Good And Bad Places To Get Varifocle Lens Specs

[thesshhh]

Where would you recommend buying varifocle lens specs from....and is there anywhere that should be avoided?

[bhg481]

My wife and I went to Specsavers and had wonderful service. I had a problem with mine which was sorted effortlessly.
Our friend went to the same branch and was appalled with the service. The bottom line being that we would highly recomment them, she would not.
The trouble is that most of the chain opticians are franchises and the service depends largely on the manager, making it impossible to recommend one.

[Zacs-Master]

You can’t really beat Boots for a full eye test and range of glasses. Not cheap tho!

[ethandron]

Asda opticians, can’t recommend them highly enough.
Both me and him have been getting our specs from them since they started up. I have varifocals, he has distance and readers. The price you see is the price you pay, all in...frames, lenses, vari, tinted, etc.
I always get two pairs because it’s even better value, something like £119 for two pairs of the range I buy. There’s a cheaper range and a more expensive range.

[ethandron]

Should have said, we both get our annual eye test somewhere else and then take the prescription along to Asda.

[ummmm]

I always use Specsavers.

[ladybirder]

WHICH recommends as a Best Buy, second only to independents, ASDA Opticians. I got new designer-framed varifocals for £110. Yes £110. I could have had two pairs for £179 I think was. Previous to this, I have been paying £600-£700 so just couldn't believe it when WHICH recommended ASDA but they are right. Check if your local store has an Optician department. If you have your eye test there and have to pay it is £19.
https://opticians.asda.com/Prescription-Glasses

[melv16]

I had massive problems with Boots. It took them 6 weeks to sort me out with some new specs. 4 visits later I got my money back.
Went to specsavers and got it sorted first time and saved a few quid to boot.

[ChillDoubt]

Save yourself a fortune and use reglazemyglasses.com

I’ve used them several times, I’d highly recommend them.

[ummmm]

Varifocals can take some getting used to and Specsavers gave me two months to try them out and if they weren't for me they'd change the lenses FOC.

[BANANASPLITS]

Asda for me good service and good prices

[bhg481]

There is no way I would have one optician test my eyes and another fit me with varifocals. On two occasions (different opticians) I have had problems with the eye-point being wrongly set with varifocals; on both occasions the optician gave me a retest and new lenses. If one optician has measured your eyes and a different one fits them you could have problems sorting out what the problem is and whose fault it is.

[Butterbun]

OH goes to Specsavers and thinks very highly of them. He says they are the best.

[jno]

I've had no problems with Specsavers but can't speak about varifocals specially. The one time I did get a pair, from another optician, I drove away wearing them, realised I was about to die because they restricted my field of vision so much, so parked round the corner and took them back.

[ummmm]

jno - they are difficult to get used to. I'm fine with mine now but always opt for my other glasses. I only wear the varifocals when I can't find my normal ones

[jno]

I guess the best time to try them out is not driving in central London in the afternoon. I waas gunuinely scared - couldn't see anything out of the corner of my eye any more.

[bhg481]

They do point out that you've got to get used to turning your head to look through the right part of the lens; once you do that it's no problem.

[ladybirder]

I've worn varifocals for many years and never had a problem from day one except for the first time I walked down some steps but fine after that. Wonderful not to have to keep swapping from distance to reading specs every day.
The OP also asks if there is anywhere that should be avoided and I would say do not have your eye test done at Boots, certainly not the one in Hove if you live near here. It is several years ago now but both my daughter and I had problems and so did many others I discovered when I researched it. I guess it does come down to your local branch though unless one optician covers a whole area.

[margarettom]

I've had varifocals from Specsavers for years and never had any problems with them. I buy their own brand varifocal lenses which are £49, but they are not suitable for all eye conditions, so you may need more expensive ones.
However, as they do ' buy one get one free' I always get a back up pair of reading glasses, as the reading area in varifocals is quite small, which is OK when you are out and about and busy round the house but, for me, not good enough for long reading sessions, jigsaws, sewing etc.

[Baldric]

Mrs B uses VarifocALs, goes to Specsavers, never had a problem with them, very good service.

[ethandron]

Asda opticians unfortunately don’t do the diabetic eye test, that’s why I have my eyes tested elsewhere.
I wouldn’t pay the prices my examining optician charges for even the most basic pair, and have never yet had a problem having the prescription filled at Asda. They do all the measurements both before and after you order your specs.