Are Specsavers deliberately prescribing glasses?

[Sugarandspice213]

I’ve had eye tests over the years and never had concern (apart from once as a child). Yet the Specsaver optician has now told me that I may benefit from them as one eye is curved. I don’t need them, I can see fine day to day etc….

When I was a child we went to the opticians and were all given glasses - all five of us. As adults we never wear them.

I can’t help to think Specsavers just wanted to make a sale?

Work paid for the eye test

@Alocasia

I’m an optician. They definitely don’t “all do that”. Some places have targets. I would NEVER work anywhere that put pressure on me to prescribe glasses that weren’t needed.

Is anyone saying the all do that?

@Sugarandspice213 Yes. The second comment on the thread

At the end of the day it's a retail environment and a lot of the multiple stores are run by target driven managers who expect the optometrist to get at least 70-80% of people per day to buy glasses. The optometrists are often under so much pressure to meet the targets. In almost all practices having high sales figures is the ONLY way to get a pay rise, One of the first questions you are asked in an interview is 'what is your conversion rate for glasses sales” or “what your current sales targets are”

@yogacurl

My husband went to an independent one last year for the first time ever (paid quite a bit more for the appointment), and they said he didn't need glasses at all. So yes I think sometimes they do or have done.

I had this in reverse ... went to an independent who said my eyesight needed correcting for driving, talked me into £300 worth of specs and also got me to sign up to a Direct Debit for contact lenses (for riding my 🏍). 3 years later I went to specsavers who said I didn't need glasses 🙃

[quote Alocasia]@Sugarandspice213 Yes. The second comment on the thread[/quote]
Thanks :)

Can anyone help me with my prescriptions please?

2 years ago I went to specsavers for routine eye test and was told I needed glasses for the first time. They were absolutely awful

After noticing issues with my eye sight I went to John Lewis (to get the double points) and these glasses have been great

I've always had a doubt about the specsavers prescription but that could be just down to the service I got. They shaped by glasses by just bending them at the desk. I didn’t know about the machine they are supposed to use first

I've been with Specsavers for 15 years.

Mh prescription changed every 2 years (astigmatism) and my shirt sighted one remained very mild.

4 years ago my short sightedness got worse (2 diopters) and they suggested I get new prescription. (I always got new ones every 2 years anyway as I need mine full time).

I struggled with them. I asked for second option and they confirmed my prescription had changed but my brain was probably struggling to cope after 14 years if same distance prescription (or something like that!) and they out my old prescription in my new frames for free.

This time round as I was struggling they tried again and my eyes have accepted it. And for the first time my astigmatism hasn't changed!

@OnTheBoardwalk

Can anyone help me with my prescriptions please?

2 years ago I went to specsavers for routine eye test and was told I needed glasses for the first time. They were absolutely awful

After noticing issues with my eye sight I went to John Lewis (to get the double points) and these glasses have been great

I've always had a doubt about the specsavers prescription but that could be just down to the service I got. They shaped by glasses by just bending them at the desk. I didn’t know about the machine they are supposed to use first

Those two prescriptions are almost identical. To get the reading prescription you add the reading add to the first number. So there’s only a 0.25 difference between them in one eye.

@Sugarandspice213 my comment points out even in exactly the same branch on the same day you can have two opticians who are trying to get you to do opposing things.

So as 22Alocasia and 27Inclinedtochatter allude it depends on the individual optician/optometrist.

Thanks @Pumperthepumper

I think my struggle with the ones from specsavers might have been my first time with glasses and verifocals but badly fired? I’ve got a wonky ear but they always felt being diagonal on my face

The two prescriptions are very similar so the difference in glasses could have been anything from the fit, the measurements or the choice of varifocal lens design. For most people the better lenses (usually the more expensive) tend to give more natural vision and are easier to adapt to.

OMG I thought this a few weeks back. DS 17 went just rountine check no other reason told him on cupse but best for him to have glasses!! He doest wear them

just had an eye test and was given this prescription would you say this was worth bothering with ? They said to wear them all the time which seems a bit extreme … if anyone has any experience

I might be missing something, but are you just going to the optician for the craic if you’ve no problems with your vision, no headaches, your astigmatism causes no issues with night driving (etc)?

Optometrists are Allied Health Professionals - they have a Royal College & they also have a regulatory body, The General Optical Council. What you describe is a clear breach of the Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians - specifically, number 7.6 - & as such, any posters who believe they have been prescribed glasses unnecessarily have grounds to complain, just as they would if any other HCP acted improperly.

Like multiple other posters, I’ve been advised as to when a prescription change is small enough not to bother getting new glasses should I wish; & at the other end of things, referred to ophthalmology as necessary. Both courtesy of Specsavers. Yes, the raison d’être of opticians is to sell glasses; no, they’re not after prescribing them to everyone who sets foot in the place.

If anything I find it's the opposite, I only need my prescription to be a tiny bit out and it causes migraines, so mostly opticians tell me I dont need new lenses and I have to explain that actually I do.

Specsavers prescribed me glasses about 15 years ago claiming I needed them for reading even though I could read the tiniest text with no problem. The glasses made no difference and gave me headaches so I stopped using them and went for a second opinion at Vision Express. They said I did not need glasses at all. I noticed last year that I was no longer able to read print on the back of packets and shampoo bottles so went to Vision Express who gave me a new pair of glasses and when I put them on everything was so sharp and they really do make a difference to my ability to read small print. I’d definitely recommend Vision Express over Specsavers.

I went to Specsaver and my eye test was done by a technician I think

Had a duff prescription from there one and know of others saying the same but in different branches

Lot of conspiracy theorists on this thread.

Hilarious people think Specsavers are running a conspiracy to sell glasses but suggest the government ever conspire they'd spit their coffee out.

Took 6 year old recently, told me eyes are perfect no issues and no glasses.

Not in my experience as a customer,. They've often told me I don't need a change even when I've been keen on new frames.

I can see very well without glasses but I definitely notice a difference when wearing mine - my HD TV seems worth it suddenly!

Surely you can read with the specs or not ! So YOu know if you need specs.

I haven't changed my glasses for the past 5 year as Specsavers have just told me each time there is no change. There is a lot of variation between branches though. They do always try to upsell me some sort of expensive coating too.

@FayCarew
What do you mean your eye test was done by a technician, please? And “duff prescription” in what sense? (Eg too strong/weak, astigmatism wrongly recorded, need for varifocals missed?)

In the context of Specsavers (& other high-street opticians) your eyes can only be tested by an optometrist. The only other HCP in the UK who does eye exams is an ophthalmologist, & they provide more specialised care.

Given the above, if you believe anyone other than a fully qualified optometrist examined your eyes, especially if you believe it to be standard practice in your local branch[es], it is vital you contact the General Optical Council (as per my last post). If you are right & unqualified staff are being allowed to carry out eye tests “a duff prescription” is a lucky outcome. Optometrists are sometimes the HCPs responsible for identifying [complications of] serious health issues - quite literally, the practice I think you’re suggesting is not unique to you but commonplace to people of your acquaintance, is negligent; & negligent to the degree of risking people’s lives.

Of course, administering eye tests is much harder now almost everyone has a screen on them at all times. Screen usage interferes with the acuity of vision - to varying degrees & on an intermittent basis - but “digital” eye-blur can impact vision enough to change a prescription. Fatigue can do the same if severe enough, too.

My DC just had appointments at Specsavers (not UK, eye tests are free, covered by govt). Different opticians & told both DC have perfect vision.

Meanwhile, my friend who banged on about Specsavers selling prescriptions unnecessarily took her DC to a different group & both came away with glasses. Same one that prescribed me new glasses as they'd changed 'slightly'. When pushed admitted they were the same. I have private medical cover so two pairs at $600 cost me $3. I didn't care as I got value from my fund & new glasses. They're corporate companies so profit is what matters. Assume they'll try to sell.

I agree with you.

Opticians actually lose money prescribing and handed out glasses on the NHS to children under 11 as they are suppose fix and/or replace broken ones for free.

We were advised to go to Specsavers to get glasses for my DD by an Opthalmology department of a hospital. The hospital did the eye test, Specsavers have provided the glasses and any replacements.