Can I buy spectacle frames online and find someone on the high street to fit prescription lenses?

[PoppyWearer]

I have found some spectacle frames I like online, and can buy the frames without lenses in.

If I do that, is there anywhere on the high street that could fit prescription lenses for me? Is this a standard thing opticians do, or do they only fit lenses to their own frames?

The frames I've found are just lovely and such a good price I might buy them in two colours (I wear specs all the time).

I've had new lenses put into existing frames before so I assume an optician could do this. It was at least as/more expensive than buying a new pair of glasses though.

Specsavers.did this for me, with sunglasses. Agree not a cheap thing to do. Also had to sign a waiver to say if the frame bust during lens fitting, tough, no comeback, at my risk moneywise.

Boots do it, can you link to the glasses? I'm looking for a new pair...

Yes, anywhere will do it, but it will cost around the same as buying a new pair from the opticians and they won't take responsibility for the frames breaking if they do.

It wasn't worth it for me, but it the frames are gorgeous, it might be for you!

Thanks for the replies!

It sounds like it might be worth doing anyway as I haven't seen any frames on the high street I like, and like I said I do wear them all the time.

I think I'm going to order two frames, then I can always get one set made now and another set in a few months' time.

I'm looking on smartbuyglasses.co.uk in the sale but don't want to out myself by mentioning which ones as they are distinctive and I will out myself!!

Good luck!

These will do it.

I bough two pairs of prescription glasses from them for £40. The service was great and you can't knock the price.

I doubt I would ever go to a high street optician again.

Absolutely - my optician is happy for me to do this, since his competition is websites offering frames & lenses online & putting him out of business altogether!

There shouldn't be any issue with the frames breaking, as the lenses will be made to fit the frames just like any other order. (having old lenses trimmed to fit new frames is the thing they are unwilling to do, as there is always a tiny chance the lens will crack or shatter).

If places like Specsavers are a bit funny about it, try an independent optician (ie not a chain) as they tend to be very aware of competition & you may be able to get a good price from them.

Having re-read, I can understand the optician covering themselves with a disclaimer in case the frame does get damaged - in the very rare event it did happen through mishandling, they wouldn't be able to source a frame replacement.

But it really isn't very likely that the frames would be damaged.