Your Eyesight - Take Care of It

Glasses are now an area where many large companies are setting out to part you from your money – both in the name of high fashion and your sight, plus, most importantly, their profit margins.

Strange though it may seem, it is possible to take care of both of these items using just a little good judgement and common sense.

Read on.......

Go to a reputable optician for your test.

By law, once you have had an eye test the optician is obliged to provide you with the results of the test.

Make sure it is clear and that you can read it. You need this information if you decide to buy on-line. This prescription will enable another supplier/optician make glasses for you without re-testing your eyes. You will then have the opportunity to shop around for the most stylish glasses at competitive prices.

The advantage of having regular eyesight tests, which are virtually a health check, is that all sorts of problems such as cataracts etc., can be detected.

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You have to decide what you need.

1. A pair of glasses that you will need to wear constantly.
2. Glasses for reading.
3. A pair for distance work, i.e., driving
4. Do you wish to have tinted lenses or are there any other special requirements?

Once you have this sorted out you will need to take a decision.

There are now numerous High Street stores competing for your trade which indicates that the profit margins must be high. Why not buck the trend and buy on-line?

Don't throw your hands up in horror - once you have your prescription from a reputable optician the process becomes remarkably easy. You don't even need to leave home.

At Glasses Direct you will find a very good selection of frames. They advertise themselves as the UK's Largest and Most Trusted online Supplier. In addition, they offer a free home selection service whereby you can select and try on four different styles of frames before making your final selection. This site is extremely easy to use.

Prescription glasses are extremely expensive in the UK; following a test costing up to £20, a customer can expect to pay from £50 for basic spectacle models and up to £400 for designer glasses and/or complicated lenses. Yes, your eyesight is very important, but there is no need to throw money away here.

Also if you are ordering on-line and you already wear glasses, you should find details of sizing, including the width of the bridge, printed on one of the arms. You can use this information when filling in a form on-line.

Resist the temptation of buying glasses from market stalls for a few pounds. Even if you kid yourself - 'Oh well, they are just for reading'. This is not a wise move - your eyesight should be one of your first considerations where your health is concerned..

CONTACT LENSES. If you are a lens wearer check a current pack of your contact lenses for sizing information. You can only order the type of lens on-line that has already been precribed by your optician.

As with everything else, there is always a variation in prices from different retailers. Asda and Tesco online stores both sell a set of 90 Bausch & Lomb SofLens one-day daily disposable lenses for £51, while getlenses.com sells the same number of lenses for £54 and Specsavers online for £54.90. Some online sellers have a useful checklist of the manufacturer behind the own-brand name.

Glasses and Eyes Tips

1. Don't clean your glasses with a paper tissue - you will do more harm than good. Always use a soft cloth provided by the dispensing optician in the glasses case for this purpose.

2. If you suffer from dry or 'gritty' eyes, take a look at Tip. 2 on our Save Money on Medicines page.

3. Simon Bates - DJ of Radio One fame in the 70/80's - always used to say the best way to clean glasses was to wear them in the shower! It takes all sorts!

If you would like to add your contribution regarding your eyesight to our growing list of tips, we would like to hear from you.