Prescription Glasses - Why do Australians get ripped off ?

[admin]

Yet another item that many are paying far too much for.

My wife went and had her eyes checked yesterday and came home to inform me that she needs 2 pairs of glasses and some eye drops at around $450. She said she couldn't afford that at the moment and asked for the drops, they said no you cant have them unless you buy the glasses.

After I regained consciousness from hitting the floor, I decided to do some homework. It seems that when you go and get the eye test, its bulk billed by Medicare and the provider of the services must give you the glasses prescription if you ask for it.

So I went to Specsavers with my wife this morning. My wife asked for the script, which they handed over. When it came to the previously mentioned eye drops, there was a lot of umming and ahhing. They went and got their expert on the matter, who in my opinion speaks out her rear end. Its not hard to spot a tosser, it doesnt matter what the industry is.

She claimed that with these "special" drops, if my wife starts taking them, she will have to take them for the rest of her life and cant stop taking them. They must be special.

Under questioning, she back peddled and decided that it would not be a good idea for my wife to start taking them.

So we left with the prescription, I have sat down and done a bit of research, particularly on the Zenni Optical site and am pretty confident that we could get the exact same items for less than half the price. Its just another case of us being extorted in Australia.



Many people over at Whirpool have used Zenni with almost zero problems. I doubt we will even hit the $200 mark, probably $150 with the options she wants.

[bob_m_54]

It cost me about that much for one pair of multi focal sun glasses, which after about four years are stuffed. The surface has developed very fine crazing (barely visible even when I'm wearing my other glasses), and it's like looking through a fog.

[alpha0ne]

Why do Australians get ripped off ?

No matter what item or service these days, unless you research the supplier and can find truthful feedback, (something that is becoming harder to do these days) then the chances are you will be paying too much, sometimes wayyyyyyyyy too much

Unfortunately one becomes cynical and has trouble trusting anyone trying to sell services or merchandise, and re optometrists, my last visit was OK...................until after the exam when I was told I had raised ocular pressure to both eyes

I was given a 'referral' to see a local specialist, but when I mentioned this to my vet he also checked my eyes and found my eyes to have acceptable pressure for my age .........................I wonder what the specialist kicks back to the optometrist ???.....................'kin bandits

[wal1]

Yet another item that many are paying far too much for.

My wife went and had her eyes checked yesterday and came home to inform me that she needs 2 pairs of glasses and some eye drops at around $450. She said she couldn't afford that at the moment and asked for the drops, they said no you cant have them unless you buy the glasses.

After I regained consciousness from hitting the floor, I decided to do some homework. It seems that when you go and get the eye test, its bulk billed by Medicare and the provider of the services must give you the glasses prescription if you ask for it.

So I went to Specsavers with my wife this morning. My wife asked for the script, which they handed over. When it came to the previously mentioned eye drops, there was a lot of umming and ahhing. They went and got their expert on the matter, who in my opinion speaks out her rear end. Its not hard to spot a tosser, it doesnt matter what the industry is.

She claimed that with these "special" drops, if my wife starts taking them, she will have to take them for the rest of her life and cant stop taking them. They must be special.

Under questioning, she back peddled and decided that it would not be a good idea for my wife to start taking them.

So we left with the prescription, I have sat down and done a bit of research, particularly on the Zenni Optical site and am pretty confident that we could get the exact same items for less than half the price. Its just another case of us being extorted in Australia.



Many people over at Whirpool have used Zenni with almost zero problems. I doubt we will even hit the $200 mark, probably $150 with the options she wants.

Admin have used zeni in the past, found them to be good value. Things to be aware of is getting the PD (pupil distance measurement) and frame size right. I have purchased about six pairs.
Wal

[admin]

Yep, when you get an eye test they measure your PD , which is the distance between your pupils (the centre of each). And when you ask for your prescription, they dont give you your PD even though they measured it.
Fortunately you can measure it yourself.

[gulliver]

Our daughter just had her eyes checked.One eye was a bit blurry so instead of wearing Contact lenses or glasses,She has now a special lens to wear overnight.After one night, she could read the bottom line. $ 1400.00 to start up. then all the drops are all extra, no medicare.
It lasts all day but she has to put in the lens every day.

[gordon_s1942]

The last place my wife and i went for new glasses 'neglected' to tellus they no longer did the Commonwealth subsidy and it was only when I saw the bill did I realised we paid full price for our glasses.

[source]

where i am it expensive to , so next when i am going to change my glasses i will be do it online or when i go overseas

[garrycol]

Even with the main suppliers prices can vary a lot. I needed a new prescription for my glasses - multifocals and went to OPSM to get my prescription - free on Medicare. Lenses only and fitting to my current frames $480.

Took the prescription to the Optical Superstore - lenses only fitted to my frames - but with a free upgrade to the next higher level lenses - $240 - half the price of OPSM.

So it pays to shop around.

[allover]

Don't forget Cosco, after this thread i was in Cosco today and appears they do a test and glasses for about $248, hearing aids for $1999
BUT here is the bargain, you can buy 1.0, 1.5, etc for $39 for 4#. Ivé graduated to the 2.0 version

[shred]

they dont give you your PD even though they measured it.

If you know this when you go in, you can watch very carefully - usually the instrument is left with your PD being shown on the little ruler scale, so you can find it out by observing.

I've recently been prescribed glasses for reading and I was absolutely stunned at the price for frames. These are not high tech or particularly fancy items - yet it seems people actually pay $400 and up for the brand name frames!!?? I think we get ripped off wholesale on just about anything related to the whole "medical industry".

[irritant]

Yep, when you get an eye test they measure your PD , which is the distance between your pupils (the centre of each). And when you ask for your prescription, they dont give you your PD even though they measured it.
Fortunately you can measure it yourself.

Yep, golden ratio of the body, the penis is 1.618 times longer than this distance, LOL.

Now you know what it means when a guy's eyes are wide apart.

Bet you guys didn't see that one coming.

[Antennaman]

the penis is 1.618 times longer than this distance

Flaccid or erect?

[irritant]

Flaccid or erect?

Haha, nah, it was just a joke. I don't know if it's true.

[admin]

Well, my wife got her glasses today from

Total for 4 pairs of glasses delivered was Total (USD)$91.50.....about $120
Spec Savers wanted $450 for 2 pairs.

Suck my balls Spec Savers. And change your name.