Short-sighted 'put off by cost'

UP TO 20 million Britons do not get glasses or contact lenses when needed because they think opticians overcharge and confuse them with jargon, according to new research.

Researchers found 47 per cent of adults put off buying glasses because of the cost and 65 per cent who do make the purchase say they feel ripped off.

A third of customers say they do not know what they are paying for — the service, the lenses or the frames for instance.

The research was conducted by online firm Glasses Direct, which has produced a "plain English" guide for the industry.