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To: MP
Subsidize new lenses in children's existing glasses
Start subsidizing new lenses in existing frames not just complete new pairs of glasses when children have a new prescription. This will save the NHS money as well as reducing a whole lot of waste.
Why is this important?
I have two children, both of whom wear glasses. My younger child's eye sight hasn't stabilised yet and he needs a new prescription pretty much every 6 months. We have to choose a new pair of frames every 6 months, because it actually costs a lot more to have new lenses put into an old pair of frames than it does to buy a new set. It seems complete sets of frames and lenses are subsidized, but simply changing the lenses in an existing frame is not.
I am very grateful we parents get free eye tests on the NHS for our kids and that we also get reduced prices on the frames and lenses. However, I do think it is wrong that I can get a pair of frames with lenses for free on the NHS, where as if I want to keep an existing frame, I have to pay in the region of £35 per lens.
This crates a huge amount of waste (we have around 15 pairs of old specs at home), wastes resources and the NHS is throwing away money when it can't afford to do so.
I expect the NHS is tied in to some deal with the frames manufacturers which dictates that they cannot subsidize new lenses for existing frames. but it creates so much unnecessary waste and expense, so this needs to be changed!
Let's encourage parents to reuse their children's frames and reduce the amount of waste we all create, but let it not cost more than the price of a new pair of frames with lenses.
