Yer NOT really a witch ya know

Says who.......?

John cleese.

As in "OK, shes not a witch but lets burn her anyway"?

Better in the UK- 10 times+ cheaper, wifey reckons she would live there just for that and she is an Aussie, food, groceries cheaper too. Kids need glasses too, opportunity for opticians better. Have you seen the styles? Family were out here and they liked the opticians Ok for casual glasses but not long term.

I'd been thinking my avoidance of Specsavers here might be a bit unreasonable, as it's based on a friend's terrible experiences in the UK, but reading some of these posts I think I'll stay away anyway.

I've had numerous opticians over the years, both glasses and contacts, but had PRK in 1995 so only check-ups since then until, not long after arriving here, gave in to old age and reading specs. First optician, part of a big chain, was never totally happy with the specs and suspected they were not right for me. (Also suspected they were responsible for a fraudulent GBP753 transaction on my Amex but could never get enough information to prove it.)

New optician at OPSM in Broadway, Sydney - totally impressed by her. She's spotted some old scarring on the back of one eye (possibly from Toxoplasmosis?) and a tiny bleed in same and is looking after me wonderfully. I've been in twice in a month, she's written to my doctor suggesting possible causes (of bleed) to look out for, I'm due back in a couple of months, and I haven't paid a cent, apart from for new lenses for my specs.

I've not got a great experience of opticians, but the optometrist at Specsavers was the first one who actually didn't make me feel humiliated. The only reason my eyesight is shot is cos I got shingles when I first came to Australia. Before that it was perfect, 20/20 vision.
The first optician i saw made me feel like I was stupid for having caught it in the first place, then wondered why I freaked out when he told me I would probably go blind within a couple of years.
The second one basically said I was pathetic for worrying about going blind, as well as saying I should never have "let myself get shingles".
So its taken me a VERY long time to pluck up the courage to go this time, but the girl at Specsavers (Albert St, Brisbane) was excellent, kept saying she didn't understand why my eyes were so unpredictable so I eventually mentioned the shingles, and she was just sympathetic but not OTT, and moved on to the next bit of the test. Thats all I wanted.

I know everyone will have their own stories and experiences which colour their views, but I'd go back there based on that experience I meant to go to one in the UK last month but never got round to it, too much else going on!

I think that's it, Polly - it's the individual optician that counts.

I got a second opinion when I was last in Sg (I pick my friends well, one's Daddy is an eye surgeon) and I'm happy that this one, young enough to be my (cough cough) kid sister knows her stuff. Possibly over cautious but I'd rather have it that way.

I totally agree with what Polly said, last year my daughter was suffering from really bad headaches, I took her to the specsavers & he saved my daughter's life from blindness & death couldn't thank him enough she got side effect from acne tablet that was prescribe to her from RBH, it was so rear that no one picked on it.

Seriously impressed. New glasses arrived yesterday, just picked them up; not like coke bottles but really thin even though I have seriously dodgy eyesight. Nice shade of purple (of course ) and it seems there is only one world out there, not a blurry second one in the background as well!!!
Have to say the service was brilliant again, she even said if 12 hours in front of the computer screens tonight gives me any issues to go back and they will see what they can do.

I have a friend who is an opthalmic optician in Brisbane (at the North Lakes shopping centre). She is brilliant. I used to go to her back in the UK. She is very thorough in her examinations. When we visited Brissy last November, I went to have my eyes checked as I didn't trust the Specsavers I'd been to in NZ.

She is independent, has the latest equipment & offers contact lenses at a discount. If anyone is interested in her details please PM me. I'm obviously interested in supporting my friend but also championing the independents out there

I know this is an old thread but I was just wondering how your corneal edema was treated? My oh has been told he has this, he's currently taking eye drops every hour from 6am to 12am but his vision hasn't improved, (he describes it as cloudy) we have a follow up appt tomorrow.

Did you lose your vision temporarily and did it return to normal?

Apologies for all the questions, just trying to put his mind at rest.

Thanks!