When I go to the GP I don't get flogged any products, even my dentist doesn't sell me toothbrushes....so why is that opticians can sell you loads of glasses - that are equally important to health in some ways?

Does anyone know of an opticians that doesn't give the hard sell as soon as you step inside the building?

I agree, it's appalling, makes me feel uncomfortable every time I attend.

If I had my way they'd all be sent to prism

I have never experienced the hard sell thing in Specsavers. Yes, there are loads of options but as long as you adament what you want, then they don't push anything.

Helps if you flirt with the girl you are dealing with too.

Avoid the large chains, Specsavers, Boots, Dollard & Aitcheson etc.

I go to a small practice owned by a husband and wife optomotrists (?) who employ a couple of other professionals plus a couple of back up staff and there's no hard sell at all.

The only downside is that to get an appointment with the main man (who all three hospital consultants I've seen for eye operations and problems say is the best guy within 30 miles) you have to book 2 months ahead.

I don't trust any optician. A American conducted research and claimed it is better to make the eyes strain than going to the opticians and changing to greater strength specs as this makes the eyes weaker.

Opticians prescribe eye changes in order to get you to buy a new pair of specs not because you have need of new prescription.

The Doctor gets paid for each prescription that your are (un)necessarily given.

The Dentist does God knows what to the inside of your mouth and charges a fortune.

The poor Fireman might have time for a cuppa after stopping all your house catch fire, and ditto the policemen, who stop the arsonists setting fire to your house...............

Not so sure why Opticians need to be in prime rent locations, though.