JimBob,

I assume that if you are using SpecSavers, you are in the UK.

Currently, UK optical practices (independants and multiple stores) do
not cover their costs by charging for eye examinations. Historically,
professional fees are build in to the cost of optical appliances and
contact lenses. This is partly due to the eye examination fees received
for carrying out NHS examinations.

If optometrists were not able to sell prescription glasses and contact
lenses, you would see a huge increase in appointment fees.

The sale of contact lenses was de-regulated at the start of this month
allowing non-optical stores to sell lenses. This may mean that in the
future, you will be able buy your glasses and contact lenses at a lower
price and higher professional fees are charged for consultations.

I hope this helps explain the "conflict of interest".

As for the brand of contact lenses, I would only advise that you change
from you current prescription following a full assessment. If you then
choose to purchase lenses over the internet, ensure that you have
after-care appointments at the intervals recommended by your
optometrist.

I hope this helps,

AJ

Most of our purchases, whether goods or services, involve this same
conflict of interest.  It's a matter of judgement as to when to separate
these things.  For instance, if you have a leaky faucet, it is a conflict
of interest for the plumber to diagnose the problem and then fix it.  They
have a financial incentive to do more work than is necessary, replace more
parts than need replacing, and use more expensive materials than are
appropriate for what they are doing.  You should hire an engineer to
diagnose the problem, figure out how to fix it and then provide detailed
written specifications as to what to do, what materials are needed and
what quality materials are required.  Then you go out to bid with several
plumbers.  After the low bidder has completed the job and left, then you
discover that it still leaks.  You call the plumber, who states that they
did exactly what was in the specs and so they must have been flawed.  You
call the engineer, who states that the specs were fine and the plumber
must not have followed them correctly.  Now what do you do?  Hire a third
expert who comes in and determines who made the error?

Exactly this same situation has been reported on this group several
times.  The poster has gotten their eyes examined in one place and
purchased their glasses/contacts at another.  Then they don't work
correctly, so they post here asking what to do.  If you have everything
done at one shop, then you just take them back and they take care of the
problem without worrying who pays for it.