Buying spectacles online?

I have used 2 different Specsavers (I think they are franchised), never paid for anything and they were both very good. Maybe try a different franchise?
 
Slim said:
I just reordered my varifocals last Friday, in Specsavers.
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Just for comparison I got new varifocals in June this year, I didn't go to Specsavers but rather to my local optician who happens to stock Lindberg.
And also does the Zeiss and Essilor lenses, I prefer Essilor but went for Zeiss this time
So just for the lenses as I have a few pairs of Lindberg frames that will probably see me out
Full Eye test €100, fully refunded by Laya
Lenses including Transitions Gen 8 €650 of which Laya refunded me another €100
So all in €550 for a set of Lenses
I would presume if I was to add in Lindberg frames I be adding at least the same again if not more
 
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Interesting. May I ask which Laya plan you are on?
 
Slim said:
Interesting. May I ask which Laya plan you are on?
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We're on the "Control 300 Create", which allows you to claim €100 per year on optician expenses less the excess of €1 (which I forgot to mention)
My policy renews the beginning of June so end of May got an eye test and submitted a claim
First week in June went to the Optician and ordered the lenses and submitted another claim
Then in May 2024 will do another eye test and if needed will order lenses in June
 
I got a text yesterday from Specsavers and today an email reminding me that my appointment is now due. It isn't.

Almost harassment at this stage.
 
Similar...… I have a Laya "SimplyHealth Choice" policy which gives 50% back. I purchased 3 single vison lenses (im very hard on them) from SmartBuyGlasses for €100 and got 50% of that back from Laya. It was my first time buying online, the quality is excellent and I easily saved myself €200-300.
 
Cervelo said:
We're on the "Control 300 Create", which allows you to claim €100 per year on optician expenses less the excess of €1 (which I forgot to mention)
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We're on the same. I'll dig out the receipt tomorrow. Many thanks, Cervelo, and happy cycling!
 
Slim said:
We're on the same. I'll dig out the receipt tomorrow. Many thanks, Cervelo, and happy cycling!
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You're welcome, glad to be of assistance

Just thinking this forward, I'm not eligible for the free eye test but for someone who is I don't see why their prescription glasses can't be purchased in two separate transactions like I do to avail of a bigger refund, ask your optician I'm sure they would be only to happy to oblige

With regards to buying glasses online I've been doing this for years for my cycling sunglasses and the optical inserts that I use
The sunglasses I use (Rudy Project) can be up to 50% cheaper than a retail shop here and that's if you can find a stockist here
but the lenses are as cheap as chips, the last time I enquired my optician was looking for €250 just for a pair of single focus lenses
while Vision3K in the UK were £80 for lenses and the optical clip to attach them to the sunglasses and I find the perfect for what I use them for

But when it comes to buying my everyday glasses they have always been bought from an Irish optician mainly because of the brand of frames and lenses I use couldn't(I think) be bought online and now that I've reached the milestone of needing varifocals I just wouldn't risk using an online retailer even with the high prices charged here and I freely admit that when I heard the cost first, it took me a few days to get my head around it
Which back in 2018 was €750 for the first pair, €250 for a second and third pair and that's just for the lenses no frames!!!
 
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I don't know, I probably wouldn't risk it. You have to measure them, how they fit, whether they will not fall or vice versa. As for me such things are better to buy in person. Dishes, sofas, food, even sometimes clothes can be ordered online, but not glasses. But of course everyone decides for himself. It also depends on the price, if inexpensive, you can take a risk.
 
I'm considering going to Specsavers, getting an eye test with a complete prescription for my varifocals and then going online to to somewhere like Torga and ordering them. Massive saving to be made. I'm wondering if anyone has does this and what their experience was.
 
Wheelie Bin said:
What about reading glasses ?
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You can buy ready readers for a few euro from most pharmacies, bookshops etc. Take along something to read and you can easily check what strength you need. You could of course buy them online too once you work out the prescription. You really don't need an optician for that.
 
Before I made the transition to varifocals I used the old fashioned way of having two sets of glasses
But one day in Saville I was walking by an office stationary shop and I noticed these little gems in the window

Reading glasses without temples dedicated to presbyopes.

Reading glasses without arms for men and women to correct presbyopia. Thin, comfortable and light for everyday wear.
www.nooz-optics.com

What I liked about them is how small and neat they are, they can attach to a key ring or on the back of a phone
And you can also use them while wearing your normal glasses for a bit of extra magnification
Might be a bit more expensive then others but isn't that always the way with nice things!!!

edit
Just noticed they even have a quick online eye test as well to work out what magnification you might need
 
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As a basic, for any online order, you'll need your pupillary distance (PD) if you don't know it already. It is not included on your prescription. You can measure it yourself. I've gotten it from Specsavers as I got my regular pair there and asked for it as I was getting sports glasses elsewhere.

To be honest I would be nervous about varifocals online as they require a lot of personal measurements which may not be on the prescription.
But good that Torga are irish based for returns.

I've ordered distance sports glasses online in the past and been very happy with them but that was a UK supplier pre Brexit (optilabs).

But I'll keep an eye on Torga, they have a good selection of sports glasses.

ps if you have private health insurance check the small print of your cover, some policies included refunds of optical expenses, I've gotten €100 back in the past from LAYA
 
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odyssey06 said:
ps if you have private health insurance check the small print of your cover, some policies included refunds of optical expenses, I've gotten €100 back in the past from LAYA
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Indeed. We got €240 back from Laya (Simply Connect) on a pair of varifocals last month. I submitted the receipt thinking we'd get something back but they actually paid 50% of the whole bill. With the sight test already free through PRSI that worked out very affordable.
 
A while back, I got a letter from Social Protection rejecting my application for a free eye test. It struck me as odd given that I knew I didn’t qualify for a free eye test and hadn’t actually applied.

It turned out Specsavers had lobbed in claims for all their customers, the outcome of which they doubtless used to their own commercial advantage. I complained to them and was told that I had given permission which I hadn’t. I asked them to prove it and they couldn’t.

I also had a very poor experience with them when replacing my last pair of varifocals. It took forever to eventually get them to concede that the prescription was wrong. Part of the problem is that you seem to deal with a different person every time you go back and have to explain things from scratch each time. It’s very frustrating.

I wouldn’t go near them again.

Like others though, I think it would be difficult to purchase varifocals online, notwithstanding the amounts to be saved.
 
Cervelo said:
We're on the "Control 300 Create", which allows you to claim €100 per year on optician expenses less the excess of €1 (which I forgot to mention)
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Is this the best health plan for optical benefits or are there others?
 
There are a lot of Laya plans with optical cover €150 per year (50% of the expenses), so if it cost €200 you would get €100 back.

Not sure if that's their best offering.
 
SlurrySlump said:
Is this the best health plan for optical benefits or are there others?
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Last year we moved to Inspire Plus €1546, currently €1681.92 I think??
It offers a 50% refund on nearly all everyday medical expenses of up to €2000, so you get a refund of €1000
So what I'm doing is making an a appointment with my Optician for end of May, policy due for renewal beginning of June
I've already paid and claimed for my eye test from last years policy,
I'll use the remaining balance of this years policy probably in and around €600 to pay for the "Lindberg" titanium frames,
And will probably renew this policy in June and use it to pay for a pair of Zeiss Varifocal lenses in and around the €700 mark
so over the two policy's I will claim the full 50% on a new pair of glasses
Alternatively I might just reuse two old Lindberg frames and get two new sets of Zeiss varifocal lenses

From what I can see on Laya's website the policy I'm on has/is the maximum that you can claim for optical
 
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