Specsavers

I only use my glasses for driving and I’ve been really naughty and not had my eyes tested for a long long time so I finally got around to it with another well known provider in the city centre. Luckily not much has changed so I wasn’t a danger to other road users after all!
When it came to choosing my frames though I was a little put off by some of the prices being quoted for designer frames and my better half suggested Specsavers on Byres Road, after all the advert says I should have gone there. so I did. Anyway, they were brilliant and so helpful!
It took me about half an hour of searching to find a set of frames that suited me and there was no pressure at all from the staff — they just let me get on with it but were on hand for any questions. I’d forgotten to take my prescription with me so they kindly rang the ‘other place’ and got the details which was super service and not what I was expecting at all.
Armed with the details I was taken to a booth to sort out the finer details and within a further 20 minutes or so I was done… and the BEST BIT… they had a 2 for 1 deal which basically meant I could have a pair of prescription sunglasses for free — yay! And 3 days later I collected them and I could see clearly (sorry!) that I should have gone there in the first place!
I’d always viewed Specsavers as the sort of ‘cheap glasses place’ on the high street but that opinion has been well and truly reversed and will be my number one choice next time. They have a good range of frames at decent prices and the staff are super friendly and helpful. So that’s me sorted for a few more years with two sets of specs with anti-​glare lenses for £115! Result :-)

Honestly, getting my eyes tested is something I always put off longer than I should. I’m lazy about wearing my glasses anyway because I only really need them if I’m in the cinema. Also, eye tests are a weird process, I don’t like getting them done.
So, I only really visited Specsavers because I’d lost not only my glasses but also my prescription and so I was forced to get a new test. Booking the test was easy enough. When I showed up a little early for my appointment they were already ready for me.
I got a very thorough test, not only to find my prescription but also to check my general eye health. The opticians kindly talked me through everything that was happening and explained my results. They told me they have a lab in store so can get a pretty quick turnaround on glasses that I ordered today.
Unfortunately I didn’t have time to shop for at the time, so I just took my prescription away with me, but it looks like they have a good selection at a pretty fair range of prices.

Had fuzzy vision this morning so thought I should get an appointment with specsavers as i haven’t had an eye test for a couple of years.
Despite phoning at just after 9 I was seen on the same day (and offered an earlier slot I couldn’t make).
Whole experience was quick, smooth and professional with great advice and a patient optician happy to listen to my questions and discuss the findings of the eye test.
For the first time ever I didn’t feel any pressure to purchase a pair of glasses and happily walked off with my free prescription. Should have gone to… ah I did.

Why is my eye twitching… ship (just in case any youngsters are reading), now my nose has joined in the boogie… hmmmmmm, eye test maybe?
Given that I work 8 hours a day 30 cm’s from a compter screen, it’s probably about time i went and got my eyes tested… you think?
Off I toddle then to Mr Specsavers where i’m politely informed that i have in-​fact walked into the butchers next door. OK i’m convinced, glasses are indeed required.
Now given the real lack of independent opticians doing the rounds these days, i decided to head into these guys purely because they were the closest to where i was working that day. Having made an appointment for a couple of hours time (much better than my last ‘ooh, how does next Tuesday suit you’ attempt) i wandered back at the arranged time and was treated with polite, efficent service, whilst all the while feeling that all my stupid questions were being given the time of day… refreshing ain’t it?
Eye exam complete, right eye a duffer, glasses needed.
After the consultation I was taken through choice of frames, offers etc The girl was pretty helpful and made all the right noises when i whacked on a frame that looked nice (read dorky).
All in all, I can grumble not a jot. Good service, friendly staff, wide range of frames and to top it all, i had my specs within 2 hours of choosing the frames… good eh?
I’ll be back in two years for my milk-​bottles guys, as i’ve heard it’s all down hill from here… do you know anyone who does a good hearing aid?

I’m all for independent businesses but when it comes to looking after my eyes I do like to go to a trusted name like Specsavers.
I went to this Specsavers branch for an eye test and contact lens fitting last week and received excellent service as always.
I am short sighted and usually only wear glasses for driving and watching TV. As such I tend to get my eyes tested at Specsavers but take my prescription to Oscar and Fitch to get some funky specs. I find the range of glasses at Specsavers ok but nothing special.
However my eyesight has deteriorated a lot over the past two years and I now need to wear my glasses all the time so I thought I should start considering contact lenses for when I am partaking in some physical activity or for nights out when glasses will spoil my ensemble!
The optician I saw at the Byres Road branch of Specsavers was really nice and friendly. He made sure he explained to me what he was doing and what he was testing for when he was putting bizarre apparatus near my face! You can feel a bit stupid during an eye test when they ask you to read stuff and you have to tell them you can’t. It makes you feel like you can’t read and that your an idiot when obviously you know and the optician knows that it is just your eyesight! My optician kept reassuring me though with lots of «that’s great,» and «well done Lisa».
After my sight test he passed me over to the branch manager who helped teach me how to put my new contacts in and how to take them out. It took me aaaages to get it right but he sat patiently with me the whole time until I felt completely comfortable with what I was doing.
I had a follow up appointment a few days later to have some tests done after a few days with contacts in, again the optician and other staff were lovely and didn’t pressure me to sign up to any long term contracts with my contact lenses. They were happy for me to just pop in to pick up new lenses as and when I need them.
I would definitely recommend this branch to anyone considering lenses or just for a regular eye test. It is a very small branch though so I do think it’s best to go elsewhere to look for glasses frames.