Some advice needed re opticians & consumer rights/laws

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A few weeks ago I had my eyes tested at a local opticians and they told me I was slightly short sighted in both eyes and long sighted in one eye, again only slight. When they recommended reading glasses I asked if they would be suitable for a compuer monitor which is about three feet away and they said yes as it would help prevent strain.

Two days ago I ordered my glasses and re-iterated the fact that main use would be for computer work and again they confirmed that the specs would be suitable. After paying out a small fortune I got them home today to find that reading a book/newspaper is okay but a bit strange but when using them with the monitor my vision is worse when I'm wearing them to the extent that I cannot use them for what I thought (and was told) I would need them for.

Obviously my question is do I have any comeback against the opticians? In my view they are not fit for the purpose as I described to them.

Any help gratefully received.

**Edit** Obviously I will be going back tomorrow but just wanted to be armed with some facts before I go.
 
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Hang on.

Short sighted in BOTH eyes. And long sighted in ONE eye. Now I know that my maths aint very good BUT!!!! , That makes 3 eyes in total.:thinking::thinking:

Plus you cant be short sighted and long sighted in the same eye:shrug::shrug:
 
pampers said:
Hang on.

Short sighted in BOTH eyes. And long sighted in ONE eye. Now I know that my maths aint very good BUT!!!! , That makes 3 eyes in total.:thinking::thinking:

Plus you cant be short sighted and long sighted in the same eye:shrug::shrug:
Click to expand...

Apparently I have a mild stigmatism in one eye. What do I know, they're the experts! :D

Flash In The Pan said:
I'd post a link....but you won't be able to read it :lol: :exit:
Click to expand...

:bat: :bat: :lol:
 
I was wondering if you had three eyes as well :) I would be inclined to ring and tell them you are not happy but will persevere for a couple of days after which, if you are still not happy then you would like them changed so they are useful to you, especially if you have not worn glasses before as they can take a little getting used to.

There is one problem with your choice of having the main focal point about three feet away - I know as I did exactly the same thing but not quite as far. If I get a splinter in my finger I cannot see it, have to use a magnifying glass as I cannot see clearly something so small when it is close up.
 
You need to go speak to the optician first - I've never met one who wouldn't correct a fault yet (and I've been blind for over 30 years -now -7.25 dioptres BOTH eyes!!). Go speak to them, and explain the situation before you wade in all guns blazing.

Unless you've done that already of course, then go through your local CAB.
 
Last year I got two new pair of glases.One for reading and a pair for driving.the ones for driving I asked to be slightly tinted to stop glare.When I got them the slightly tinted where more like something Roy Orbinson would have worn,since I was going on hols next day and doing quite a lot of driving I accepted them.I left the shop and went to the car,put on my tinted glases and could see the dash and nothing further.Went back to optician and they discovered they had mixed up the lenses.They said they would replace my driving ones.I asked about my reading glasses as they where now heavily tinted,and the girl said,could I not put a light on when i wanted to read.After a few choosen words I got both pairs replaced
 
I think the distance will make a difference. I have reading glasses that I use for reading bgooks and using the laptop screen, which i generally sit quite close to. However, I cannot wear them using the desktop as the screen is a couple of feet away and much larger and actually makes my eyes aches using them for this purpose. The optician told me this was normal, and when it came to computer screens use them when I needed them, ie, for using the laptop. However, as already said, go back to the opticians and check, it might just be that you need time to get used to them. :shrug:
 
Being very old and longsighted isn't good, I now need varifocals, 2 1/2 years ago I went to Costco, paid £300 for some and they were fantastic, from day one I didn't have a problem despite everyone telling me varifocals took some getting used to.

FF to 6 months ago, a large high st retailer had an offer on and i needed some new glasses and sunglasses, £300 for varifocals and sunglasses, bargain

I order the 2 pairs, the varificals come and I can't see a bloody thing out of them, they replace them and i can't see out of the replacements either.

They take the costco specs and inspect the lenses, ah right, these are essilor lenses (means nothing to me) what are they then, these are probably the best lenses you can buy, ifyou want these they'll be £130 more which made it over £430.

I declined because i didn't want a 3rd pair I couldn't see out of and they gave me a full refund, I learned something that day, cheaper isn't always better.

I used the same argument with my wife when I bought the Nikkor 17-55mm F/2.8 and it worked, sort of, who needs sex anyway:nuts:

If you can't see out of the glasses they aren't fit for use so you should get a refund
 
Hi. I am severly "short sighted" in both eyes, and have worn glasses for years. However, at the last check-up I was told that I now need glasses for reading("long-sighted"). I had a feeling this was coming, as I am 45 and close up stuff has become harder to focus on recently.

I decided not to go for bi-focals, ie. have one "normal" pair of glasses and a pair for reading. During the eye test/exam for the reading glasses I was asked about what distance I would be reading at, and the subject of monitor use did crop up, but I decided to stick with (close-up) reading glasses, as this is my first pair and my long-sight is not too bad........yet.

For monitor use, my reading glasses are useless, and my "normal" glasses just work...........when I have my next check-up I will have a third pair of glasses, just for computer use, made for use at exactly the distance I need.

The optician I use will readily exchange or refund if I am not happy with the situation for up to 30 days. (Sometimes I have found that a prescription that "works" in all the tests just does not cut it in real life.........)

ps. As an aside to all this, after having my last check-up, new glasses, and a re-check, I discovered that it was my monitor that was out - not my eyes! So I treated myself to a 24" Dell 2408 - lovely!
 
I went back to the opticians yesterday and they couldn't have been more helpful. Following the eye test I had they were the ones who said I would need the glasses for reading and computer work but once I explained to them the distance I sat from the monitor they agreed that what they supplied would not be of any use. We tried some lenses for that distance but none seemed to make any difference so they have refunded my outlay - in their words they didn't want a dissatisfied customer so a big thumbs from me for their customer service.

Thanks for all the advice. Top notch as always. :thumbs:
 
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