Buying Glasses for Less: Should You Take Your Prescription Somewhere Else?

You've had your eyes tested, been handed your new prescription and then started looking at frames, only to discover that the glasses you fancy could cost considerably more than you expected.

But here's something worth remembering: you don't have to buy your spectacles from the optician who tested your eyes.

In the UK, following your sight test, your optometrist must provide your prescription, and you're free to take it elsewhere. The NHS specifically advises you shouldn't feel obliged to buy your glasses from the practice that performed your eye examination.

That opens up several possibilities, including independent spectacle dispensers and online glasses retailers.

Shopping around could save money

Glasses can become expensive remarkably quickly.

Start with a frame, add prescription lenses, perhaps choose thinner lenses, anti-reflective coatings, photochromic lenses or varifocals, and the final bill can be very different from the price displayed beside the frame.

Taking your prescription elsewhere allows you to compare the complete price, rather than assuming your optometrist's practice is your only option.

An independent dispensing optician may offer frames and lenses at competitive prices while still providing face-to-face measurements, fitting and subsequent adjustments. Registered dispensing opticians are regulated healthcare professionals trained to advise on and fit spectacles according to an individual's visual and lifestyle requirements.

What about buying glasses online?

Online spectacle companies can be extremely tempting, particularly for straightforward single-vision prescriptions.

Advantages can include lower prices, huge frame selections, easy price comparisons and the convenience of ordering without leaving home.

For someone who knows the size and style of frame they like and has a relatively uncomplicated prescription, online glasses can potentially provide an inexpensive second pair, reading glasses or prescription sunglasses.

There is, however, a significant catch.

Your prescription isn't necessarily every measurement required to make your glasses properly.

For example, your pupillary distance, the measurement used to help position the lenses correctly in relation to your eyes, isn't legally required to appear on the prescription provided following your eye examination. Responsibility for properly centring the lenses rests with whoever supplies the spectacles.

Some online companies therefore ask customers to take measurements themselves.

When professional fitting becomes more important

The stronger or more complicated your prescription, the more cautious you should be about choosing glasses purely on price.

The Association of Optometrists particularly highlights high prescriptions, varifocals and substantial differences between the two eyes as situations where accurate measurements are important.

Varifocals are a good example. The positioning of the different viewing areas within the lenses needs to correspond properly with your eyes and the way the frame sits on your face.

There's evidence for exercising caution online. Research cited by the College of Optometrists found spectacles bought online were more likely to fail optical tolerance testing than those supplied through high-street practices. Participants nevertheless identified lower prices, convenience and clearer pricing among the attractions of buying online.

Don't forget the importance of fit

There's another difference that has nothing to do with your prescription.

A pair of glasses needs to fit your face.

Frames that constantly slide down your nose, pinch behind your ears or sit crookedly can become thoroughly irritating.

A good dispensing optician can adjust the sides, nose pads and general position of the frame and check how the spectacles sit once the finished lenses have been fitted.

That's harder to reproduce when your glasses arrive through the post.

Don't confuse buying glasses with having your eyes tested

Perhaps the most important point is that saving money on spectacles shouldn't mean skipping regular eye examinations.

An eye examination isn't merely a means of obtaining a prescription. It's also an opportunity for an optometrist to examine your eye health and identify changes which may need further investigation.

So by all means shop around after you've been properly examined.

The That's Health verdict

There's no single answer suitable for everybody.

For a straightforward prescription, an established online supplier could offer substantial convenience and savings. An independent spectacle fitter may provide an attractive middle ground: competitive prices combined with professional measuring, fitting and aftercare.

For high prescriptions, varifocals, unusual requirements or situations where accurate positioning is particularly important, the advantages of face-to-face professional dispensing become much greater.

And remember to compare like with like. Ask what lenses are included, what coatings you're getting, whether thinning is included, what happens if the glasses aren't right and whether adjustments and aftercare are provided.

Your eyesight is too important to choose glasses solely because they're cheap – but that doesn't mean you have to pay more than necessary.

That’s Health note: This article is intended as general information rather than individual optical or medical advice. Continue to have your eyes examined at the intervals recommended by your optometrist and seek professional advice if you experience changes in your vision.

One particularly useful point for readers receiving help with optical costs is that NHS optical vouchers can be taken to a supplier of their choice provided that supplier accepts them. 

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/nhs-voucher-values-for-glasses-and-lenses

Convoluted Bowels. What they are, how to treat them

Being told that you have a “convoluted bowel” as I was some years ago, can sound rather alarming. In many cases, however, the term refers to a tortuous or redundant colon, a large bowel that is longer than usual and consequently has additional bends, twists or loops.

For some people it causes few problems. For others, the additional journey through the colon can be associated with slower movement of waste and recurrent constipation.

While you cannot change the basic shape of your bowel through diet, there are practical steps that may make constipation easier to manage.

Aim for consistency rather than crisis management

For someone who regularly experiences constipation, the objective should ideally be to keep stools comfortably soft and relatively easy to pass rather than waiting until severe constipation develops.

Adequate fluid intake is important, particularly when increasing dietary fibre. Regular physical activity can also help stimulate normal bowel function, and it doesn't necessarily mean vigorous exercise. Walking and simply avoiding very long periods of inactivity can be beneficial.

Fibre can help, but more isn't always better

Increasing fibre is standard advice for constipation, but it is worth doing gradually.

Good sources include oats, fruit, vegetables, wholegrain foods, pulses and linseed. Fruits such as kiwifruit, pears, plums and prunes can be particularly useful additions to the diet.

However, suddenly consuming large amounts of bran or other coarse fibre isn't necessarily helpful for everyone. It can sometimes result in considerably more wind, bloating and abdominal discomfort.

People with chronic constipation may therefore find it useful to experiment gradually rather than simply adding as much fibre as possible.

Make breakfast work for your bowel

Our digestive system has a useful mechanism called the gastrocolic reflex.

Eating causes the stomach to expand, which sends signals encouraging the colon to move its contents onwards. The response can be particularly noticeable after breakfast.

This makes the period shortly after breakfast a good opportunity to establish a regular toilet routine.

Try allowing yourself five or ten unhurried minutes on the toilet around 15–30 minutes after breakfast. Don't force things if nothing happens and avoid prolonged straining.

A small footstool can also help. Raising the feet so that the knees are slightly higher than the hips creates a more favourable position for opening the bowels. Leaning slightly forwards can help too.

And when the natural urge to open your bowels does arrive, try not to ignore it repeatedly.

What about laxatives?

Occasional constipation can often be managed through lifestyle measures or short-term treatment. Recurrent constipation is different.

If constipation is happening frequently, particularly when you have already been diagnosed with a tortuous or redundant bowel, it's worth discussing a long-term bowel-management plan with your GP or pharmacist.

There are several types of laxative.

Osmotic laxatives such as macrogol (polyethylene glycol or PEG) work by increasing the amount of water retained in the bowel, helping to produce softer stools. Other options include bulk-forming and stimulant laxatives.

Which treatment is most appropriate will depend on the individual, their symptoms, other health conditions and any medicines they are taking. Some commonly prescribed medicines can themselves contribute to constipation, so a medication review may also be worthwhile.

Keep a bowel diary

A simple diary for a couple of weeks can provide surprisingly useful information.

Record when you have a bowel movement, the consistency of the stool, whether you needed to strain, any bloating or abdominal discomfort, and any laxatives or other treatments you used.

The Bristol Stool Chart can make this particularly easy. Types 1 and 2 indicate hard stools associated with constipation, while types 3 and 4 are generally considered more desirable.

Taking this information to a GP can provide a much clearer picture than simply saying, “I get constipated quite often.”

Know when constipation needs medical attention

Although constipation is extremely common, persistent or changing bowel symptoms shouldn't automatically be blamed on a convoluted bowel.

Seek medical advice if constipation is recurrent or isn't improving, or if you experience symptoms such as blood in your stools, unexplained weight loss, persistent abdominal pain or bloating, unusual tiredness or a significant change in your normal bowel habits.

Severe or worsening abdominal pain and swelling accompanied by vomiting and an inability to pass either stools or wind requires urgent medical assessment, as these can be symptoms of a bowel obstruction.

For people living with recurrent constipation, perhaps the most useful conversation to have with a GP is a simple one:

“Can we develop a regular bowel-management plan that helps me prevent constipation rather than treating it once it has become severe?”

Living with a convoluted bowel may mean paying a little more attention to bowel habits than most people need to. But establishing a regular routine, finding the right balance of fibre and fluids, remaining active and getting appropriate medical support can make constipation much easier to manage.

That’s Health note: This article provides general health information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Anyone experiencing persistent or concerning bowel symptoms should consult an appropriate healthcare professional.

Take A Breath Programme Reports Encouraging Wellbeing Results

A community wellbeing programme combining breathing exercises, movement, meditation and social connection has reported encouraging preliminary results following an event held at Kingsway Community Centre.

Take A Breath was delivered by MindBody Synergy CIC on 22 August 2026, with sponsorship from Tele-Therapies Ltd. 

The restorative programme brought together guided breathing practices, movement, dancing, chanting, sound bowl meditation, creative activities and opportunities for participants to connect with others.

Fourteen people completed an evaluation after the event. Across all six wellbeing measures, participants reported positive changes. Average self-reported stress fell from 2.9 before the session to 1.6 afterwards, while breath awareness rose from 2.3 to 4.2, the largest improvement recorded.

Participants also reported feeling calmer, with average scores rising from 3.1 to 4.3. Energy increased from 3.0 to 4.0, emotional wellbeing from 3.2 to 4.1, and connection with other people from 3.0 to 4.0.

The event received an average overall rating of 4.1 out of five stars. All 14 respondents said they would probably or definitely attend another session or recommend the programme to somebody else. Thirteen were attending Take A Breath for the first time, with one returning participant.

Sound Bowl Meditation was the most consistently highly rated activity and the one most frequently named as a favourite. Dancing Breath, Zumba, Guided Breath Codes and Chanting Breath Rhythm also received strong feedback.

Participants described feeling calmer and more relaxed, learning helpful breathing techniques and experiencing deep relaxation. Some also said they felt motivated to continue breathing, meditation or chanting practices at home.

The group included nine people aged 61 or over, four aged between 46 and 60, and one aged between 18 and 30.

Dr Devi Sundar, founder and director of MindBody Synergy CIC and Tele-Therapies Ltd, said the initial feedback was encouraging, particularly the changes in stress and breath awareness.

“These findings provide a useful basis for refining the programme and considering a more formally designed prospective feasibility study,” she told That's Health.

As this was a small community evaluation based on self-reported experiences, the findings should be viewed as preliminary rather than clinical proof of effectiveness. However, they provide useful guidance for developing future sessions.

MindBody Synergy CIC and Tele-Therapies Ltd now intend to strengthen the programme’s evaluation framework. Future research could examine recruitment, retention, acceptability, safety and changes in wellbeing outcomes over a longer period.

The initiative forms part of Dr Sundar’s wider work connecting respiratory health, psychology, behavioural science and person-centred approaches to mind-body wellbeing.

https://mindbodysynergycic.org

Foodsane Offers a Compassionate Alternative to Diet Culture

For many people, food can become tangled up with guilt, anxiety and an exhausting sense that they are somehow failing.

Restrictive diets, conflicting wellness advice and pressure to lose weight can make it increasingly difficult to recognise and respond to the body’s natural needs.

A new psychology-based wellness community aims to offer a gentler and more compassionate way forward.

Foodsane has been launched by Devon-based Dr Joanna North, a Chartered Researching Psychologist, Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Senior Accredited Psychotherapist with more than 40 years of clinical experience.

Rather than treating eating habits as a simple matter of willpower, Foodsane focuses on psychological safety, nervous-system regulation, body awareness and self-compassion.

Dr North has developed the RAFT framework, which stands for Right Amount, Right Food and Right Time. It is accompanied by a concept she calls Time Related Eating, or TRE, which encourages people to become more aware of how the timing of food may relate to their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Central to the approach is interoception, the ability to notice and understand signals from within the body. These can include hunger, fullness, tension, tiredness and changes in mood.

Foodsane is intended to offer a “middle way” for people who feel caught between restrictive diet culture, medicalised approaches to weight loss and potentially harmful or disordered eating patterns. Its message is not that people should simply try harder, but that eating is influenced by stress, emotions, habits and whether a person feels safe and settled.

“So much of the wellness industry treats eating as a willpower problem,” Dr North told That's Health.

“It isn’t. It’s a nervous system problem, a psychological safety problem. Foodsane exists to bring the evidence base and forty years of clinical experience to people who are tired of being told to try harder.”

The Foodsane initiative includes a paid online community in which members can follow Dr North’s daily Time Related Eating diary. They also receive a weekly newsletter summarising three key learning points.

Accessible guidance is shared through the FoodsaneJoanna accounts on Instagram and TikTok, while Dr North’s 2024 book, Foodsane, explores the complete framework.

No single approach will be right for everybody, and anyone experiencing an eating disorder or significant concerns about eating, weight or health should seek appropriately qualified professional help. Prescribed weight-loss medication should never be stopped or changed without consulting the clinician responsible for it.

Nevertheless, the compassionate thinking behind Foodsane may resonate with people who have spent years blaming themselves. Eating is not a moral test, and needing support is not a personal failure.

More information can be found at www.foodsane.co.uk.

Pub Manager Conquers Fear of Heights for Children’s Hospice

A South Manchester pub manager has overcome his fear of heights by completing an amazing 15,000-foot skydive and raising an impressive £4,568 for Francis House Children’s Hospice.

Martin Devlin, manager of the Hydes Brewery-owned Fletcher Moss in Didsbury, took the plunge above Lancaster after deciding he wanted to undertake a fresh fundraising challenge for the hospice.

Middlesbrough-born Martin has lived in Didsbury for more than 30 years and managed the popular community pub for the past 14. Fundraising is firmly embedded in life at the Fletcher Moss, where quiz nights, acoustic evenings and festive parties regularly support Francis House.

The hospice provides respite care and support for children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, as well as their families.

Martin’s support has previously taken him down the side of the Trafford Palazzo Tower in an abseiling challenge. However, despite describing himself as frightened of heights, he decided that his next adventure should involve jumping from an aeroplane.

“I was on holiday, lying on a beach and thinking I need to do something this year for Francis House,” Martin explained to That's Health. “I looked to the sky and I thought: skydive.”

Although he was particularly worried about the freefall, it unexpectedly became his favourite part of the experience.

“The adrenaline took over from the nerves and the weather was lovely,” he said. “I was most scared about the freefall, but that’s the bit I enjoyed the most.”

Once the parachute opened, Martin was able to enjoy spectacular views stretching towards Blackpool Tower and the Lake District. He admitted that the nerves returned as the ground grew closer, but said he would happily repeat the experience for charity.

Customers, friends, relatives and local businesses rallied behind him. A fundraising raffle alone generated more than £700, with prizes donated by businesses including Gail’s Bakery, Little Pigs Butchers, The Cheese Hamlet and Rudy’s Pizza. Hydes Brewery, suppliers and customers also contributed prizes and generous sponsorship.

Over the years, Martin and the Fletcher Moss community have raised approximately £30,000 for Francis House. Having visited the hospice himself, he has seen the comforting, home-from-home environment it provides.

With the hospice costing around £5.8 million annually to operate, every fundraiser matters. Martin is therefore already considering his next challenge, possibly a wing walk?

“It’s about trying to push yourself all of the time,” he said.

To learn more about supporting Francis House through a skydive, visit Francis House Children’s Hospice https://www.francishouse.org.uk/get-involved/events/skydive

https://www.hydesbrewery.com/venue/fletcher-moss/

School Games National Finals Celebrates 20 Years of Inspiring Young Athletes

The School Games National Finals returns from 3–6 September 2026, marking 20 years of giving talented young athletes the opportunity to experience a major multi-sport competition.

First staged in Glasgow in 2006, the event has become an important launchpad for emerging sporting talent. 

Its anniversary feels especially significant following Glasgow’s recent hosting of the Commonwealth Games, bringing elite competition back to the city where the School Games story began.

Over two decades, thousands of young people have participated in the finals. Notable former competitors include Olympic and Paralympic champions Dina Asher-Smith, Adam Peaty, Ellie Simmonds, Alex Yee and Hannah Cockroft.

However, the 2026 event will emphasise that sporting success is not measured solely by medals. Competitors will be encouraged to recognise progress towards their own goals and appreciate the confidence, resilience, friendships and life skills that sport can provide.

Taking place at Loughborough University and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, the four-day event will feature 3x3 basketball, athletics, BMX freestyle, BMX racing, cricket, hockey, modern pentathlon, netball, triathlon, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.

Every competitor will also experience the obstacle course discipline being introduced into modern pentathlon for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

This year’s approach draws upon findings from the Wired to Win report, which examined athletes’ experiences at the 2024 finals and identified barriers affecting participation, access and enjoyment.

A major addition is Elevate, a programme co-designed by Sport England, the Youth Sport Trust and Greenhouse Sports. It will welcome 45 promising athletes from under-resourced communities who currently sit outside traditional talent pathways.

During the three-day programme, participants will receive an inclusive development experience supported by leading coaches and athlete mentors. The initiative aims to reach young people who may otherwise miss opportunities because of financial pressures, limited networks, geographical barriers or their background.

Phil Smith, executive director of sporting systems at Sport England, said that while competition remains important, enjoyable experiences which do not necessarily end with a podium place can help young people develop a lifelong love of physical activity.

Youth Sport Trust chief executive Ali Oliver MBE added that supportive sporting environments can help create mentally stronger and more resilient athletes.

As it celebrates its remarkable alumni, the School Games National Finals is also looking forward. Its greatest achievement may be helping every participant leave Loughborough proud of their progress, inspired by the experience and ready to pursue their own sporting ambitions.

Further information is available from the School Games National Finals website https://www.youthsporttrust.org

Noctiva Health Launches Supplement Designed for Britain’s Night-Shift Workers

While most of Britain sleeps, more than three million people are still at work.

Nurses, carers, drivers, security officers, factory workers, cleaners, warehouse employees, bakers and emergency call handlers are among those keeping essential services and businesses running through the night. 

Yet products intended to support everyday wellbeing are rarely designed with their unusual routines in mind.

Noctiva Health hopes to address that oversight with Noctiva Reset, a new UK-made, once-daily food supplement formulated specifically for people who work nights.

“If you finish a shift at 7am, the whole world is telling you to wake up just as you are trying to switch off,” explained company founder Adi Jani, to That's Health. Adi (PICTURED) spent 16 years presenting live overnight television.

“We built Noctiva Reset for those hours, and we built it without the tricks.”

Transparency rather than extravagant promises

The company is making openness central to the new brand. Every active ingredient is disclosed to the milligram, with no proprietary blends or promises that go beyond the available evidence.

Noctiva Reset does not contain melatonin, which is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. It is also not promoted as a medicine, treatment or instant solution.

Instead, each tub provides a consistent 30-day supply.

A daily serving of three capsules contains 490mg of KSM-66® ashwagandha root extract, 175mg of magnesium as bisglycinate, 333mg of Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract providing 100mg of 5-HTP, and 102mg of green tea leaf extract providing 100mg of L-theanine.

Magnesium contributes to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue and supports the normal functioning of the nervous system.

The capsules are manufactured at a GMP-certified facility in the UK and use plant-derived HPMC shells. Each tub contains 90 capsules.

Night workers deserve recognition

No supplement can remove all the pressures associated with night work. It cannot replace adequate rest, proper breaks, nourishing food, supportive employers or access to healthcare. However, it is encouraging to see a company acknowledging people whose routines often receive too little consideration.

Night workers can miss family occasions, struggle to arrange appointments and find themselves trying to sleep while the rest of their household and neighbourhood are beginning their days. Their contribution deserves both respect and practical support.

“Nobody reads a supplement label and feels respected,” said Jani. “Our entire brand is the opposite bet. Name every ingredient, name every dose, say plainly what it is not, and treat the people who keep the country running at night like adults.”

Noctiva Reset costs £39.99 for one 90-capsule tub or £99.99 for a three-tub pack, with free UK delivery. It is available from noctivahealth.com and TikTok Shop UK.

Noctiva Reset is a food supplement and not a medicine. Supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. The product is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Anyone taking medication, living with a health condition or receiving medical supervision should consult a doctor before using it.

https://noctivahealth.com/