Buying spectacles online?

P

Protocol

Registered User
Messages
4,885
Does anybody have any experience buying spectacles online?

I will be getting an eye test done soon, and rather than buy from the same place, I am considering buying online.

I see a few suppliers:

Glasses Direct
Goggles4U
SelectSpecs

I welcome any comments.
 
You can get the prescription but it does not include your pupillary distance.

I used eyekit.co.uk and they were very good - that was pre Brexit though. I wanted sports glasses and my prescription limited what glasses I could get in wraparound style.

You can measure it yourself - havent used this site myself but included as reference
www.aceandtate.com

Measure your PD with our online tool | Ace & Tate

To make your glasses we need your pupillary distance. Use our online PD tool to discover yours. ✓Online PD measurement ✓Easy to use ✓Free of charge
www.aceandtate.com www.aceandtate.com
 
I bought from glasses direct.

Utterly rubbish quality. You really get what you pay for. Lens quality was poor.

Ended up with a local opticians. Prescription was the same, but substantially clearer lens.

Yep, local were €180 v £69 and I feel I have better value in the €180 pair
 
Would also recommend Zenni but with the new eu vat rules you will likely be hit with 23% vat plus customs administration fee of €3.50 from an post, still save a fortune compared to local opticians. Filter by your pupillary distance first to narrow down the choice of frames.

polette.com/eu might also be worth considering as well
 
It turns out I may need varifocals.

Specsavers quoted 195 for the best varifocals lenses plus the frames prices, then plus 80 for making the lense thinner/lighter.

So maybe 195 + 149 + 80 = 424

But a second set would be just 80 for the thinning.

The deduct the 84 PRSI.

So 420 for two pairs.

I didn't buy yet.
 
Protocol said:
It turns out I may need varifocals.

Specsavers quoted 195 for the best varifocals lenses plus the frames prices, then plus 80 for making the lense thinner/lighter.

So maybe 195 + 149 + 80 = 424

But a second set would be just 80 for the thinning.

The deduct the 84 PRSI.

So 420 for two pairs.

I didn't buy yet.
Click to expand...

I have been wearing varifocals for years and would always go to Specsavers. I usually include the coating also to prevent scratching and glare on the lenses. Its another €45 per pair but I feel it is worth it. I get an allowance from my health insurers so this helps with the cost along with my PRSI allowance.

Because varifocals are extremely hard to get just right I would not opt for the online option. Recently I had a problem with the reading section of the lense and Specsavers checked them out and agreed to replace both sets of lenses free of charge. I find their service to be very good.

I also have started in the last couple of years getting their additional which I think is either €15 or €20 extra because it can spot problems early. Some relatives have had eye problems and it restricts their enjoyment of life so much that I don't want to take any risks if I can help it at all. Like any aspect of health its only when its damaged that you realise how important it is.

I know this is all adding to the cost but they give you a gold voucher when you make your initial purchase and I think you can use it for up to 6 months to get 50% off possibly sunglasses. The varifocal sunglasses are great especially when driving.

You could also just have a tint added to your second pair of glasses to save on costs.

When you mention getting the lenses made lighter it most likely means that you rely on your glasses a lot so it is worthwhile IMHO to see it as an investment rather than expenditure. Something that you wear all the time and if carefully looked after you should get 2 years service from them.
 
Protocol said:
It turns out I may need varifocals.

...

So 420 for two pairs.

I didn't buy yet.
Click to expand...
Just checked my last order to Zennioptical (2019).

Rimless varifocals, two pairs incl delivery etc came to €154; so €76 per pair.

Lens: 1.53 Trivex Digital Free Form Progressive (No-line multi-focal)

Thats a copy and paste from the order.

There's no way I would pay high street prices ever again.
 
Laya told me they would also cover prescription glasses purchased online too, well that's if your plan has cover for 'Optical'.
Ask Zenni on facebook / twitter if they have any new customer discount codes
 
As it's your first pair of varifocals, I strongly recommend getting them fitted and measured by an optician. A good dispensing optician will measure the frames so they fit properly and recommend the best type of lens for your lifestyle.
With varifocals, the positioning of the lens in the frame is very important to ensure you get clear vision at all distances. That's why getting a dispensing optician to measure them is so important. If you do run into problems as you adjust to the lenses, the dispensing optician usually can adjust the frame to solve the problem. This is difficult for them if they don't know what type of lenses you have.
I think in the long run, it may be cheaper to avoid the online shopping when it's such an important purchase.
 
BusyBeep said:
usually can adjust the frame to solve the problem
Click to expand...
In my experience this involved bending the frame slightly!

It takes a while to get used to varifocals; things can seem a bit 'swimmy' until you settle in.

Here's my tuppence worth:

For the sake of €60/70 its worth ordering from Zenni; if you're still not happy after say 2-3 weeks, go spend €420 instead.

If you are happy - use your savings for a good night out; and congratulate yourself on all you'll save in the future ;)
 
Last edited:
I used glasses direct last year, quality was fine. You can search for promo codes online. 2 pairs of glasses, including 7.50 delivery came to a total £23.50

The opticians where you get your eyes tested can measure the pupillary distance for you but you have to ask for it.
 
C3PO00 said:
I used glasses direct last year, quality was fine. You can search for promo codes online. 2 pairs of glasses, including 7.50 delivery came to a total £23.50
Click to expand...
Are you able to post type of lens / frame / special requirement?

Can't really compare prices otherwise.
 
Protocol said:
It turns out I may need varifocals.

Specsavers quoted 195 for the best varifocals lenses plus the frames prices, then plus 80 for making the lense thinner/lighter.

So maybe 195 + 149 + 80 = 424

But a second set would be just 80 for the thinning.

The deduct the 84 PRSI.

So 420 for two pairs.

I didn't buy yet.
Click to expand...
Specsavers always try to sell you new frames, I have a draw full of them over the years, when you ask to use your old frame you get the answer that they are not supported by the lenses anymore
 
Remember when getting your glasses from specsavers they offer a second free. I just tell them I don't need a second pair and the price drops by 25% which is sizeable as I wear varifocal thinned etc.
I have many older pairs which would take me through an emergency.
By the way I always take a spare pair on holidays!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top