I have endured bad (and worsening) eyesight since I was a child. I know first hand how costly it can be.
From my very first eye test at the age of seven until I became a teenager, my dear mother must have spent a hefty sum on new glasses and eye tests for me growing up. I shudder to even think about how much I have shelled out on eye tests, contacts and glasses.
It adds up. Not because I have a taste for pricey designer branded frames, but with eyesight as bad as this, you best believe you’re paying nearly double in some opticians to have your lenses thinned down as much as you can. There are plenty of great opticians in Cork. I’ve been to numerous over the years. And every time, I’ve ended up paying a considerable amount of money to see clearly.
After one visit to an opticians where a two-for-one deal cost nearly €800 (two frames plus thinning really adds up), I thought enough was enough, I would only go for the ‘free glasses’ I’m entitled to with my PRSI. (More info on that here). Even then, my next ‘free glasses’ cost me close to €300 when accounting for all the extras that come with having a high prescription.
Ace & Tate in Cork(Image: Cork Beo)
About two years later, I started noticing myself squinting at the TV again. Great. Will I have to dip into my savings account to be able to see my screen clearly? What an ideal time to have a Press Release land into my inbox about a new fancy eyewear brand coming to Cork. And better yet they’ve invited me along for an eye test. Handy!
Ace & Tate is a Dutch-owned eyewear brand specialising in trendy fashion frames and as well as prescription specs. They opened their second Irish location on Oliver Plunkett Street last month. The Cork store is also the first Ace & Tate to offer Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans for all customers. It’s a quick 3D eye scan that optometrists use to identify early signs of eye conditions – you’ve probably had one done if you’ve frequented high-street opticians before.
The store is a fresh, modern shop with sparkling mirrors and walls filled with frames and sunglasses to browse. Their specs are stylish – fashion accessories as well as assistance for poor eyesight. Most frames are a standard €145. You can get 50% off if you get a second pair.
I had my eyes tested by the optometrist Oliwia Parzybut who was not only very friendly, but informative. Out of all the myriad of eye tests I’ve had over the years, I actually learned more about how the experts actually check for issues in your eyes. I had the usual scans, reading letters off the chart, puffs of air into the eye. The OCT was interesting.
Ace & Tate in Cork
I’ve had scans of the back of my eyes done before, but Oliwia really explained the process thoroughly. She pulled up imagery of my eyeballs on the computer screen, and went through the results so I understood how it all worked as an advanced, preventative test for a range of conditions.
Thankfully, all results were good! However my prescription had, as I expected, worsened slightly to the point where I would need new lenses. I had already resigned myself to needing new glasses, but after seeing the collection of frames on offer I was actually excited to try some on.
The brand’s collection of frames are designed in Amsterdam, and are the type of stylish specs you’d see on a Pinterest board: fashionable and funky with plenty of styles to choose from, from classic square styles to trendy oversized frames. If I were a rich woman (and my eyesight not so poor) I could have easily chosen a collection.
Sara tries on her new frames (Image: Sara Rountree)
Alas, I landed on a single pair of frames in a fun grey tortoise colour called Volcano. Next comes lenses. They offer a range of levels, including multifocal, computer lenses, blue light filter, premium anti-reflection coatings and the supreme lenses.
I went for the supreme option. I had to. The thinnest lens service is mandatory for anyone whose prescription is above a +/- 6.00. The supreme lens option is €100 – which is pretty standard. It also features a hydrophobic top coat to repel rain and fog.
When I got to the till, I was also happy to see that because I had purchased frames, my eye test was free. And even with fashionable designer-style frames and super-thins supreme lenses, the bill was still less than €300! Almost the same price as my last pair of ‘free’ frames. My order was whisked off and my new glasses were delivered to the store in 9 days, where I was able to pop in and pick them up. Overall, it was a very easy process, and I will likely be returning to the store when I next need my eyes checked.
They recommend you get your eyes checked if you start experiencing headaches, your eyes feel strained, you use a lot of screens. And glasses-wearers should get a test every two years or more frequently if you’re thinking of laser eye surgery. See more info on Ace & Tate here.