Your eyes are worth more than this (Direct Specs)

Member Name: dawnfrancis

Product:	Direct Specs
Date:	16/06/01 (381 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: nice frames at extraordinarily cheap prices

Disadvantages: no qualified opticians on site, no equipment on site to test glasses

I was born with a range of eye problems and wore glasses for many years. I always visited 'big name' opticians and never had much trouble. In my early twenties I decided to do without specs and trained my eyes using a natural method (the Bates method).

However age creeps up on us all and last year I started to have trouble when doing close craftwork like cross-stitching. So I decided I just needed a cheap pair of specs for this purpose. Then I noticed Direct Specs had opened up a branch near me.

They sounded wonderful - a discount store for eyes! You take your prescription in (they don't test eyes themselves). Then you buy cheap frames (mine were only £9.99, some are £4.99!),and lenses are fitted very cheaply (mine were £19.99). There are even designer frames available at knockdown prices. 30 quid for a complete pair of specs, I was delighted. Until I tried them.....

My vision was _terrible_ - like swimming in a goldfish bowl. There was an awful pulling on my left eye and it made me want to throw up. I couldn't bear to read with them on, let alone do any crafts, because the discomfort was so intense.

Intrigued I took the specs to Dolland and Aitchson, who had tested my eyes. They told me the glasses had been made to the wrong prescription and the lenses had something called 'unwanted prism' in them, which was badly affecting the clarity of my vision. So back I traipsed to Direct Specs, who promised faithfully to sort out the problem.

The specs were sent off back to their factory and were returned....with a clean bill of health! Direct Specs maintain they were fine in the beginning and that D and A were 'telling lies' to try and ruin their business!

They did adjust my glasses slightly so that my line of vision was more aligned with the lenses, which helped somewhat. But the whole experience shook my faith in buying something so important so cheaply. I hate buying fro
m mainstream opticians because they seem more interested in flogging you expensive frames than in your vision. On the other hand, there are properly qualified people on site and I think your vision is too important to be trusted to a factory outlet.

Summary: