glasses disaster: help me find nice ones?

[SayItIsntSo]

Well, about 6 years ago I found my ideal glasses. I wear lenses sometimes but most of the time due to sleep deprivation etc I wear glasses.

Today it appears that the glasses frame has snapped (don't know how though! ) and the right lens popped out onto the tiled kitchen floor, breaking into many pieces. I have a high prescription (short sighted) and I need quite small glasses so that the lenses aren't too thick (even if I pay for the super special thin lenses). The now-ex-glasses were small dark green prada ones (the only prada I am ever likely to own). I need to replace them: the frame has somehow snapped over the top. Have any of you found some good ones and have tips as to how to get a good deal? Eg should I buy online?

[Helltotheno]

Sorry to hijack the thread. Have seen some styles recently that make me think we're heading back to Deirdre Barlow days! Can anyone link to some nice trendy frames that are kind of 'now' but also classic?

[2madboys]

I'm still on the first month, but found them really comfortable. I've kept them in most of the time apart from a couple of evenings when my eyes got really sore. No problem sleeping in them. It was really nice this weekend as we were away in a caravan and I didn't have to worry about sorting out lenses in the tiny bathroom. Will be great when we're camping - often campsites are a bit tricky when there's not always soap for hand washing, or somewhere I can get close enough to a mirror to easily do lenses.

[pastawine]

there are several different index thinner lenses, generally the more you pay the thinner the lens will be - the thinnest out at the time i was dispensing was a zeiss lens at 1.9 index but it was glass and was pricey, but they range from a 1.54 index, (not much thinner than a standard lens tbh) up to the 1.9. the thinner the lens the better the result but the more you pay.

i have dry eyes and much as i would love to wear contacts i just find them too uncomfortable - dry eye and contacts dont mix well.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I've got extended wear lenses but can't wear them for more than eight hours, certainly got sleep in them. Were you fine with them from the beginning or did you have to build up? Optician says I have very dry eyes.

[2madboys]

I just got two pairs from Specsavers over the summer - one Jasper Conran and onoe Tommy Hilfigger. Very pleased with them both and have thinned lenses in them. Re the contact lenses - have you investigated extended wear? I just got them and they're amazing - for the first time in about 30 years I can see when I wake up in the morning! Very comfy and loads less hassle than the monthlies which I used to have to take out at night. I got mine from Vision Express and the optician told me they correct my vision to better than 20:20 and I can read two lines lower down the chart than with my last lenses.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'm -8 in my glasses and was planning on going and getting some big nerdy frames which are quite trendy at the minute. I'm happy to pay to have the lenses thinned but I suspect it still won't be enough. I have fairly small glasses now and the lenses are thinned but they still stick out a bit from the frames and the frames are thick plastic ones rather than thin metal frames.

[pastawine]

re the thinner lenses....

if you are a minus rx - thats short sighted - the thickest part of the lens on the blank is around the edge - so if you chose a small, rounded frame the thinnest part of the blank will be used -
if you choose a large square frame the thickest parts will show at the edges. - so if you opt for a fairly soft shape and a small neat frame you get a better result thickness wise - but at your rx i would opt for a thinner lens anyway, but frame choice can still play a part in getting the best result possible

if you are a plus lens - thats long sighted the thickest part of the blank is the middle so frame choice has less to do with it although the smaller the frame the smaller the blank and the smaller the blank the thinner the lens.

ask to speak with a dispensing optician for the best advice. i wouldnt touch any opticians which didnt employ a qualified dispensing optician.

[pastawine]

i worked in 3 different opticians over 11 years - the best one i worked in was a small independent optician were i stayed for 9 years - all the staff were trained to a very high level and everyone knew their stuff.

what i found when i left and worked at a large chain was that many staff were not trained well at all and were souped up "sales" assistants rather than optical assistants.

having said that most large chain opticians are franchises - even Boots opticians are mostly franchised. so are specsavers.

it really does depend on who runs them as to how good they are. my friend works in a small specsavers, he is a fully qualified dispensing optician and trains all the staff to a high level - the specsavers i worked in however was pants, and i knew more than their so called qualified staff because i was so well trained at the independent i worked in.

i still go back to the independent i used to work in - its more expensive but worth it as i know there will never be anything wrong with the test, the dispensing or the making of the glasses.

my DH has a very high prescription too - i feel your pain price wise! but i saw some real dispensing disasters at the pants specsavers i worked in so i wouldnt touch that particular branch with a barge pole....like i say though they are all franchised.

prices are usually cheaper at the big chains and they have offers on but for me i would rather stick to the indie i know, and pay more because i know exactly what im getting will be spot on, more so for DH who is a high prescription and is sensitive to changes in his lenses.

ask for recommendations locally, you may have a fantastic franchised big chain near to you - or if they have a fully qualified dispensing optician ask to have them measure you up for new specs and frame etc.

are you short or long sighted? having a high rx affects your frame choice quite a lot and any assistant or dispensing optician worth their salt should advise you honestly.

[SayItIsntSo]

Also pastawine, I think that opticians can choose frames which help to keep the lenses thin, even without the super thin lenses, according to where your eyes are in the frame (not the most technical way of putting it)?

[SayItIsntSo]

Thanks Dione, as far as I can see Boots don't show their range of frames online, so I will go to a couple of branches (am in between 2 towns).

[SayItIsntSo]

thanks pastawine (I love the phrase "I used to work in eyes" by the way). In your opinion which opticians are the most thorough?

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I am in the market for new specs. I went round all the opticians and tried their frames before settling on Boots. Really cool frames in their 2 for £79 range. I have an appointment booked with them tomorrow.

So my advice for you OP is go window shopping for frames in real shops (where you can try them on), then get ordering.

[pastawine]

can i just say, i used to work in eyes....i would never ever buy specs from a mail order site for these reasons

you cannot try the frame on for fit
if you are a high prescription then its vital that the measurements are taken correctly - the dispensing optician should dot where your pupil sits in the frame and then depending on the angle may need to knock your heights down by a mm or two....
you are asking for trouble if you get a high prescription lens without measurements - if its out it can cause "prism" which cant affect muscle balance in the eyes - this can cause a pulling sensation and cause terrible discomfort and headaches.

really really dont do it!

[SayItIsntSo]

your glasses sound lovely carrielou, it's horrible how those of us with high prescriptions are lumbered with high costs. I'll check out Boots! I've spent the weekend squinting and having headaches so it will have to be early in the week.

[carrielou2007]

I have just had this stress, have my contact lenses from Boots on dd which means you get 50% off any glasses. I can't just go and get two pairs from the 79 pounds range as I need the ultra light ultra thin lenses for my prescription (9.5 in one eye 14 in the other minus that is) so zeiss I think the lenses were. Got gorgous DKNY black and pink frames think they were just under 300 with the discount then got a ghost pair honey/beige/brown for a bit less a few weeks later. They did give me I think 60 pounds off the second pair too. Boots in Clifton Bristol, could not have been more helpful!!

[SayItIsntSo]

Thanks disco and ASG, I shall investigate and report back. I find staring at myself in different glasses quite depressing (similar to my usual post-hairdresser slump): extended mirror time = moody Say.

[ASuitableGirl]

I think I had to pay a bit extra (can't quite remember as I also get an NHS voucher towards the cost and couldn't quite understand the calculations) but I definitely gained something by choosing to have only one pair than two.

And if any of that makes sense I will be impressed

[discobeaver]

They do I think as well, but I didn't have to ask they just offered. Maybe they all do now?

[SayItIsntSo]

thanks everyone: I am certainly going to have a sight test (as much as I dislike them as I am never sure that I am making the right choices when asked questions!). I usually opt for the super thin lenses, I wonder if the price of those differs much between opticians?

Or having the lenses thinned instead of a second pair ASuitableGirl - was that what happened to you?

[ASuitableGirl]

All opticians have to give you your prescription to go elsewhere I think.

[discobeaver]

They also offered me my prescription if I wanted to go somewhere else, no probs.

[discobeaver]

I just got two pairs of fab glasses from Specsavers, on their 2 for 1 deals, although I do have the B nhs voucher, for £150.

That was two pairs of frames from the £85 range, and the middle thin lenses (to go up to the ultra thin would have been another £30) my prescription is
-7

I thought they were great, really helpful.

I could have got the £125 frame range, 2 pairs for 180 ish pounds?

I was so happy because last time I got glasses, about 6 years ago, they cost about £300 quid so I was scared to go and get new ones!

[ASuitableGirl]

Do the online ones need a prescription within a certain date?

[Fuzzled]

I'll second Glasses Direct - great for cheap spare pairs and sunglasses.

[ASuitableGirl]

My prescription is about -11 I think. I would say that the price will go up (a lot probably) when you get the super thin lenses :( Are they the first amount of thin or very thing (I forget what the numbers are but any I get need to be the first lot and second lot is better).

I have some from Specsavers and was also able to get them thinned rather than having an extra pair so it ended up not too painful.

You really must have a sight test though - you should have one at least every two years