Shouldn't have gone to Specsavers

Go back to specsavers and actually speak to them about the problem.

Specsavers have a 100day no quibble guarantee

If they're not right they will fix them or refund them. My new varifocals just don't work. I think they messed them up so I'll be going back tomorrow

take them back.  I often do with glasses, even at the big places, and they always fix them.  The nausea might go away but it might not.

 I also noticed that the new glasses are about 2 times heavier than the old, and that the lenses are significantly thicker.

Thin lenses are more expensive.  If you use them for riding and they are bouncing around a lot then it might be worth paying for the lighter lens.  I tend not to bother with the fancy stuff/coatings any more

You could (and probably should) fight them to get them correctly measured and fitted.

However

I also noticed that the new glasses are about 2 times heavier than the old, and that the lenses are significantly thicker.

Neither of those are really the opticians' fault - you chose the frames (although I accept you probably didn't even think about frame weight as an occasional wearer) and lenses vary massively – were you given an option for thinnner/lighter lenses or did you just choose the cheapest?

Also - do you know if you chose thinner/lighter lenses the first time around? Maybe you did and you are used to the vision with such lenses – then this time you got standard lenses and the visual distortion is more pronounced because they are thicker. Finally - are the new frames bigger than your old ones? Bigger frames mean different lenses and again this can lead to more distortion at the peripheral of your vision.

Anecdotally, my brother had the same with Specsavers and he went back several times before giving up and getting a refund. He then went to a local reputable optician and was sorted quickly.

Also they used to be a franchise, might still be, so don't expect a store in town B to fix the faults from town A branch

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You could (and probably should) fight them...

I've never found it to be a fight.  I just go in, say the glasses are making me feel sick and can they change them, and they do.  Zero drama.  I've never used Specsavers but I've used lots of other opticians and taken my glasses back a few times now.

Get a refund and then sack them off. Go to a reputable local indie optician and get something fit for purpose.

I've used specsavers for years, 2 different branches for eye tests and contact lenses. I usually get my glasses online as specsavers don;t do the frames that I like, and I'm a tart! but i have had a few sets from them in the past and they've always beeen fine. I've gone back to them to refit and they just do it no issues.

If they've made a cock up with your prescription give them a chance to rectify it as you would with any one else.

Shit that they broke your original glasses though.

Get a refund and then sack them off. Go to a reputable local indie optician and get something fit for purpose.

Hmmm....

I bought my current frames and lenses at a time when I had more money than I do now

I took a nice pair of Ralph Lauren frames to be refitted with new lenses, I had to sign a thing to say that I accepted that they may break them. I remember because I was challenging the fact that they would still charge me either way.

Sounds like they didn't follow their policy if you weren't informed - I would definitely be escalating this (in addition to all the other advice ☝)

I'd echo the above. I use an optician who are no longer the local concern that they used to be as they have grown over the last 20 years, but when I had issues with new glasses a couple of years ago they bent over backwards to get them right. No business wants to lose a customer if they can help it. Opticians are probably not unlike people who work in bike shops. Some will just want problems to go away and others will leave no stone unturned to get a solution.

Comparing old and new glasses is possibly a false comparison unless your prescription is unchanged.

Been using them for years, to be honest, and found them ok. My wife used a supposedly reputable indie in the same town a while back and they were useless.

I did try varifocals (the assistant at the time was quite insistent they were the dog's dangly bits for my eyes). They weren't. A different assistant when I went back who persuaded me to try the occupational lenses (despite my reluctance). She was spot on - they are great for my computer work at home. In both cases I was given the option of money back or change if they didn't work.

Overall, I feel that they may not be perfect, but generally had good experiences with them.

 is it just a case of getting what you pay for?

Not at all.

I’ve just had the same issues with some fairly expensive Oakley prescription sunglasses. The first set of lenses were manufactured incorrectly, they remade them for me and they still had the dodgy vision through them. The opticians refunded me as they think it’s down to the way Oakley manufacture their lenses now.

FWIW, I've been with Specsavers for decades (2 different stores) for contacts and glasses and they've always been excellent.

I had the issue you mention - the weird distortion thing on turning your head a bit - and after some initial "try them and see if you adjust", they replaced them free of charge with different lenses and a "sorry for the inconvenience" voucher. It was only £10 but better than nothing and they seemed genuinely apologetic. No real idea what the issue was because it had never happened before and it's never happened again.

Most recent pair of glasses, I got the testing and prescription at Specsavers but the actual glasses from Boots as they had some frames I liked.

Neither of those are really the opticians’ fault – you chose the frames (although I accept you probably didn’t even think about frame weight as an occasional wearer) and lenses vary massively – were you given an option for thinnner/lighter lenses or did you just choose the cheapest?

Agreed - I chose the frames and never gave a thought to the possibility that the lenses themselves would be thicker. I wasn't offered an option.

Also – do you know if you chose thinner/lighter lenses the first time around? Maybe you did and you are used to the vision with such lenses – then this time you got standard lenses and the visual distortion is more pronounced because they are thicker.

This is a bit my question - is distortion a thing with thicker lenses? Previously I've never been given a choice in the past - maybe because I was by default buying hideously expensive lenses!

Finally – are the new frames bigger than your old ones? Bigger frames mean different lenses and again this can lead to more distortion at the peripheral of your vision.

They're actually pretty much the same size. I tried to choose new ones as much like the old ones as possible - bit conservative 🙂

I'll be going back to see what they have to say, but so far I'm not impressed!

I had an issue with Specsavers about 10 years ago, turned out that the optician had mucked up the prescription after the eye test so the glasses were also wrong. Had a full refund, went to a local optician for another eye test and went back to Specsavers for glasses which were fine.
I didn’t buy the glasses from the local independent as they were asking more than twice the price for equivalent high index coated lenses

In my experience the thicker lower index lenses do have more edge distortion but I was advised that when I chose the frames but then I am very short sighted so it really makes a difference in the weight so I have always had higher index lenses

Could be a host of reasons - poor measurement of you or simply made to incorrect prescription (as happened to Mrs BH).  No matter the perceived quality of the outlet they should fix to your satisfaction; otherwise invoke the no quibble policy and go elsewhere

When you went back, did they measure the new lenses to check the centre was aligned correctly?  Last time I did this they took the glasses to one side, found the centre and marked crosses on the lenses with a dry wipe marker and put them back on to check it was correct.

I always go for thinner lenses for the lighter weight, but also as they tend to come with the ultra clean coating.  Also if you do the 2 for 1 offer, I think they will upgrade to thin and light in leui of the second free pair.

I've been using them since the late 80s in at least 5 different towns/cities. They occasionally make mistakes, as we all do, but overall they are fine.

If you want fancy pants £900 designer glasses with the finest Zeiss lenses go to a posh independent optician but for the average punter they are perfectly fine.

The only negative I can say is that their contact lenses, although quite good value, are from quite a limited range and I've had issues getting the right ones over the years.

I was a happy Specsavers customer for single vision glasses and contacts, but they never got varifocals to work for me.
Boots opticians worked first time.
I also would love to be able to afford a good Indy optician but the price is astronomical.
Bear in mind the less you spend on varifocals the narrower the working bit of the lens is, the cheapos give you a g-string of working area, the pricey nicies are a harvest festival in comparison.
I went for middling, best Boots but not the two brand name options, and the head turny/bendy distortion is acceptable. Does make judging levelness and straightness dependent on head angle but I got used to that fairly easily.

Get a refund and then sack them off. Go to a reputable local indie optician

Specsavers are a franchise so are normally independently owned. I've used several branches and changed to a different town once as their service was a bit sub par over a couple of years. The new one was much better, then I changed to another closer to work and they are also great

Been using Specsavers for well over 20 years after my local independent closed down, been great. Did have one pair that were a bit off in one eye, they did a fresh eye test to make sure the prescription was correct and found a small change. New lense made up to suit and all was good, got some free contact lenses as a 'Sorry' which saved me £30 too.

Which reminds me, I'm overdue an eye test!

Firstly I’d go back and give them a chance to correct it. They might have the wrong PD or something.

Your vision shouldn’t really change if a thicker or thinner lens. I’ve quite a mild prescription (-1.75/-1.5 for distance - so unisex them for riding), so I’ve never bothered with thinner lenses.

My prescriptions have always been from Vision Express and I’ve bought full glasses from them before - but I felt utterly ripped off last time they reglazed my existing frames. So for reglaze I use Reglaze Glasses Direct online. For standard lenses but with anti scratch and anti glare I think I paid about £25-£30 last time. Vision Express charged me £160 ish the time before. Ridiculous.

Also now I know what size glasses tend to suit me I’ve taken to buying frames online and then sending them to Reglaze for lenses.

I got a pair of Prada frames for £90 then paid the £30 ish to have them glazed for my most recent glasses. At VE or  similar that would probably have been nearer £300.

We've used them for years, the occasional problem quickly put right, most recently my daughter wanted one normal one tinted pair in different frames but somehow got the normal in wrong frame. No quibble to put it right and these were expensive thin lenses.

@Bikingcatastrophe did you get / try varifocals for computer use? I didn't get on with them for this either but I've heard from others the two don't mix. Maybe if I'd done a bit more research but often the glasses are ordered before you leave after a test. Occasionally use them for DIY but could live without.

What sort of lense are they? Single vision, varifocal/progressive/bifocal?

I know going from my old single vision to my first progressive to my new, stronger, progressive prescription has caused issues with seasickness for a couple of days until i adjust. Also someone who put the astigmatism correction on the wrong side wasn't particularly pleasant.

I've also paid extra for lighter, thinner lenses for years, because my glasses are on my face while i'm awake... So being worn ~18 hours a day.

What sort of lense are they? Single vision, varifocal/progressive/bifocal?

They are varifocal with a "screen" bit straight ahead and a "book" bit lower down. I'd be happy (well, not "happy", but ...) to pay extra for lighter lenses as they really bother me, but the person in the shop didn't do anything to explain the options and pluses and minuses. Thanks to you lot I'll be more informed when I return 🙂

Just to say, if you do bin (arf!) off Specsavers, don't go to Vision Express. They are worse, far worse.

I've that issue - fine looking straight on but not fine if I don't...apparently I've got a stigmatism (or something sounding like that), which means anything but straight on isn't going to be as sharp and in-focus. I also have varifocals and generally they are ok, but frequently I get caught out and need to remember to look at a very specific angle to make sure it is in focus.

I also need to keep my head vertical to make sure this happens - if my head is angled to the side then it doesn't work. Utter annoyance at times.

They are varifocal

Ah, measurement of PD and the height etc is far more critical on varifocals and progressives than single visions, as is getting the astigmatism correct.

Also, if you've gone for cheaper lenses, you might find that the "viewing area" is narrower than the more expensive lenses. I know with my first ones the prescription was low enough that they didn't think it was worth upgrading to a better lens. I only did it for weight. This time i've gone further!

Also need to adjust to looking forwards more and sideways less.

Specsavers will always look after you.
Ring them up and ask if you can book an appointment with a dispensing optician to explain your problems. They will check the lens type, the positioning and the set up. If all these things are correct it’s a new eye test needed.
Also tell them you’re not happy with the weight and they will explain the options and you’ll just pay the upgrade price.
It really is a no quibble guarantee so if you’re not happy after they try and sort it, get a full refund.
The lens i’d recommend is the 1.6 super reader1.
In fact PM me your Rx and receipt and I’ll tell you your best options.
Ex Specsavers store owner here, and Dispensing Optician.

@Bikingcatastrophe did you get / try varifocals for computer use? I didn’t get on with them for this either but I’ve heard from others the two don’t mix. Maybe if I’d done a bit more research but often the glasses are ordered before you leave after a test. Occasionally use them for DIY but could live without.

@fooman I was "encouraged" to go for varifocals as the answer to all my uses. I wasn't sure about that (wife has varifocals and took a while to get comfortable with them). Once they turned up I was almost immediately "nah, they don't feel right". They were ok if I was looking straight ahead but looking sideways or trying to use my laptop / monitor just felt weird. Took them back pretty quick and was just going to go for a general prescription as I had had before. But, the assistant said I might benefit from the occupational ones (like a half way house between normal and varifocals). I was skeptical (default mode) but thought it worth having a go as I had two pairs of glasses anyway - 1 would be general use and 1 would be for the working from home stuff. Once I got them, I was very impressed. They don't really feel much different to my regular prescription but the effect when using my laptop / monitor is so much improved. I wouldn't be inclined to touch varifocals ever again, but these occupational ones - yep, they work for me

I have normal varis for everyday, occupationals for computer, and bike mending.
If your reading add is +1.50 or less normal
Varis are fine for most stuff as you still have the range in the distance part to focus at the screen.
Again, the guarantee is really important for this stuff as everyone reacts differently.

Varifocals have a suboptimal user outcome if the lens isn’t of great vertical size as you need to get each viewing zone into less distance than larger framed formats.

My partner is very short sighted and has astigmatism, so getting lenses thinned is expensive but worth it for weight, usually they ask if you want the extras when purchasing. Last pair we bought from Specsavers gave him very odd vertigo / seasickness with the floor appearing curved. They sent him away twice to 'give it time'. Third time we got an appointment with the optometrist or a dispensing optician in training for optometry I think, and they redid the eye centre measurements and had new lenses fitted, at Specsavers' cost. The lenses were literally moved up 1 mm or similar, but that affects the curvature. It worked, so it was definitely worth persevering. But we will probably go to the much more expensive independent next time for more confidence.

And yes frames can snap and we've always been warned of that as my partner's script is pretty severe meaning thick lenses and odd stresses compared to the median glasses-wearer.  Oakleys won't make prescription lenses to his script for example.

In fact PM me your Rx and receipt and I’ll tell you your best options.

You've got mail !! 🙂

It's not just Specsavers. Over the last dozen years I've tried 3 or 4 opticians and each has supplied me with glasses that gave me a headache. I've given up on shelling out for £500+ glasses and use the £5.99 +1.5 options from wherever. I can see far better than any Optical charlatan allows me...

I have varifocals with costly Zeiss lenses and, after one refit as the measurement was slightly off, I'd never go back to anything else. Last year I got some Oakleys with tinted lenses for riding/holidays and they are not a patch on the Zeiss optics – there is noticeably more distortion and more spots where the focus isn't as sharp as it could be. I was warned this would be the case by the opticians so I was expecting it, but it certainly shows (in my experience) that paying more for the lenses should result in a better experience.

My local indie broke my frame refitting new lenses, he replaced foc.  Pretty good service I thought, they were only 18 months old.

In fact, I m on second pair of warranty transition lenses, they are only lasting 18 months before the coating cracks up.  It's not hand sanitizer.

Opticians work on huge mark ups. They can afford to get things right for you

Admittedly this was a few years back but a mate who works in optics pointed out that there was no single vision lens he couldn't buy for £3

I used Specsavers just the once and regretted it. Nasty frame, headachey lenses.

Last time but one I tried to save money by taking an old but good Oakley frame in to Vision Express and asked them to stick some new bog standard lenses in. Was over £100!

Last time paid for an expensive eye test at Boots and then ordered some lovely titanium Oakleys with glass at one of the online discount shops for about £130 all in. Will being going that route from now on

This is a bit my question – is distortion a thing with thicker lenses? Previously I’ve never been given a choice in the past – maybe because I was by default buying hideously expensive lenses!

Yes, basically. Expensive lenses will be thinner and lighter, because they’re more expensive, unless they’re a very strong prescription. I’ve been using Specsavers for years, and I’ve never had any problems, they’ve always sorted any issues immediately, although tbh I’ve been pretty lucky. I was also using contacts for a very long time, and they were very helpful over the last couple of years, because I was developing cataracts, and they would continually check and alter my prescriptions as my eyes got worse.
Now I’ve had my cataracts treated, my eyes are better than they’ve been for most of my life, and unexpectedly my astigmatism has also improved significantly as well, which can happen, but isn’t always the case.

I was advised to get varifocals by Specsavers after my last eye test. I tried the demo lenses and the only ones I considered acceptable were the top spec and eye wateringly expensive. I did a bit of Googling and ended up on glassesdirect.com getting Oakley frames with Kodak varifocal lenses for less than the lense cost from Specsavers.

Last 2 pair of glasses I've got were from RX sports. Varifocals in Oakley frames, not Oakley lenses as I can have them on my prescription. Great lenses, great service and decent price.

Still use Specsavers for everything else though.

They are utterly shit and incompetent in my opinion. Not used them in years as they managed to break a pair of my glasses then proceeded to put the wrong prescription in another pair twice. Not even remotely close to my own prescription and like looking through the bottom of a Ben Shaw’s pop bottle. They honestly tried to convince me the prescription was correct and that my eyes would adjust. Dickheads!

They are utterly shit and incompetent in my opinion. Not used them in years

Hmmmm.

Why would I return to a business that broke one thing and utterly messed up two others? Appointments at local opticians and glasses purchased online for an (almost) reasonable price.