32 upvotes, 8 direct replies (showing 8)
View submission: Are opticians just glorified salesman's now?
You should try going to a local independent opticians, I’ve had far better experiences there than with specsavers or similar places.
Comment by miowiamagrapegod at 26/01/2025 at 16:37 UTC
24 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That's VASTLY the opposite of my experience. Independents ALWAYS cost more, even for a straightforward sight test
Comment by girlenger at 26/01/2025 at 16:26 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Agreed. My father in law had his eyes tested in our local specsavers 4 times over about 2 years and was given a new prescription and purchased new glasses each time. After continuing to complain the glasses he’s prescribed never work (he’s a golfer), I suggested he go to the independent that I use. She told him that he had cataracts so he needed to get that sorted before having his eye test. Turns out, after having the cataracts removed, he has perfectly good vision and doesn’t need glasses. I don’t know how specsavers missed it, but it really does put me off them.
Comment by phatboi23 at 26/01/2025 at 17:27 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
every single "independents" near me are double at least for a set of glasses.
Comment by DasharrEandall at 26/01/2025 at 15:58 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
For years I was getting glasses every eye test from a high street optician. One time I went to an independent one instead when I was due another eye test, and they told me after that my eyesight was borderline but I probably didn't really need glasses.
They did point out that eyesight can chsnge with age and occasionally it can change for the better, which might've happened since my last test. So I wasn't necessarily being sold glasses I didn't need (but I probably was).
Comment by AussieHxC at 26/01/2025 at 18:44 UTC
2 upvotes, 2 direct replies
100% agree.
Mine managed to pick up that in addition to my known slight short-sightedness, I have astigmatism, something that no one had caught for the past 27 years. Picked up a pair of Oakley's including the lens for ~£220 which is pretty similar to the online glasses sellers when you take the lens into account.
In fairness to them too, they have a notice on their website mentioning how they don't care about making money from glasses as their business model is more about supplying high quality contact lenses subscriptions.
Comment by cankennykencan at 26/01/2025 at 14:46 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Thank you I will take a look
Comment by InklingOfHope at 27/01/2025 at 14:33 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The independent optician I went to was even more hard sell than other opticians…
Comment by rubiksfox at 26/01/2025 at 16:44 UTC
-2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
AGREED. I shouldn’t have gone to specsavers. Phoned with an issue, rapid vision change after only 6 months after getting new glasses. They said, don’t worry we won’t just throw glasses at the situation. That’s all they did. Never using specsavers again.
Specsavers are maybe ok if you don’t have any major needs, (but how would you know!) If you want actual eye health care, go to an independent.