Eye Test

[guest4538]

The "Examen Visual" is the full eye test with copy of a prescription. 25euros is the maximum they can charge.

The Ophthalmologist in VeraVison charges 50 euros for a FULL eye check up with a copy of a prescription.

Let's hope Spanish optometrists follow their College's advisory guidelines...

[LittleRichard]

The "Examen Visual" is the full eye test with copy of a prescription. 25euros is the maximum they can charge.

The Ophthalmologist in VeraVison charges 50 euros for a FULL eye check up with a copy of a prescription.

[guest4538]

This is a copy of the registered charges from the College of Opticans that Opticians have to be registered with in order to work here in Spain. These are what each service they offer and their charges as you can see a visual exam is 25 euros. Some may charge, some may not, some may charge less.
If you wanted to you could go to Veravision in Vera and get the eye test done by an Ophthalmologist in Vera who is the head ophthalmologist at Huercal Overa hospital.

Unfortunately my Spanish is worse than useless, but I cannot see the charges of 20-28€ which you quoted as the costs for a copy of a prescription!

What are you saying about an Ophthalmologist (a qualified doctor and specialist Consultant) in Vera? Does he offer free eye tests and copies of prescriptions?

[LittleRichard]

This is a copy of the registered charges from the College of Opticans that Opticians have to be registered with in order to work here in Spain. These are what each service they offer and their charges as you can see a visual exam is 25 euros. Some may charge, some may not, some may charge less.

If you wanted to you could go to Veravision in Vera and get the eye test done by an Ophthalmologist in Vera who is the head ophthalmologist at Huercal Overa hospital.

[guest4538]

Eye tests here are in Spain are about 15-20 euros but for this you don't get your results but if you buy glasses this money is knocked off the price of the glasses, if you wanted you results without buying anything, it is 20-28 euros, which isn't very much money for a professional service.
Last time I had an eye test with Specsavers, which was 17 odd years ago, it was just a simple eye test with that machine where the picture moves. I now know those tests are not 100% accurate.

My post immediately prior to yours is about Specsavers in Spain and a copy of the prescription is free.

Your experience 17 years ago is interesting. I too used Specsavers over that period. I think they were one of the first optometrist chains to introduce the new autorefractor kit which you refer to. It gave the optometrist a starting point for the likely correction prescription needed. However I don't recall them generally relying on the results from those tests, the optometrist still carried out a normal standard lens refraction test! The autorefractor was particularly useful however for identifying an appropriate prescription for young children and old infirm folk unable to specify which was 'better or worse' in the standard test!

So which opticians in Albox or Huercal Overa charge the 20-28€ which you are quoting for a copy of the prescription?

[LittleRichard]

Eye tests here are in Spain are about 15-20 euros but for this you don't get your results but if you buy glasses this money is knocked off the price of the glasses, if you wanted you results without buying anything, it is 20-28 euros, which isn't very much money for a professional service.

Last time I had an eye test with Specsavers, which was 17 odd years ago, it was just a simple eye test with that machine where the picture moves. I now know those tests are not 100% accurate.

[guest4538]

Spec savers charge 18 euros for a copy of the prescription according to the web site

I think that's their current offer and is the total price of an eye test together with a copy of the prescription to take away: https://en.specsavers.es/offers/free-eye-examination. If you don't take a copy of the prescription, the eye test is free. They are at least trying to comply with the industry standard of making the prescriptions freely available to patients!

Their normal charge for the eye test, outside the offer period, is the same (presumably €15 + IVA) and then they state that the prescription is free and supplied automatically (as in the UK and USA): https://en.specsavers.es/eye-health/eye-test/your-prescription.

[Dylanthomas2014]

Spec savers charge 18 euros for a copy of the prescription according to the web site

[guest4538]

Can Anyone please suggest an opticiam that will just test your eyes without expecting you to purchase the spectacles from them? I expect there to be a charge for this service.
Many Thanks.

Well you've had several interesting responses, but you have only one recommendation offering the service you want in Spain: Specsavers in Torrevieja, as mentioned by Karen4.

One contributor even suggested that you have no right to expect the results of your eye test because of the time the optometrist spent in training!!!

Personally I use Specsavers in the UK for my eye tests and, when the prescription changes significantly, I purchase specs online from GlassesDirect, SelectSpecs, or similar online company with the best offer available at the time.

Despite some of the cynical comments on here, I have found the online companies' customer service excellent and the quality of the glasses outstandingly good value for money. Several family members prefer to purchase their glasses directly from Specsavers: they found the costs to be reasonable, although not quite as good as the online companies, but they have had excellent after sales service.

Good luck with your decision.

[Queen Clare Shirley]

we went after hearing so many people enthuse about it off we went on a day off only to be vastly disappointed we ended going to Cartagena to do our shopping.

[Karen4]

Have to say I prefer Victoria Square and the Abbey Centre myself but they're not as accessible as I'd like!
Anyhow, for choice I'd prefer to get my eyes tested in your place Clare.

[Queen Clare Shirley]

Didnt think much of La Zenia boulevard. I was so disappointed

[Karen4]

Well Torrevieja's not in the UK and you could just have a pleasant day out as well. If you want more than just vision testing, ie complete eye health check then consider Specsavers and bowl on over to La Zenia Boulevard for a bit of Christmas shopping as well.

[geoffs]

Of course, they retain the right to not divulge your eye test results, they studied for four years plus additional training afterwards in order to be able to test your eyes. No Other trained professional wouldn't charge for their services.
Why the hell should they give you the results if you are not purchasing the glasses there. If everyone did that they would be out of business. If you don't want to pay, go to the ophthalmologists in Huercal Overa there is a good 6 months waiting list for a simple check up
At the end of the day, buying cheap is not always the best. I always used good quality independent opticians in the UK but just before I moved  here I decided to use Specsavers, Buy one get one free, the lenses lasted just under a year and I had to get new ones so they were a waste of money and time. Buy cheap buy twice as far as I am concerned I will continue to use good quality opticians and buy the glasses after my test.

[telcaz]

Each to his/her own, i am fully satisfied with "Salas Optica" and their prices, plus a great selection of frames, and no spending minimum two days in the UK, i still think it a ridiculas suggestion.
                                                                          Terry

[Malcolm]

Costs more to get to the airport and back for starters.

[guest4538]

There is a Specsavers in Torrevieja which isn't too far up the road. They do the full whack eye testing and the prescription is yours. They have good prices too.
https://en.specsavers.es/

Good, that's more like it: a good UK company. But the same is apparently not true of the local favourites!

[guest4538]

Rubbish Chisme. Surprised you don't get your specs from the bin in the pharmacy.

That sounds like a well developed point! Could you let me know what exactly you are rubbishing in my arguments?

[Karen4]

There is a Specsavers in Torrevieja which isn't too far up the road. They do the full whack eye testing and the prescription is yours. They have good prices too.
https://en.specsavers.es/

[Malcolm]

Rubbish Chisme. Surprised you don't get your specs from the bin in the pharmacy.

[guest4538]

I think that was a ridiculas suggestion, "go back to the UK just for a pair of Glasses", i endorse the post about "Salas Opticas", i had my eyes tested there last year and then bought my Glasses there, all for 179euros.
            Go back to the UK indeed.
                                                       Terry

Sorry, but 179€ for one pair of specs sounds more ridiculous to me!

Free eye tests in the UK, two pair of prescription specs for £19, and return fares with Easyjet for less than £70 sounds like far better value to me! I'm sure we all have our individual preferences!

I think the important point here is that Spanish opticians claim copyright of the eye test results and do everything they can to encourage you to buy your specs from the same optician. In other words there is no real competition! Whereas in the UK the eyesight results are properly the property of the customer: so you can choose your optometrist to do your eye test and separately select the dispensing optician to supply your specs. I know what I prefer.....

[telcaz]

I think that was a ridiculas suggestion, "go back to the UK just for a pair of Glasses", i endorse the post about "Salas Opticas", i had my eyes tested there last year and then bought my Glasses there, all for 179euros.
            Go back to the UK indeed.
                                                       Terry

[KJH3]

I dont think that whatever the Spanish Opticians charge,  it will exceed the cost of traveling back to the UK, do you?
I totally agree, Salas Opticas in Huercal Overa, every time.

[guest4538]

An eye test cost about 18 euros in albox.dont think you can get to the uk for that.

Does that 18€ include the cost of a copy of the prescription to take away to buy specs elsewhere? I think that is what Heather Reed was enquiring about and I've seen reports suggesting opticians in Spain charge a lot more for that service!

Once you have your prescription, you can buy two pair of specs for £19 - https://www.glassesdirect.co.uk/. I believe that particular offer ends soon, but there are many other good, low cost, on-line spectacles manufacturers.

[byrney]

Salas Opticas in Huercal Overa.

[Cheese]

An eye test cost about 18 euros in albox.dont think you can get to the uk for that.

[guest4538]

Can Anyone please suggest an opticiam that will just test your eyes without expecting you to purchase the spectacles from them? I expect there to be a charge for this service.
Many Thanks.

Test and prescription are free in the UK for OAPs, and then you can purchase specs anywhere! So it might be cheapest to take a trip to the UK just for that purpose!

[Heather Reed]

Can Anyone please suggest an opticiam that will just test your eyes without expecting you to purchase the spectacles from them? I expect there to be a charge for this service.
Many Thanks.