over the years. thats why i really want to know how much they cost.

he wants contact lenses. i've told him he can have themwhen he is 16 or he learns to keep his nails clean. i dont envisage having to pay for thme ever.

OP posts:

Oblomov · 11/01/2008 09:05

You get one voucher. And if they break they should be replaced for free.
But you can get a second voucher, if you request it. For a spare pair. I said that because ds is cross-eyed, he has to have a spare pair, which has an material eye patch attached to it.
He is only 4. They gave it to me. Tell them you need a spare or any other reasonable reason.

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