Specsavers plans to reverse the trend of British Columbians deprioritizing essential healthcare needs by offering high-quality glasses from $69.
8 August, 2022
As rising interest rates and inflation leads to cost of living increases, British Columbians are becoming more price-conscious, and that attitude extends even to necessary health checks. Specsavers survey, conducted by Research Co., showed that 55% of British Columbians believe prescription eyewear is not affordable and many feel that price is a top consideration when purchasing a new pair of glasses (65%), and when selecting an optometry clinic for an eye exam (69%) .
According to survey results, 56% foresee changing how they approach shopping for prescription eyewear, such as finding a cheaper alternative or avoiding the expenditure altogether when it comes to buying glasses, due to an increasing cost of living in B.C. The cost-saving mentality doesn’t stop there – almost half (48%) plan to look for ways to minimize or avoid costs associated with having an eye exam altogether , despite Health Canada’s recommendation that adults get their eyes checked at least once every two years .
“What many don’t know is that the vast majority of eye conditions progress with no symptoms and regular eye exams are essential for early detection to ensure vision is protected,” said Naomi Barber, Specsavers Director of Optometry. “At Specsavers, every eye exam includes OCT (optical coherence tomography) – a 3D eye scan, as part of a standard eye exam.”
“It is clear that the high cost of eyewear is becoming one of the main barriers for people to access comprehensive eyecare, and Specsavers is committed to making sure no one has to put off getting their eyes checked, which is why we offer high quality glasses from $69,” said Bill Moir, General Manager at Specsavers. “With prescription glasses at other retailers costing between $240 to $1,000, and premium lenses within the $700-$1,000 range , it is not surprising that more than half (55%) of British Columbians feel eyewear is not affordable .”
Specsavers customers receive cost-savings for high-quality frames, including designer lines by Hugo Boss, Liberty, Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood, and more. Thanks to Specsavers vertically integrated supply chain across the world, customers have access to a wide range of high-quality glasses starting at as low as $69 for a complete pair, and progressive glasses from $149.
"I’m so impressed with the quality of Specsavers glasses and service,” said Helen, an 84-year-old North Vancouver resident. “The care and thoroughness made me feel well looked after and gave me comfort. I purchased a pair of designer glasses with transition and progressive lenses for far less than I usually pay for just the prescription alone.”
Specsavers is an optometrist-owned and -led company, known in many countries for its high quality and affordable eyewear and accessible eyecare. As part of its goal to redefine accessible eyecare for Canadians, Specsavers offers OCT (optical coherence tomography) – a 3D eye scan, as part of a standard eye exam. The technology has proven to have a measurable impact on the early detection of sight-threatening eye conditions and diseases such as glaucoma and diabetes.
With 17 stores already open in B.C., and a plan to open 50 in the province and 200 across Canada by 2024, Specsavers is focused on increasing store location accessibility, and changing lives through better sight.