I need some new glasses. Any tips?

[minipie]

I have terrible sight but since conversion to contacts at age 12 I have hardly ever worn glasses. My current pair is 10+ years out of date and unusable.

I need to get a new pair sometime before DC1 is born in December.

Any hints and tips to work out what suits me? Where has a good range? How can I tell if they'll be uncomfortable?

thanks!

I had some titanium frame glasses and they blew off my face one weekend and I never found them :( This was about 4 years ago and I still look for them. They were lovely. Never dared get anything light since

It is likely that your specs prescription will be +1 dioptre more than your contact lens prescription, so, as others have said, you need to make sure before you invest. If this takes you to -10, then you are getting into specialist advice territory to make sure that even with high index lenses, you don't get so much edge thickness that you refuse to leave the house in your specs. (I am -12 and have been through this heartache all year as I can't wear lenses atm). Deffo go for plastic frames - they will hide the edge, and keep the eye size as small as you can bear.

Bad news that, Squitch

This is all v useful. I'm going for a long-overdue test next week while I'm in the UK (it's easier there!) and I know I'm going to need varifocals :(

But the little independent optician I use doesn't hold much stock. WIBU to take the prescription somewhere larger, like Specsavers, to get something more funky? Or will that be terribly rude?

There's no reason not to do that, Peri but ikwym about feeling rude. Depends on whether you have/want a service relationship with your little independent. Mine didn't have what I wanted, but the dispensers were fantastic, searching out and bringing frames in on special order, till there was one I liked and they were happy suited my very complex prescription. But not all opticians may work this way.

Ooh I hadn't thought of asda. Do the supermarket opticians do eye tests for contact wearers too?

Most opticians will want to do their own eye test ime.

Hmm, I will just have to deal with the independent, I think. Don't have much time to be faffing around.

You will be in and out of Specsavers with in half an hour ime.

I've not had that luck! Got a bit of a weird prescription. Last time I was there (about hundred years ago) there was a lot of teeth-sucking and a three day wait.

I shall go with the flow and see what the independent has, it wasn't too bad last time. If they are granny-glasses then I shall take my chances as Specsavers.

3 day wait? You mean for them to make the glasses? Well afaik no opticians will be able to do them on the spot - 3 days is good.

Asda do contact lenses as well. I was a bit unsure before I went but they did all the usual pre-tests as well as the sight test itself. And they have loads of different designer brands all in the offer.

Yes your specs prescription will be stronger than your contacts prescription.
I couldn't wear my lenses during/after my first pg/child. The optometrist/ophthalmologist/optician

Hurrah! Just called the optician and they did both glasses prescription and contact lens prescription a few months ago, when I was barely preg, so I should be able to use that prescription to get specs made.

Sounds like I might have to get glasses from my optician (independent) if other places will want to do their own sight test.... since I can't get it redone now I'm preg.