Eye test
Objective measurement with an autorefractor, subjective refraction in a trial frame, a near vision test and binocular balancing. You get a written record of the results.
Eye tests, made-to-measure glasses and contact lenses
The eye test is carried out by an optometrist, takes 30 minutes and costs €20. No drops go in your eyes, so you can drive straight afterwards. You get the results in writing on the same day, even if you don't order glasses from us.
We glaze and fit glasses in our own workshop on Well Street: usually within three to five working days, and seven for individual varifocals. If you buy glasses over €90, we deduct the cost of the eye test from the total.
- Made in
- 3 – 7 working days
- Express
- within 24 hours for €25
- Guarantee
- 24 months
- Phone
- your number here
01
What we do
Our services
Eye tests, glasses, contact lenses and repairs. We also repair glasses you bought elsewhere.
Glasses made to measure
Measuring the centration, choosing the frame and lenses, glazing and fitting in our own workshop. After collection we adjust the glasses to your face, and later adjustments are free too.
Contact lenses
Measuring your eye, the first fitting and practice putting lenses in and taking them out. A check-up after fourteen days is included in the fitting, then a check-up once a year.
Repairs and servicing
Tightening and straightening frames, replacing nose pads and screws, soldering metal frames, ultrasonic cleaning. We do small repairs while you wait.
02
Your visit
What an eye test involves
Five steps, 30 minutes in all. During the test the examination room is reserved for one person.
-
Step 1
5 minutes
A quick chat first
We go over how you see now, what bothers you, the work you do and the glasses you wear. We read the prescription of your current glasses on a focimeter.
-
Step 2
5 minutes
Objective measurement
An autorefractor measures the starting values for both eyes, including the curvature of the cornea. It's contact-free and doesn't hurt.
-
Step 3
10 minutes
Subjective refraction
In a trial frame we compare lenses one after another at a test distance of five metres. This is where the prescription for your glasses is decided.
-
Step 4
5 minutes
Near vision and how your eyes work together
We fine-tune the reading addition and check binocular balance between your eyes. That tells us whether an office lens or a varifocal makes sense.
-
Step 5
5 minutes
Recommendation and choice
We explain the result and recommend the lens type and thinning to suit your prescription and frame. You take the written record with you even if you don't order glasses from us.
What to bring
- The glasses you wear now, including reading glasses
- Your last eye test record, if you have one
- A list of any long-term medication you take
- Take out contact lenses at least two hours before the test
- Children under fifteen come with a parent
An eye test at the opticians doesn't replace an examination by an eye doctor. If we find something that needs a doctor, we'll tell you and recommend an examination.
03
Beyond everyday glasses
Specialist care
Three areas, each with its own process, price and timescale. The eye test before them works the same as for everyday glasses: €20 and 30 minutes.
Myopia control
Check-ups every six months
Children from age 6 · every result goes on their record card
Myopia control for children
Short-sightedness usually gets worse during the school years. We fit spectacle lenses with peripheral defocus or daily multifocal contact lenses, and check the prescription every six months. We record every result on a card, so after a year you can see the whole progression in black and white.
Keratoconus
With keratoconus the cornea changes shape and glasses are no longer enough. We fit rigid gas-permeable and scleral lenses, but only on the basis of an eye doctor's report no more than six months old. The fitting takes 60 minutes; you wear a trial pair for two weeks, and only then do we order your own lens.
Rigid and overnight lenses
Overnight orthokeratology lenses are worn while you sleep, and during the day you see without glasses. We fit them up to -4.50 dioptres and up to 2.00 cylinder. Check-ups after the first night, after a week and after a month are included in the fitting. If they don't suit you within 30 days of collection, we refund the cost of the lenses.
For keratoconus and overnight lenses we need an eye doctor's report. Without it we don't start the fitting, even if you come to the appointment.
04
Choosing by use
Types of spectacle lenses
The lens type decides at which distances you'll see sharply through your glasses. We recommend one based on your test results and what you do during the day.
Single vision
One prescription across the whole lens, either for distance or for reading. The easiest to get used to, and suitable for first glasses and for children.
Office lenses (degressive)
Sharp vision from your desk to about four metres. A wide field for the screen and paper, but not suitable for driving. They work well as a second pair alongside varifocals.
Varifocals
A smooth transition from distance through intermediate to reading in one lens, with no visible dividing line. We offer three levels, depending on the width of the comfortable field of vision.
Prescription sunglasses
A lens with your prescription, tinted or polarised. Polarisation removes glare from the road, water and snow, so we recommend it for drivers.
Photochromic
A self-tinting lens that darkens in daylight and clears indoors. Behind a car windscreen it only darkens partly — keep that in mind.
Thinned lenses
A higher index means a thinner, lighter lens for the same prescription. We always recommend it over four dioptres, and sooner for rimless glasses.
How to choose
- You work at a screen more than four hours a day — office lenses
- Switching between two pairs bothers you — varifocals
- You're over four dioptres and the thickness bothers you — a higher index
- You drive in the dark and glare bothers you — an anti-reflective coating
- You're outdoors a lot — photochromic or prescription sunglasses
What every lens includes
- Measuring the centration for your chosen frame
- Glazing and fitting in our own workshop
- Adjusting the glasses to your face at collection
- Later adjustments free of charge
- 24-month guarantee against manufacturing faults
05
Frame categories
Frames
We have 71 frames on display, divided into six categories by material and use. The prices shown are for the frame alone, without lenses.
Titanium
12 models
From 14 g · €149 – 219
Acetate
18 models
Metal core in the arms · €99 – 169
Children's
11 models
Five sizes · €59 – 99
Sport
7 models
Non-slip arms · €109 – 159
| Category | Material and finish | Models | Frame price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titaniumfor all-day wear | Titanium, screwless hinges, from 14 g | 12 | €149 – 219 |
| Acetatea bolder shape | Hand-polished acetate, metal core in the arms | 18 | €99 – 169 |
| Thin metalunderstated glasses | 1.2 mm metal profile, silicone nose pads | 14 | €79 – 139 |
| Rimlessdrilled lenses | Lenses held by screws, no rim | 9 | €129 – 189 |
| Children'sages 6 – 15 | Flexible hinges, rubber bridge, five sizes | 11 | €59 – 99 |
| Sportfor movement and sun | Wraparound shape, non-slip arms and nose pads | 7 | €109 – 159 |
Your own frame
We can also fit lenses to a frame you already have. Before we start, we check its condition and warn you if there's a risk of it cracking during glazing.
Try frames without an appointment
You can try frames on any time during opening hours, even without an eye test. We can hold a frame you like for three days.
Ordering a model in
If a model suits you but it's sold out in your size, we'll order it in. The usual delivery time is 7 – 10 working days.
06
What we stock
Frame brands and lens manufacturers
We stock frames from twelve brands, spectacle lenses from four manufacturers and contact lenses from four. A model we don't have on display can be ordered in within 7 – 10 working days.
Frames
- Ray-Ban
- Oakley
- Persol
- Vogue Eyewear
- Police
- Guess
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Hugo Boss
- Morel
- Silhouette
- Lindberg
- Nike Vision
Spectacle lenses
- Zeiss
- Essilor
- Hoya
- Rodenstock
Contact lenses
- CooperVision
- Alcon
- Bausch + Lomb
- Acuvue
If you've been prescribed a specific lens
We'll order it even if we don't normally stock it. We confirm the price within two working days of your order, and the delivery time is 5 working days longer.
Prices in our price list apply to all brands
The price of a lens depends on its type and thinning from the price list below, not on the manufacturer. The price of a frame depends on its category in the table above.
07
Prices
Spectacle lenses and coatings
All prices are for a pair of lenses, including glazing, fitting and measuring the centration. The base is index 1.5; thinner lenses cost extra.
| Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Single visionfor distance or reading | €39 |
| Office lenses (degressive)screen and desk up to 4 metres | €129 |
| Varifocals standardnormal width of comfortable field | €189 |
| Varifocals comfortwider near field | €269 |
| Varifocals individualcalculated for your frame and centration | €359 |
| Myopia controlperipheral defocus, children from age 6 | €249 |
| Index | Recommended for | Surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | up to 2 dioptres | included |
| 1.6 | 2 – 4 dioptres | €30 |
| 1.67 | 4 – 6 dioptres | €80 |
| 1.74 | over 6 dioptres | €140 |
| Coating | Surcharge |
|---|---|
| Anti-reflective coating | €25 |
| Scratch-resistant hard coating | €12 |
| Blue light filter | €29 |
| Photochromic (self-tinting) | €65 |
| Polarisation | €55 |
| Colour tint | €20 |
| Package | What's in it | Bought separately | Package price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basicfirst glasses and children's glasses | A frame from the thin metal or children's category up to €79, single vision lenses index 1.5, hard coating | €130 | €119 |
| Everydayfor all-day wear | A frame from the acetate or sport category up to €99, single vision lenses index 1.6, anti-reflective coating | €193 | €179 |
| Officescreen work | A frame up to €99, office (degressive) lenses, anti-reflective coating, blue light filter | €282 | €269 |
| Varifocalone pair for every distance | A frame up to €149, standard varifocal lenses, anti-reflective and hard coatings | €375 | €349 |
The price per pair applies even when each eye has a different prescription. We deduct the eye test from the package price just as for items bought separately. For orders over €200 we take a 30% deposit when you order, and you pay the rest at collection.
08
Prices
Eye tests and in-store services
Prices for the optometrist's and optical technician's work. We deduct the eye test from the price of your glasses if you order glasses over €90 from us.
| Service | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Eye testdeducted when you buy glasses over €90 | 30 minutes | €20 |
| Follow-up test within 12 monthsfor customers who had their test with us | 20 minutes | €10 |
| Eye test for children from age 6always with a parent | 30 minutes | €20 |
| Myopia control check-upevery 6 months, recorded on the card | 20 minutes | included in the lenses |
| Contact-free eye pressure measurement | 5 minutes | €10 |
| Reading the prescription from your glasses on a focimeter | 5 minutes | free of charge |
| Contact lens fitting and practice | 45 minutes | €25 |
| Rigid gas-permeable lens fittingonly with an eye doctor's report | 60 minutes | €60 |
| Overnight orthokeratology lens fittingonly with an eye doctor's report | 60 minutes | €90 |
| Check-up after the first fitting | 15 minutes | included in the fitting |
| Fitting lenses to your own frame | within 3 days | €15 |
| Express, ready within 24 hourssingle vision and office lenses | 1 working day | €25 |
| Nose pad replacement | on the spot | €6 |
| Screw or hinge replacement | on the spot | €4 |
| Soldering a metal frame | 2 working days | from €18 |
| Ultrasonic cleaning and tightening | on the spot | free of charge |
09
Guide price
Price your glasses
Choose the lens type, thinning, coatings and frame. The price updates instantly and matches the price list above.
Total
Your glasses
- Lenses
- €39
- Index 1.5
- €0
- Coatings
- €0
- Fitting to your own frame
- €15
- Express
- €0
Total
€54
Ready within 3 working days. The price is for a pair of lenses, including glazing and centration.
10
Daily wear
Contact lenses
We only sell lenses after measuring your eye. The first fitting includes practice putting lenses in and taking them out right here, until you can do it yourself.
| Type | Packaging | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Daily spherical | 30 lenses | €22 |
| Daily toricfor astigmatism | 30 lenses | €32 |
| Two-weekly | 6 lenses | €24 |
| Monthly spherical | 6 lenses | €28 |
| Monthly toric | 6 lenses | €42 |
| Multifocal monthly | 6 lenses | €48 |
| Rigid gas-permeablefor keratoconus, made to measure | 1 lens | from €120 |
| Overnight orthokeratology | pair | €320 |
| Solution with case | 360 ml | €9 |
| Six months' supply at once | 6 boxes | 10% off |
How it works
- Measuring your eye and choosing the type — 45 minutes
- Practice putting lenses in and taking them out in store
- A trial pair for the first two days
- Check-up after fourteen days, included in the fitting
- A further check-up once a year before your next supply
Rules we stick to
We don't sell lenses without a valid check-up no more than twelve months old. Daily lenses are worn for one day and aren't rinsed out. If your eye goes red or hurts, take the lens out and come in — we see these visits as a priority.
11
After collection
Looking after your glasses
Scratches on lenses mostly come from wiping them dry, and frames go out of shape from putting them on with one hand.
Daily
Cleaning your lenses
Rinse with lukewarm water, add a drop of washing-up liquid, rinse again and dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Wiping them dry rubs dust into the coating and scratches it.
Daily
Putting them away
In the case, never lenses down on the table. In summer don't leave your glasses on the car dashboard — temperatures over 60 °C damage the anti-reflective coating and the shape of the frame.
Daily
Putting them on
Always with both hands. Putting them on with one hand stretches one arm, the glasses tilt, and varifocal lenses then don't sit at the right height.
| Service | How often | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasonic cleaningremoves dirt from under the rim and from the hinges | every 3 months | free of charge |
| Checking the fit and tightening | every 6 months | free of charge |
| Replacing silicone nose pads | once a year | €6 |
| Replacing the microfibre cloth | once a year | €3 |
| New case | as needed | from €5 |
| Straightening a bent frame | as needed | free of charge |
What to avoid
- Wiping with a T-shirt, a napkin or a paper tissue
- Alcohol and window cleaners — they break down the anti-reflective coating
- Hot water over 40 °C
- Pushing your glasses up into your hair — it stretches the arms
- Tightening screws at home with the wrong screwdriver
When to drop in without an appointment
- Your glasses tilt or press behind your ear
- A loose screw or a lens has fallen out
- A cracked nose pad or arm
- Greasy marks stay on the lenses even after washing
- A frame bent after a fall — we'll straighten it while you wait
12
The people here
Who'll look after you
Eye tests are carried out by an optometrist, glasses are glazed by an optical technician, and a sales adviser helps you choose your frame. All three are here throughout opening hours.
Examination room
Optometrist
Carries out eye tests, fits contact lenses and reviews check-ups. Optometrists are CORU-registered health professionals with a university degree. If something needs an eye doctor, they'll name it and recommend an examination.
Glazing workshop
Optical technician
Glazes and fits lenses, drills rimless glasses, solders metal frames and does ultrasonic cleaning. Works in the workshop at the same address, so small repairs can be done while you wait.
Shop
Sales adviser
Helps you choose a frame to suit your face shape, prescription and how you wear your glasses, measures the centration and itemises the price before you sign the order.
13
From booking to collection
How your glasses are made here
Six steps. You can do the first three in one visit, which takes about an hour.
-
Step 1
within 1 day
Booking an appointment
Choose a time in the form below or by phone. We'll confirm it with a call by the next working day at the latest.
-
Step 2
30 minutes
Eye test
Five steps with the optometrist. At the end you get a written record of the results, which is valid at other opticians too.
-
Step 3
20 – 40 minutes
Choosing the frame and lenses
You try on frames, we recommend a lens type and thinning to suit your prescription, and we measure the centration for your chosen frame.
-
Step 4
the same day
Order and deposit
We itemise the price and write it on the order together with the collection date. For orders over €200 you pay a 30% deposit.
-
Step 5
3 – 7 working days
Glazing and fitting
We order the lenses from the manufacturer and, once they arrive, glaze and fit them in our own workshop on Well Street.
-
Step 6
20 minutes
Collection and adjustment
We'll call you, adjust the glasses to your face and you pay the balance. The 24-month guarantee starts on the day you collect them.
Book an eye test
your number here
14
Appointment
Book an eye test
Available times follow our testing hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:30, Saturday 9:00 – 12:00; no tests on Sunday.
Booking by phone
We can also arrange a time by phone during opening hours. If you need an appointment today, give us a call — today isn't offered in the form.
Without an appointment
Without an appointment you can try frames, have your glasses cleaned and tightened, or collect a finished order. We only do eye tests without an appointment when there happens to be a free slot.
If the time doesn't suit
- Cancel by phone up to 4 hours before your visit
- We can also move it to another day in the same week
- If you're more than 15 minutes late, the test is shortened
- A missed appointment you didn't cancel costs nothing
15
Visit us
The shop, getting here and parking
The shop, examination room and glazing workshop are all in one place on the ground floor. So we glaze and fit on site and don't send glasses to an outside workshop.
Examination room
5 metres
A darkened room with a five-metre test distance, an autorefractor, a phoropter and a non-contact tonometer.
Glazing workshop
24 hours
An automatic edger with a shape scanner, a drill for rimless glasses and an ultrasonic cleaner. We can do express glasses within 24 hours.
Shop
71 frames
Frames on display in six categories, eleven of them for children. You can try them on without an appointment throughout opening hours.
Map of the area
6 Well Street
Entrance straight off the footpath
No step · 90 cm door · everything on the ground floor
How to find the entrance
- Corner of Well Street and Short Lane, ground floor
- A shop window with a dark green frame and the number 6 above the door
- Entrance straight off the footpath, no step
- The side entrance at number 8 belongs to another business
- Our current eye test prices are displayed in the window
By car
Parking
There are four reserved spaces outside for our customers, including one for Disabled Parking Permit holders. If they're taken, the car park on Short Lane is 80 metres away and the first hour is free.
By bus
Bus stop
The nearest stop is 120 metres from the entrance, on the same side of the street. From the stop, walk straight on — the first junction is ours.
On foot
From the station
It's 900 metres from the railway station, about a twelve-minute walk. The route is along the footpath with no steps and one pedestrian crossing with lights.
Accessibility
- 90 cm door, no threshold
- Everything on the ground floor, including the examination room
- A seat at every fitting counter
- Guide dogs are welcome everywhere
- When you book, we can reserve a quieter time with no waiting
What we do while you wait
- Ultrasonic cleaning and tightening your frame
- Replacing nose pads for €6 and screws for €4
- Straightening a frame bent after a fall
- Reading the prescription from your glasses on a focimeter
- Collecting a finished order without an appointment
16
When and where
Opening hours, testing hours and contact
On weekdays the shop is open longer than the optometrist tests. The last eye test starts at 17:00, and at 11:00 on Saturdays.
Opening hours
| Monday | 9:00 – 18:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00 – 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 9:00 – 18:00 |
| Thursday | 9:00 – 18:00 |
| Friday | 9:00 – 18:00 |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 12:00 |
| Sunday | closed |
Lunch break Monday to Friday 12:00 – 13:00. We're closed on bank holidays.
Eye test hours
| Monday | 9:00 – 12:00 13:00 – 17:30 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00 – 12:00 13:00 – 17:30 |
| Wednesday | 9:00 – 12:00 13:00 – 17:30 |
| Thursday | 9:00 – 12:00 13:00 – 17:30 |
| Friday | 9:00 – 12:00 13:00 – 17:30 |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 12:00 |
| Sunday | no tests |
On weekdays we don't start new tests in the last half hour before closing — we finish the work in progress. You can still try on frames then.
- Address
- Meridian Opticians, 6 Well Street, Kilkenny
- Phone
- your number here
- In writing
- Through the contact form on this page. Your message goes to the opticians' inbox and we reply within 24 hours.
- Who'll look after you
- Optometrist, optical technician and sales adviser
- Collecting an order
- Any time during opening hours, no appointment needed
- Parking
- Four reserved spaces outside, and another car park 80 metres away on Short Lane
Book an eye test
your number here
17
Rules up front
Payment, health insurance, guarantee and cancellations
What applies when you order, cancel an appointment, make a complaint or claim back from your health insurer.
Payment methods
- CashIn store; you get a receipt straight away
- CardContactless too, and by watch
- Bank transfer on invoiceFor businesses, 14-day terms
- Gift voucherWorth €30, €50 and €100
- 30% deposit on orders over €200, the rest at collection
- Up to €200 you pay the full amount only at collection
- We itemise the price before you sign the order
Refunds from your health insurer
- Irish Life Health
- VHI
- Laya
- We don't claim from insurers on your behalf — you claim the refund yourself
- For every order we issue a receipt with the date, prescription, lens type and price
- We can also issue the receipt later, up to 24 months after collection
- The conditions and amount of the refund are set by your insurer, not by us
Guarantee and complaints
- 24 months on manufacturing faults in the lenses and frame
- 60-day adaptation guarantee on varifocal lenses
- If we change the lens type, you only pay the difference in price
- We deal with complaints within 30 days of receiving them
- Adjusting the frame is always free of charge
Cancellation terms
- Cancel or move an appointment by phone up to 4 hours before your visit
- A cancelled or missed appointment costs nothing
- If you're more than 15 minutes late, the test is shortened
- You can cancel a frame ordered without a deposit any time before it arrives
- You can cancel an order with a deposit within 24 hours of ordering; after that the deposit goes towards making your individual lenses
- We keep a finished order in store for 60 days after asking you to collect it
Gift vouchers
- Worth €30, €50 and €100, issued on the spot
- Valid for 12 months from the date of issue
- Use them for eye tests, glasses and contact lenses
- If the price is higher than the voucher, you simply pay the difference
- The voucher is transferable, but can't be exchanged for cash
18
Your questions
FAQ
The eight questions we're asked most often in store. If your answer isn't here, give us a call or write to us through the form.
Do I need to book an eye test?
We recommend it, because the test takes 30 minutes and the examination room is reserved for one person during that time. Without an appointment we only test when there happens to be a free slot. You can try frames on any time during opening hours, though.
How long does it take to make glasses?
The usual time is 3 to 5 working days, and 7 working days for individual varifocal lenses. Express within 24 hours costs €25 and applies to single vision and office lenses; we can't do varifocals or myopia control lenses that fast.
Can I have new lenses put in my own frame?
Yes — fitting to your own frame costs €15. We check the frame first: with old or brittle acetate there's a risk of it cracking during glazing, and we'll warn you about that in advance. If you don't accept the risk, we won't start the work.
What if I can't get used to varifocals?
There's a 60-day adaptation guarantee on varifocal lenses. Within two months of collection we'll swap them for another type — office lenses, say, or two pairs of single vision glasses. You only pay the difference in price; the extra work is free.
Do you test children's eyes?
We test children from age six, always with a parent present. If the prescription is getting worse, we offer myopia control lenses with a check-up every six months. If we suspect a lazy eye, a squint or anything else, we don't take the child on and recommend an examination by an eye doctor.
What's the difference between index 1.5 and 1.67?
The index determines how strongly the lens bends light, and so how thick it is. For the same prescription, a 1.67 lens is much thinner and lighter than a 1.5. Up to four dioptres the difference is small; over four dioptres we recommend thinning, especially for rimless glasses.
Will my health insurance pay for my glasses?
We don't bill health insurers directly, so you won't get the refund through us. But for every order we issue a receipt with the date, prescription, lens type and price, and you claim the refund from your insurer with it. We can also issue the receipt later, up to 24 months after collection.
What should I clean my glasses with?
Lukewarm water with a drop of washing-up liquid, then a microfibre cloth. Alcohol, window cleaners and wiping them dry with a T-shirt damage the anti-reflective coating. Bring your glasses in every three months — we do ultrasonic cleaning while you wait, free of charge.
Careers
We're hiring an optical technician for our workshop
Full-time, Monday to Friday, no evening shifts. Saturdays 9:00 – 12:00 on a rota you get a month in advance. Experience in an optical workshop is welcome; we'll train you on the automatic edger.
Get in touch through the contact form below or give us a call, and we'll arrange to meet in the workshop. We reply within five working days.
What we offer
- Pay from €15 an hour gross, depending on experience
- Training on the automatic edger and shape scanner
- A fixed shift rota a month in advance
- Glasses for staff at cost price
- Start date by agreement, later too
19
Write to us
Contact form
Your message goes to the opticians' inbox. We reply within 24 hours; messages from the weekend are dealt with on Monday morning.
When it's quicker to call
If you need an appointment today, have eye pain or broken glasses, give us a call. We answer the phone throughout opening hours.
What to put in your message
- Which service you're interested in
- When suits you to come in
- Whether you already have an eye test record with us
- A number we can reach you on during the day