Free your inner film star – and spend wisely on summer shades
SPECIAL offers for ‘free’ or ‘two-for-one’ prescription sunglasses are being heavily advertised in the high street as the sun beams down and we gear up for the summer holidays. Here, we take a sharp-eyed look at these promotions and assess whether they really offer value for money. We also examine alternative ways to buy prescription shades.
BE AWARE OF HIDDEN COSTS
PRESCRIPTION sunglasses are essential for those who need spectacles for reading or for looking into the distance.
They not only enable you to enjoy a clear view of that long-awaited summer break but also protect you against harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause damage to the eyes and even cancer.
Eager to take advantage of holiday fever, many opticians try to lure us into their store at this time of year with exciting offers in the shop window. Yet once inside the door there are vital checks, lens options and style choices that soon turn a ‘ free’ pair of specs into something costing £200 or more.
It is therefore important not to walk i nto an optician simply because you have seen an advert. You may already have a pair of prescription sunglasses that have been forgotten about and are collecting dust in a cupboard. In this case if you love the specs and your prescription has changed you might even be able to change the lenses without buying a new frame.
But if new shades are required it is important to act now. All the tests, necessary budgeting, shopping trips and repeat fittings can easily take up a fortnight – just in time for that summer holiday.
TAKE AN EYE TEST
THE first consideration is an eye test, essential if you have not had a check-up in the past year.
The eye test is not just about looking to see if your sight has changed and you require a fresh prescription but also for your health. A test can spot high blood pressure, diabetes and brain tumours.
You can usually expect to pay up to £35 but there are special offers available. For example, Vision Express is offering a free eye test, though if booked in store you must spend at least £99. This is to coincide with Macular Week, which is raising awareness of age-related degeneration of the retina and ends on July 2.
Retailer Boots is offering a free eye test until Friday. You must download a special offer voucher from the internet.
Before booking an appointment it is worth taking into account that if you buy the glasses from the same place that you take the test, any possible future complications should be far easier to sort out.
Katie Memory, managing director of Memory Opticians in Salisbury, Wiltshire, says: ‘Getting an eye test at the same place where you buy glasses means the optician can take responsibility if there are future problems. This is particularly vital with more complex prescriptions, such as varifocals, which can be tricky to get used to.’
LOOK AT THE LENSES
PLASTIC lenses are usually preferred over glass in modern spectacles because they are lighter and more comfortable to wear. For sunglasses they are also easier to tint.
But you must consider the lens quality. Ultraviolet protection against harmful sun rays is essential while anti-glare coating is also useful, cutting out reflections that can cause eye strain.
These extras might add at least £50 to the bill. Add scratch resistance and that is a further £25.
Ceri Smith-Jaynes is an optometrist at Cottam and Glaister in Lytham St Ann es, Lancashire. She is also spokeswoman for trade organisation the Association of Optometrists, which represents 80 per cent of those that carry out eye tests.
She says: ‘Prescription sunglasses are vital to combat ultraviolet light that can harm the eye. You should only buy a pair endorsed with aCE European quality build mark.’
Those who are particularly short or long-sighted might also hand over at least an extra £50 for thinner plastic to avoid thick bottle-bottom lenses. If you are both short and long-sighted then varifocal lenses may be the answer but they cost more. There are even designer plastics where the optics are made by companies such as Zeiss, Essilor, Kodak and Seiko.
Although their engineering can provide top quality it does not come cheap and you can pay an extra £200 to have these fitted.
Memory says: ‘Lenses are like the emperor’s clothes. They look the same from the outside – only the person who is wearing them will notice the difference.’
DRESS FOR FASHION
THE lenses may be pin-sharp clear but a vital part of choosing prescription sunglasses is ensuring you have a pair of frames that you like. There is a bewildering array of choice to
suit every style as well as budget. Often the ‘free’ options that are part of a special offer deal are kept on a sorry-looking shelf. Next to them are more fashionable looking frames and fancy designer labels that are not part of the offer.
Marie Wilkinson is style director at optician Cutler and Gross, based in London’s Knightsbridge. She makes no apology for charging a bit extra in the name of fashion for designer shades – with most frames costing from £300. She says: ‘Our frames are handmade in Italy. We believe quality is of utmost importance and urge customers to avoid frames that are simply varnished. Instead, go for a hand-polished finish that is more enduring.’
She adds: ‘With sunglasses you can channel your inner film or rock star and choose a shape you would not wear in the office. Be imaginative and have fun – whether it is a Lolita heart-shaped or a sleek aviator look you are after.’
Colour is another area to explore. The style director says ‘miele’ and ‘mustard’ are particularly hot this season – and you could even consider using a mirror lens coat for prescription shades.
Designer names such as Ray-Ban are always sought after but it does not take a label to look cool.
SEEK INDEPENDENT ADVICE
INDEPENDENT opticians account for a quarter of the market and are often the best choice for those after a tailored service, rather than the chain store hard- sell. This is because they rely on local customer loyalty to survive.
Optician Katie Memory says: ‘An independent is not just interested in your money. They will want to build a long-term relationship so you become a valued repeat customer.
‘This means not telling you what to buy but allowing you to make the decision. Our job is to help and provide all the options so that the customer can decide.’
An optician should not only guide you on style but also question the reasons for purchasing the glasses. This can include whether they are for leisure or work and the kind of activities you might be involved in.
For example, when driving, Polaroid tints can stop the shimmer of sunny road surfaces but they can block your ability to see liquid crystal displays.
Those who enjoy sports activities rather than just lying around a pool on holiday might prefer wraparounds. Also consider if you will use the prescription shades for holiday reading or enjoying countryside views. The spectacles must also fit correctly. Dealing face-toface allows minor alterations to be made so the fit is comfortable.
KEEP YOUR SHADES COVERED
WHEN it comes to looking after expensive prescription shades or other glasses, the most cost-effective solution is to buy a sturdy carry case.
The optician will usually provide a case for free but a top quality hard case can be bought for less than £5. You might even consider investing £20 in a lightweight but super-strong carbon fibre case.
A good case will also help to prot ect t he l enses f rom getting scratched and should include a microfibre cleaning cloth. Cleaning lenses on clothes can scratch them.
Specialist insurance offered by an optician is rarely worth taking out as your glasses are often already covered under home contents.
Check with your insurer and if not then consider taking out additional personal possessions cover when away from the home for perhaps an extra £30 a year.
Your shades may also be covered under travel insurance but it is important to check the excess if you wish to make a claim – as it might be £100 or more. Also check the policy small-print as a claim might be thrown out if a loss or theft is not reported to the local police within 24 hours of it happening.