Aussielover

Any comments on the cost of Eye Tests/Prescription Spectacles in Australia versus UK?

I'm moving to Adelaide at the end of the month and need a new pair of prescription sunglasses; should I take a test and buy them here, or wait until I'm in Australia? I don't get any help with costs by the way...

Thanks All In Advance!

spouse of scouse

Permanent residents and citizens get one free eye test every two years through Medicare in Oz. I've found specs to cost around the same in both.

Aussielover

Thanks for that; I think I'll just get a pair here then, since we've yet to even contemplate understanding Medicare - the more I read, the less I understand...!

{By the way, the best Optician in the UK is in your neck of the woods - right next to the Cathedral in Chester... I'm too far away in Edinburgh now, but they were brilliant in every way when I lived down there.}

spouse of scouse

You'll get the hang of Medicare as you go along - any specific questions just ask. We Aussies know the system but because there are so many strands to it, we struggle to explain the entirety in one go. We're better at answering a specific question (such as yours above)

Ta for the optometrist tip - Chester's a bit far from me (around 25 miles) but I've found a good'un 5 minutes away

evets

WOW bit of a sweeping statement, best optician in the UK... Personal choice/experince!!!

For me the best optician I stumbled across was on Tottenham court Road in London, as it was the first that offered retinal scans and the customer service was outstanding. Independent and not a chain like specsavers.

Since I have been in Australia I have used OPSM(chain), due to perks with my company healthcare. In the last few days used a local independent business, which far provided a better experience, from eye test to customer service and worked out overall cheaper from frames and lenses.

If you have a healthcare plan after you move to Australia, review the member benefits to see who provides the best discounts. One thing I like about Australia is the local/independent business attitude. Check out the local opticians in your new neighbour hood. They will(I hope) have invested in the latest technology for eye test's ie retinal scans etc.

SoCalDon

Sal and I get our free prescription every couple of years and then buy our glasses in China. Plenty of places on Aliexpress, you just choose your frames, shoot them over your script and they're shipped to you. Sal was quoted about $800 for her bi-focally gradienty glasses locally but got them from China for $58 delivered. Excellent quality and only take about a week to show up.

Aussielover

Thanks SoCalDon, I don't have a strong prescription but still worth thinking about the Chinese route for glasses,; I would've been concerned that my payment might vanish into the ether, so a positive experience is worth hearing about.

{And yes evets, I was perhaps being a bit tongue-in-cheek with my 'Best In The UK' claim - but they were vey good!}

evets

Hey, do you have more details about this, not sure if you can post on the forum?
If not PM me, as my prescription has changed and have a few pairs of sunglasses that now need new lenses And will cost a small fortune to get the lenses replaced locally!

evets

No worries, me maybe a little keyboard trigger happy!!! And yes I agree with you some optician's are a very personal experience. Shame they are now too far away from you.

Would you be taking out private healthcare when you move to Oz, if so check out the extras as to what is paid for prescription glasses. For me, I was covered for $300 annually before I was out of pocket.

Retinal scans are not covered by Medicare or private healthcare.

SoCalDon

I dropped you a PM just in case but aliexpress.com is where we buy all sorts of stuff from clothes to led lights and bins. Awesome bargains as long as you don't mind waiting a few weeks for delivery.

Swerv-o

Yes, I do this too - Get the script done here, and then order them online.

I've used both selectspecs and clearlycontacts with no problems at all. Many local suppliers try to charge extra for coatings etc, but most modern lenses include the coatings as standard - it's actually very hard to get uncoated ones these days.


S

Amazulu

+1

Also have a look at Geekbuying and Gearbest - very much the same

Amazulu

Specsavers currently have an offer for 2 pairs of single vision glasses with designer frames for $50 for HBF members

I got 2 pairs of non-designer glasses for $29 2 years ago

Eye tests are of course covered by Medicare

ianandhelena

The Medicare rules have changed: from 1 Jan 2015, under 65 get a full comprehensive exam every three years, over 65 is now annually.
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/cor...e-examinations

Anybody with a progressive eye disorder is entitled to more frequent testing; if you return to an optometrist with new signs/symptoms you get a comprehensive test as necessary, and if you just want your prescription checked before you buy new specs Medicare will pay for that too.

Aussielover

It sounds like good Eyecare won't be too much of an issue - free basic eye-tests and access to inexpensive glasses sounds pretty good to me!