Cant Get On With New Glasses

[wookette]

I decided to have varifocals this time round. I have had them 3 months and cannot get on with them especially when driving. Im going to return to the opticians with them. Where do I stand legally?

[Peter Pedant]

on wobbly ground !

did they say sale or return?
you have paid for a personalised device which you dont like
and you stand the loss

( varifocal are very unlikely to be recyclable)

[murraymints]

doubt you will have any consumer rights... nothing wrong with them is there ? other than you just can't get on with them.... you can only ask ! but don't expect much

[fiction-factory]

I would just go back to your opticians and see what they suggest/offer before you consider any legal action.

[bhg481]

Specsavers used to let you try them for a certain period of time, with a full refund if you swapped them for conventional lenses. I bought my first pair from them many years ago under those terms but I can't remember what the trial period was (I kept mine anyway). I can't see that you have any legal comeback but it's worth seeing what your optician will offer.

[DTCwordfan]

be nice......it took me two months....and now the new pair (same technically) are even better......

[ummmm]

Specsavers still let you trial them. If you can't get on with them they'll change the lenses FOC.

[ummmm]

bhg - they didn't set a time limit with me.

[melv16]

I bought some new glasses from Specsavers earlier this year. They give you a month's grace.

[bhg481]

Ummmm - it's so long since I first went varifocal (about 15 years, I guess) that I can't really remember the terms but I have a very vague memory that it was 30 days. Because I got on with them I've never looked back or taken any notice of whether or not they still have the same offer - I just thought it was worth a mention that at least one optician offered a "free" trial in the past, so it was worth wookette asking what they were prepared to offer her.

[gingejbee]

What many people don't realise is that there are different varifocal grades....from cheaper "standard" lenses through intermediate to pricier "top grade". I got my first varifocals from Specsavers and just didn't get on with them...I took them back (they were the standard lenses) and they replaced them with better quality Essilor Varilux...I just paid the difference. What a difference, despite the prescription being the same. The optician did say that some people find the standard lenses unsuitable and will always need the better ones....and she was right!

[wookette]

Many thanks for your imput folks. I paid for high quality lenses and not standard lenses as I drive. I did expect more from them and tgis is why I gave it time. I will return to the opticians and seek their advice

[Samuraisan]

Did you go back before to check they were "aligned" so to speak, correctly? Maybe they are not.

[bhg481]

That's a really good point from samuraisan - on two occasions I have had lenses fitted which were not aligned properly to my eyes (different opticians). The first time it happened the lenses seemed fine until I was driving at night and I couldn't read the overhead signs on the motorway. It's certainly worth getting your optician to check the alignment.

[andres]

Never had any trouble and have worn varifocals for over 20 years . There is only one person that you should be asking for advice from and that's your optician

[Coppit]

After bifocals it took me a good 6 months to get used to varifocals - but I'd not want to use anything else now.

[Old_Geezer]

No expert, but I'd doubt you'd have any claim unless agreed at the time of purchase. On the other hand, they do take a while to get used to, because you've to learn to instinctively look through the right part of the lens without thinking consciously about it. Even now, after years of use, there are occasions when I end up tilting the glasses to ease viewing something. But the option is way better than struggling with one pair of fixed length, or trying to keep tabs on multiple pairs.