Opticians

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Does anyone have anything particularly good / bad to say about Boots opticians?

I've always used D&A, which have now been bought by Boots. I'm not going to use my local branch, whatever it's now called, as they messed up my last pair of glasses, and the branch that I went to to get them sorted out isn't there any more as it was too close to a big Boots.

Alternatively, does anyone have anything particularly good to say about any of the other chains, particularly for non-straightforward prescriptions?

(Today, we went for a ride in the woods, and it was lovely and sunny. This contrasted with my journey to pilates, before which I had to send Mike an sms asking if I needed to use the fog lights, and if so how....)

Comments

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

I have had no problems with Boots opticians - Ilford branch - in respect of eye tests as they were good and thorough, but I have had with finding a pair of frames that I liked, and I once had a huge argument with them about how dark I wanted my sunglasses, which I made them redo, despite them telling me again and again that "They would be too dark."

Not.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

I'm not terribly fussy about frames, so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm more concerned about getting a good eye test, and then getting lenses that actually match the prescription!

[ramtops.livejournal.com]

They're all just as good as the opticians they employ. I've used SpecSavers for years, for contacts and glasses, and am very happy with them.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the trouble, I guess.

Although, these days, a lot of the optician quality can be replaced by the fancy machines that the newer branches have: I think that's why they spotted the problem so quickly when I went to a more shiny branch to ask them to re-check my last pair.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Good to hear! They sent me a voucher, to try and get me to move to / stay with them, so I think I'll give them a go.

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

People are often quite rude about SpecSavers, but I've been very happy with our local branch over many years. Their exam is thorough and detailed, their prices are good (especially if you want two pairs). Obviously this is dependent on the quality of the opticians. One thing I particularly like about our local branch is that the front of house staff who help you find frames and fit them seem to really enjoy that kind of work. In the past I've had opticians who seem to think that helping you find a frame that looks fantastic on you is really beneath them.

I now have very complex lenses (varifocals with astigmatism) and they're awesome. There is a little distortion at the very edge of my vision but I think that's inevitable, and I've had none of the issues that people allegedly have when they first use varifocals.

[ramtops.livejournal.com]

Worth mentioning, perhaps, that when Pete was in SpecSavers one Saturday morning for a standard eye test, they saw something they didn't like, got on to Bristol Eye Hospital, and got him in *immediately* for further investigation. I was well impressed (and scared shitless, of course!).

Also, lsat new glasses he had, they talked to him carefully about what problems he had been experiencing, and sold him some sort of "professional" glasses, meaning he only needs one pair instead of the three he was juggling.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

That is impressive!

[eleyan.livejournal.com]

Mine are also varifocals correcting for astigmatism and in addition I have two different prescriptions of contact lenses, each offering a different compromise for my increasingly crappy vision. Steve and I have both always gone to Eyesite, but they only seem to have 4 branches, not near you, so not much help, sorry.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

My mother does that - she wears one of each kind of contact, so one eye is long- and the other short-corrected!

[inamac.livejournal.com]

I never had any problems with Boots - the one I went to did very thorough tests, and if you time your appointment with one of their offers they do good deals on glasses (not just 2-for-one but things like prescription sunglasses with your normal pair).

I have varifocals, and the Boots ones were fine - though my current pair are from Sainsburys, to a Specsavers prescription.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Of course, that's another option: get the prescription, then get them made up somewhere else....

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

Myself and johnrw both have complicated prescriptions and use a small-ish chain called Optisavers. They've been pretty good so far.

[dougs.livejournal.com]

I had always been with Boots before I moved to Sheffield, and never had any problems. Of course I never had any glasses, and never had any need of them, just an obligation to take an eye test occasionally, so I'm probably not the best guide.

[frostfox.livejournal.com]

I use Boots in Northwich and the optician is a dish (lovely Irish accent - apparently all the ladies ask for him...)

The thing he did, which I love, was to slap a pair of disposable contacts in my eyes so I COULD SEE THE FRAMES I was ordering, and what they actually looked like.

FF

[guybles.livejournal.com]

I used Boots just once - no problems with the test, but they took what felt like about a million years to get the glasses ordered, made up and delivered...at which point, they noticed a flaw and started again.

Seriously, all told, it took about two and a half weeks - and they were distinctly indifferent about all this delay and the amount of time I spent chasing them to do anything.

I've decided to go with a local chain instead now, because they can at least get glasses done in a week...

[discodoris.livejournal.com]

I have had pretty good service from Boots on every occasion I've used them - sadly I'm now of an age where my prescription isn't stable, so they send me vouchers for my eyetest at a more regular interval than the two years that's the standard recommendation. I'm not sure if they do this for everyone, or Advantage card holders only - but I'm not arguing with it. I've had no issues with finding frames, despite having a ridiculously small head and therefore not being suitable for a lot of the styles that are currently fashionable...