Buying prescription glasses in NZ: everything you need to know

Buying glasses can be a pricey business. If you’ve got your eye on a pair of designer specs with all the bells and whistles, it’s easy to pay upwards of $1,000. There are other considerations too, like whether you need special tests or if you can buy glasses online.

We explain what to expect when it comes to eye exams and buying glasses.

Eye exams

The first thing you need to pay for is your eye exam. When you get your eyes tested, an optometrist checks eye function and for any health conditions that could cause loss of sight. The test should take about 30 minutes (see “What to expect at your eye exam”).

Of the five optometry retailers we surveyed, standard costs for an adult’s eye exam ranged from $30 to $75 (see our Table).

Some offer free or discounted exams to selected customers.

• At Specsavers, if you’re an AA member, you can get a free examination every two years. It’s half price for SuperGold cardholders and Southern Cross Health Insurance members. Otherwise, it’s $60.

• OPSM offers a free exam to Southern Cross members. Otherwise, its standard charge is $75. For children, the eye exam is free with a same-day glasses purchase or $60.

• Bailey Nelson also offers free exams with a same-day glasses purchase.

• If you visit an independent optometrist, prices will vary depending on the store. Make sure to ask the price before you say yes to any test.

What to expect at your eye exam

Optometrists are regulated by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board. Your optometrist should talk to you about what tests, treatments and procedures are appropriate.

A comprehensive eye exam should include:

• questions about your medical history, such as your age, general health and whether you have a family history of glaucoma, diabetes or heart disease

• an internal eye health check of your retina, optic disc and blood vessels

• assessment of external eye health with a slit lamp

• a colour perception check (some diseases affect how you see colour)

• glaucoma assessment, including an eye-pressure test

• checking your visual functions, as well as your eye muscles to see that they move and coordinate properly

• visual field tests to assess visual function (These tests can also indicate damage to visual pathways.)

• assessment of your pupil function and response.

Extra tests

For $120, OPSM offers its Premium Package – a standard eye exam with an “Ultra-Wide Digital Retinal Scan”. The company said this scan is four times wider than a standard scan. It advertises the package as “our recommended level of eye care for everyone”.

We asked OPSM why it recommended the “plus” package. A spokesperson said the plus package gives a better picture of the retina and enables the optometrist to see parts of the retina they might not reach with the standard test.

Hadyn Treanor, optometrist and president of the New Zealand Association of Optometrists said the scans can provide valuable information and are “a fantastic baseline for future tests.”

However, you shouldn’t need to pay for extra tests unless your optometrist believes you have a medical need.

“Most lay members of the public won't have the knowledge to make an informed decision as to whether they require the additional tests unless advised by an optometrist in a previous test,” said Treanor.

Requirements for standard eye tests are set by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board. Any additional tests should only be recommended when there’s a clinical need.

Cost of glasses

For such a simple product, a pair of glasses can be eye-wateringly expensive.

When you buy from a brick-and-mortar store, you're not just paying for the frames and lenses. Other retail costs will be built into the price. With “designer” specs – think Prada and Versace – you’ll pay extra for the logo.

If you’re shopping by price and don’t care about having the designer’s tag on your eyewear, make this clear to the store.

Specsavers, which advertises heavily on price, offers glasses from $69. However, choices at this price are limited. Just 33 of the 1,000+ glasses it advertises retail for $69.

Most of its specs range from $299 to $459. These prices are for frames with single-vision lenses – if you need bifocals or multifocal lenses, you'll pay at least another $200.You’ve got a bit more freedom to shop around if price isn’t a big concern.

Available subsidies for glasses

Disability Support Services offers a subsidy for children’s glasses, available for children aged 15 years and under. To qualify, the child or their parent or guardian must hold a valid community services card or a high-use health card.

If eligible, you can claim up to $287.50 a year for your child.

Work and Income glasses help is available for people who are on a low income or benefit, but you have to pay back the subsidy. The subsidy is means-tested, so how much you get will depend on how much you earn.

If you want to keep costs down, fitting new lenses to second-hand frames can be an option. Keep in mind that you’ll likely be without glasses for a period of time, sometimes as long as two weeks. Your optometrist may also have end-of-the-line-frames they're prepared to sell cheaply.

Stores compared

Chains and independent optometrists

There are a range of well-known chain optometrists across the motu. The chains in our survey are owned by overseas companies and will often sell own-brand frames alongside designer specs. These optometrists tend to have the same costs, and the charge for your visit should be similar across stores. Each store will stock similar frames and have a similar layout, and sharing your health information between branches might be more straightforward than between independent stores.

Independent stores tend to be owned by the optometrists operating the stores. You can expect prices to differ between stores, and each independent store will have access to different frames, lens options and technologies.

While we didn’t include stand-alone independent optometrists in our survey, we did include The Independent Optometry Group, a New Zealand co-operative of independent optometrists operating under a range of names like Visique and Matthews Eyecare. You can find out more about independent optometrists by visiting The Independent Optometry Group’s website.

Frame materials

The materials used in the frames will influence what you pay. Nickel-copper alloy and nylon-blended plastic frames are the cheapest options, with stainless steel and acetate plastic mid-range.

• Nylon frames: Generally the cheapest, but not as durable as other options.

• Plastic cellulose acetate frames: Made from cotton-based plastic, these frames are good for people with sensitive skin. The downsides are they are likely to be less durable than metal, and their colour can fade.

• Metal frames: Usually made from Monel, a nickel-copper alloy, which is cheap and easy to work with but can cause allergic reactions. If you’ve got sensitive skin, stainless steel is a better option, although it’s more expensive.

• Titanium frames: The most expensive metal option. They’re flexible, lightweight, hypoallergenic and rust-proof. But they’re harder to adjust and repair.

• 3D printed frames: A growing market, but the process to make these frames is still expensive. The main materials used are nylon powders. These thermoplastics can be heat adjusted to fit the face better.

Types of lenses

Once you’ve found the right frame, you’ll probably be offered various lens coatings. All good quality lenses have a scratch-resistant coating, but the other options will usually cost you.

• Standard plastic lenses: The cheapest lenses, usually used in advertised offers. Made from lightweight plastic. Suitable for single-vision, low- or medium-strength prescriptions.  

• Polycarbonate lenses: Impact resistant. Usually more expensive than standard plastic. Recommended for children and people who play sport.

• Aspheric lenses: Thinner and flatter, which reduces the appearance of “large eye” if you’re far-sighted or “small eye” if you’re near sighted.

• High-index lenses: Made from thinner, lighter material. Suitable for stronger prescriptions.

• Bifocal lenses: Combines lenses for two unique requirements, for example, close-up and long-distance.

• Multifocal lenses: Combines lenses for several requirements. These may be marketed as “tailor made”, “high definition” or “latest technology”. These lenses may also be designed for people working on screens. Multifocal lenses are sometimes referred to as progressive lenses.

• Myopia control lenses: These lenses have been specifically designed to slow the progression of myopia (short sightedness) in children and young people.

Lens coatings

Once you’ve found the right frame, you’ll probably be offered various lens coatings. All quality lenses have a scratch-resistant coating, but the other options will usually cost you.

• Anti-reflection: Reduces glare and reflections. It’s useful if you’re driving at night or are regularly in environments with a lot of artificial light. Anti-reflection coatings are sometimes incorporated into a “multi-coat”, which can incorporate features such as anti-fog and increased protection against scratching and smudges. These coatings are also more cosmetically appealing. Without the reflections, eyes can be seen when looking at the person wearing the glasses, and photographs can be taken without the reflections.

• UV protection: Shields your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays. High-index, progressive and polycarbonate lenses are already UV resistant. The protection extends to the eyelids and lid margins, where sunblock can’t be applied.

• Blue light blocker: Absorbs blue light and reduces glare. While blue light comes naturally from the sun and helps regulate your body clock, it’s also emitted from sources such as smartphones and your household lights. While too much blue light could affect your sleep, Kristine Hammond, University of Auckland School of Optometry and Vision Science professional teaching fellow, said there’s little evidence it negatively affects vision.

Buying online

Buying online can appeal as there’s a huge range of options, with some at rock-bottom prices. You can buy a pair for less than $10 plus delivery.

Before you buy, you’ll need:

• a copy of your current prescription (The Privacy Act 2020 gives you the right to ask for a copy of your eye test and prescription details.)

• your pupillary distance (PD), which is the measurement between the pupils of your eyes (It’s needed to make sure the glasses correctly align with the centre of your eyes. It’s not always included on your prescription, so you may need to measure it yourself.)

• to ensure the glasses suit you and your prescription (Most websites have a “try on” function, which is a good way to check if the frames suit you).

Hammond told us buying prescription glasses online might seem like a convenient and cost-effective option, but it comes with risks, and the more complicated your prescription, the more likely you are to strike problems.

“Without the advice of a registered dispensing optician, who is trained to interpret prescriptions and fit eyewear, you may end up with glasses that don’t fit properly or provide the expected visual clarity and lenses that aren’t aligned properly.

“Poorly fitted glasses can lead to discomfort, headache and eye strain, especially if the lenses aren’t centred properly. In the case of multifocal lenses, inaccurate centration can leave you with unclear or double vision.”

Hammond said online retailers are also not able to verify the accuracy of your prescription, and issues such as an incorrect prescription or substandard lens quality can go unchecked.

A registered dispensing optician can also help you choose the best frame style and lens options based on your prescription and lifestyle.

If you buy online from an overseas retailer, check its refund policy and keep in mind New Zealand’s consumer laws can’t be enforced overseas.

The Consumer Guarantees Act covers glasses you buy from a store in New Zealand. That means if the glasses aren’t of acceptable quality, it’s the retailer’s responsibility to fix the problem.

Our investigation into buying glasses online found the process can be hit and miss. We bought prescription glasses from six online retailers and the person we shopped for said she’d only wear two of the seven pairs we purchased. Some pairs also had slight inaccuracies that might result in discomfort over long periods of time.

Over-the-counter reading glasses

If you only need glasses for reading, ready-made hobby or reading glasses may be an option. But you should get an eye test first to identify any problems.

Extra protection

OPSM offers an eyewear protection plan. At $44.95 for 12 months, the plan covers the cost of repair or replacement of your glasses if they’re accidentally damaged or stolen.

However, you’re likely to be paying for protection you already have if you have contents insurance.

The OPSM plan states the company will repair or replace your glasses up to the price you paid, to a maximum of $2,500. If you want cover for two pairs of glasses, you’ll need to pay two premiums.

The plan doesn’t provide any cover if you’re a little careless and lose your glasses, or if there’s cosmetic damage.

If you make a claim, you’ll pay an excess of $40, or $50 if your glasses cost more than $500. That may be less than what you’d pay if you claimed under your contents insurance. Check your policy. For example, AA Insurance has an optional $100 excess for eyewear while State Insurance offers excess-free claims on glasses as an optional benefit.

If you have an expensive pair of glasses, or a complicated prescription, the protection plan may be worth it. But before you sign on the dotted line, read the lengthy list of exclusions and your current contents insurance policy, to decide whether it’s right for you.

Problems with new glasses

It's not uncommon for people wearing new glasses to strike problems. Your optometrist may need to make minor adjustments to the findings from your eye exam to reach a prescription that's right for you. This is referred to as your "dispensed prescription".

If the glasses don’t work as they should, for instance, if they cause eye strain or don’t correct your vision as expected, you have rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA).

Glasses must be fit for purpose. If not, it’s on the optometrist to remedy the problem either by replacing the glasses or offering you a refund. You shouldn’t have to pay for any replacement.

Repairing faulty glasses

Under the CGA, glasses must also be of acceptable quality, including durable. If they’re faulty, it's the retailer's responsibility to remedy the problem. The CGA applies even if you’re buying glasses online, but it might be harder to enforce your rights if it’s an overseas company. Make sure you’re familiar with any terms and conditions or policies before you buy.

Training for optometrists and dispensing opticians

Optometrists trained in New Zealand complete a Bachelor of Optometry at the University of Auckland. All optometrists must be registered by the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board. Only a registered optometrist can prescribe glasses or contact lenses. You can check an optometrist's qualifications and date of registration at the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board website.

A dispensing optician is trained to interpret prescriptions provided by an optometrist and to fit and dispense eyewear (glasses and contact lenses). They specialise in selecting the right frames, lenses, and adjustments for your prescription and lifestyle. In New Zealand, dispensing opticians must be registered with the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board to ensure they have the necessary qualifications and adhere to professional standards.

Complaints

You can take a complaint about:

• the care you received from an optometrist to the Health and Disability Commissioner

• a product or service to the Disputes Tribunal.

Learn more about how to complain to the Health and Disability Commissioner.