“One beer then I’ll drive home” quickly turned into “fuck it, I’ll leave the car and get the train in to pick it up tomorrow” the other night. The usual story.
Next day got back to realise I didn’t have my glasses nor any contacts. Bugger.
So I popped into the city centre to try various high-street opticians. We’re talking all the big major chains. Explained I needed to drive home but didn’t have my glasses. I know my prescription and could even show it to them via online orders of contact lenses.
Not one would help me out. They said specific glasses weren’t in stock, which is fair, you’re not going to keep every possible prescription of glasses lens for every frame in stock, but they did have the right lenses. They said they weren’t allowed to sell me any without doing a proper eye test. I didn’t delve into too much questioning, but I explained I really needed to drive home and while they did sympathise, it was very much worded like they simply couldn’t because of a rule in place, rather than being unwilling to.
Yet I buy lenses online from the lines of Lenstore (other online contact lens stores available) and my glasses were bought online too from a vintage glasses place. Just enter in my prescription, the right ones turn up. These companies also operate and are based in the UK, so I can’t imagine it’s *law* that you need to test someone’s eyes before selling them lenses/glasses?
Anyone know the answer to this one?
9 comments
Contact lenses are not the same as your glasses prescription for a start.
Secondly, yes, it has to be a signed and dated prescription that is less than 2 years old, by law.
Edit: it’s the glasses prescription that has to be signed, dated and less than 2 years old.
I had a similar experience, flew to Edinburgh and realised I had forgotten my contact lenses.
Went into Specsavers and got the same treatment you did, no dice.
Found an independent place down the road and they were more understanding. They called my optician for my prescription and gave me five pairs of contacts. For free!
So I guess it depends on the level of jobsworths you encounter.
Why though. I fully understand a chemist not giving out drugs without a valid prescription… But glasses?
What possible reasoning apart from trying to get money off you for an eye test can there be for not doing a prescription that you can prove you have. Even if you couldn’t prove it, what harm does it do?
Very odd.
Although you’re showing them your “prescription” – as in, what your prescription is, you’re aren’t giving them *the* prescription, as in a signed and dated form confirming it’s recent and valid.
Depends how old your prescription is.
If it’s a glasses prescription, and in date (usually 2 years) then they absolutely can make you some glasses. I had my eye test done in vision express and bought my glasses somewhere else, I then replaced those glasses a year later at a different store, all with the same prescription.
Contacts are harder to sort, but the whole thing could be resolved by a quick call to your optician.
One drink is one too many to drive..
No, you’re right! It is not a legal requirement to have an eye test before purchasing contact lenses or glasses. Enjoy shopping for your new look!
Been in a similar situation before. I tried numerous places and everyone was being difficult.
Now I just get the eye test done, and buy glasses and contacts online, and make sure I spread the contacts over every coat/Jean/trouser pocket possible.
I think you need to have the actual prescription which is signed and dated, not just the knowledge of what your prescription is.
A bit like you can turn up to any pharmacist with a prescription and get it filled, but you can’t just turn up and say *I know I need prednisolone* (or whatever) *look, here is an old prescription* and they give it to you.