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 Greater than a 3rd (36%) of people that want glasses are carrying out-of-date prescriptions as a result of they will’t afford to purchase new ones, in response to Glaucoma UK. Virtually the identical quantity (31%) have resorted to borrowing family and friends’s outdated glasses to get by.
Glasses are costly.
Nonetheless, carrying glasses which are not appropriate for you can find yourself damaging your long-term imaginative and prescient. It might probably additionally result in debilitating complications that might value you extra in the long term, by illness and misplaced revenue.
However updating your prescription needn’t be such a monetary burden. For starters, hundreds of thousands of individuals, together with youngsters, the over-60s and folks 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 if you happen to’re not entitled to discounted frames, you’ll be able to nonetheless decide up a fundamental distance glasses for lower than £10 – if you happen to store sensible.
The secret’s to know precisely what you need and want, and don’t let your self be tempted, tricked or pressured into getting further options that may solely jack up the worth. There are some retailers that allow you to attempt glasses on at dwelling – 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 think about – or low cost – from anti-blue gentle and anti-fogging know-how, to Transitions lenses and varifocals. A few of these, like varifocals, is likely to be a “should” for you, whereas another person with the identical sight drawback as chances are you’ll favor to purchase a pair of cheap distance glasses – and carry round an inexpensive set of readers for once they must examine a worth within the grocery store.
The opposite factor to be careful for are the multi-buy provides. Opticians and on-line retailers are inclined to lean closely into these promotions, which can attraction to individuals who need one pair of glasses to put on at dwelling and one other for utilizing the pc within the workplace, however is probably not obligatory for you.
Nonetheless, if you’re somebody who wears glasses each second you’re awake, it’s at all times sensible to have a spare pair in case the primary breaks – particularly if you happen to purchase low cost glasses on-line, because the payoff of the large low cost is lengthy supply occasions of some weeks for a brand new pair.
Discounted and Free Eye Assessments
Some individuals routinely qualify for free eye checks on the NHS. They’re:
- under-18s in full-time training
- individuals aged 60 or over
- individuals registered as partially sighted or blind
- those that have been identified with diabetes or glaucoma
- Over 40s with a organic father or mother or sibling who has been identified with glaucoma
- these suggested by an eye fixed physician (ophthalmologist) they’re vulnerable to glaucoma
- prisoners on depart from jail
- these eligible for an NHS complicated lens voucher
- individuals entitled to or named on a sound NHS certificates for full assist with well being prices (HC2)
When you don’t qualify, don’t panic. First: you probably have been experiencing sudden eye ache, cloudy or blurred imaginative and prescient, or sudden dangerous eyesight accompanied with complications, go to A&E as this might point out a severe underlying drawback. When you’ve had some issues corresponding to shadows or plenty of ‘floaters’ in your imaginative and prescient for a number of weeks, go to your GP for a referral to a specialist.
When you merely want a brand new prescription, there are methods to get a free eye take a look at. At time of writing:
Free Imaginative and prescient Specific Eye Check with Lidl Plus
Obtain the Lidl Plus app and enroll, then scroll to the Companion Provides tab. You’ll be able to declare a free eye take a look at from Imaginative and prescient Specific 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 take a look at for simply £10 (with the non-compulsory eye well being examine take a look at an extra payment as much as £10). It varies by retailer and time of 12 months, so go to the Specsavers web site to discover a retailer close to you and click on E-book Appointment – the voucher ought to present on the web page.
Voucher Low cost Web sites
Web sites like Groupon and Wowcher will usually have offers for discounted eye checks accessible. Test them frequently for provides, or signal as much as a selected alert to seek out out when you may get a voucher for an inexpensive eye take a look at.
Membership Organisations and Unions
You might be entitled to discounted or free eye checks, or reductions on glasses, if you happen to’re a member of an expert physique, a union, or different skilled organisation. Test the member advantages space in your account to seek out out if you happen to can declare.
Your Employer
Employers are supposed to supply eye take a look at vouchers for workers who use Show Display Tools (ie computer systems) in the event that they request one. Even if you happen to already put on glasses, you’ll be able to ask for an eye fixed take a look at voucher if you happen to spend a big proportion of your working day at a DSE station (desk). They could even be required to cowl the price of glasses, however provided that you want a particular prescription for utilizing DSE, fairly than on a regular basis put on. Nonetheless, many employers will supply some vouchers or reductions in direction of glasses if you happen to want them for work, so it’s at all times value asking.
Low cost Glasses: In Retailer
Many individuals get their eye take a look at and glasses from the identical place. It’s handy. and means if there are any points along with your frames you’ll be able to return in-person and get it sorted out.
Be sure to get one of the best deal in your glasses by following the following tips:
- All the time ask for assist with the maths of how a lot your glasses will value. Many opticians will aid you discover the most cost effective 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 price or deal marketed is inclusive of lenses and coatings – they will usually be added afterwards to make ‘low cost’ frames all of the sudden costly!
- Ask if they provide reductions for college students, carers, blue gentle employees, or in case your business union provides reductions for members
- In case your glasses aren’t in pressing want of an replace, ask if there will probably be a seasonal sale developing quickly. Then return to purchase them within the sale!
Once you get your eye take a look at, ensure 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 numerous 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 examine that it’s for a take a look at accomplished inside 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 photographs of the glasses in your face so you’ll be able to see how they appear. Others, like Glasses Direct, allow you to order some pattern frames to attempt on at dwelling – however you must ship them again in any other case you’ll face a payment!
On-line can be less expensive general, as there aren’t any overheads for opticians or bodily shops. You may also usually discover flash gross sales or reductions for further financial savings.
Nonetheless, on-line glasses are harder to right in the event that they’re incorrect, and may 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 workforce embody:
Bear in mind, too, that you could usually get unique low cost codes and earn cashback in your purchases while you purchase low cost glasses on-line if you happen to go by way of a cashback website like TopCashback, Quidco, or Swagbucks.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie just 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 academic functions solely. This shouldn’t be thought of as monetary recommendation. Anybody pondering of investing ought to conduct their very own due diligence.
