Varifocals - shopping around but more confused than ever. Where is best?

[Sabriel]

Had my first varifocals 3 years ago from Specsavers and they cost well over £400. Need eyes testing again but we just don't have that sort of money :(

Trawled all the opticians we can find and most places can only give a vague idea (depends on prescription) varying between £350 and £600, just for the lenses . Boots seemed cheapest but I was a bit put off by their small range of frames and the fact they use their own lenses. Apparently the lenses I have are the best that were available 3 years ago and they don't recommend you go down in quality.

Anyone know where I can get the best deal?

I got my last pair in Jan last year. Including frames and thin lenses they were £160.

I got them from Costco.

You have to pay for membership, but it covers you and a spouse/partner, and as you can save about £8 on a pack of loch fyne smoked salmon, it soon pays for itself. You used to be able to get a Kitchenaid mixer for £160, but think that John Lewis must have complained, as, just before I decided to get one, they stopped stocking them.

That's interesting. Presumably you go to an optician first for a prescription?

No, every Costco has an 'eye centre' with opticians and optometrists, so you can get your eyes tested, drop film off to be developed, enlargements from disc, buy smoked salmon, jewellry, furniture, cat food etc etc.

The opticians were very good - we went to both Haydock and Manchester. DH had had huge problems with his eyes - he has sarcoidosis and several episodes of iritis. They also do contact lenses.

If you have a look here you can see the nearest to you.

hth