I had cataract surgery about 8 weeks ago and now I need new glasses. I have in mind 2 pairs of multifocals, one of which will be photochromic. I am confused about the variation in prices I am being quoted.

Specsavers can offer 2 pairs frames, ($299) with 2 pairs of multifocal lenses $250. (“Premium quality.”) Reactive lenses $100 per pair. Total all up cost about $650 for the two pairs, some of which I will get back on my private health insurance.

OPSM have a variety of lens types, materials, and enhancements. I found their pricing structure very confusing. They recommend “Panorama Imperium High Def lenses” which apparently have a wider useable field that standard multifocals. Seems that, with them, my requirements will cost about $1600 for 2 pairs, plus frames. (Probably another $400.) 20% rebate from Medibank Private for the first pair, 50% rebate for the second pair.

This seems a huge price differential. I know that you generally get what you pay for, but I don’t want to be ripped off.

Would appreciate advice from anyone who has current experience – or Buffy, if you are there? – I think this is your field of speciality.

Any info appreciated.

pesce.del.giorno said:

I had cataract surgery about 8 weeks ago and now I need new glasses. I have in mind 2 pairs of multifocals, one of which will be photochromic. I am confused about the variation in prices I am being quoted.

Specsavers can offer 2 pairs frames, ($299) with 2 pairs of multifocal lenses $250. (“Premium quality.”) Reactive lenses $100 per pair. Total all up cost about $650 for the two pairs, some of which I will get back on my private health insurance.

OPSM have a variety of lens types, materials, and enhancements. I found their pricing structure very confusing. They recommend “Panorama Imperium High Def lenses” which apparently have a wider useable field that standard multifocals. Seems that, with them, my requirements will cost about $1600 for 2 pairs, plus frames. (Probably another $400.) 20% rebate from Medibank Private for the first pair, 50% rebate for the second pair.

This seems a huge price differential. I know that you generally get what you pay for, but I don’t want to be ripped off.

Would appreciate advice from anyone who has current experience – or Buffy, if you are there? – I think this is your field of speciality.

Any info appreciated.

Hello. Please wait until Buffy drops in. She will give the good advice. :)

I have an eye condition and always found that my single-vision lenses were extremely expensive.

Once SpecSavers set up (and my regular optometrist became a franchisee of a store), I was gobsmacked to find that their advertised pricing would cover lenses like mine. This had never been the case with any other store, and I had been expecting the usual “Yes, I know dear. That price there is not for you”.

As I understand it, Specsavers’ business model is a one-size-fits-all approach. Their stocked frames seem to be inferior to those offered by stores such as OPSM, allowing them to set a price point palatable to most. As a result, they get the turn-over they need to compensate for “odd-jobs” like ours.

Saying that, I know nothing about your lenses, but I’m sure buffy will.

Speedy said:

I have an eye condition and always found that my single-vision lenses were extremely expensive.

Once SpecSavers set up (and my regular optometrist became a franchisee of a store), I was gobsmacked to find that their advertised pricing would cover lenses like mine. This had never been the case with any other store, and I had been expecting the usual “Yes, I know dear. That price there is not for you”.

As I understand it, Specsavers’ business model is a one-size-fits-all approach. Their stocked frames seem to be inferior to those offered by stores such as OPSM, allowing them to set a price point palatable to most. As a result, they get the turn-over they need to compensate for “odd-jobs” like ours.

Saying that, I know nothing about your lenses, but I’m sure buffy will.

bump.

>>I know that you generally get what you pay for<<

Specsavers, to the best of my knowledge have their own lens factory. The cheaper stuff is the basic stuff. As you would expect. Specsavers optometrists, I think, don’t have the full gamut of the market to choose from when prescribing. I’m not quite sure about that. I use several brands of lenses and I use a small boutique lens grinder with 40 odd years of experience. I thought most Specsavers offers had small print about not applying to special grind jobs.

I have a notice up in my practice which says “We are happy to adjust frames bought elsewhere, but we take no responsibility as we cannot know the quality of the frame”. Specsavers frames are ones we warn people about if they ask us to adjust them. We’ve been handling frames for over 30 years, you get a feel for them. If we think it’s risky to adjust, we refuse, and tell people to take them back to their provider and get them adjusted there. It’s better for them to break it than me.

But a pair of glasses poorly/badly dispensed (by the big boys or an independent) cannot do damage to an adult’s eyes. They might be uncomfortable, difficult to see with, give you a headache, but no permanent damage will result. You’ll just be grumpy until it’s fixed.

And some general advice to everyone…if you get a pair of glasses, wherever you get them, if you have trouble with them, go back and say so. Sometimes people come and tell me at their next appointment, two or three years down the track. I’m not psychic. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know. If you do tell me, I can probably do something about it.

(I did a second opinion for someone this morning. She’s getting a new pair of glasses from me. The prescription in the one she has is not right. But it’s 12 months or more since she got them. She told me she had gone back and just been told they were right…“There are some people you just don’t argue with” she said. So for 12 months she’s not had optimal vision. This is a shame.)

buffy said:

>>I know that you generally get what you pay for<<

Specsavers, to the best of my knowledge have their own lens factory. The cheaper stuff is the basic stuff. As you would expect. Specsavers optometrists, I think, don’t have the full gamut of the market to choose from when prescribing. I’m not quite sure about that. I use several brands of lenses and I use a small boutique lens grinder with 40 odd years of experience. I thought most Specsavers offers had small print about not applying to special grind jobs.

I have a notice up in my practice which says “We are happy to adjust frames bought elsewhere, but we take no responsibility as we cannot know the quality of the frame”. Specsavers frames are ones we warn people about if they ask us to adjust them. We’ve been handling frames for over 30 years, you get a feel for them. If we think it’s risky to adjust, we refuse, and tell people to take them back to their provider and get them adjusted there. It’s better for them to break it than me.

But a pair of glasses poorly/badly dispensed (by the big boys or an independent) cannot do damage to an adult’s eyes. They might be uncomfortable, difficult to see with, give you a headache, but no permanent damage will result. You’ll just be grumpy until it’s fixed.

And some general advice to everyone…if you get a pair of glasses, wherever you get them, if you have trouble with them, go back and say so. Sometimes people come and tell me at their next appointment, two or three years down the track. I’m not psychic. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know. If you do tell me, I can probably do something about it.

(I did a second opinion for someone this morning. She’s getting a new pair of glasses from me. The prescription in the one she has is not right. But it’s 12 months or more since she got them. She told me she had gone back and just been told they were right…“There are some people you just don’t argue with” she said. So for 12 months she’s not had optimal vision. This is a shame.)

Specsavers use Nikon lenses.

roughbarked said:

buffy said:

>>I know that you generally get what you pay for<<

Specsavers, to the best of my knowledge have their own lens factory. The cheaper stuff is the basic stuff. As you would expect. Specsavers optometrists, I think, don’t have the full gamut of the market to choose from when prescribing. I’m not quite sure about that. I use several brands of lenses and I use a small boutique lens grinder with 40 odd years of experience. I thought most Specsavers offers had small print about not applying to special grind jobs.

I have a notice up in my practice which says “We are happy to adjust frames bought elsewhere, but we take no responsibility as we cannot know the quality of the frame”. Specsavers frames are ones we warn people about if they ask us to adjust them. We’ve been handling frames for over 30 years, you get a feel for them. If we think it’s risky to adjust, we refuse, and tell people to take them back to their provider and get them adjusted there. It’s better for them to break it than me.

But a pair of glasses poorly/badly dispensed (by the big boys or an independent) cannot do damage to an adult’s eyes. They might be uncomfortable, difficult to see with, give you a headache, but no permanent damage will result. You’ll just be grumpy until it’s fixed.

And some general advice to everyone…if you get a pair of glasses, wherever you get them, if you have trouble with them, go back and say so. Sometimes people come and tell me at their next appointment, two or three years down the track. I’m not psychic. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know. If you do tell me, I can probably do something about it.

(I did a second opinion for someone this morning. She’s getting a new pair of glasses from me. The prescription in the one she has is not right. But it’s 12 months or more since she got them. She told me she had gone back and just been told they were right…“There are some people you just don’t argue with” she said. So for 12 months she’s not had optimal vision. This is a shame.)

Specsavers use Nikon lenses.

I understand Specsavers bought the Nikon name. Not necessarily the lenses… But perhaps that is scurrilous gossip.

buffy said:

roughbarked said:

buffy said:

>>I know that you generally get what you pay for<<

Specsavers, to the best of my knowledge have their own lens factory. The cheaper stuff is the basic stuff. As you would expect. Specsavers optometrists, I think, don’t have the full gamut of the market to choose from when prescribing. I’m not quite sure about that. I use several brands of lenses and I use a small boutique lens grinder with 40 odd years of experience. I thought most Specsavers offers had small print about not applying to special grind jobs.

I have a notice up in my practice which says “We are happy to adjust frames bought elsewhere, but we take no responsibility as we cannot know the quality of the frame”. Specsavers frames are ones we warn people about if they ask us to adjust them. We’ve been handling frames for over 30 years, you get a feel for them. If we think it’s risky to adjust, we refuse, and tell people to take them back to their provider and get them adjusted there. It’s better for them to break it than me.

But a pair of glasses poorly/badly dispensed (by the big boys or an independent) cannot do damage to an adult’s eyes. They might be uncomfortable, difficult to see with, give you a headache, but no permanent damage will result. You’ll just be grumpy until it’s fixed.

And some general advice to everyone…if you get a pair of glasses, wherever you get them, if you have trouble with them, go back and say so. Sometimes people come and tell me at their next appointment, two or three years down the track. I’m not psychic. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know. If you do tell me, I can probably do something about it.

(I did a second opinion for someone this morning. She’s getting a new pair of glasses from me. The prescription in the one she has is not right. But it’s 12 months or more since she got them. She told me she had gone back and just been told they were right…“There are some people you just don’t argue with” she said. So for 12 months she’s not had optimal vision. This is a shame.)

Specsavers use Nikon lenses.

I understand Specsavers bought the Nikon name. Not necessarily the lenses… But perhaps that is scurrilous gossip.

All I know is that they sold them as Nikon. Whatever deal they did is beyond my ken.

buffy said:

But a pair of glasses poorly/badly dispensed (by the big boys or an independent) cannot do damage to an adult’s eyes. They might be uncomfortable, difficult to see with, give you a headache, but no permanent damage will result. You’ll just be grumpy until it’s fixed.

This is good to know. Thanks Buffy.

buffy said:

>>I know that you generally get what you pay for<<

Specsavers, to the best of my knowledge have their own lens factory. The cheaper stuff is the basic stuff. As you would expect. Specsavers optometrists, I think, don’t have the full gamut of the market to choose from when prescribing. I’m not quite sure about that. I use several brands of lenses and I use a small boutique lens grinder with 40 odd years of experience. I thought most Specsavers offers had small print about not applying to special grind jobs.

I have a notice up in my practice which says “We are happy to adjust frames bought elsewhere, but we take no responsibility as we cannot know the quality of the frame”. Specsavers frames are ones we warn people about if they ask us to adjust them. We’ve been handling frames for over 30 years, you get a feel for them. If we think it’s risky to adjust, we refuse, and tell people to take them back to their provider and get them adjusted there. It’s better for them to break it than me.

But a pair of glasses poorly/badly dispensed (by the big boys or an independent) cannot do damage to an adult’s eyes. They might be uncomfortable, difficult to see with, give you a headache, but no permanent damage will result. You’ll just be grumpy until it’s fixed.

And some general advice to everyone…if you get a pair of glasses, wherever you get them, if you have trouble with them, go back and say so. Sometimes people come and tell me at their next appointment, two or three years down the track. I’m not psychic. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know. If you do tell me, I can probably do something about it.

(I did a second opinion for someone this morning. She’s getting a new pair of glasses from me. The prescription in the one she has is not right. But it’s 12 months or more since she got them. She told me she had gone back and just been told they were right…“There are some people you just don’t argue with” she said. So for 12 months she’s not had optimal vision. This is a shame.)

Thanks for that Buffy. Now that I have had my cataracts done, there’s nothing very complicated about my optometry. I have both implants set for distance, so I just need multifocals to take me from distance to reading length, both eyes exactly the same. I think that should be pretty much meat-and-potatoes stuff for a lens maker. Would that be fair comment?

OPSM make much of their “Panorama Imperium High Definition 2” – which they say delivers a wider field of view. However, their product is more than 3 times the cost of the Specsavers “Premium”. . Do you have any knowledge of this? I like the idea of having a wider field of useful vision within the lens, but most of us tend to use central vision most of the time, so I’m not sure this feature is worth the considerable extra expense.

Appreciate your expert advice.

pesce.del.giorno said:

buffy said:

>>I know that you generally get what you pay for<<

Specsavers, to the best of my knowledge have their own lens factory. The cheaper stuff is the basic stuff. As you would expect. Specsavers optometrists, I think, don’t have the full gamut of the market to choose from when prescribing. I’m not quite sure about that. I use several brands of lenses and I use a small boutique lens grinder with 40 odd years of experience. I thought most Specsavers offers had small print about not applying to special grind jobs.

I have a notice up in my practice which says “We are happy to adjust frames bought elsewhere, but we take no responsibility as we cannot know the quality of the frame”. Specsavers frames are ones we warn people about if they ask us to adjust them. We’ve been handling frames for over 30 years, you get a feel for them. If we think it’s risky to adjust, we refuse, and tell people to take them back to their provider and get them adjusted there. It’s better for them to break it than me.

But a pair of glasses poorly/badly dispensed (by the big boys or an independent) cannot do damage to an adult’s eyes. They might be uncomfortable, difficult to see with, give you a headache, but no permanent damage will result. You’ll just be grumpy until it’s fixed.

And some general advice to everyone…if you get a pair of glasses, wherever you get them, if you have trouble with them, go back and say so. Sometimes people come and tell me at their next appointment, two or three years down the track. I’m not psychic. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know. If you do tell me, I can probably do something about it.

(I did a second opinion for someone this morning. She’s getting a new pair of glasses from me. The prescription in the one she has is not right. But it’s 12 months or more since she got them. She told me she had gone back and just been told they were right…“There are some people you just don’t argue with” she said. So for 12 months she’s not had optimal vision. This is a shame.)

Thanks for that Buffy. Now that I have had my cataracts done, there’s nothing very complicated about my optometry. I have both implants set for distance, so I just need multifocals to take me from distance to reading length, both eyes exactly the same. I think that should be pretty much meat-and-potatoes stuff for a lens maker. Would that be fair comment?

OPSM make much of their “Panorama Imperium High Definition 2” – which they say delivers a wider field of view. However, their product is more than 3 times the cost of the Specsavers “Premium”. . Do you have any knowledge of this? I like the idea of having a wider field of useful vision within the lens, but most of us tend to use central vision most of the time, so I’m not sure this feature is worth the considerable extra expense.

Appreciate your expert advice.

No, those boys use their own proprietary lenses which the rest of us don’t have access to. Even if we wanted to. How recent was your cataract surgery? I insist on waiting 6 weeks from surgery to prescribe, so there is less chance of having to change things again in the following 6 to 12 months. Many of my cataract patients who are set for distance vision simply need over the counter magnifiers, usually around the +2.00 power. But, of course, that means you have to remember to cart them around in your pocket. A basic multifocal with minimal distance correction is, as you say, bread and butter. Now you can see why I’m not a millionaire….I’m too honest and just tell people what power magnifiers to buy at the pharmacist.

If you are after a bigger reading area, perhaps look into extended focus lenses in a small, lookover frame. These lenses are a multifocal with the distance section not there. So near and intermediate (originally designed for desktop computers, screen and keyboard) but very versatile. You can get all distances from close to about arms length. I use this kind of lens for when I am working. Much better than a full multifocal so long as you can tolerate a bit of blur when you look up. But then you could look over (I’m shortsighted, so that doesn’t work for me).

buffy said:

pesce.del.giorno said:

buffy said:

>>I know that you generally get what you pay for<<

Specsavers, to the best of my knowledge have their own lens factory. The cheaper stuff is the basic stuff. As you would expect. Specsavers optometrists, I think, don’t have the full gamut of the market to choose from when prescribing. I’m not quite sure about that. I use several brands of lenses and I use a small boutique lens grinder with 40 odd years of experience. I thought most Specsavers offers had small print about not applying to special grind jobs.

I have a notice up in my practice which says “We are happy to adjust frames bought elsewhere, but we take no responsibility as we cannot know the quality of the frame”. Specsavers frames are ones we warn people about if they ask us to adjust them. We’ve been handling frames for over 30 years, you get a feel for them. If we think it’s risky to adjust, we refuse, and tell people to take them back to their provider and get them adjusted there. It’s better for them to break it than me.

But a pair of glasses poorly/badly dispensed (by the big boys or an independent) cannot do damage to an adult’s eyes. They might be uncomfortable, difficult to see with, give you a headache, but no permanent damage will result. You’ll just be grumpy until it’s fixed.

And some general advice to everyone…if you get a pair of glasses, wherever you get them, if you have trouble with them, go back and say so. Sometimes people come and tell me at their next appointment, two or three years down the track. I’m not psychic. If you don’t tell me, I don’t know. If you do tell me, I can probably do something about it.

(I did a second opinion for someone this morning. She’s getting a new pair of glasses from me. The prescription in the one she has is not right. But it’s 12 months or more since she got them. She told me she had gone back and just been told they were right…“There are some people you just don’t argue with” she said. So for 12 months she’s not had optimal vision. This is a shame.)

Thanks for that Buffy. Now that I have had my cataracts done, there’s nothing very complicated about my optometry. I have both implants set for distance, so I just need multifocals to take me from distance to reading length, both eyes exactly the same. I think that should be pretty much meat-and-potatoes stuff for a lens maker. Would that be fair comment?

OPSM make much of their “Panorama Imperium High Definition 2” – which they say delivers a wider field of view. However, their product is more than 3 times the cost of the Specsavers “Premium”. . Do you have any knowledge of this? I like the idea of having a wider field of useful vision within the lens, but most of us tend to use central vision most of the time, so I’m not sure this feature is worth the considerable extra expense.

Appreciate your expert advice.

No, those boys use their own proprietary lenses which the rest of us don’t have access to. Even if we wanted to. How recent was your cataract surgery? I insist on waiting 6 weeks from surgery to prescribe, so there is less chance of having to change things again in the following 6 to 12 months. Many of my cataract patients who are set for distance vision simply need over the counter magnifiers, usually around the +2.00 power. But, of course, that means you have to remember to cart them around in your pocket. A basic multifocal with minimal distance correction is, as you say, bread and butter. Now you can see why I’m not a millionaire….I’m too honest and just tell people what power magnifiers to buy at the pharmacist.

If you are after a bigger reading area, perhaps look into extended focus lenses in a small, lookover frame. These lenses are a multifocal with the distance section not there. So near and intermediate (originally designed for desktop computers, screen and keyboard) but very versatile. You can get all distances from close to about arms length. I use this kind of lens for when I am working. Much better than a full multifocal so long as you can tolerate a bit of blur when you look up. But then you could look over (I’m shortsighted, so that doesn’t work for me).

Thanks for your advice. Given that my optometric needs are pretty simple, I think I’ll go with the cheaper option. Those extended focus lookovers might be the answer also. I’ll check out that option also. Screen and keyboard are precisely my requirements. Further question – do light-adaptive lenses give the same level of protection as proper sunglasses? I find that I am quite sensitive to glare since my cataract surgery. (Now 8 weeks ago.)

>>Further question – do light-adaptive lenses give the same level of protection as proper sunglasses? I find that I am quite sensitive to glare since my cataract surgery. (Now 8 weeks ago.)<<

The suppliers say yes. In terms of UV protection, the plastic ophthalmic lenses are made from is actually quite a good screen anyway, so normal clear plastic lenses cut UV to a large extent. The colour is for the visible light, and the amount of tint you need is very personal. My suggestion to you would be that as your distance vision is apparently (by your report) very good, try some normal sunglasses for the times you need them. If possible, buy them somewhere you can look outside, and pick a sunny day to do it. Just try on different tint densities until you find what feels comfortable. Also, some people like a brown tint (I hate it, makes everything look hot to me) and some like a grey (neutral, doesn’t change what colour things look). So bear that in mind too.

The word you are after is photochromatic/photochromic.