I can see clearly now... (Specsavers Opticians)

Member Name: FairyG

Product:	Specsavers Opticians
Date:	26/10/08 (487 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good service and a good range of modern specs.

Disadvantages: My frames were twisted.

I've tried various opticians in the past before going to Specsavers several years ago. I've stuck with them since then, because they offer a good service and the prices are easy to work out so no nasty shocks. Also there's a local branch I use so I can easily pop in if I have problems with my frames.

They do a comprehensive test which includes eye pressure tests for glaucoma, and tests that take images of the back of the eyes, so they're testing for health as well as vision. Because there is a history of glaucoma in my family, they also do an additional test for me which is a field test. This just involves looking at a screen and focusing on a light, while small flashy lines appear at random around it. All you have to do is press a button when you see one of the flashy lights. It's really reassuring to know my eyes are okay, and there are no signs of glaucoma.

If either of your parents have glaucoma, then if you are over 40 it's important to tell your optician. You will then get eye tests free, and they will monitor you for glaucoma, which is treatable with eye drops if discovered in the early stages. They have also started offering an optional free hearing test along with your eye test.

The frames on display all have a price on which includes basic lenses, so you can see at a glance what to pay. Then it will be extra for things such as a sunglasses tint, thin and light lenses, or ultraclear lenses. Thin and light lenses are well worth it if you have fairly thick glasses, as it reduces the thickness a lot, and they look much better if you want really thin lightweight frames.

Ultraclear lenses have an anti-reflection and scratch resistant treatment. This makes your eyes look more natural, as you don't pick up reflections on the lens. Also it cuts out glare from streetlights and headlights so is good for night driving. It also cuts out glare from computers so is useful if you work on a computer for long periods of time.

It cost me £60 extra to add ultraclear thin and light lenses, but it's worth it. As I took advantage of a buy one get one free offer, I also had sunglasses. Although the lens and frames are free, the extra options have to be paid for separately, so for these I just paid for a tint which is £12. I don't bother with thin and light lenses for these as I tend to go for a heavier frame for sunglasses anyway. The staff are very helpful if you're not sure what you want, and will help choose something to suit your face shape.

I bought my glasses a couple of weeks ago and within a few hours of wearing my daily ones, I began to realise there was a problem. I had expected to take a bit of time to get used to them, as my left eye had changed, but I just wasn't adjusting. In fact they were making me feel wierd, as if my eyes were working seperately. I had a close look at the frames and realised they were distorted, so one lens was tilted further out than the other.

I took them back and they were unable to correct them in the shop, so sent off for another frame. A few days later they replaced the lenses in the new frame and straight away I could see better.

I can't complain about the service at Specsavers and I think their range of glasses is better than ever. They've got a really great range in at the moment, but I'm wary about the really heavy frames that seem to be the trend (very Gok Wan). If you're buying glasses for the first time, don't just go for how they look on, but for how well you can see through them. Glasses with heavy frames and wide arms can really cut out a lot of your peripheral vision. I go for the lightweight half frames for my daily glasses, but a full frame for sunglasses.

Before going to Specsavers, I recommend looking on their website. You can choose a face shape similar to your own and try different frames on them. Or you can upload a photo of yourself and try frames on your own photo. Also, before you buy, check if they're doing buy one get one free, as it's always worth having a second pair for spares, or sunglasses.

Summary: A good opticians, but better value when there's a buy one get one free offer.