General Chat

Does anyone else (who wears glasses) get slightly nagging letters from their opticians when they are due for an eye test.

I bought a new pair of glasses in summer last year - it was five or six months before my eye test was due but they didn't mention that my eye test was almost due at the time - then in October or November they sent me a "You are due for a check up" reminder, but I never made an appointment.

So today I got a reminder about the reminder saying "we sent you a letter in autumn, we didn't hear back from you" etc and part of me finds them a bit frustrating. I think my sight is about the same as usual but I feel like if I don't get in touch with them I will just get more nagging letters.

Hi Kate, I know the recommendation for eye tests is every two years. I think the trouble with sight deterioration is that it can be so slow that you don't notice it happening. I'm surprised they didn't mention it when you bought your last pair. When I bought mine in the summer (I wanted some prescription sunglasses) they asked if I was due a test. I said I wasn't sure, so they checked for me and I wasn't.

It's easy to forget about making an appointment (same as with the dentist) I know I'm terrible for it. I dunno that three months is really nagging, I would say that's a reasonable amount of time for a reminder considering christmas can mean people are too busy to get in for an appointment.

If it's glasses for reading it's not such a big deal but I think if it's glasses for driving then I would err on the side of caution and get a test done to put my own mind at ease.

i am very dubious of going too spec savers since I had probs with the, but thats me personnally

My optician is the same one I have been going to all my life, he knows all my family eye history etc and I don't always get my frames from him once he has done the test. On occasions, he has said that the difference is so minimal I don't really need new specs if money is a problem and on other occasions he has put new lens in old frames for me at little cost. There are often better offers at high street specsaver type shops so I use them when I want different frames as they have a wider choice, and special offers too. There are also lots of frames only places popping up, that don't do tests but will make up your specs for you at very reasonable prices.
Lizx

That's true, Summer. The thing is, I sometimes don't feel like they give you the whole picture in some ways (sadly I do need them for driving, although I don't do much driving lately) - a while ago I thought about having laser treatment but when I mentioned it to the opticians I felt as though they tried to put me off.

And, as Sunny Rosy said, I'm at the opposite end of the work scale - I've actually just finished university and am trying to get going as a freelance photographer/artist and haven't had a lot of work yet - I reckon I've spent more of my savings getting set up than I've earnt back so far, so I hope if I do go they don't tell me I need new glasses.

Did they sell you new glasses without doing an eye test?
I understand when people choose to shop around for a better deal but if you always go to the same optician I would question whether I wanted to make an expensive purchase from a firm who didn't suggest checking your eyes to make sure there was no change needed in the prescription.
Like Liz, I have had new lens put in older frames. It takes me so long to choose that I don't want to be doing that too often !

Computers show up when tests are due, I guess, so perhaps that's why you have had a reminder.

Gwyn

I got eye test due. Your thread remembered me to fone for appointment. My eyes got worse during my chemo, but the hospital advised to wait to have my eyes tested. Well it's over a year since my chemo stopped, so I realy think I should go, lol
No letter will be sent out from my opticians

I would accept any invitation for an eye test, as important changes (especially as you get older) can be detected. What I do not accept, however, are the outrageous prices which Opticians charge. I now go to a qualified Optician to get my eye test and then, armed with my prescription I get my glasses online and save more than a third of the price. BC

Specsavers do my head in! My Oh is the only one out of us that wear glasses but we all get checked the children normally every year. But we too get the nagging letters even after we have had our sight checked.

The last time I went to the optician he told me I didn't need new glasses. I go every two years and have varifocals. My optician is an independent local chain of about 3 shops. This was the owner telling me I didn't need them. (Being contrary I was a bit mifed as I fancied a change but stuck with the old ones (cheaper).

I think the eye test reminders are computer generated and it is not the optician but the receptionist who sends them out. If you had replied and said you had just had new g;asses theyw oul have checked it off on the computer.

Good thinking BC, hadn't thought of that.

Ann
glos

nearly always get my specs when on holiday in Cyprus - better selection of frames, excellent service, excellent eye test and much cheaper!

Just had the eye test ,never buy glasses there and the I take my prescrption, and look around for best value.. my dau has just bought 3 pairs of funky ones from Glasses Direct all 3 for £75 inc lenses.

yeh i did from the optition i went to last year
had 3 letters since begining december
so i went
felt a bit suspicious of um after id paid 20 quid for retest
so went to previous local one
gave him prescription theyd done for me , he checked it said it werent worth paper it were written on
and did me some glasses that were bit stronger,
mind you had to pay lot for um, varifocals
but he been there years and lots of people swear by him