I just HAVE to tell everyone out there about the amazing service my husband has just had from a company called glasses2you, he has just received TWO pairs of prescription varifocal glasses for £188, they are really good quality lenses and frames. We didn't imagine that we could get varifocals on the internet as we thought they would have to be adjusted by an professional, but with their cunning method of sending a photo taken with a flash to highlight the pupils they are absolutely spot on! Their communication was brilliant and they had no trouble with a French prescription or sending to us in France, give them a go next time you need glasses!
I have used Zenni Optical for the past three years. The total for my last two pairs of bifocals, one with photochromatic lenses, was $88.77. Brilliant service. When/if I need to have anything adjusted I visit the optician next to SuperU in my local town who sort them for me without charge. There is sometimes a small customs charge on the delivery but this seems to vary and this year I didn't pay anything when the post was delivered.
My super duper every coating going special one eye short-sighted & astigmatic the other longsighted & apparently both now needing correction for presbytia new specs cost me 37.50 last year. My Mutuelle (MGEN) picked up the rest of the bill. I get new specs every 2 years should I need them and I get contact lenses for nothing.
This sounds like a good deal to me. I must make a separate note of these people. I have only had a problem with varifocals once and it was a problem with the lenses and not me.
I had half glasses before I started using varifocals and perhaps that made it easier for me to make the transition, but I kept losing my reading glasses, so varifocals were the answer.
Spex4Less for me too, very happy with their service. They redid one of my pairs twice without charge as they weren't quite right.
Less happy with my French prescription, went to 2 different ophthalmologists as one couldn't seem to correct the vision in one eye but the other didn't manage much better. The prescription was different from both, and I believe way too strong so I suffered headaches for some time.
I'll get tests in the UK in the future, cheaper too!
After paying 800 Euros in Miramont some years ago for varifocals - after my specs broke I now wait until I am in UK and use Specsavers - their service is brilliant and half that price including a spare pair.
In my case RSI made the biggest contribution. Aviva only coughed up about 7 euros.
We've just started going to Marion...the English optician in Eymet. Both my hubbie and I are really pleased with her fun loving nature and our chatty time together. Hubbie's just ordered a second pair of specs...not the cheapest no doubt...but at least you get any fears allayed...and explained...and you can claim with your mutual.
Prior to that I went to a French optician in St Foy...who spoke no English...which made the whole procedure rather fraught for me as my French is not fantastic. I took her prescription for my varifocals to an opticians in St Foy...and paid 700 euros for my glasses nearly 6 years ago...and they've never given me a moments bother...so I consider that money well spent. However the pair of varifocals I'm buying from Marion are far more reasonable...for the same quality. Plus you get to have a good laugh...can't be bad!!
As everyone always says that specs are much cheaper on-line, I was pleasantly surprised recently when I got my first specs from the local Generale Optique. With the contributions from Carte Vitale and the mutual I paid 36 euros for two pairs (reading and long distance).
I usually use spex4less who have always been good. I also get my eyestested in the UK.
I've been using these people for years - http://www.optical4less.com/. They are a Chinese company but the frames and lenses are good quality. I've just ordered another pair for €50 including delivery!