Can you do an eye test at one place then go to another place for new glasses?

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Polz34@reddit

I've been doing this for years. Go to Boots for my test then get online and pay a lot less for my specs.

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Opticians are obliged to give you a copy of your prescription after carrying out an eye test. Many of the high street stores will more or less hold your hand and drag you to their expensive frames and upsell the crap out of everything, but you're well within your right to say no thanks and leave.

I personally get my eyes tested at my optician of choice (Always either Costco or Thompson Opticians for me) and then get my prescription and upload it to SpeckyFourEyes online. Way cheaper, way more choice, and often better quality lenses too compared to what Costco put in at a much higher cost in my experience.

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inflatablefish@reddit

What sort of price do end up paying for a pair?

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Koda614@reddit

I've paid as little as £11 before for brand name frames with the free lenses added when I wanted a spare pair and fancied trying a different style I wasn't so sure about.

Generally I pay about £30-35 though for branded frames and upgraded lenses with scratch protection and anti-glare coating.

Always pick the free lenses and wait for an email a few hours later offering you the upgraded lenses for a reduced price. And never pay to add a case - If you don't pay they'll still send out your glasses in a case for free. Sometimes it will be the branded case to match your frames. Other times it will be the basic SFE cases depending upon stock.

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inflatablefish@reddit

Cool! Mind if I ask how strong your prescription is? My glasses end up pretty thick if I don't get ultralight lenses.

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Koda614@reddit

-2.5 distance, and 2.5 Prism too. The prisms make the lenses noticeably thicker on the outer edges than the inside edges towards the nose. They stick out a bit beyond the frames but nothing that concerns me at all.

My partner has -5 and -5.75. They pay for the first level of thin and light lens upgrades and end up with lenses about the same average thickness as mine are. Without the upgrades they are definitely noticeable for thickness.

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AnonymousBanana7@reddit

Does 1st level thinning look ok? I have a similar prescription and last time I went to Specsavers they talked me into 2nd level thinning because apparently they'd be really thick otherwise. Had to get smaller lens frame as well because the 2nd level wasn't available with bigger lenses. But I need some new glasses and I'm thinking of getting some bigger ones with level 1 thin.

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inflatablefish@reddit

Mine's fairly similar to your partner then. How does your partner handle the order, do they put it through without any upgrades and wait to be offered some?

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Koda614@reddit

Yeah exactly the same they pick the free lenses and wait for the email.

Only thing is on one occasion they only got offered the scratch and glare coating and no higher upgrades like thin and light lenses - They had to send an email specifically requesting the upgrade on that occasion and ended up paying the full upgrade price that time. It’s a little more hit and miss if you know you want the reduced lens thickness unfortunately

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inflatablefish@reddit

Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try!

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Johnny-Alucard@reddit

This is often a very bad idea with varifocals. Knock yourself out with all the rest but with varifocals your pupillary distance and relative vertical distance to the frames is very important.

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Koda614@reddit

Yeah, similar case for me with prism lenses too. It's why I have two preferred opticians for my eye tests because these are the only two places I have ever been where part of their eye test includes measuring your PD with their equipment and making a note of it on your prescription rather than hiding it from you.

Generally speaking you definitely need to exercise caution when going beyond basic prescription lenses like you say. I totally agree that I would be very hesitant around stuff like varifocals done online.

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PigHillJimster@reddit

As others have said you can take a prescription away with you. You may find it useful to get a second test.

Years ago I thought I might have had a problem so I had a test with Specsavers and took away the prescription, then was home from University and had a second test at the local independent optician because they didn't like to use someone else's prescription (and it was free anyway). Prescription came out totally different to the first, so I went into the local city and got a third opinion from Vision Express. They said I didn't need glasses at all!

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hhfugrr3@reddit

Yes. My gf told the optician a while back that she wanted her eyes tested but would buy the glasses online. No issues at all.

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raccoonsaff@reddit

Yes, just ask for your presciption - you can ask for it anytime too, doesn't have to be straight after taking the test.

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Broric@reddit

You can ask for your prescription but they often won’t give you the pupil distance (which can matter quite a bit!) so you need to measure that yourself if ordering online.

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Extension_Bit4323@reddit (OP)

How do you measure that?

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Eggtastico@reddit

Find a print out ruler online

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Extension_Bit4323@reddit (OP)

Do u measure from your pupil to the glasses ?

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inflatablefish@reddit

No it's the distance between your 2 pupils

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Extension_Bit4323@reddit (OP)

Ohhhh ok.

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quite_acceptable_man@reddit

There are a few apps. Most of the online places recommend GlassesOn. I used two or three different apps together with the ruler against the forehead method, and came up with the same number every time, which is good enough for me.

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Eggtastico@reddit

No, the distance between your left & right pupil (the black dot!)

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goodmythicalmickey@reddit

I normally hold a piece of paper on my forehead and draw a line where the middle of each pupil is then measure between the two lines

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Broric@reddit

A ruler :-p You can get phone apps that do it via your camera too

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Jeggasyn@reddit

Also, once you have the prescription details, try a load of designer frames on to find what you like, then take a photo of the details written on inside arms. Those deets allow you to find them significantly cheaper online

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Extension_Bit4323@reddit (OP)

That’s a good tip thanks!

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quite_acceptable_man@reddit

Of course you can. I've been buying my glasses online for years. Opticians will always tell you it's a terrible idea (well they would say that, wouldn't they), but I've never had any problems. Opticians are required by law to give you your prescription, but the one thing they're not obliged to do is give you your pupillary distance (PD) which the glasses lab needs so that the optical centres of the lenses are directly in front of your pupils.

However, there are apps that can do this for you. Normally it involves holding a credit card against your forehead and taking a selfie. I used 2 or 3 different apps, and even took a selfie with a ruler against my forehead. I came up with the same number each time, which is good enough for me.

I tend to use Glasses Direct as they're pretty quick, and they let you have a home trial. You can order up to four frames to try on at home which is quite useful. You can also return your glasses for a refund as well if you don't like them, even though they're made to your prescription. I've found the lenses to be high quality as well, just as good as high-street Opticians.

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SnooDonuts6494@reddit

Yes.

Source: I've done it, several times.

If it's a different chain, you'll need to take the script.

If it's the same chain (like, another Specsavers) they'll have you on the computer.

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double-happiness@reddit

Yeah, done that here in Scotland, as the place I did the test didn't have any frames I liked. Funnily enough they screwed up the prescription so ended up having to pay to have one of the lenses replaced!

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98thRedBalloon@reddit

At Specsavers they give you a card with your prescription printed on it. They might usher you out into the shop floor after the test and tell you to look around at the frames, but you're not obliged to do that, so just politely decline.

Just take the card to wherever you want to buy your glasses from.

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mattamz@reddit

Yeah but one place I went gave me a free eye test if purchase glasses from them.

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Eggtastico@reddit

If you are buying glasses, why do you need an eye test.

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CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit

Yes. I did this. They have to give you the prescription and you can take it anywhere like.

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72dk72@reddit

Yes and they have to provide the "prescription" for free. That's how people buy their glasses off the Internet.

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BeatificBanana@reddit

Yes you can go to a different place to buy glasses (or even order them online).

I don't blame you for not knowing because they don't make it clear you can do that. They like to do your eye test and then lead you round to the area with all the frames and say "OK it's time to choose your new glasses", making it seem as if you HAVE to pick new ones then and there. And they don't offer you your prescription either. You have to tell them no, you don't want to buy glasses today, and ask them to give you a copy of your prescription. Then you can take it elsewhere.

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PrizeCrew994@reddit

Haha absolutely. I do this all the time. Ace & Tate do free eye tests and email you your prescription. They also cost a fortune.

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IrvTheSwirv@reddit

Even Specsavers don’t seem to be as heavy on the upsell and extras tactics these days. Was there recently and was really surprised.

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4u2nv2019@reddit

Yes just grab you prescription

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Fwoggie2@reddit

You can also get most types of new lenses put into your existing frames.

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intangible-tangerine@reddit

Yes I have done this.

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One-Program6244@reddit

Specsavers will practically walk you to the glasses displays but there is no obligation to buy from them.

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JoeDaStudd@reddit

Yes you just get the prescription from them then take it to which ever company you want to use.\ It's worth asking for the pupil distance when your getting the prescription.

I normally get my eyes tested at Specsavers then get the glasses from glasses direct.\ Works out considerably cheaper.

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knight-under-stars@reddit

Yes of course.

At the end of your eye test you get a prescription.

Just like a prescription from your doctor (or one for your pet from a vets), where you fulfil it is your choice. Including online.

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