I have no idea how to buy glasses

[RudsyFarmer]

I’m nearly 50 and I’m clueless. I have age related eyesight loss and am about to start a job that requires me to read small print in (probably) crappy lighting. So I’ve accepted it’s time to get some glasses.

I've always had excellent eyesight so I’ve never needed any action after any eye test. I haven’t had a test now for over ten years so this time I know I’ll need a prescription. My understanding is you can pay for an eye test on the high street but say you only want a prescription, then take that and use it online?

if so has anyone got any recommendations on where to go on the high street and wear to go online? Also I know rectangular frames suit me. Should I be looking at any particular brand of glasses or are they pretty much all the same?

thanks very much

Can you ask around locally, I find branches vary greatly so one Specsavers is great and another crap!!

Then just try loads on!

Why would you buy online? Make an appointment for an eye test at specsavers, have the test, choose some glasses, they will do all the measuring of your face etc. Then they will make up the glasses, you go to pick them up and the optician checks they fit etc.

The measuring and checking etc are very important. I absolutely would NOT buy online especially for my first glasses.

I wouldn’t look at online retailers for your first pair, to be honest. There are elements of the fit that you need to get right first, like pupil distance, to make sure you are looking through the right part of the lens.

Specsavers are good at the customer service bits and will help you in the process. Their glasses start at £25, which includes the lenses as long as you don’t need any fancy elements. I have three pairs of their £25 ones for reading. If you go to their website you can browse glasses and even take a photo of yourself and their programme will then superimpose glasses on to your photo so you get an idea of how different frames would look on you. I use Specsavers so I can only speak for them, but they have several ranges of glasses, in price categories, starting at £25.and going up. If you want designer frames you can have them but I find most of the styles ugly. I think they still have the officer where you can have a second pair free if you choose from their £65 range or above.

For your first glasses, I'd buy in store. Asda are supposed to be good. We like Vision Express, but only one local store.

After that, look at buying online if you want to. DH tends to buy one pair in store, then his spare pair online.

Because not everybody has the money that specsavers charge?

You don’t have to buy your glasses online. You can by from whichever optician you get your eye test from. And as @Skelligsfeathers says they will measure and fit etc which is important. They are normally quite good at advising on what suits your face etc.

if you have any friends or family who wear glasses maybe ask them where they go and if they recommend them. Otherwise I’d just go to Vision Express or SpecSavers or Boots.

There is an online retailer which sends you frames to try which are cheap, but I wouldn't recommend that for your first/main pair because you'll want some help choosing the right style etc

If it is just age related then off the peg ready readers are fine.
Get an eye test anyway, as it’s a good health check.
Your prescription will look something like this:
R Sph +1.00 Cyl -0.25 axis 180
L Sph +1.00 cyl -0.50 axis 160
add +1.50.

The add is the extra you need for reading. You need to add together the sphere (Sph) and the add to get the strength you need for off the shelf readers.

I worked in opticians for many years and for most high street stores. Specsavers will try to upsell, as will most of them in fairness.

If you order from a high street shop, you normally go for a fitting, once your glasses have arrived. The frames usually have to be adjusted in some way (ime) to fit properly, not slip down your nose, etc! Not sure how an online purchase would work in that respect.

Then a different optician. Asda or whatever.
If you have never worn glasses before and you buy online, how on earth will you know if they are correct?

*Because not everybody has the money that specsavers charge?
*
Specsavers have frames from £25/29 I think, you'd struggle to get cheaper than that anywhere even online

You definitely need to get a proper eye test. Your new employer might pay for this if your job involves lots of screen work.

After that if you have a simple prescription (eg +1 or whatever) you can buy any off the shelf readers. I have had cheapo ones from all over the place. Izzi Pizzi are worth a google for a bit more expensive ones

Check with your employer first - if you have to use a computer, many employers will give you a voucher which pays for the sight test. Some just reimburse you.

but check first.!

I've never worked out how you make sure glasses bought online actually fit properly.
When I get glasses from my opticians they take lots of measurements before ordering, and even then the glasses usually need adjusting when they arrive for efficacy and comfort (vari-focals so really need to be in the correct position to work correctly).

It also means that when I have sat on them/fallen asleep in them/tried to take a jumper off without removing my glasses they get slightly bent I can pop into my opticians and they will re-fit without charge.

They have glasses starting from around £30

I've recently had my eye test. As I'm on UC the actual eye test is free. I then get them to direct me to their cheapest glasses. I paid £17 for mine from my optician. If I need any spares/sunglasses I buy from glasses direct online. Depending on size needed I usually can pick up a cheap pair for £9. They have many styles under £20.

To add, my glasses from the opticians which always fit lovely, sometimes have the measurements on the inside of the glasses frame. Which is what I use to buy online on the best for finder.

I would try and find a local independent optician. They tend to be better than most of the chains.

But most places you get tested will have a wide range of prices of frames.

Wow you’ve all been amazingly helpful! Thank you so much. I can ask for recommendations on my local Facebook residents group so that might be a starting point. It also makes sense to buy my first pair in store seeing that I’m completely clueless.

I did try that but even the +1s made me feel sick. As though it was too much. I need to have the eye test I think to be sure what my prescription is. I can read okay in good light I have a slight blur that needs sharpening.

No idea lol! Honestly I come from a family where no one had eyesight issues so I’m completely clueless.

Is +1 the minimum prescription wise? I do have +1 off the peg glasses and I don’t like them. I assume you can’t get .5 or something?

I can't get glasses from online retailers because they only do simple prescriptions. Mine is too complicated.

FWIW- Specsavers are generally franchises so one may give good service and another one awful.

Tenner and free p&p works better than that for me.

If you feel like you need a proper eye test then fair enough, but honestly, I've had reading glasses from poundland that have been absolutely fine! If it's just for reading/computer work, I'd give those a go before anything else!