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

There is no need to be upset.

Thank god got the hide button for stupidly dramatic threads!

Why bother taking them for eye tests if you mistrust so much what the prescription is op?

Under 16 S get an nhs voucher and specs can be totally free to you .

It's not about looking cute 🤔

The prescription isn't much but it's there.

I was an optical assistant for 10 years.

If you don't trust the results ask for a recheck with another optom.

We had similar with DD1 at a small chain optician. After a week of battling her to keep the glasses on, a second opinion meant we ditched them. 3 years later and she still doesn't need glasses.

Oh and I did 8 years with an independent and 3 with specsavers they are al franchises but I never had targets.

My best friend still works at one and is very highly qualified.

This thread is nuts. Why bother tai g kids for a check up if you simply then slate the findings? What happens when they need a filling at the dentist??

Erm question for eye specialist here....

Can I ask - how do you know what difference the rx made to the individual child?

I think I’m about 0.25 in one eye and always told I don’t need to wear glasses unless I start to struggle.

On the other hand, my prescription is pretty low (although more than that one). Opticians often comment and when I wanted contacts they said surely I didn't need them as my prescription was so low.

However for me life is much better when I can actually see everything clearly. Even if it is only slightly fuzzy without glasses/contacts.

I would always go to an independent given the choice.

But every specsavers is a franchise and as good as it's owner.

Fusioluxe various independents in our area. FIL was an optician and always recommended the same.

Those prescriptions are negligible and not needed.( professional view)

My child had higher prescription than that and was told only needs glasses if struggling.
Personally I would go to an independent.

Can't believe everybody does not know that Opticians get paid for "free" glasses

Yes, and my GP gives me lots of "freebies" too

What nice chaps

My dentist on the other hand must think I'm made of money damn levies

Took dd (19) to specsavers for aroutine paid check. She first got glasses two years ago as when she was learning to drive, she realised she couldn’t see the number plate at the required distance. She uses them for driving and for seeing the board at a distance in lectures.
The new specsavers optician said her eyesight was perfectly fine and she didn’t need to wear glasses at all as she could see the letters on the board. Go figure ! And we paid for that !
She still wears her old glasses as without them she would actually be breaking the law

DD was around -0.25 when she was first checked and was told she didn't need glasses. We go to an independent.

I have very slight short sightedness but I have glasses for astigmatism. OP did they mention astigmatism?

ApplestheHareThanks.

My ds has a slight prescription but the optician said if it was his son he wouldn't give him glasses.

I've worn glasses since I was 6 (I couldn't see the board even sitting at the front of the class), now 37 years later and still wearing them

I have a minute or so fumbling to find them when I wake up so that I can sit up in bed and put feet to the ground as I literally am lost without them and bumping into things, also off balance.

I've had glasses from Specsavers over about a 10 year period, it was recommended I test yearly, (I need 2 pairs which do need thinning down as it is a thick lens) and a pair of reading glasses - each visit ended up over the £500 mark with a hard sell despite getting NHS test, voucher towards glasses and another voucher due to a specific medical need,

I was referred to a neurologist as a result of one appt when I was a mid migraine, by the time I was it was 2 years later and the neurologist didn't get a copy of the opticians concerns just a GP referral to say the optician asked for referral I've since been told it should have been ambulance called and straight to neurology. It was a lucky escape that I didn't come to serious harm

I since moved to another optician about 5 years ago, a chain again and still yearly testing and my average bill come around 200-250 with great aftercare, repairs.

They have been very fast to liaise with GP / neurologist when needed, 3 years ago another migraine during an eye test, my GP was contacted as they literally saw changes happen as it took hold,

GP agreed would call ambulance who would take me directly to the hospital with the neurologist who would assess me when I arrived (GP and optician both spoke to him while I was en route), I was seen and treatment started within 2 hours and the majority of that was travelling time. I was hospitalised for 2.5 weeks.

My script is complex and does need thinning down a lot,

I am grateful to the NHS for the help towards it but they are not to look cute or stylish in any way, they are to prevent me from causing serious injury to myself and others as I am blind as a bat and can just about see the laptop screen.

I struggle with phone screens as too small and squinty for my liking

OP If they need them, it won't do your boys any harm to wear them

When I get my eyes checked if it’s just 0.25 change then they generally don’t change the lenses. The time before last I had my eyes checked all was ok, got new glasses (one had worsened and the other improved) then a couple of months later I had problems seeing/focussing and getting headaches I went back and had them checked and one had improved while the other had worsened (opposite to the last check).

I’m surprised they didn’t ask them to come back after six months or so. Why did you take them - were they having sight problems?

Ex optical assistant here.

No real need for the youngest one +0.25 is perfectly normal and would give them 6/6 (20/20) vision unaided.

The older child possibly. There is an astigmatism in the left eye which might make reading a little tricky.

@smurfy2015 can I ask what your optician saw that led to the urgent neurology and hospital trip? I'm having massive issues with my migraines including facial paralysis and wonder if it's worth a trip to my optician during a migraine to ask them to look for anything. I'm awaiting a neurology appointment, but it's a 9 month wait. Ta.

As for the OP, what was so bad about the appointment?

Thanks for comments and advice

The 4 glasses didn’t cost me anything but specsavers will claim money from the nhs for something I think wasn’t necessary

I feel ripped off and conned.

I already had a condition called Hemiplegic Migraine which affects with stroke-like symptoms however it can also mimic meningitis, and I assumed the light sensitivity was coming from that and pressured feeling was coming from that however I was wrong. It had hit while I was on way (as a passenger) to the optician.

When the optician was doing their tests he realised I was having optic neuritis symptoms and quite badly that affected one eye and by then I had slumped to one side and wasnt able to speak much, it looked to him at first hand like I was having a stroke although my notes warned him this could happen

The other was having fluid at the back of the other eye and was under pressure - it turned out that was from high blood pressure which wasnt helped by the fact I was having urine retention that day. Anyhow it was relieved when I was relieved thanks to a urinary catheter, So one problem down.

I was admitted and kept in hospital till I was done treatment and other problems sorted as it turned out to be a condition called CRION Chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy (CRION) and I've had it various times since, however, it is steroid responsive and so I was pumped with IV steroids,

Unfortunately the first lot they gave me I reacted badly to and my heart started throwing off abnormal rhythms, my legs and arms swelled up to 3 times their size, involuntary movements so bad I was bashing myself constantly, and rash spreading so I ended up with a load more drugs to try and sort that out and treat my original problem.

Then midway thru the second week, I got norovirus - that was fun not, I was so glad to leave the hospital.

The first optician years before, it turns out that there was a slight bit of optic nerve irritation and when she saw me I was in the aura stage (seeing all the stars and fuzzy lines) but no headache of a migraine which was an ordinary migraine but without a headache as my HMs often are.

I had a lot of eye rest those weeks in the hospital and have when been in for iv steroids since, but its boring but necessary.

Unfortunately for me, I have another condition which I am waiting to see a consultant for which will require me to take potentially take steroids daily so that's going to be fun.

So I went into specsavers
And they were not interested, no apology or a care.

They get their money from the nhs, I feel like I’ve been misguided and the fraud continues

Does anyone know where I can go to complain

Really makes my blood boil
No wonder the nhs has no money when professional are lining their pockets