Glasses in France

lesandang
lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
edited May 2017 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Does anyone know if glasses are dearer in France than the UK please. Just broken mine!

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  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited May 2017 #2

    From the adverts I've seen they appear to be about the same as here, but I suppose it will really depend on your frames (designer or bog standard) and your prescription (simple short-sight or complicated varifocals with prisms!) 

    Years ago we found a local optician extremely helpful, when our son broke his glasses, so I would go and ask.  Perhaps your campsite can recommend a local one who speaks some English - that's where we found ours - and his English was excellent!

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #3

    Whoops I read glasses as in drinking not spectacles 😲.  Thought what a strange question. Sorry I hope you get them fixed. Do you not have to carry a spare pair in France for just tjis situation? We have been somewhere that you do - but blowed if I can remember! Probably too many glasses 😂😂😂😂. I wouldn't mind but I'm not a drinker - perhaps I should be? Isn't the English language wonderful? 😉

  • lesandang
    lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
    edited May 2017 #4

    Yes, Motohomer I should have said spectacles but pondered on the interpretation of "Spectacles in France" as a discussion title! The best "spectacle" this morning was myself falling head first down the step outside " le laverie"  is it "la"? Agree English is wonderful and at least we don't have to learn masculine and feminine. I must add that no alcohol had passed my lips so no glasses were involved. Have spares but they are an old prescription, so now I'm hobbling around with a squinty expression on my face to add to the split lip caused by my breaking glasses! Hey ho! Time for a drink!

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5

    Love it. Got a great mental picture of your current look. Maybe stay in and not frighten the natives 😂😂😂😂

    Seriously I hope you aren't too badly hurt.

  • lesandang
    lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
    edited May 2017 #6

    Thanks Motorhomer, a few cuts and bruises but nothing that a Gin and Tonic and a few days won't fix. Madame fixed me up pretty well. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #7

    I thought it was a requirement, if driving in France, to always have a spare pair of glasses? Are the broken glasses beyond repair? I have fairly frequently had lens fall out because the retaining screw has come out. I now carry those micro screwdrivers and some spare screws in order to mend my glasses. Obviously if it's more catastrophic the opticians will be the only answer. Good luck.

    David

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited May 2017 #8

    How do you manage to see those tiny screws with no glasses?wink

  • Jamsdad
    Jamsdad Forum Participant Posts: 275
    edited May 2017 #9

    I broke my specs a few years ago in Avignon. took them in to the local optician there who fixed them and made no charge! 

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #10

    Easy if you're short sighted 😆. If I'm wearing glasses rather than lenses they are often on the top of my head. But if I want to look in the distance I'm stuck without either. Hubby is long sighted so we compensate each other 😂😂😂

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #11

    Glad it's no worse, Les.  My wife had a worse fall a couple of years ago and staggered back into our hotel with blood all over her face. No need to go and wait four hours at A&E as in UK, they simply phoned a doctor to come and see her at 8pm. and sure enough he came to patch her up.  Another country, another system. 

  • lesandang
    lesandang Forum Participant Posts: 243
    edited May 2017 #12

    Sure that you're right David but I'm Ang and hubby Les does the driving, luckily, as i was told not to drive in the glasses that i have now had to rely onn. Sadly my specs are in two halves! 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #13

    Pass them to the wifesmile

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited May 2017 #14

    I hope you get them fixed ok and recover from the fall.  I misread your title maybe because I forgot to pack a decent water glass and bought one cheaply enough!  Didn't forget the wineglass though wink

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited May 2017 #15

    As far as I am aware, spare specs are required in Spain, but not anywhere else. I always carry my last pair along with my prescription sunglasses.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #16

    Sorry Ian but you are wrong.  Just Google 'Are spare glasses required in France?'  You will also see that if you wear contact lenses you are required to have a spare pair of specs.

  • IanBHawkes
    IanBHawkes Forum Participant Posts: 212
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    edited May 2017 #17

    I stand corrected Comeyras, in my defense I have just received the Club's Touring France book and it mentions nothing about spare specs. One site says you must carry spare specs, others don't mention them and one says if you wear contact lenses you must have spare specs! In other words confusion, but that's France for you!!

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #18

    Ah, mais oui!   Pas de problem Ian.  If you wear specs it is surely prudent to carry a spare pare when going abroad - just in casecool.

  • Qashqai66
    Qashqai66 Forum Participant Posts: 551
    edited May 2017 #19

    Yes all drivers must carry a second pair of spectacles in France.

    I damaged mine in France a few years back and found a very charming optometrist who repaired them without charge.  We conversed in French so I have no idea about her English skills.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2017 #20
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  • triky auto
    triky auto Forum Participant Posts: 8,690
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    edited May 2017 #21

    undecided Obligatory in Spain.!!

  • Longtimecaravanner
    Longtimecaravanner Forum Participant Posts: 642
    edited May 2017 #22

    When I googled this some weeks ago as we wanted to know I came up with the same thing as you but when I said so on another forum someone got quite stroppy about it and said that it might be recommended but it wasn't legally binding. Commonsense though says it is a good idea just in case.

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