Could 'a Gone To Specsavers But Didn't ... (Dolland & Aitchison)

Member Name: Teena2003

Product:	Dolland & Aitchison
Date:	27/04/08 (970 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: professional service in store

Disadvantages: very much on the expensive side

I have worn glassed for the best part of 25 years. I also wore contact lenses for a little while until I couldn't be bothered any longer and wore neither, glasses or contacts.

I am now of an age where my eyesight is naturally going off skewer and I have to wear glasses all the time - while before it was only for TV, computer work and driving.

I went to Dollond & Aitchison for a check up (mainly because I was on an assignment). I booked an eye test and was seen promptly on the day and the correct time.

It was the first time I went to my local D&A store, I always avoided them as they tend to be on the expensive side. I preferred Vision Express.

The actual eye exam was very thorough. I was asked a number of lifestyle and work related questions and was seen by the optician almost immediately. I was in the seat for about 20 minutes when I had my eyes checked. It got a little tedious when I had to go through all the 'which one is better, number 1 or 2" for what seemed a lifetime.

The test itself was very thorough, I had expected a change in prescription (I was convinced I needed reading glasses) so it didn't come as much of a surprise when I was told that I would need either bi or varifocals or two pairs of glasses, one for everyday and one for reading.

Always one for comfort I picked varifocals, after all, I didn't want two pairs of glassed and when picking lenses, the last thing I wanted was an unsightly line on the lenses where the two prescriptions collided. I went for varifocals.

After I was seen by the optician I was passed on to someone who could help me picking the right frame and lenses.

I picked a nice frame (one I still quite like) and lenses that fit my budget. I would have preferred the best of the best but I couldn't quite afford I so I went for second best.

I got some money off the frame but the lenses still proved to be a lot more expensive than I had budgeted for. In the end I picked what I thought I could afford. I was told that my glasses were going to be ready and paying just a deposit I left. I was called when my glassed were ready but didn't pick them up until a few days later when I had time.

Months passed, I got used to wearing vari-focals. It's a bit of a learning curve, as you have to move your head slightly to get the full benefits of the lenses.

I have always been a very lazy person with glasses. The fact that I had to wear them every day now irked me and I was looking for a way out. I knew I had to wear corrective eye wear, come what may, but there was still the option of contact lenses. I am currently financially in position where I can afford this luxury, when I decided to go for it.

Checking online about the latest contact lenses and (being ultimately and inherently lazy) I wanted lenses I could either pop in in the morning and take out at night or wear constantly for a period of time without actually taking them out. With this in mind I made an appointment at Vision Express. However, I was not very impressed that they had only booked me in for an eye test and not contact lens assessment (at a cost of about £50.00 I was told - but with a chance to recover some of the money when actually ordering lenses) and when stopping off at my local D & A I was given an appointment within the hour and at no cost (free assessment and fitting) I decided to cancel the appointment with Vision Express.

I was seen a little later than I had anticipated due to an emergency taking precedence - some guy managed to put disinfectant into his eye when inserting contact lenses and was complaining bitterly.

I was called in a little late but my paperwork was all filled in and in order when I happened to mention that I couldn't really see properly out of the left lens as I felt it was a little 'wonky' (the last eye exam was 7 months earlier). Instead of my contact lens assessment I had an eye test. It turned out that my left eye had taken a turn for the worse and lost -.50, almost levelling out with the right eye, in particular when it came to the astigmatism. It also meant I needed a new lens for my left eye.

With just one pair of glasses at present I was a little stuck, and rather annoyed that I had to shell out for a new set of glasses (or at least one lens) after such a short time.

I was told that, if I picked a new frame and lenses I could have a 25% discount (after all, I had less than 12 months out of my last pair of glasses).

I was all for it and picked a nice frame ( trying to make a bit a of a statement - though not too much of a statement) and super light lenses. But I had rescheduled my contact lens assessment and I was told that if I signed up for 'Contact lenses by post' I could get glasses for half price.

I was asked what I wanted from my contact lenses (my main point was my dislike of cleaning and taking out the little b******s every night) and after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and a thorough examination of my eyes, eyelids and everything around it I was told that I would do very well with extended wear lenses - as long as I promised to take them out at least once every week. The lenses I was prescribed can ultimately been worn for up to a month non stop.

I got my half price glasses at D & A after signing up for 'CLBP' (contact lenses by post) plus I got my first pair free (hooray!).

The service I got was really personal and although D & A are rather expensive (and I will be changing my lens suppliers soon), I cannot fault them. They did not charge me for the eye test that I had (instead of assessment), booked a second free assessment, got me my glasses half price and first month contacts free.

While I don't mind paying a little extra when it comes to eye checks and glasses, I am sure I can find my contact lenses cheaper with other companies. I will look out for bargains online. But while I am still in the initial, getting used to wearing lenses all the time and around the clock, I'm not chancing it. All aftercare is included in the price of the lenses so I can pop into my local branch any time and they will help me.

My local D & A store is run extremely well and you feel like you are a valued customer. I don't know if I want to be with them for an extended amount of time, but while I get value for money I stick with them. I will still be looking for cheaper eye tests and everything else but I know where I am with Dollond.

After years of favouring Vision Express (and dismissing Specsavers outright - I used to work with someone who had a Saturday job there and was allowed to dispense prescription without much training) I am slowly coming round to trusting other companies. My local D & A store helped me to see that there are other opticians out there.

Liking Dollond & Aitchison does not mean that I won't switch at the drop of a hat. Give me a reason I'm gone.

Summary: eye examination to suit your needs