Buying glasses etc
Discussion
Anyone able to recommend an online supplier of glasses please?
I've seen that glassesdirect.co.uk 'appear' to have glasses for £15/pair, but not sure if that is just click bait? Anyone used them?
I've previously only needed reading glasses for VDU work, but noticed my general vision has degraded lately so I went for another eye test today who suggested having new reading glasses plus a pair for general vision. However, I appear to have just been given a prescription for reading glasses. Should I have received a 2nd one for general use glasses?
I've seen that glassesdirect.co.uk 'appear' to have glasses for £15/pair, but not sure if that is just click bait? Anyone used them?
I've previously only needed reading glasses for VDU work, but noticed my general vision has degraded lately so I went for another eye test today who suggested having new reading glasses plus a pair for general vision. However, I appear to have just been given a prescription for reading glasses. Should I have received a 2nd one for general use glasses?
Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 8th March 22:02
I've used Glasses Direct and they have been superb. Lenses very good and frames seem quality for the price.
For what they cost against the Chinese crap you can buy from Poundland etc off the shelf I'd pay the extra money getting a prescription set from GD every time. They knock them out of the park.
You might not need a prescription for distance? I got a prescription (via Asda) for reading, intermediate (VDU use) and long distance (not really needed but told they would sharpen things up - and they certainly do for driving!)
You haven't got the PD reading as most opticians don't' give you this figure. You'll need to get it (can be done online via Specsavers website) to get the best lens fit. I'd suggest a 'reading' prescripton will be too strong for VDU use hence intermediate better if you're sat a reasonable distance from the screen.
Use GDTV10 and you'll get an extra discount on whatever other code you use on Glasses Direct.
For what they cost against the Chinese crap you can buy from Poundland etc off the shelf I'd pay the extra money getting a prescription set from GD every time. They knock them out of the park.
You might not need a prescription for distance? I got a prescription (via Asda) for reading, intermediate (VDU use) and long distance (not really needed but told they would sharpen things up - and they certainly do for driving!)
You haven't got the PD reading as most opticians don't' give you this figure. You'll need to get it (can be done online via Specsavers website) to get the best lens fit. I'd suggest a 'reading' prescripton will be too strong for VDU use hence intermediate better if you're sat a reasonable distance from the screen.
Use GDTV10 and you'll get an extra discount on whatever other code you use on Glasses Direct.
Thanks, so for driving and general vision how do I determine what lenses I need? Is the prescription the same but I tell the shop/supplier that I want them to be suitable for driving?
What's the PD measurement? Is it the distance between the pupils? Would my optician have maybe not given me this in the hope I buy a pair from them, or can I just measure this myself?
What's the PD measurement? Is it the distance between the pupils? Would my optician have maybe not given me this in the hope I buy a pair from them, or can I just measure this myself?
Edited by LeadFarmer on Wednesday 9th March 08:10
PD is indeed distance between pupils.
I've just ordered a pair of varifocals from Glasses Direct. Had an extremely helpful conversation with their very professional optician over the phone.
They get you to take a photo of your face holding up a credit card just above your eyebrows so they can calculate your PD.
I've ordered regular specs from Glasses Direct before and they've been excellent. I'll see how they manage varifocals.
I've just ordered a pair of varifocals from Glasses Direct. Had an extremely helpful conversation with their very professional optician over the phone.
They get you to take a photo of your face holding up a credit card just above your eyebrows so they can calculate your PD.
I've ordered regular specs from Glasses Direct before and they've been excellent. I'll see how they manage varifocals.
Philrose said:
LeadFarmer - the top line on your Rx is the distance and you have a +1.25 Add for reading
Ah, right, so without the +1.25 the glasses would be suitable for general vision? But for reading I need lenses with the +1.25?If so Im guessing places like glassesdirect just ignore the +1.25 if I choose regular/longer vision glasses?
LeadFarmer said:
Philrose said:
LeadFarmer - the top line on your Rx is the distance and you have a +1.25 Add for reading
Ah, right, so without the +1.25 the glasses would be suitable for general vision? But for reading I need lenses with the +1.25?If so Im guessing places like glassesdirect just ignore the +1.25 if I choose regular/longer vision glasses?
Ref PD measurement. I used the credit card to the face technique to get mine (from the SpecSavers site) as it is a reading most opticians are not required to tell you in the general prescription as it is more applicable when being fitted for glasses. Therefore they can argue they do this when you buy a pair fo specs from them.
Ref Varifocal from GD. For two pairs I couldn't get the price as cheap as Asda Opticians charge £96 for two pairs. Granted you have a limited choice in their 'value' range but Mrs Shanks is very happy with hers from Asda.
Not sure if I have messed up with my order with Glasses Direct.
I added my prescription to my account
and when ordering my pair for general use and driving etc from the three options I selected 'distance'.
However seeing as my prescription states 'near addition 1.25+' does this mean they will be sent as reading glasses? Or does the fact I selected 'distance' correct that? Also, at the time of ordering I didn't know my PD so left that blank, so I hope they fit. I did send them an email about tit, but never received a reply.
I added my prescription to my account
and when ordering my pair for general use and driving etc from the three options I selected 'distance'.
However seeing as my prescription states 'near addition 1.25+' does this mean they will be sent as reading glasses? Or does the fact I selected 'distance' correct that? Also, at the time of ordering I didn't know my PD so left that blank, so I hope they fit. I did send them an email about tit, but never received a reply.
Edited by LeadFarmer on Thursday 10th March 21:33
Might be worth contacting them using their online chat function.
I know they are very busy at the moment so will probably take a while to respond to emails, and there's a long wait on the phone.
I used the online chat, got through straightaway and they arranged for an optician to call me back the next day.
I know they are very busy at the moment so will probably take a while to respond to emails, and there's a long wait on the phone.
I used the online chat, got through straightaway and they arranged for an optician to call me back the next day.
Im at the same stage Harry. After several months of messing about with online vendors and Boots, who provided my original prescription, I am reasonably confident that Specsavers may be the best place for a novice to start.
When you have bought glasses before then somewhere like Glasses Direct may be a viable option, but there is a pretty steep learning curve for beginners.
When you have bought glasses before then somewhere like Glasses Direct may be a viable option, but there is a pretty steep learning curve for beginners.
Red9zero said:
Specsavers couldn't see a cataract in my eye and said my blurred vision was due to my age. Still happily sold me £600 worth of glasses that were no better than my previous ones. Needless to say the glasses went back and I will never use their services again.
Specsavers is a massive chain with almost 900 stores and the service differs between them and individual optometrists. The ones I've been in have up to date equipment and their two for one offer leads to some absolute bargains. LeadFarmer said:
Not sure if I have messed up with my order with Glasses Direct.
I added my prescription to my account
and when ordering my pair for general use and driving etc from the three options I selected 'distance'.
However seeing as my prescription states 'near addition 1.25+' does this mean they will be sent as reading glasses? Or does the fact I selected 'distance' correct that? Also, at the time of ordering I didn't know my PD so left that blank, so I hope they fit. I did send them an email about tit, but never received a reply.
When I used to wear glasses, I looked at Glasses Direct.I added my prescription to my account
and when ordering my pair for general use and driving etc from the three options I selected 'distance'.
However seeing as my prescription states 'near addition 1.25+' does this mean they will be sent as reading glasses? Or does the fact I selected 'distance' correct that? Also, at the time of ordering I didn't know my PD so left that blank, so I hope they fit. I did send them an email about tit, but never received a reply.
Edited by LeadFarmer on Thursday 10th March 21:33
Their T&Cs at the time basically said "if you mess up your order, it's your problem. We also reserve the right to have as many goes as we like at correcting our errors. By post".
So I went to Specsavers and got great service.
I've since used Specsavers for one of my children and they have again been superb. They even sorted out at their expense a problem caused by another optician writing the wrong prescription.
Specsavers may be tens of pounds more than online players, but it's worth it for a guaranteed low-hassle fix for poor eyesight.
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