Should have NOT gone to specsavers

[Tintin01]

Really really upset, took my too kids to specsavers in Nuneaton for what must have the worst time ever.

Routine check up.
To be told they need glasses
They did look cute in glasses
But can any opticians on here comment.

Oldest son was told he is log sighted
Right eye +0.50
Left eye +0.25 -0.25 180

Second boy
Right eye -0.25
Left eye +0.25

They said we need to get glasses

I was taken aback as no eye problems and they don’t even struggle.

Am I being ripped off

Probably not as under 16’s glasses are usually free using an nhs voucher.

So you took them to get their eyes tested, a professional in eye testing says they need glasses but you don't believe it?

Not an optician but take them elsewhere and see what they say. I had two very different prescription for glasses when I got a second opinion for myself (Boots and D&A before D&A were bought by Boots!)

When I asked a cousin who is a doctor
He said the prescription was negligible

So I’m questioning if I need them to wear glasses

I don’t know and feel it was just a sell to get two pairs of glasses

4 glasses given to us by the time we leave

This must cost someone. The government nhs is paying for something that really isn’t warranted

tbh I would get a second opinion.
dc at 4yo was told will need glasses. we went to another (independent) optician who measured differently and recommended to come back in 6 months for another check and see if glasses are needed after all.
tbh I think specsavers push glasses.

Well I took my dd, who wears glasses to specsavers and they told me she didn't need glasses and inferred I had Munchausen's by Proxy.

We've always had great service from specsavers.
If in doubt, go somewhere else for a second opinion, but be prepared to pay if you get the same result.

I felt like it was just a push to give us glasses, a quick test and here’s 2 glasses and out you go.

Specsavers are a franchise system and have incredibly detailed inspection from Specsavers.

Go somewhere else if you want but basically would you want them to say no glasses?

Specsavers are all about the hard sell, and staff have to achieve sales targets. Take them to an independent optician for a second opinion.

I’m an optician and I wouldn’t have advised glasses to that tiny prescription with no symptoms. That’s good NHS money going somewhere it need not.

Why was it the worst time ever?

Why would you be getting ripped off? I get two pairs free for my DD from Specsavers. Don't you get an NHS voucher?

I've been to Specsavers, Boots, Tesco and a number of independents over the years
My prescription has stayed basically the same (slightly worse during pregnancy but goes back afterwards)

My DD has only been to Specsavers (once) and they said she didn't need them

The glasses are not free, the NHS pay for them (So the opticians get money from the NHS).

Specsavers are all about the hard sell, and staff have to achieve sales targets.

Really @Jaguarana ? Given that eye tests for children are free and Specsavers do 2x free pairs for children using an NHS voucher there is absolutely no incentive for staff to sell glasses that aren't needed.

I would go back and ask for an explanation of what I had been prescribed and why.

0.25 is next to nothing
Now many people score 0?
When I had 0.5 I was told to get them for driving a watching TV. I got them to drive because I want the best possible eyesight
But 0.25, no headaches?
I wouldn't

My DS was prescribed glasses by an independent at 5yrs old. Neither me nor DP needed glasses so we weren’t expecting it. The optician said that his eyes will just get worse but that glasses will slow that down (as well as helping him see). Could it be that you are being recommended glasses to slow any decline in eyesight?

You don't have to buy glasses from Specsavers, take the prescription and shop online

I don't think they push anything tbh. I went recently, did the equipment stuff and then sat down for the actual examination. Went through the initial medical stuff and I was advised to come back at a later date as my BP and sugar levels are unstable at the moment (side effects to some temp meds). He explained that the likelihood would be once these were stable my prescription would change again.

I used to go to independents but stopped when they messed up mine and one of my dd's test. Only came about after I had spent over £100 on glasses and they fobbed me off saying it took time to adjust even though we'd been wearing glasses for years. Went elsewhere for retests and the differences in prescriptions were huge and they helped me deal with the original place.

MuppetFamily Specsavers have an NHS contract, so 'free' in this context means NHS money. The incentive for them to prescribe these glasses on negligible prescriptions is that once someone thinks they need glasses for life, they rarely stop wearing them and often spend more on products such as contact lenses. It's much easier for Specsavers to market and cross-sell products to anyone who already wears glasses.

Their sales targets are unbelievable and many independent opticians see lots of patients who have been pressured into buying products they don't need.

P.s. close family friend is an optician for them, hence me sticking my nose in. He's well paid and not far from retirement so publically on message but in private he believes they are awful and go against everything an optician should stand for.

ApplestheHare Which opticians does he recommend?

eye specialist here.
absolutely no need for either of those prescriptions .
makes me mad these optoms try and make a fast buck.
report to the general optical council please !

Specsavers also won't sell me contacts as I have issues with eye infections and also lubrication. I got a second opinion was told I was able to wear them, got a trial and took them out about an hour later.

And needing glasses for life? Surely people go back every couple of years for a re-test?