India for specys

jockman · Dec 13th, 2003, 23:18

We are off to India in january for 3 weeks and i think i need an eye test and probably glasses. Does anyone out there know if there is an express specs place or something in mumbai, and if so is it cheaper than the uk.

LuAnnandJawahar · Dec 13th, 2003, 23:38

There are tons of opticians that can give you same day service. Definitely less expensive. Don't go to Emco in the main tourist bazaar near Leopolds however. They will greatly overcharge you.

picklepak · Dec 14th, 2003, 02:21

I've bought several pairs of glasses in India... the least expensive cost about 12 Euro, including the eye exam! But the prescriptions was waaaay off. A good pair in Mumbai might cost more than twice that, but it's still much less than at home. Take your prescription from the UK with you so you know it's accurate; if you get the store to promise you they'll take care with the preparation you can get some very good glasses for cheap. I had mine tested when I got back home... they were within international standards but not within tighter Canadian standards. So overall pretty good. Either way, it's a good way to go... and you can get some Ghandi-style glasses if you really want.

Colin · Dec 14th, 2003, 11:58

I always buy my glasses in India. The ones I am wearing to allow me to see this computer I bought in Hubli (Karnataka) in 1997, when I turn this infernal machine off and resume normal looking/reading I will change to my stainless steel framed bifocals I bought in Delhi the year before last for Rs2700 including prescription (titanium frames are a little more expensive).
I have had no problems whatsoever, I don't know if they conform to any standards, I just know they allow me to see!!

jockman · Dec 14th, 2003, 16:49

Thanks for the positive replies lads. I will get them checked as soon as i get there. I dont know about the Gandhi look though.

Stoi · Dec 15th, 2003, 00:24

Is it possible to buy sunglasses that have prescription lenses in them?

picklepak · Dec 15th, 2003, 00:30

Stoi, same thing. I've done that too and you have many options in India.

jockman · Dec 15th, 2003, 01:52

The sunglasses sound like the right idea. Am also originaly from Glasgow and there aint much call for them up there.

IndyBoy · Dec 16th, 2003, 17:55

Yes, I agree with all the above posts, but will sound a note of caution. As Picklepak says, make sure you take your prescription from home with you. I let the optician (Express Opticians in Navrangpura, Ahmedabad) give me an eyetest, and when the glasses arrived, the vision was terrible. I checked it against my UK prescription, and it wasn't even close. He had managed to get one axis 180degress out!!
Even then, when I gave my uk prescription, they did not manage to create perfect lense, but they were fairly close. I would make sure you get local advice on who is a good optician.
Avoid the optician I mentioned in Ahmedabad.

thestens · Dec 16th, 2003, 18:28

Another note of caution here! My husband bought a pair of rimless glasses in Udaipur - no problems with prescription or service. He wore them for a few months and took them into our local opticians for slight adjustments on the nose pads and the lenses shattered! Apparently, rimless glasses in UK are made from specially strengthened plastic - not so in India! So I suppose you get what you pay for!

rickshawwallah · Dec 17th, 2003, 07:22

Ah, those spoiled western opticians. I'm sure any Indian optician could have made all manner of adjustments to your glasses without shattering the lenses.

If you wear glasses and travel to India, it is certainly worth the time and effort to seek out a reputable optician during your travels. Saving US$200 on a single pair of glasses suddenly makes the flight ticket to Delhi seem much more reasonable!

SitaParityaga · Dec 18th, 2003, 02:24

Namaste,
Where would be a good place in Mumbai to look for opticians?

Dec 13th, 2003, 23:18	#1
jockman Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: netherlands Posts: 6	India for specys We are off to India in january for 3 weeks and i think i need an eye test and probably glasses. Does anyone out there know if there is an express specs place or something in mumbai, and if so is it cheaper than the uk.

Dec 13th, 2003, 23:38	#2
LuAnnandJawahar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Delhi/U.S. Posts: 664	There are tons of opticians that can give you same day service. Definitely less expensive. Don't go to Emco in the main tourist bazaar near Leopolds however. They will greatly overcharge you. __________________ Reject violence.

Dec 15th, 2003, 01:52	#8
jockman Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: netherlands Posts: 6	glasgow tan The sunglasses sound like the right idea. Am also originaly from Glasgow and there aint much call for them up there.

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Dec 14th, 2003, 02:21	#3
picklepak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 274	I've bought several pairs of glasses in India... the least expensive cost about 12 Euro, including the eye exam! But the prescriptions was waaaay off. A good pair in Mumbai might cost more than twice that, but it's still much less than at home. Take your prescription from the UK with you so you know it's accurate; if you get the store to promise you they'll take care with the preparation you can get some very good glasses for cheap. I had mine tested when I got back home... they were within international standards but not within tighter Canadian standards. So overall pretty good. Either way, it's a good way to go... and you can get some Ghandi-style glasses if you really want.

Dec 14th, 2003, 11:58	#4
Colin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pai, Mae Hong Son, Thailand Posts: 208	I always buy my glasses in India. The ones I am wearing to allow me to see this computer I bought in Hubli (Karnataka) in 1997, when I turn this infernal machine off and resume normal looking/reading I will change to my stainless steel framed bifocals I bought in Delhi the year before last for Rs2700 including prescription (titanium frames are a little more expensive). I have had no problems whatsoever, I don't know if they conform to any standards, I just know they allow me to see!!

Dec 14th, 2003, 16:49	#5
jockman Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: netherlands Posts: 6	Thanks for the positive replies lads. I will get them checked as soon as i get there. I dont know about the Gandhi look though.

Dec 15th, 2003, 00:24	#6
Stoi Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Glasgow Posts: 30	Is it possible to buy sunglasses that have prescription lenses in them?

Dec 15th, 2003, 00:30	#7
picklepak Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 274	Stoi, same thing. I've done that too and you have many options in India.

Dec 16th, 2003, 17:55	#9
IndyBoy Wandering fool Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NE UK Posts: 147	Yes, I agree with all the above posts, but will sound a note of caution. As Picklepak says, make sure you take your prescription from home with you. I let the optician (Express Opticians in Navrangpura, Ahmedabad) give me an eyetest, and when the glasses arrived, the vision was terrible. I checked it against my UK prescription, and it wasn't even close. He had managed to get one axis 180degress out!! Even then, when I gave my uk prescription, they did not manage to create perfect lense, but they were fairly close. I would make sure you get local advice on who is a good optician. Avoid the optician I mentioned in Ahmedabad.

Dec 16th, 2003, 18:28	#10
thestens Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 44	Another note of caution here! My husband bought a pair of rimless glasses in Udaipur - no problems with prescription or service. He wore them for a few months and took them into our local opticians for slight adjustments on the nose pads and the lenses shattered! Apparently, rimless glasses in UK are made from specially strengthened plastic - not so in India! So I suppose you get what you pay for!

Dec 17th, 2003, 07:22	#11
rickshawwallah I know cheap and best! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, USA Posts: 204	Ah, those spoiled western opticians. I'm sure any Indian optician could have made all manner of adjustments to your glasses without shattering the lenses. If you wear glasses and travel to India, it is certainly worth the time and effort to seek out a reputable optician during your travels. Saving US$200 on a single pair of glasses suddenly makes the flight ticket to Delhi seem much more reasonable!

Dec 18th, 2003, 02:24	#12
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 908	Namaste, Where would be a good place in Mumbai to look for opticians?

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