Specsavers vs the others?

[The End]

As someone whose glasses generally fall in the $600 range, I've been looking at going offshore for my next pair.

I've used OPSM & Specsavers in the past and have never had any issues with quality or prescription accuracy.

A pair will generally last me 2-4 years before they either break or my prescription has changed and I need something new.

Definitely a lot of money to be saved by having them made overseas, and plenty of reputable sites out there to choose from.

[FLUB]

Specsavers never seem to match the prescription properly. OPSM eye test and glasses good though expensive (progressives). I ordered a spare pair from www.zennioptical.com using the OPSM prescription and they were a tenth of the cost and arrived in just over a week. They matched the prescription as good as the expensive pair.

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[Ulsterkiwi]

Been wearing glasses since I was 13. Specsavers were the go to back in the UK as the independents were maybe 5X the cost. Still use them here and never had an issue.
Now I am getting a bit more chonologically challenged reading and up close has obviously become an issue as well. I have managed to put off progressives by wearing contacts for distance and carrying reading glasses, if they get munted then I get a new set.
On cleaning, I never use anything but microfibre and wash everything in warm water with a bit of gentle soap every week. My wife was always scratching her lenses by using her clothing or kitchen towels for cleaning....no!!!

[YellowDog]

I used Specsavers in the Albany Mall, back in 2012. I decided I wouldn't use them again, after the poor experience.

They may have changed, however back then, they offer a conveyor belt type service. Pretty unbelivable really.

I was impressed with the eye examination and the knowledge of their allotted optometrist, however he could do so much better for himself elsewhere.

I called back at the store, 15 minutes after paying for my order, to make a minor change to it. I was told that the order had already been submitted to Australia and was no unchangeable. I told them that it was just a small change and asked if they could make a phone call. They said no and invited me to take advantage of their guarantee service and wait a further 2 weeks without getting what I wanted.

Like I said, I guess they might have changed since that time?

[awa355]

On cleaning, I never use anything but microfibre and wash everything in warm water with a bit of gentle soap every week. My wife was always scratching her lenses by using her clothing or kitchen towels for cleaning....no!!!

Shirt fronts and hanky's aren't that good for lenses either, but are convenient.

[pritch]

My original experience with Specsavers wasn't great, the prescription was a bit off so I tended not to use those glasses much. The glasses had "office" lenses which may since have been renamed occupational lenses. They let you read a book or a computer screen.

AA membership qualifies you for a free eye exam, the person doing the examination was qualified and it was thorough.

When I chose an inexpensive frame the assistant told me that if I spent another fifteen dollars the lenses would be free. So I chose rather more upmarket, and stronger, frames.

In the bag with the glasses when they arrived was a 50% discount coupon (conditions apply) so I bought a set of polychromatic reading glasses that permit me to sit in the sun with a beer and read a book (weather permitting). I would've bought office lenses again but that option wasn't available in polychromatic and I wanted the lenses to darken in the sun so I wouldn't be blinded by the glare from the page.

So a free eye exam and two sets of glasses at friendly prices, I was a happy customer.

Oh, and those original glasses that were a bit off? That prescription is so close now it doesn't matter.

YMMV though, depending on how swtched on your local Specsavers is?

[R650R]

I've been going to the same professional optometrist since I was about seventeen and finally admitted defeat to blurry blackboards and goodbye to TopGun dreams....

Never been to spec savers as always been so happy with product and service and I didn't use to change glasses very often (tight cheap bastrd lol)... One time in Auckland I went to a different one in Auckland, although she was very attractive I think she had my prescription slightly off or maybe it was chepa lenses people speak off????

Anyway back to my guy, he's into bikes, is straight up and very thorough, invests in latest gear and gives other great info like what I can expect in near future eye health wise.
He has a great female assistant who refuses to let my buy the gold rimmed old man glasses I like (her words lol) and helps me be a bit more current in my style and age range.
Has a motorbike parking space outside shop too

You cant put a price on good eyesight although needs might.... One time I got new lenses and realised how fatiguing the old scratched ones had been on my eyes.
Only problem ive had is the lab in Chch that builds glasses and lens swapped my L N R over, although he picked that up in shop before I came to collect them.

[BuzzardNZ]

From what I've heard, If you have relatively simple eye problems, then Specsavers may work for you.

Anything more complex ( e.g. astigmatism ), then I'd go to a more specialised optometrist.

Still, it is your eyesight you're talking about here, so I'd rather not skimp and go to a reputable place and get it done properly, especially if it's your first time getting an eye exam.

The thing that annoys me the most about getting a new pair of specs is the amount of frame bending they need to do to get them to sit on your face properly. The last place I went to they had the god damned receptionist do it and she couldn't have cocked it up more!

[slofox]

I have recently used specsavers to replace my ancient (OPSM) specs. Now I do have eye problems that are worse than most in that I have some visual loss in my right eye, very close to the fovea (where you focus). So I am somewhat one-eyed.

The (free) exam at specsavers was as thorough as anything I get at the hospital eye clinic (where I am monitored for glaucoma). I have no problems there. The service was excellent in every way. Certainly no worse than my last OPSM exam - actually probably better.

But. The new standard pair, (with the most expensive lenses - progressive, photochromic scratch resistant coating etc) have a habit of allowing double vision. Especially at a distance, most obvious when driving. The second (free) pair, sunglasses, are much less likely to cause this problem. The old OPSM pair did not do this.

So I doubt I will use specsavers again.

[awa355]

From what I've heard, If you have relatively simple eye problems, then Specsavers may work for you.

Anything more complex ( e.g. astigmatism ), then I'd go to a more specialised optometrist.

I do have astigmatism and a couple of other conditions, one of which refer's to unequal focusing at longer distances, so I will stick with the Paterson Burn Optometrists glasses. I am now driving a school bus, so taking shortcut's with glasses quality isn't really an option.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

I do have astigmatism and a couple of other conditions, one of which refer's to unequal focusing at longer distances, so I will stick with the Paterson Burn Optometrists glasses. I am now driving a school bus, so taking shortcut's with glasses quality isn't really an option.

Glad to see you haven't retired !

[F5 Dave]

My optometrist became a franchise. Never saw the same person twice. Last one was a Muppet Opsm specs were a ddisaster on first try.

Found a real place and asked who was a partner there. They aren't cheap but have the latest eye health equipment and seem waaay more knowledgeable. Saw me yesterday to check out a blood vesselat no notice and then said no charge. Match internet prices for contacts.


I'm staying.

[slofox]

Still having major problems with the specsavers glasses - both pairs - clear and sunnies. Fucking useless if you ask me. i won't be back to them.

[mrchips]

Eyebuydirect...

Pick your frame, lense choice. Enter your prescription via their website & receive ur specs in post 1week later.

Cheap, Cheap, cheap.....$60 all up compared to $400 similar nz.

Primo value for money.

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[awa355]

I eventually got my 'mega' expensive Progressive lens glasses form Paterson Burns. What a disaster, a tunnel of about 10 degrees vision straight ahead. Scan my eyes (as in driving) and all was blurry. To look at a block of text meant the few words in the centre of a line were in focus, the words on the same line either side were blurred. Looking at a laptop had the sides appearing to slope inwards, angles, sizes, distance etc were all distorted.
They said that I would have to learn to turn my head to look directly at anything I wanted to see focused. I told them that I was not paying such a horrendous price just to end up with tunnel vision. Things got a bit tense but in the end they have agreed to send the glasses back and I'll get a set of bi-focal glasses.