(no subject)

[dakegra]

Went to the opticians today for an eye test. I had one about... four years ago? It was back when I started with Trigold, so that's probably about right. New employer has a healthcare scheme, so I can claim back £30 worth of optician stuff, so I figured I might as well get 'em checked.

Turns out I need specs for close-up stuff - reading and using the 'puter. The nice lady tried to show me some frames, one of which was £120, the other £170.

Then another £99 for the lenses.

I tried not to look *too* shocked, muttered something about wanting to get K to come see the frames first, and made a hasty retreat.

Crikey, are they really *that* expensive? For reading glasses?

I had a look, and Asda will do a complete set for £65, with anti-reflective coating and other stuff. Seems far more reasonable...

Comments

[jugglebug.livejournal.com]

Resists typing
"should have gone to specsavers"

Oh wait.....

[isihac.livejournal.com]

Heh. The last time I needed glasses I ended up with 2 pairs from Specsavers for just over £120. One of them was designer, the other ultra-bendy/toddler-proof with anti-scratch and that reactive stuff that means I don't have to worry about sunglasses.

[myfirstkitchen.livejournal.com]

Good grief, where did you go? I have complicated lenses and designery frames and mine cost around the same as just those frames, all in, with Reactions lenses (SpecSavers) but no anti-reflective stuff as that tends to disagree with me. If you want to go properly cheap (but still decent) though, E's driving glasses and driving sunglasses come from Glasses Direct and were £20-ish all in and still grand. I mean, I can totally see why the company is not yet making a profit, but best to take advantage of the prices while one can.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

Optical Express on Briggate, only because that's where I went last time, and the eye test was 拢15 instead of Dollond & Aitchison's 拢30 (where K took the kids for theirs).

I don't mind paying for decent frames & lenses, but 拢200+ seemed like a *lot*. Fair enough if I wore them all the time.

[myfirstkitchen.livejournal.com]

Future ref: Boots often do free tests if you have an Advantage card, Nectar often do free vouchers for D&A tests, Tesco branches with opticians also do free tests often. Plus your work should give you a voucher for a free test anyway since you work with a computer screen.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

Work have the healthcare scheme where you can claim back cost. Good to know about the free tests - wish I'd asked last week!

[alicephilippa.livejournal.com]

Even without a healthcare scheme people employed in jobs that require substantial use of computer screens are entitled to claim the cost of an annual eyetest back from their employer.

[isihac.livejournal.com]

Just put in an expenses form for it.

[squirrelette.livejournal.com]

That is pricey for something that you don't need to wear all the time. You got the showroom special tour maybe. :)

The last specs I bough were about £180, frames and lenses, but I need them all the time. The frames have lasted ten years and are still going strong.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

having now had a chance to look around, I *definitely* got the showroom tour. :-)

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

HOLY SHIT. You can buy reading glasses for.. $6 over here o.O Maybe we are not meaning the same thing when we say reading glasses...

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

I think you can get cheap reading glasses. I've had a look around now, and can get a pair for £69 in a decent frame. I'll post up photos.

Of course the frames I *really* liked were £200. And K hated them. :-)

[missprinty.livejournal.com]

You got off lightly mate, I'm looking down the sharp end of £500 for my new glasses. Admittedly they are varifocal transitions lenses with all the fancy coatings. But I do wear mine all the time. And my frames were cheap. Well, cheap for the fancy opticians I go to.

But I like the continuity of care at my optician, and the whole not having to give a full and detailed eye health history each time, becasue when it comes to my eyes, it is rather full and detailed, and they tend to get far too excited by the familial retinopathy which as far as I know, so far I ain't got.

[lebeautemps.livejournal.com]

I spent £7 on a new frame on Ebay and new lenses cost £140 in Boots. They are specially thin ones as my prescription is so thick/heavy.

I would have gone to Specsavers but the one on TCR was dirty, then they lied to me about my eyes so I no longer trust the brand.

I thought £140 was ok under the circumstances and they'll hopefully last 3-4 years.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had a look around and found frames a lot cheaper.

I need to try on more frames though. I liked some, but want to check out what else you can get.