Buying lenses from a shop without a prescription?

irishdude11

I've bought lenses online for years now but I'm in a situation where I need to buy some within the next few days so I have to buy them from a shop in case they don't get delivered on time.

I remember specsavers and vision express used to have that ridiculous rule whereby they force you to get an eye test every X years before letting you buy lenses, even when your eyesight is stable and has been for years.

Is this still the case or have they wised up now that people can buy them cheaper, and without an unneccessary eye test, online? If they still require eye test are there other opticians that dont? Cheers.

X6.430macman

irishdude11 wrote:

I've bought lenses online for years now but I'm in a situation where I need to buy some within the next few days so I have to buy them from a shop in case they don't get delivered on time.

Don't know the ans to your q but when you say you buy online, is that from England, specsavers website or where and are they cheaper there. I only have my lenses a couple of weeks and they cost 35 for me a month and wondering can the same thing be got cheaper elsewhere.

Sorry not trying to take over your thread.

RiseToMe

irishdude11 wrote: »

I've bought lenses online for years now but I'm in a situation where I need to buy some within the next few days so I have to buy them from a shop in case they don't get delivered on time.

I remember specsavers and vision express used to have that ridiculous rule whereby they force you to get an eye test every X years before letting you buy lenses, even when your eyesight is stable and has been for years.

Is this still the case or have they wised up now that people can buy them cheaper, and without an unneccessary eye test, online? If they still require eye test are there other opticians that dont? Cheers.

Not a ridiculous rule, it is law and a very real requirement under duty of care. Just like prescriptions are required for medicine, glasses and contact lenses are legally regarded as medical devices here and so a valid prescription is required.

Its not only a question of your eyesight being stable, it's about the general health of your eye, one of these reasons is that contact lenses restrict the oxygen flow to your eye which can result in numerous complications unseen in the mirror. There have patients over the years who felt their eyesight was perfectly fine with their current glasses or contacts only to be tested and for it to be found that even with them they are not reaching the driving standard, or only just managing it.

So short answer, no you can't walk in and buy them over the counter, not in Specsavers, not in Vision Express and not in any other opticians, without a valid sight test and contact lens prescription.

coldfire1x

I agree with having the regular checkup atleast every 2 years. You can find if there's any problem with your eye. You dont want to save money at the cost of your health.

Having said that, few months back I got few lenses replaced. I did not bring any prescription but I had it written on a paper. No issue at all, they noted down the details and replaced the lenses. Thats in Specsavers.

As I said before having regular checkups are good and recommended. Sometime they dont work out though. December 2014, I went to Vision Express, as usual had my eye checked even though I was not having any problem. Somehow the girl checking my eye said the power has changed slightly. I did ask, are you sure? I dont have any problem.

Anyway, got a new specs with new prescription. And with the new specs headaches started. First few days I thought may be I am too stressed at work or something. It continued, went back to VE, they said it takes time for eye to adjust with new prescription. I continued with it for couple of months with my headaches thinking it will get better.

In the end I had to get the lens replaced back to my old prescription. Since then no headaches or any issues. Thats nealy one and half years later.

In few months I will be due for another checkup. Again I dont have any problem but now I am not sure what to do if someone says your power has changed??

Manach

RiseToMe wrote: »

Not a ridiculous rule, it is law and a very real requirement under duty of care. Just like prescriptions are required for medicine, glasses and contact lenses are legally regarded as medical devices here and so a valid prescription is required.

Well my understand of Tort law is there is a wide variety of opinion as to what constitutions duty of care. I was told by an Optician was a legal requirement that as a perscription one had to have a new eye test if more that two years has elapsed. I've done a google search and scanned through the various acts mentioned, but do not see an explicit mention of glass as part of that interpretation.

RiseToMe

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/si/455/made/en/print