twenty seventh Jul 2025
Studying Time: 6 minutes
Low-cost glasses aren’t at all times as cheap as they appear when you add the price of lenses. Greater than a 3rd (36%) of people that want glasses are carrying out-of-date prescriptions as a result of they’ll’t afford to purchase new ones, in response to Glaucoma UK. Nearly the identical quantity (31%) have resorted to borrowing family and friends’s previous glasses to get by.
Glasses are costly.
Nonetheless, carrying glasses which can be now not appropriate for you can find yourself damaging your long-term imaginative and prescient. It could additionally result in debilitating complications that would price you extra in the long term, by means of illness and misplaced revenue.
However updating your prescription needn’t be such a monetary burden. For starters, tens of millions of individuals, together with youngsters, the over-60s and other people receiving sure advantages, are entitled to discounted or free glasses on the NHS (to see if you’re eligible, click on right here).
Is there such a factor as low cost glasses?
Even for those who’re not entitled to discounted frames, you’ll be able to nonetheless choose up a primary distance glasses for lower than £10 – for those who store sensible.
The bottom line is to know precisely what you need and want, and don’t let your self be tempted, tricked or pressured into getting additional options that can solely jack up the worth. There are some retailers that allow you to attempt glasses on at residence – so a ‘attempt before you purchase’ – which could add a bit extra faff however might assist keep away from you being pressurised while in retailer.
With glasses, there’s an entire host of such “add-ons” to contemplate – or low cost – from anti-blue mild and anti-fogging know-how, to Transitions lenses and varifocals. A few of these, like varifocals, could be a “should” for you, whereas another person with the identical sight downside as chances are you’ll want to purchase a pair of cheap distance glasses – and carry round an inexpensive set of readers for once they should test a value within the grocery store.
The opposite factor to be careful for are the multi-buy presents. Opticians and on-line retailers are likely to lean closely into these promotions, which can attraction to individuals who need one pair of glasses to put on at residence and one other for utilizing the pc within the workplace, however is probably not needed for you.
Nonetheless, if you’re somebody who wears glasses each second you’re awake, it’s at all times smart to have a spare pair in case the primary breaks – particularly for those who purchase low cost glasses on-line, because the payoff of the large low cost is lengthy supply instances of some weeks for a brand new pair.
Discounted and Free Eye Assessments
Some folks routinely qualify for free eye assessments on the NHS. They’re:
- under-18s in full-time schooling
- folks aged 60 or over
- folks registered as partially sighted or blind
- those that have been identified with diabetes or glaucoma
- Over 40s with a organic mother or father or sibling who has been identified with glaucoma
- these suggested by a watch physician (ophthalmologist) they’re susceptible to glaucoma
- prisoners on go away from jail
- these eligible for an NHS advanced lens voucher
- folks entitled to or named on a sound NHS certificates for full assist with well being prices (HC2)
If you happen to don’t qualify, don’t panic. First: in case you have been experiencing sudden eye ache, cloudy or blurred imaginative and prescient, or sudden unhealthy eyesight accompanied with complications, go to A&E as this might point out a critical underlying downside. If you happen to’ve had some issues corresponding to shadows or numerous ‘floaters’ in your imaginative and prescient for a couple of weeks, go to your GP for a referral to a specialist.
If you happen to merely want a brand new prescription, there are methods to get a free eye check. At time of writing:
Free Imaginative and prescient Categorical Eye Check with Lidl Plus
Obtain the Lidl Plus app and enroll, then scroll to the Companion Gives tab. You possibly can declare a free eye check from Imaginative and prescient Categorical plus a reduction of 30% off eyeglasses over £50. This supply ends 2/10/2025.
£10 Specsavers Eye Check
Some Specsavers shops supply an eye check for simply £10 (with the non-compulsory eye well being test check a further payment as much as £10). It varies by retailer and time of yr, so go to the Specsavers web site to discover a retailer close to you and click on Ebook Appointment – the voucher ought to present on the web page.
Voucher Low cost Web sites
Web sites like Groupon and Wowcher will typically have offers for discounted eye assessments out there. Test them recurrently for presents, or signal as much as a selected alert to search out out when you may get a voucher for an inexpensive eye check.
Membership Organisations and Unions
You might be entitled to discounted or free eye assessments, or reductions on glasses, for those who’re a member of an expert physique, a union, or different skilled organisation. Test the member advantages space in your account to search out out for those who can declare.
Your Employer
Employers are supposed to offer eye check vouchers for workers who use Show Display Gear (ie computer systems) in the event that they request one. Even for those who already put on glasses, you’ll be able to ask for a watch check voucher for those who spend a big proportion of your working day at a DSE station (desk). They might even be required to cowl the price of glasses, however provided that you want a particular prescription for utilizing DSE, slightly than on a regular basis put on. Nonetheless, many employers will supply some vouchers or reductions in direction of glasses for those who want them for work, so it’s at all times value asking.
Low-cost Glasses: In Retailer
Many individuals get their eye check and glasses from the identical place. It’s handy. and means if there are any points together with your frames you’ll be able to return in-person and get it sorted out.
Be sure you get one of the best deal in your glasses by following the following pointers:
- At all times ask for assist with the maths of how a lot your glasses will price. Many opticians will enable you discover the most affordable approach to purchase the glasses you want.
- Don’t be tempted by designer names: an inexpensive pair of frames will do the identical job!
- Test whether or not the associated fee or deal marketed is inclusive of lenses and coatings – they’ll typically be added afterwards to make ‘low cost’ frames out of the blue costly!
- Ask if they provide reductions for college students, carers, blue mild staff, or in case your business union presents reductions for members
- In case your glasses aren’t in pressing want of an replace, ask if there will likely be a seasonal sale developing quickly. Then return to purchase them within the sale!
Once you get your eye check, make certain your optician writes your prescription down on a recognisable headed paper or enterprise card. That is essential, because it means you’ll be able to store round in several shops and on-line earlier than making a purchase order. Many retailers will insist on seeing this card earlier than permitting the acquisition to go forward, and they’re going to additionally test that it’s for a check completed throughout the final two years – any older than that, and also you’re unlikely to have the ability to purchase the glasses you want.
Low-cost Glasses On-line
Shopping for glasses on-line has some perks. Digital Strive-On is a characteristic many retailers supply, utilizing AI to position photos of the glasses in your face so you’ll be able to see how they give the impression of being. Others, like Glasses Direct, allow you to order some pattern frames to attempt on at residence – however you need to ship them again in any other case you’ll face a payment!
On-line can also be less expensive total, as there are not any overheads for opticians or bodily shops. You can even typically discover flash gross sales or reductions for additional financial savings.
Nonetheless, on-line glasses are harder to appropriate in the event that they’re flawed, and might take a number of weeks to reach if they’re made and shipped internationally.
Some respected on-line glasses retailers which have been tried-and-tested by the myopically-affected Magpie group embrace:
Bear in mind, too, which you could typically get unique low cost codes and earn cashback in your purchases whenever you purchase low cost glasses on-line for those who go through a cashback web site like TopCashback, Quidco, or Swagbucks.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie isn’t a licensed monetary advisor and due to this fact data discovered right here together with opinions, commentary, ideas or methods are for informational, leisure or instructional functions solely. This shouldn’t be thought-about as monetary recommendation. Anybody pondering of investing ought to conduct their very own due diligence.
