Opticians in Spain

We are looking for a standard optician name in our area of South East Spain which would be like the British Specsavers etc and wonder if anyone knows of any around. We see plenty of designer shops and a little one in Eroski but that is all so far.

Any suggestions? 

Hello

There is a Specsavers in the Habaneras centre in Torrevieja. They usually have similar sort of offers as in Uk. Most towns have an optician so you could try there.

Not sure where you are based in Murcia but if near Camposol there is an optician on B sector but ask for a rough price before you buy. They were very expensive for my prescription - mind you I can't see a thing without my glasses.

Jean

http://en.specsavers.es/stores say the stores are located in Torrevieja, Javea, Fuengirola & Calpe.

I must get some new specs. Both of our spare pairs were stolen when our car was broken into.  

Hi More

Long time no speak.

We bought new glasses in UK on our last visit. Much cheaper then over here. Went to Asda as they have really good prices whatever the prescription.

Jean

Hi Jean, yes it has been ages since I used to post as much as I'm doing at the moment. I just got so annoyed at the forum with so much **** going on. I like posting but sometimes enough's enough.

As I get free eye tests, a perk of being an OAP, I will maybe forget Specsavers as it's like a rat race at times in there & there's no privacy except for seeing the actual optician. The other equipment is all where people are coming & going & it's so-o-o distracting when you should be concentrating on seeing dots before your eyes.

Then I can take the prescription where I like & I never thought of Asda, there's Boots too isn't there? I HATE looking for new specs but I NEED them, it's been too long.

Multi-opticas is one that is similar to specsavers or there's Vision+ that's very good. All eye tests are free plus you can normally walk in off the street  & get one done, including test for glaucoma. I find them far cheaper here than the UK , my wife recently got 2 new pairs for 96€'s in vision+ & there are many offers on @ present. Also I've had lenses just put in my frames for 25€'s.

if you have an eye test at Specsavers in Torrevieja I understand you pay for it . If you buy specs from them then I think it's waived.

For specs if you have a prescription & don't need varifocals try http://www.glassesdirect.co.uk/ I've heard they are cheaper than many. Download their catalogue here. 

Also there's http://www.goggles4u.co.uk/

 This is a great site for info.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Our 11 year old wears glasses all the time and when we moved we brought 3 pairs+1 prescription sunglasses but he needs new ones now.

Torrevieja seems accessible.

As Jean says Specsavers are in the Haberneras mall which is next door to the large Carrefour on the outskirts of town. Easy parking in Carrefour (free) or Haberneras underground car park  (1st hr free)

http://en.specsavers.es/stores/torrevieja   

Get Google directions HERE

Opening Times

Mon & Tues, Thurs & Fri  09:30 - 17:30

Wed 10:20 - 20:00

Sat 09:00 - 14:00

Sun Closed

There's a great website www.goggles4u.co.uk which do really cheap glasses.  They do take a long time to come (6 weeks plus) but a pair of so-called designer frames with varifocals for my wife came to £59.00.  If you want just plain glasses, they are around a tenner.  I think they are sent from China hence the long wait.  However, they are excellent for spares just in case.  Specsavers UK, with their special offer of 2 for 1 etc still came at almost £300 for my wife (she has one plain varifocal and one varifocal with those ones that go dark in the sun.)  She has these from goggles4u as spares and she reckons they are excellent for reading etc.

You do need your prescription which you enter into the website and they have a huge selection of frames to choose from.

I mentioned goggles4u Bob (see my post 08 May 2010 23:35)

Also there's http://www.goggles4u.co.uk/

I was very interested to hear about your wife's specs as I wonder whether to use this site myself.  I could really do with varifocals next time but I've never had them before. I read & can thread needles without glasses etc but need glasses for distance. My last ones caused me problems in supermarkets as they were just for distance & reading foodstuff instructions was impossible without removing my specs or looking down under the specs. I'm not looking forward to having new specs, having to have varifocals with many saying they can't get used to them.

If you haven't had varifocals before, I would advise you not to get them from the interweb thingy.  You have to ensure the depth, width, length etc are all correct otherwise they can be worse than useless.  Once you've had a pair from a proper optician, you can use the sizes to get another pair but be very careful getting the initial pair.

Took my wife a while to get used to them (about 8 years ago) but now she swears by them.  Even then, you have to ensure they are adjusted correctly after you've bought them otherwise she says they are awkward and you can get a double picture at first.

And, sorry, saw the glasses direct thingy but failed to spot the goggles one.  Maybe I should think about getting a pair.

We were horrified by the prices of glasses when hubby had to have his replaced recently (dog chewed them!!). They quoted us €300 for just the lenses, let alone the frames too!!

So... the eye test was free... and then he paid €25 to take the prescription away with him. He's ordered them from the UK at £79 for 2 pairs as opposed to €300 for one. There is an issue with getting them fitted - but he will happily pay for them to be adjusted locally.

Good luck!

Elle xx

I wear a bike on my nose too but for socialising I prefer contact lenses. They don't seem to be anywhere near as popular here as they are in the UK.

I too was thinking of postponing my eye test, new specs and contact lenses until I got to UK's ASDA but I am interested in the suggestion that vision+ is a plus, by Gus Lopez! Very interesting. Cheers!

Hello all

Can recommend eyetests at Asda too. They even picked up a serious  problem with my OH's blood pressure and gave him a letter to take to GP immediately. Was something to do with the blood vessels in his eye I think.

Have always used them since then.

Jean

Hello Jean

Our own Asda hasn't the optician facility, we would need to go to the WalMart massive one around 25 miles away.