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In the recent Back to School flurry, one thing that may have been overlooked for you and your family is new glasses. If anyone in your family needs glasses either for everyday use or for close up work such as reading and screen time, it’s important to get their eyes checked regularly and replace glasses as needed.
The NHS recommends that adults should have their eyes tested at least every 2 years – and more often if advised to do so by an eye specialist.
Children’s eyes should also be tested at various stages of their development, including vision screening at around 4-5 years old, soon after they start school. Vision screening aims to detect any problems early, and is sometimes carried out in school. But if not, it is recommended that you take them to your local opticians for an eye examination.
A full eye test usually costs between £20-£30 but is free to those who:
However, once you or your child has an eye test, you may need glasses : either a first pair of glasses, or glasses with a different prescription from existing glasses. And this can be very expensive! In a High Street optician, glasses can cost up to £200, and may be even higher if you have complex lenses such as bifocals or varifocals.
So in this article we take a look at:
Many people do not realise that when you have an eye test, if you need glasses you do not have to buy them from the optician that did your test. After your test, the optician should give you a copy of your prescription. It will contain a series of letters and numbers which describe the type and strength of the lenses you need.
You can take your prescription to any other optician or retail store – either up front or online – to buy glasses. You have plenty of time to do this : your prescription is usually valid for two years after your eye test; or one year if you are 70 or over.
So don’t put off having an eye test because you are worried about the cost of glasses. You may find that you don’t need new glasses anyway. But even if you do, you don’t have to buy them there and then, and you don’t have to buy them from the same optician that did your eye test.
Three potential ways to get cheaper glasses are:
As with any other product, you can buy new glasses online. And they are usually significantly cheaper because they do not have the overheads of High Street opticians such as building costs, equipment and staff.
If you are buying online make sure that you check the dimensions of the frame carefully as well as the lens description. It’s a good idea to compare the frame of the online glasses with an existing pair of glasses that fit well. There may also be a pair of two-digit numbers on the inside arm of your existing glasses. These indicate the width of the lens and the bridge, so are really helpful in ensuring a good fit.
Also be aware that, even if you buy glasses online, you can still take them to a High Street optician to adjust the fitting.
If you prefer to buy glasses from a High Street store, take time to shop around. Many opticians have sales or may offer special deals – such as Buy One Get One Free – on either a regular or seasonal basis. They may also give you a voucher to buy another pair of glasses later at half price.
So by looking around and comparing deals, you should be able to find a money-saving way to get your glasses locally.
If the frames of your existing glasses are in good condition it may be possible to reuse them and get new lenses fitted to them. This process is known as reglazing.
This is a cheaper option than completely new glasses as it means you just have to pay for the new lenses and the reglazing process rather than the frames as well. It also saves you time as you don’t have to get new frames fitted and adjusted. And of course it’s also an environmentally-friendly option.
So all in all, if you are happy with your current frames, ask about the possibility of reglazing.
If you are worried about the cost of eye care, there are a couple of things you can do about it. The first is to check whether you are eligible for any kind of financial assistance. And, if not, there are ways that you can spread the cost of eye care rather than having to find it all at once.
Let’s look at some of these options.
The NHS provides optical vouchers for eligible groups. These vouchers can be put towards the cost of new glasses. Vouchers are worth between £39.10- £196 for single vision glasses, and £67.50-£215.50 for bifocals or varifocals.
You are eligible for an NHS optical voucher if you are:
If you are eligible for an NHS voucher, ask your optician for a yellow form called a GOS3. This form will contain the optician’s name, the date of your eye test and your prescription details. It can then be used towards the cost of glasses at any opticians or retail store that accepts NHS vouchers.
If you work with screens and need corrective lenses to do your job, your employer is legally required to pay for this under the DSE (Display Screen Equipment) regulations. If this is the case, you are entitled to ask your employer for a full eye exam and vision tests, and they must pay for this and for the provision of basic glasses if required.
The first thing to do is to speak to your HR department for specific information and advice. The usual process is for you to pay for the eye test and glasses up front and then get your employer to reimburse you, but your company may have a different way of doing things.
And be aware that if you are in certain professions, for example if you are the holder of a Blue Light discount card, you may also be able to get discounted eye tests and glasses through this.
Even if you are not entitled to any financial help with eye care, it can be worth setting up a healthcare cash plan. This is an insurance plan that enables you to reclaim the cost of different types of healthcare, including optical and dental. You regularly pay an amount into the plan and you can then use the money for some or all of the cost of appointments and glasses.
Also if you have any kind of private health insurance plan, for example through work, check whether any eye care costs are included as part of this. You may find that you can claim back some of the costs.
We hope that this article has given you some useful information on how to buy new glasses without breaking the bank. But if ever need extra money to buy new glasses urgently, and are considering a personal loan, remember that Loans 2 Go offer emergency loans that may be able to help.
For more useful lifestyle and financial tips, visit us here again soon at Loans 2 Go.
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