Online lens replacement

[Nigel-YZ1]

Has anyone had experience of having their specs re-lensed via the internet?
I'm thinking of doing it and have been pointed at ciliaryblue.com as a good provider.

Specsavers refused to give me a measure of my Pupillary Distance in order to make the task harder, and try and prevent me from going online. I don't know if taking this measurement from existing glasses that I send in is prone to error or not - is that why they withhold it?

I'd welcome any opinions.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Go back to specsavers and demand they tell you the PD it is part of your prescription that you have paid for and they have no right to with hold it.

 

[Archie_tect]

If your new lenses are incorrect how will you know.... your sight is too precious to mess about. Why not get them done by the optician... and if yoy don't like Specsavers why not go somewhere else?.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm working when most of the opticians are open, so it was a matter of access this time.

I've read up on the PD measurement. It's deliberately withheld as a matter of routine by all opticians, and actively condoned by their own governing body. Basically it's an industry protecting itself.

My regular optician also tells me every couple of years that they can't get lenses for my current glasses, so I need to pick other frames. Which was proven a lie by watching 'How do they do that' on the Discovery channel. There's no way I'm going to bin £250 titanium frames on a whim.

I don't know whether to trust the online companies, and agree with Archie_tect's point so I'm looking for opinions. The alternative is a dash from work to Meadowhall and get someone like Optical Express to do the job for a premium on the lens cost.

 

[Linford]

The PD AFAIK isn't actually part of the eye test. If you get it wrong, it can be disorientating.
They can tell the PD in a shop from a set of existing specs if you ask as they have the kit in there.

Tesco's Opticians are pretty good TBH, give them a try. They have some pretty good deals on most of the time, and work out substantially cheaper than specsavers from my experience of using both.

 

[ASC1951]

I'm working when most of the opticians are open, so it was a matter of access this time.....

...Basically it's an industry protecting itself.

... There's no way I'm going to bin £250 titanium frames on a whim.

Odd priorities, Nigel, spending £250 on frames then trying to save a few quid on lenses because you find even SpecSavers too pricey. Take a couple of hours off work and go to a qualified optician, you tightwad.

 

[Linford]

Odd priorities, Nigel, spending £250 on frames then trying to save a few quid on lenses because you find even SpecSavers too pricey. Take a couple of hours off work and go to a qualified optician, you tightwad.

His PD will actually not change, so what her would be best doing (if he has a spare pair) would be to hand the Ti pair over with the new prescription, and asking them to glaze a new set in as they will be able to measure the PD from the old pair and make the new ones to suit.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Odd priorities, Nigel, spending £250 on frames then trying to save a few quid on lenses because you find even SpecSavers too pricey. Take a couple of hours off work and go to a qualified optician, you tightwad.

Good point

The lower cost is a temptation, but not being able to get to my regular optician was the biggest factor. SpecSavers let me walk in the door and get an instant test when I was passing.

 

[ASC1951]

The lower cost is a temptation..

I don't know anything about ciliaryblue.com, but I've bought a pair of rimless glasses - yes, I'm that old - from www.glassesdirect.co.uk. They were indeed a fair bit cheaper but they are also smaller and not quite as well put together i.e good value for money but not staggeringly more so than going to Boots. The eyewear market is genuinely competitive these days and opticians make most of their money by <cough> persuading the vain to buy designer titanium frames.

GD do a similar service and are very helpful on the phone http://www.glassesdirect.co.uk/help-reglazing-your-glasses/

 

[ianrauk]

I left Optical Express because they wouldn't give me my pd measurement. Went to Specsavers and they were fine in giving me the information. They did ask why and I said I was getting specialist cycling glasses. Said they had a range of sports frames, I said no thanks. Gave me my PD and it was off to Optilabs I went to get my cycling glasses.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Thanks for all the opinions, my mind is made up.

I'm not going online, but taking my prescription to Asda down the road. Like many people I'd rather have someone in front of me, and easy redress if anything goes wrong.

Yes, I'm vain, I admit it But went for titanium for the weight. I'm a very strong prescription and just needed the relief (plus the Jaguar frame is just soooo nice!!).
The other upside is longevity, I can just keep re-lensing for years (and ignore the optician that says "we can't get lenses for these!!", which I know is cobblers).

 

[fossyant]

I'm off to the local optician next week, and intend on having a pair of Oakley glasses (not sports ones) re-glazed as they cost me an arm and a leg and I like them. Lenses wise, they are machined into shape anyway ! What might cost £100-£150 for new lenses rather than £400 for whole glasses.

I intend to get my PD as well as I can get some sports specs made up at a later date.

 

[Linford]

Watchdog (or was it rip off Britain) did an article on optician pricing last year. The long and the short was that the real skill lies with the eye test, and this is being subsidised by the sale of the specs.

The frames and len's are actually a very small part of the cost, and the sight test to specs sale is a very carefully choreographed action to get you to part with your hard earned. When you get your eye test done in future and are given the prices for the specs, ask them for the PD

 

[ASC1951]

Went to Specsavers and they were fine in giving me the information. They did ask why and I said I was getting specialist cycling glasses. Said they had a range of sports frames, I said no thanks. Gave me my PD and it was off to Optilabs I went to get my cycling glasses.

Exactly the same for me, except that I got my previous glasses from Boots - who were also fine about the PD. Optilabs give an excellent service IME.