Kevhaze

Hi everyone,

I am due an eye test and, no doubt, will have to have another pair of glasses. My question is, should I get this sorted out in the UK (bearing in mind that I normally get my glasses from Specsavers at about £70 - £80 which includes a pair of prescription sunglasses ), or would they be cheaper in Oz?

Also, it made me wonder if the same happens in Oz with regard to eye tests, in that if you work at a VDU do you get free eye tests?

Hazel

wavy_davy

You should go to Specsavers as they have got a buy one get one free offer on at the moment - I got two pairs for £85 - brilliant value! That's lenses AND frames . I also had one pair made into sunnies for free! Well worth it. If you have a look on some of the freebie forums you can get a voucher for a free eye test somewhere (I got D&A) so that should be free too!

Pollyana

Get them in the UK. Definitely.
One free eye test a year with Medicare, and they don't care if you work with VDUs - I use one all day for the Govt and they laughed when I suggested help with glasses!
I never wore glasses in the UK, but am assured they are dirt cheap compared to here. I have something called graduated lenses, with the cheapest possible frames; paid $500 !!! Ouch! And when I suggested sunglasses the optician said if I had to ask the price, to forget having them.
I have to whinge about that - they tell you never to go out in the sun here without eye protection, but prescription sunnies are v v expensive! I have had to virtually give up marshalling at motor races - need sun protection for one thing, and secondly if I break the ordinary ones running onto the track, I can't afford to replace them at $500 a go. Wearing ordinary sunnies proved useless - my vision isn;t clear enough by the end of a long day.

If you can round up some two-for-one offers in the UK, make sure you come equipped.
I have a question in return - being new to glasses - when I come over in October on holiday, what will it cost me for an eye test over there? I would be looking at Boots or somewhere with a two-for-one. to get some sunnies if possible. Still have my NHS card if that helps!!

JayDeee

With Private medical care eye tests and glases are pretty much free over here POlly.

However whilst in the UK go for it, an eye test si about 26 quid but can be free on the right day ( just look fot eh signoutside the optitions) ans see how it goes.

Kala

Carruss

Was that reply a joke or is your spelling just bad ! ? ! ? !

Better get them eyes checked sooner rather than later eh!

R.

JayDeee

Nah it's just 2.35am and I am a bit trollied to tel the truth

Kala

Carruss

LOL

R.

gobbyjock

I would definately go to Specsavers, it cost me either £10 or £15 (can`t remember exactly but def no more than £15) the last time I went in January. I wear contact lenses but also have a pair of glasses to give my eyes a rest
and am practically blind without them (-9 prescription). They usually have an offer of sort on - I got special lenses for my new glasses and got £60 off the total price ( I had a choice of that or prescription sunglasses).

jad n rich

What do you pay for childrens glasses in the UK now, one of ours just got them here and even with a cheap frame(if he lost them we have to buy another pair our cost) was just under $430. Our private health paid $225 of that and the eye test was the annual free one.

Kevhaze

Childrens' glasses are free if they have the National Health ones, which aren't as bad as you would expect :scared:

My daughter, however, didn't want the National Health ones and decided on the designer ones, (Red or Dead) and these only cost me £40.

Childrens eye tests are free.


Thanks everyone for your comments, I will get mine at Specsavers before moving to Oz.

Hazel

CORKER

Will specsavers let you purchase a pair of specs if you are not present..
i.e You send someone in with a valid prescription to buy them for you..??? and then they post them to you in Australia....

CORKER

moneypenny20

I don't know if Specsavers will (I have always gone to my local independent since I was 3) but if it's a straightforward prescription you can easily do it over the internet. I couldn't because the strongest bit of one of the lenses is not central and they obviously can't measure your eye over the net. If "normal" can work out very cheaply.

Have also heard that if you have a prescription you can get very cheap designer glasses in Singapore during a stopover.

ABCDiamond

Here is a link that should help in comparing costs: http://www.eyeglassesaustralia.com.au/
Some examples are:

Frame + Light & Thin Polycarbonate Lenses $99.00
Frame + CR39 Hard-Resin Lenses + Dark Sun Tint $118.00
Frame + Seiko 1.67 Super-High Index Lenses $217.00
Frame + CR39 Hard-Resin Transitions® Lenses $217.00
Frame + CR39 Hard Resin Polarized Lenses $217.00



My daughters last glasses, from OPSM, were $149.00, and chose the frame herself
OPSM are good for kids glasses as they have the 6 month warranty.

MrsDagboy

I got some glasses just a couple of months ago - got the most expensive bloody things on earth, titanium frames that are so lightweight you cant even feel them, bendable & that you can tie in knots, frameless with the transitions lenses (that go from normal to dark in 30 seconds) with the anti-reflective coating & they cost $600.

Last years pair were the top range anti-reflective lenses with a good quality pair of designer frames called Convertibles which came with a pair of clip on sunnies.

Cost was about $450. My health fund pays for around $200-250 of my bill.

My cousin gets a new pair of glasses every year (very trendy frames) & never pays a cent cos they are under the $200 or $250 that her health fund rebates her.

This place does glasses for $99 Eyeglasses Australia I'll be using them next time I need a pair!

cresta57

What's the deal with scrip. safety specs here? I've been promising Debs a pair for ages as she uses the angle grinder a lot for cutting tiles and finds the goggles squash her normal glasses painfully against her face.
None of the net sites I've looked at show any.