Can I get a UK Spectacle Prescritption made up in Orlando?....

[SpottyDog]

...and would it be a worthwhile saving?

Got me eyes tested recently and need new specs before me holider.

Has anyone any experience of buying in The States and is it

(a) practical, ie does a UK prescription 'translate' worldwide? and

(b) economical - will I save a worthwhile amount by buying on holider?

 

[Olaf]

I don't know what glasses cost over there, but I get mine at Lenscrafters and they run between $150-$200. They're always running specials in the paper--check the Sunday issue for coupons. One of the nice things about Lenscrafters is that they make them in a hour. I can check the next time I go to the mall to see if they'll fill a UK prescription. Lenscrafters is a nation-wide chain.

 

[SpottyDog]

Thanks Steph, those prices are around the same as I'd pay over here. It would be useful to know if UK prescriptions 'work' in The States, but please don't make a special journey or put yourself out by going to ask on my behalf.

 

[Scotfan]

Yes you can Dave, a friend has done it but when I priced it last year at a place in Florida Mall it was still cheaper at costco here.
However the exchange rate is so much better this year it may be worth considering.

 

[Janice]

Hi Dave

I have a friend who got her Prescription glasses in Florida too. She got hers in Sarasota and I am certain that she told me she got designer (Gucci) style frames at about half what they would cost here.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi Dave - 2 years ago . . . picture the scene . . . first day in our lovely hotel overlooking the dolphins playing the bay at St Pete's waiting for the dreaded Virgin welcome meeting to start, so I decide to clean the old specs so I can actually see who's talking. I'm cleaning away and yacking to Darryl and Katie when I suddenly realised that one half of my glasses were in one hand, the other half in the other hand Don't know about you, but I'm as blind as a bat and worse without me old specs so to say panic set in was a teensy weensy understatement. I did think I'd be ok cos I could wear my prescription sunglasses all two weeks, but that could have drawn a few odd looks at night

Virgin rep sent me straight off to Lenscrafters - mentioned by Steph - at the Mall in Clearwater. One hour later brand spanking new glasses for $150 dollars. A HUGE choice of frames, lenses and everything else over there - and they made my glasses up from the two bits of my original glasses, no prescriptions needed as they had a machine which copied the lense prescription. Marvellous. And when I got back home I went straight back to Boots Opticians for a refund on the £200 I'd spent 6 months before

 

[snookhams]

Have you tried the Yellow pages to see if you have an optical factory near you, they make up the prescriptions for local opticians and you can often go in with your prescription and get them alot cheaper at my local factory I got a pair of glasses and a pair of presciption sunglasses for less than £100, made up in less than 2 days, now true they aren't designer frames - which they do as well but I was certainly pleased with my bargain.

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Better get some special 'rose tinted' lenses while your at it Dave.

Might make Sunderland look better when they play!

Kev

 

[SpottyDog]

Thanks Snookhams.




and you watch yer lip, Stringer!