Contact Lenses/Glasses in Florida

[Frances999]

Hi

Can one take along their prescription and purchase glasses or contacts in Florida? I need some new glasses, and if I could buy them out in Florida it would be great. Are the prices less than over here? How about contact lenses? I buy them online at the moment; are they quite good value in Florida?

Any store recommendations?

Thanks!!

 

[Firestorm]

In 2002 I put my glasses in my pocket when I went on Kracken.Not there when I got off! Went to Lenscrafters in the Florida Mall where after an eye test they made a new pair up which I collected two hours later.

Can't remember if they were cheaper but the staff were really helpful.Still wear them now but this year I'll pass them to Mrs Firestorm to hold before going on Kracken!Pearl Vision Express also have a shop there as well.

Florida Mall has a web site and the shop have there own one so they may well be able to answer your questions.

 

[paulh]

i dont realy think that they are cheaper a few years back yes or if you are going to have verifocals maybe i have just got new ones from wallmart over here asda to us all they were miles cheaper than specsavers cost for frames and lenses from £58. and the reglaze of my old ones was £30.00 i did check the prices online at walmart and outher opticions and they worked out about £100.00 over in the states
Paulh

 

[Lewisc]

Lenscrafters has a good selection, they are fast but somewhat expensive. Check the Sunday newspaper for coupons. They also give discounts to AAA members, if you're a member of an equivalent British auto club you might give it shot.

COSTCO has the best prices for contacts. In NY non-members are allowed to purchase, not sure about FL. Send me a PM if you want me to call and check policy and availability of your lens type and prescription. They have many of the popular brand/prescriptions in stock. The problem with using them for eyeglasses is the eyeglasses aren't done in house and it takes a week or so.

If your willing to put up with so so service, I've never used them,

http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php

 

[carl_w]

In 2002 I put my glasses in my pocket when I went on Kracken.Not there when I got off!

Yes, watch out for the Kraken. I was wearing my prescription sunglasses when on this ride (they're metal Oakleys, so pretty heavy) and after a few drops they came adrift. Managed to hold on to them and spent the rest of the ride hanging onto the shoulder bars with one hand and pressing the specs against the bridge of my nose with the other.

 

[patdavies]

I would have thought that a US company would be unlikely to accept a UK prescription (and vice versa); due to the potential liability that could arise from accepting the instructions of a non-licensed practitioner.

If you need/want glasses or contacts in US, them you will in all probabilty need to undertake a US eyetest

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

I would have thought that a US company would be unlikely to accept a UK prescription (and vice versa); due to the potential liability that could arise from accepting the instructions of a non-licensed practitioner.

If you need/want glasses or contacts in US, them you will in all probabilty need to undertake a US eyetest

Nope - I broke my glasses first day of holiday down at the beach a few years ago. I am blind without my specs, been wearing them since before I was 4 yrs old and was in trauma over the thought of having to wear my prescription sunglasses night and day for the three weeks we were over there Spoke to the Virgin rep who pointed me in the direction of Lenscrafters in the Mall at Clearwater and an hour later one brand new, much less expensive than those I'd bought at Boots Opticians 5 months previously, pair of glasses.

I was VERY impressed with the service.

They asked first if I had a copy of my prescription on me. No, never even given it a thought (but now it goes with me wherever in the world we go to!). They would have used my prescription with no problems, instead they took my glasses, put them in a couple of machines, discovered the prescription from these whizzy machines and like I say, one hour later new glasses. Got home, went to Boots and got a full refund from them for the broken ones.

So you don't need an English prescription, they're used to Brits going in there they told me.

In the store we went into, they had a vastly superior range of frames, designer especially, for half the price I would pay over here in Boots or wherever.

I was seriously considering getting my new glasses over there next month since I had my yearly test last week. However, the time has finally come when I've had to bow down to my great old age (as the optometrist laughed ) and change to varifocals I was really worried about getting these over there since I've heard horror stories about not being able to adjust to them. So if there's any spelling mistakes in this, you know why! However, whilst they are taking a bit of time to get used to I have no problems, but in this case glad I decided to get them over here before I went rather than over in Florida.

Frances - when do you need to get them? Can you not wait till you get over there, take a look at what's available and if there's something you like get them, if not come on back and buy. As for contact lenses, can't help you; after all my years (40!) of living with glasses, I still at the thought of sticking my finger in my eyes

 

[Frances999]

Thanks for all of the replies!

Lenscrafters seem to be the most popular. I will take along my prescription and see what they can do. I just bought some prescription sunglasses, but I need some "regular" glasses too.

Sounds like the prices are good too

Frances - when do you need to get them? Can you not wait till you get over there, take a look at what's available and if there's something you like get them, if not come on back and buy. As for contact lenses, can't help you; after all my years (40!) of living with glasses, I still at the thought of sticking my finger in my eyes

I think that's what I will do, Annie I don't need them desperately, so I will take a look and see what's on offer. I spoke to my optician yesterday who said the contact lenses I use will still be the "old style" in the USA, slightly more uncomfortable than the new version released to the European market. So, I think I will just get the contacts over here.

Annie, they are fine once you try them, honestly I was in the opticians for about 2 hours when I went for my initial assessment. I was just too scared to touch my eye when putting them in It took me forever to even get them in! You get used to it really quickly though and I wouldn't be able to survive without them now. If I ever pluck up the courage (and money!) my next step is laser eye surgery!!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

One other point, our prescriptions are written differently to American ones and this can cause a few problems