The Time Doesn't Half Go Fast When You Get Up Early!
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
March 9, 2012 4:13pm CST
Wow, I've never stopped today! Earlier I went to the Opticians for my Eye Test. Unsurprisingly, I need varifocal lenses for the first time. The eyes themselves are fine. "Healthy" as the optician called them, so that cheered me up.
The prices of the lenses aren't cheap and the only way I could re-use my current frames is to fork out even more. This is due to the depth. To accommodate varifocal lenses properly I (realistically) had to pick a new pair of frames. This actually worked out cheaper in the end.
Anyway, the total cost is (wait for it) £336! However, once a £66 deposit has been paid next week on arrival of the new specs I can set up a direct debit of £27 over 10 months (interest free) as the total would then go down to £270. This is the main reason I'm getting them because no other opticians seems to go down this route, just wants to get as much money off people as they can, all at once.
I did consider going down the internet route as well but I enjoyed myself so much at Conlon's (an opticians that's been going for years) that I'm glad I didn't in the end. I went back after having a chat with John on the telephone as he was at work. He agreed that the 10 month's interest free credit was a brilliant way of softening the blow, so to speak.
So, in a week's time I shall have a brand new pair of specs. Granted, hubby will have to pay for them but I have a feeling his Dad has helped him out although I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm extremely grateful.
The prices of the lenses aren't cheap and the only way I could re-use my current frames is to fork out even more. This is due to the depth. To accommodate varifocal lenses properly I (realistically) had to pick a new pair of frames. This actually worked out cheaper in the end.
Anyway, the total cost is (wait for it) £336! However, once a £66 deposit has been paid next week on arrival of the new specs I can set up a direct debit of £27 over 10 months (interest free) as the total would then go down to £270. This is the main reason I'm getting them because no other opticians seems to go down this route, just wants to get as much money off people as they can, all at once.
I did consider going down the internet route as well but I enjoyed myself so much at Conlon's (an opticians that's been going for years) that I'm glad I didn't in the end. I went back after having a chat with John on the telephone as he was at work. He agreed that the 10 month's interest free credit was a brilliant way of softening the blow, so to speak.
So, in a week's time I shall have a brand new pair of specs. Granted, hubby will have to pay for them but I have a feeling his Dad has helped him out although I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm extremely grateful.6 people like this
10 responses
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
9 Mar 12
Buying glasses aren’t cheap, as you said. I don’t know how much money that is, but I would think about $500 or $600… I say that because my glasses run almost to $500 with frames and all. I’ve had the same glasses for 6 or 7 years because I can’t afford new ones. I can’t half see out of these and they are all scratched up, so it is like looking through wax paper when I look through the scratches. Nothing I can do about it though. I’ve tried stuff to get rid of the scratches but it didn’t work.
I’m so used to not being able to see that I just go without my glasses to watch TV because it’s better than trying to look through my glasses and see distorted images from the blurriness of them. I can’t read a book anymore which is why I have an eReader that I can adjust the font to be able to see.
I hope to get glasses one of these years… I have insurance that will cover part of the cost now, so that will help, but I still can’t afford to spend the money for them. I have to make a choice and unfortunately the choice is never for me, because other things are so pressing.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
10 Mar 12
Hey, PQ, can you contact a local Lions Club? I never thought of doing that, but should have. They support vision projects for those who cannot afford it. I have a copy of my prescription and I am tempted to try for a second pair through some online store or Wal Mart. I cannot believe the difference getting the new glasses made.
2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Mar 12
$500 equates to about £318 so I guess we're paying similar prices. I take it you would need varifocal lenses if you went to get your eyes tested? I wanted transitions too as that's what I've been used to with the single lenses. Is that what you have now (varifocals) or are you soldiering on with single lenses like I've been doing?
I know what you mean about not being able to see properly without funds to be able to sort it out. The thing is; I've been in denial about my eyes for a few months now but it's got worse since - probably, Christmas 2011. The single lenses I have cannot cope with even the slight deterioration in my sight and the next lenses up are the varifocals. I was warned about this when I got the single vision lenses some 4 or 5 years ago now.
Mum will be off to get new glasses at some point since she had her latest cataract operation. She'd already bought some BEFORE the operation because she couldn't stand it but now she will have to fork out again. She is in a scheme called Medicash so if she times it right she'll be able to claim a proportion of it back. She adapts her behaviour at work as she keeps what she's doing to the right. If she moved it all to the left it would all be a blur. It's amazing how we all adapt isn't it?
I hope you can sort your eyes out sooner rather than later but I appreciate your circumstances. We've all been there.
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
11 Mar 12
@ Janie ~ I have no line bifocals and I have the transition lenses... very expensive.
@ Gerty ~ I don't know about the Lions Club.. I have insurance that will pay $190 I think.. so that will help a lot.. but still I can't afford to just go get glasses. I think I will be able to when I get my loan paid off in August.. maybe then I can start putting some money back for them.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Mar 12
o my gosh the price. as a senior citizen on secure horizons I had to pay only 25 dollars for the frame and my insurance covered the
rest. some things are good for us oldsters. I want the lens that changes with sunlight but that would have added 75 dollars which
I did not have. so just got the regular lens.so I did not r ealize how costley glasses are for the average person.
lens.so I did not r ealize how costley glasses are for the average person.2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Mar 12
My Dad had to take early retirement in his 50s due to him physically not being able to do his job anymore. However, he isn't entitled to benefits because Mum still works! Mum doesn't get financial assistance because she..er..works lol. A couple on benefits all their lives would get free glasses..allsorts (not that I'm insinuating anything with you, it's entirely different) and an optician Mum used to visit told her that only a small proportion of them bother picking up their brand new, free specs!
2 people like this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
10 Mar 12
Hatley I go to Walmart for my frames. they sometimes keep some that are 18.00 framews. they are good for every day and don't break so easily.
Nice pastel colors too. so adding lens and frame I only paid 38.00 for my last pair.
I do that in case I lose a pair or a pair breaks it won't cost that much to get a new pair.
We are finding several places that are letting you purchase 2 pairs of glasses for only 69.99 I am gonna go look around tomorrow but so far I have went to
walmart but not for the exam.
Have a good night.,
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
9 Mar 12
You are married, your husband should be paying to take care of you. I like the idea of the payments. I only got to pay out for three months, and that was after I paid about half the bill. With all the expense and exam my glasses were over $650--I am not sure how that compares to pounds.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Mar 12
He is but £66 taken out of a monthly salary that has loads coming out already is a lot..so I reckon his Dad will probably chip in. John will be sorting out the direct debit though..by transferring the money to my account before it comes out.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Mar 12
It equates to about £414 the $650.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Mar 12
They should give you a whole new look on life...
1 person likes this
@mysticmaggie (2498)
• United States
10 Mar 12
We had to get new glasses for Jaimie and me at the same time. One Thousand dollars and a bit to be paid half at the time of appointment and half in two weeks when glasses were picked up. Yikes!
Hugs,
Maggie
2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Mar 12
Whenever I'm confronted with a huge bill like that I just mutter to myself, "It's 'think of a number' with these people" and I'm right. I mean, how do they justify the cost?
Search me!
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
20 Mar 12
Well, thats good to hear about your eyes. You need those things. I remember one time the doctor wanted me to be the seamless bifocals. I did try them and man were they horrible. I could not get used to them. So I swathed back to my regular glasses. One thing I will never do again is get the anti-glare filter. It makes it impossible to clean the glasses. And the smudges are unbelievable. And they do scratch more. And yes, glasses are not cheap.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Mar 12
I still haven't received a telephone call letting me know they have arrived so it's a good job I didn't go for the dearer option of re-using my current frames! I wouldn't have any specs in order to go on dear old MyLot!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Mar 12
I do agree that we get lazy with our eyes and the glasses I have now I liked so much that I CHOSE to wear them all the time. The previous ones I'd take off now and again.
1 person likes this
@musicman6 (2413)
• United States
10 Mar 12
Yes, and this is the reason a lot of people don't fix their teeth, the Dentists want a large lump of money all at once !
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Mar 12
I was lucky last year (if you can call it that) as I'd been for a regular check-up but had to go back the following day to have one of my wisdom teeth taken out. It cost under £50 altogether but I know what you mean, the price would put a lot of people off and I wasn't ripped off!
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
10 Mar 12
Hey Janey I had to go to the Optician also today.
They did several tests on me I had never had done before. My father had diabetes and glucacoma so they check for all that junk on me.
I am having my lense changed to bifocals so I can keep my glasses on.
I have broken more having to take them on and off, lost my screwsout of the frame. and you can;t find those little suckers when they are on the floor LOL
But like you I turned out good but did not like all the different kinds of drops they used. I like the frames I have so I will probably get them turned into bifocals too after I get a pair I like.
have fun picking out your new frames.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Mar 12
Already done that and they're purple and green two-tone efforts! Quite unusual but if I go off them I've got 90 days (from the time I pick them up next week) to change my mind if I so wish.
That's nice of 'em!
I've been really lucky with my current frames. Not once have they had to be adjusted or any of the screws fallen out. It's a shame I can't re-use them but it can't be helped.
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
10 Mar 12
How expensive it is!£ 336, is about equal to 3360 RMB. Maybe I make a fuss about it,because we have different standard of living.I am not sure if the direct debit £ 27 over 10 months means that you can pay for it in monthly instalments.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 Mar 12
Yes it does. There is an initial payment "up front" as we call it of £66 that is taken off the total. Then there are the monthly direct debits of £27 taken out after that. When my husband picked out some glasses at Vision Express recently there was no alternative; they wanted the money there and then which I think is harsh, considering how hard it is to live day to day now, never mind having to buy new glasses.
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
11 Mar 12
Here ,I have never heard of installment payment when buying glasses.They really have a head for doing business.
