Why can specs cost £150+ when I see them advertised for much less?

Quality really, as with most things in life you can buy good quality and you can buy cheap. The difference is those specs you've just saved a little on are going to sit on your face every day for the next 2 years.

Stop for a moment and think about that.

Are the lenses as thin and light as possible?

Are they centred correctly both horizontally and vertically? If they are often you could get eyestrain, even headaches or distorted vision.

Are the frames good quality and a perfect fit on your nose and over your ears?

Fitting spectacles takes skill and experience, and of course you can return any number of times for adjustments through the life of the frames.

A few other thoughts:

Theres no such thing as a free frame  (or The myth of the "half price frame")

Rule 1

  "I paid £250 for these specs and they've never been comfortable, mind you I got a free second pair..."

The frames you choose will probably be worn every day for the next 2 years, they need to be right.

Rule 2 

  "I got this great suit in town, real bargain, mind you the buttons cost me an extra 50 quid..."

Too many people focus on the cost of the frame and don't consider that the total cost will include lenses. 

So the first thing to look at is how much a Frame will cost you with lenses. (Simple really but you wouldn't believe the number of people who make that mistake)

Expect to pay about £85 - £120 for a decent quality frame with good quality single vision lenses. 

Designer frames (with lenses) will set you back about £140 - £190+ if you really want to go that far. 

As an illustration our Armani's with lenses range from £135 - £150 and our new Flexon range from £160 - £190 both with lenses included.

If you are on a budget don't despair, you can still get a wide choice in the range from £50 - £75 again with lenses and a basic pair of prescription reading type specs will range from about £45 - £60.

I'm afraid anything much below that will probably fall apart after six months.

<if you are entitled to NHS help click here>

1. Get a clear idea of your budget and stick to it, don't be lured by "special offers"

2. Try to get an idea of the type of frame you want, metal or plastic, maybe you've seen a frame you like, get the info from the inside of the arm (name, manufacturer, size, colour, cost with lenses)

3. Spend time getting a good idea of the style and shape you like (our girls have over 20 years of experience between them) and then ask to see a few others (too many gets confusing) in the same price and style range.

4. Don't fall for the hard sell, if you aren't entirely sure think about it.

If you've got this far you might be wondering where we fit in to all this? We want you to return to us again and again so we like to get it right We get lots of people back after 3-5 years having been lured away by the bright lights and special offers, we just don't want you to make the same mistake.

Anyway to get onto specific pricing:

All our frames are priced to include stock single vision lenses. So if a metal frame is marked at £65 that's the total with lenses.

Beyond standard lenses you could add the following:

• £30 for an Anti-Reflection coating (highly recommended)

• £30-£70 for thin lenses, mainly for higher prescriptions

• £45 for "Airwear" polycarbonate lenses (or £75 with AR coating)

• £45 for bifocals

• £70 for Varifocals ( Varilux Expert) up to £100 for the top of the range Varilux Comfort

• £40 for plastic photochromic.