Optician's Glasses V Off-The-Peg Glasses

[Marijn]

My prescription for both eyes is +2.00. Would it be worth my while spending £80, which is the cheapest glasses at my optician's, or could I just as well buy some +2.00 glasses at the chemist off-the-peg for £5.


Is there really any difference? Would it harm my eyes to buy off-the-peg glasses?


Are there any opticians out there who know, or anyone with knowledge in this subject? Thank you

[murraymints]

off the peg just as good as long as you have correct lens...got that from an optician !

[ChillDoubt]

I tend to by my frames off eBay then send them to this company:

http://www.reglazemyglasses.com/

[Marijn]

Thank you both. I just read the "related questions" below, and someone has said that the off-the-peg glasses aren't made to measure , so the centre of your eyes doesn't match with the centre of the lens, and that's a bad thing apparently. Is that important, does anyone know?

[murraymints]

oh's optician told him to go with the off the peg +2 as they were just as good..only for reading mind ...

[ChillDoubt]

Yes it is. An optician will give you a prescription. On it will be your PD (Pupillary Distance), which is fairly important when choosing glasses. The company I've mentioned are very good, I've used them several times and they're ever so helpful, they've added extra width to my lenses in the past at no extra cost.

[jno]

buy a cheap pair from Poundland or wherever and try them out. If they work, keep them; if not, try another cheap pair, or an expensive pair. The only one who can say if your glasses are working is you.

[Marijn]

thanks all. I do have several pairs of Poundland glasses, but I don't know if they are doing me long term damage.

[cupotee2]

Not much help using the postal service to get new lense in old frames if you need your specs every day.

[EDDIE51]

Get your prescription from the optician and then order a few pairs of these, £6 a pair for prescription glasses!
http://www.selectspecs.com/cheap-glasses/
I have just ordered 2 pairs. There are other sites that do a full pair of prescription glasses for £9 and upwards. My optician wanted £65 a pair !

[woofgang]

if they aren’t making your eyes ache and they are improving your vision then they are fine.

[Mamyalynne]

If you are buying off the shelf, please remember to still have regular eye tests to check for other potential problems.

[Buenchico]

£80? Try another optician!

Asda sell complete spectacles, properly fitted by an optician, for £40:
https://opticians.asda.com/Prescription-Glasses/Women's-Value?page=1

Vision Express have a range at £39:
http://www.visionexpress.com/glasses/all/female/#/?page=1/12/now-price/asc

Prices at Specsavers (again, for complete glasses) start from £25:
http://www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/womens-glasses?ban_a=10675&ban_b=10685&ban_main=10643

[Mamyalynne]

I'll take you shopping with me next time Chris, I can't a lens for less than £80 + -each! :-)

[hc4361]

My lenses cost over £300. No online optician will do my prescription so I have to save money by buying cheap frames.

[ubasses]

If just for reading get them at the pound shop, if you need to wear them for any length of time get the lens measured properly at the opticians.

[hc4361]

But to answer your specific question, great advice already given by Woofgang - if you can see alright and don't get headaches or eyestrain from off the peg, use them.

Worth buying a pair just a spare pair in any case.

[Mamyalynne]

Prices I quoted are from my last purchase, I have had tests twice since and can't afford new ones yet - maybe mine have gone up.

Doesn't bear thinking about.

[ladyalex]

I think Glasses direct give very good value for money if you want 'prescription' glasses rather than ready-readers.
www.glassesdirect.co.uk
They are also on the end of the phone if you have any queries.

As an aside, my prescriptions do not show my Pupillary Distance. This has never proved an obstacle for me to get perfectly serviceable glasses online.
(I suppose if I asked the optician to put it on he would.)

[EDDIE51]

See my link at 22.07 yesterday, I will let you know how my £6 prescription lens glasses are once they arrive.

[bhg481]

I've never had my pupillary distance listed on a prescription but it is only relevant for varifocal lenses.