Vision Express & SpecSavers Helped Me See More Clearly

As I work in the public sector and most of my work is achieved using a computer, I’m lucky enough to have my optician appointment costs returned back to me.  If that also requires any spectacles, or replacement of, then these, too, are seen by the organisation – well, to a degree, anyway.

As usual, I went for my two year check-up at SpecSavers and was horrified to learn that I needed to start wearing glasses for computer work.  I mentioned that I had any glasses paid for by my organisation and was advised that: a) this optician wouldn’t deal with my order as they didn’t have the contract, and; b) I would need to go back to work and get this sorted out with them first.

This was easy easy enough.  I went to see the managers at work and they gave me a box of spectacles that I had to try on.  There were only about 8 pairs which I could try, ranging from the very old fashioned and dull silver-rimmed glasses (sorry to anyone who likes theirs, this is just my opinion), to the thick and heavy rimmed glasses.  There were also smaller glasses in purple and pink coloured frames.

I’ve never spent so long choosing between 8 items …. well, about 6 of them could be discarded immediately.  So I chose between a pair of slim metallic lilac frames and pink metallic frames which were slightly smaller.  Great choice!  I went for the pink pair, naturally.

So the order was placed and I had to wait a week for these to be sent to the branch.  Anyway, enough of the babbling, I simply had to tell you how I had come to be in this particular optician’s.

So Vision Express are the optician who hold the contract for my organisation.  I duly went there when I’d been informed my order was in to go and collect my glasses.

I can’t say the service was horrendous as that would be lying.  But to say it was flawless would be just as hypocritical.  I’m putting it down to the fact that I took the liberty, and the advantage, of my organisation’s perks that I was able to obtain a pair of glasses at no cost to myself, to the unattentive assistance I received, in that I didn’t need to pay for anything, no money changed hands and they weren’t going to make any profit out of me.

I was handed a pair of glasses and asked if I could see okay.

That was it.  I wasn’t even escorted out of the shop.

So I went on my way with my new pair of glasses.

After the countless amount of tests I was told I’d developed an astigmatism, particularly in my right eye and this would be one of the reasons why my eyes were so sensitive to light (brown eyes are usually less sensitive to light than blue eyes).  Not only this, I would have to wear glasses all the time.

I was also told the glasses I had prescribed were no good.  Had my eyes changed so much in just two years?  I was advised that the optician who tested my eyes previously probably hadn’t picked up on the astigmatism.  Thank goodness they were a free pair!  I decided to donate the old and useless pair to the SpecSavers‘ appeal they were holding, collecting glasses to help sight impaired people in third world countries.

After giving me my new prescription, I decided was going to buy my new frames instead of getting them on the organisation.  I chose a pair using their photograph system, you pop the glasses on, they take a photo of you and when you’ve tried up to four pairs on, you can compare the photos.  It’s almost like having your passport photo taken in different stages of fancy dress!

When I had my glasses fitted, I was measured, glasses altered in every which way until they were comfortable.  So an hour later I had a pair of glasses.  It wasn’t long before I realised that my fashion accessory - my sunglasses - were now useless, I couldn’t wear them as I had to wear my glasses.  Getting used to them, I now realised how much my sight had changed when I removed them.

Finding this very difficult to cope with, I headed back to the opticians to get some advice.  I was told that I could get a new pair of glasses with reactions lenses.

Wow, yes, I wanted these.  I asked if I could do a swap …. No, I would have to buy them.  I argued that this option wasn’t given to me when I chose my glasses, and had it been offered, I would have taken it and so I’m being forced to buy a new pair of glasses through no fault of my own; that these were the first pair of glasses I’d had to wear outside and so I hadn’t thought about the importance of not having lenses that react to light, and I’d already spent £75 on them.

After a converssation with his manager, I was offered the secind pair of glasses at half price.  Half price?!  A pair of glasses for less than £40?  Wrong again.  Half the price of the frames, lenses, with the reactors and scratch resistant lenses I was asking for.  Half price meant £75, as the full cost would be £150.

So had I got a bargain?  I only needed one pair of glasses.  I ended up with one pair of glasses I’ve still only worn for the first week before I ordered the second pair, and are now redundant.  I’d then got a second pair which, a year after having them are as scratched as if I hadn’t ordered them with scratch resist and spent £35 for the privilege, all for the bargain total price of £150.  Well, I suppose they would have cost me the same amount if I’d have ordered them that way in the first place - still, wasted time and effort had also been consumed on this project, and I also own a uselss pair of glasses too.

I actually don’t know.  I’ve had my eyes tested countless times with SpecSavers and I’ve never had such a thorough examination before this last one.  As I didn’t have my eyes tested with Vision Express I cannot compare.  The only flaw with Vision Express is I didn’t feel as though they tended to my needs as they should’ve done, but I’m assuming this is because I didn’t part with any money – but that shouldn’t make a difference.  The only flaw with SpecSavers is that they didn’t offer the reactions lenses, especially as they were glasses I’d have to wear all the time.

Final Verdict: My experience with Vision Express was brief and unwelcoming.  My experience with SpecSavers has been long and varied, but only one flaw of great note.  Therefore, as first impressions count (especially negative ones), SpecSavers wins my vote.