getting glasses for the first time

[Sploosh]

Sadly, it seems age is catching up with me, and I might have to think about getting glasses; things a distance away are becoming hard to read etc.

Does anyone have good (or bad, I guess?) experiences with buying glasses, either for the first time or otherwise? Is it a matter of simply going to one of those glasses businesses and having an eye test to begin with, or do you need to see a doctor/eye specialist to start off?

Any ideas/anecdotes would be greatly appreciated.

[GWW]

I went through this situation early last year. Just ring up an eye place like OPSM and book a test. I got my glasses from there, although other people might know of places that are a bit cheaper (when i get glasses in the future i will probably look around a bit more for the most competitive price).

The other option is to get laser eye surgery, although this is quite expensive. I considered it, but in the end opted for glasses.

[JAS]

I've worn glasses for about 15 years now and I imagine your high street opticians are much the same as ours. Allow yourself a fair bit of time...it's not just a matter of closing one eye and reading the chart these days...eye tests are fairly lengthy and then you'll want to spend time choosing the frames etc if you do need some. I find the worst bit of it is when they do the glaucoma test (I think it is) with the little puff of air into your eye...always blink when I shouldn't

Of course you could always opt for contact lenses...I can't wear them but it's another option to consider.

Oh yeh and move to Scotland...eyes exams are free for everybody here...regardless of your age or circumstances the government pays...woohoo

Regards
JAS

[bayman]

my eyes are going as well , i borrow a pair but i must go & get a pair for myself (for reading)....when going for a walk down the bay & along the beach my eyes still work

[GWW]

Oh yeh and move to Scotland...eyes exams are free for everybody here...regardless of your age or circumstances the government pays...woohoo

As good as it would be to live in Scotland, it wouldn't be too good not being able to understand the eye specialist due to their Scottish accent (and FWIW from memory i think the eye exams are free in Oz too )

[bayman]

I've worn glasses for about 15 years now and I imagine your high street opticians are much the same as ours. Allow yourself a fair bit of time...it's not just a matter of closing one eye and reading the chart these days...eye tests are fairly lengthy and then you'll want to spend time choosing the frames etc if you do need some. I find the worst bit of it is when they do the glaucoma test (I think it is) with the little puff of air into your eye...always blink when I shouldn't

Of course you could always opt for contact lenses...I can't wear them but it's another option to consider.

Oh yeh and move to Scotland...eyes exams are free for everybody here...regardless of your age or circumstances the government pays...woohoo

Regards
JAS

speaking of eye charts & the like years ago i was at the doctors & he tested me with eye chart & he asked me to read the top line & i said ''A'', he then asked me to read the bottom line & i said ''made in taiwan'' he said you eyes are fine however not as good now

[Pseudo]

Oh yeh and move to Scotland...eyes exams are free for everybody here...regardless of your age or circumstances the government pays...woohoo

As good as it would be to live in Scotland, it wouldn't be too good not being able to understand the eye specialist due to their Scottish accent (and FWIW from memory i think the eye exams are free in Oz too )

Exams are indeed free; billed fully to Medicare. Frames (the physical spectacles) OTOH can be pricey.

[JAS]

Oh yeh and move to Scotland...eyes exams are free for everybody here...regardless of your age or circumstances the government pays...woohoo

As good as it would be to live in Scotland, it wouldn't be too good not being able to understand the eye specialist due to their Scottish accent (and FWIW from memory i think the eye exams are free in Oz too )

Cool

...you can't understand Billy Connolly? they don't all sound like Rab C Nesbitt or an extra from an episode of Taggert up here

Oh and Sploosh...there's nothing at all painful about an eye exam...it's not like the dentist

Regards
JAS

[RustyCage]

I got my first pair about 20 months ago from OPSM, just had to book a test, and chose the frames i wanted. My glasses weren't anything special but the frames and lenses set me back about $600

[GWW]

Yeah, mine cost $500, although i chose a couple of optional extras after initially being quoted i think about $280 or something.

[dedja]

my eyes are going as well , i borrow a pair but i must go & get a pair for myself (for reading)....when going for a walk down the bay & along the beach my eyes still work

Doesn't stop you from yelling BALL when play is down the other end of the ground either ...

[Sploosh]

So, would you just walk into one of those "Optical superstore" / "Specsavers" kind of place and get the tests etc, or even with those kind of places you need to book an appointment? Also, the eye test part is fully covered by medicare? That's good to know.

Yeah, mine cost $500, although i chose a couple of optional extras after initially being quoted i think about $280 or something.

What kind of extras did you choose that cost a further $220? Genuinely curious...

[bayman]

my eyes are going as well , i borrow a pair but i must go & get a pair for myself (for reading)....when going for a walk down the bay & along the beach my eyes still work

Doesn't stop you from yelling BALL when play is down the other end of the ground either ...

i'm usually right though

[85 WAS A GOOD YEAR]

Got mine recently from Optical Superstore at Southgate. Had to make appointment, but was pretty easy to get in. Yes they bulk billed the test, then Medibank Private for the glasses - so didn't pay anything, but I chose from the frames that came under the Medibank deal (was up to about $220 I think?). I reckon they have the same deal with Mutual and SGIC health funds as well.

Amount you have to pay will vary depending on if and what private health cover you have.

[Thiele]

Got mine for driving through Spec-Savers at Marion for $99. Eye Test is free. Made an appointment

[Squawk]

Yeah, mine cost $500, although i chose a couple of optional extras after initially being quoted i think about $280 or something.

What kind of extras did you choose that cost a further $220? Genuinely curious...

I'm looking forward to this answer as well.

[GWW]

^^hehe well i sent Sploosh a PM after i found the receipt from my purchase last year. I couldn't remember initially what the cost breakdown was, and even looking at the receipt it was a little confusing. I do recall though that there were 2 additional things that I took up, one being an upgrade to a type of lense that wasn't so thick and bulky.

[CK]

Got mine for driving through Spec-Savers at Marion for $99. Eye Test is free. Made an appointment

You got them for $99 after driving through the shop? Pretty fair deal I'd suggest

[Psyber]

After getting my first prescription set at OPSM and having a few problems with them, I've used the Optical Superstore and found their pricing much better and the service at least as good.
The problem was Optometrist specific - the female at OPSM was pre-occupied with avoiding a magnification mismatch between my eyes and didn't listen to my being more concerned about the depth of field mismatch that resulted. When I went back they remade the lenses a little more to my satisfiaction, but it was still not right. The guy at Optical Superstore listened to me and got the balance I required for comfort.

I had been to an Opthalmologist first to check out why my vision had changed.
As I got older I had started to become long sighted and needed over the counter reading glasses, then the trend reversed, which needed checking out.
[It turns out I have minor peripheral cataract formation which makes the lens a bit more rigid and caused the reversing of the trend.]

[Sploosh]

So, would people generally suggest that the "eye doctors" at the Optical Superstore (for example) are just as good and professional as anywhere else? I'm getting the impression from the above comments that Opt. Superstore will be cheaper, but are they also professional, rather than just a "greet them, take their money, send them on their way" kind of business?