My mother always told me, don't be afraid to splurge on glasses because they are the window through…read morewhich everybody sees your face....well, when custom glasses like Iolla's are only £65 a full set including lenses that means I just buy every single frame I fancy! Call me crazy, but I bought 4 pairs! And here was my mental justification: Tortoise shell grey and black frame: First pair I was drawn too and they looked HOT! Amber framed sunglasses: Always wanted amber frames, but they look stupid with my dark features.. pop in a sunglass lens and BOom I'm in love. Black mat frame: Well, I am a nerd, I work in a laboratory, wear a lab coat, and it might as well be part of the uniform. Green glasses: Honestly I wasn't a big fan of these, but the three people I was shopping with and the gentleman who owns the store insisted they looked amazing, so I gave into peer pressure. If you don't wear glasses, you are missing out, so go buy some custom shades with whatever frame you like. Last but not least, Iolla has a cute little coffee bar in the back to keep you fuelled while you try on every pair in the store!

Iolla is a new brand of prescription eyewear that aims to revolutionise the traditional optical…read moremarket. Glasses are designed and assembled in Scotland to provide higher-quality, better-looking eyewear at a fraction of the current price. £65 gets you fabulous frames, thin lenses and anti-glare and anti-scratch coating if your prescription is between certain parameters. I have a strong prescription and have a slight astigmatism and that was included, too! I popped in to the Iolla showroom on a Saturday with Baby Girl unannounced; I had an appointment scheduled later in the week but had some time to kill and was passing by. Stefan, one of Iolla's founders, was so patient and helpful. It will come to no surprise to anyone who knows me that I tried on just about every frame in the showroom. Iolla have a variety of frames, all named after famous Scots, to suit every face shape and come in multiple colours. I went back and forth between a few different frames but in the end decided to go for a pair that were the complete opposite to my glasses I've had for the past 2 years. I love my new Stevenson frames in light blue crystal! They really make my eyes pop and are just so far removed from my big black frames. I love that at only £65 you can have glasses that are truly a fashion choice and not just functional. In fact I loved my Iolla glasses so much I went back 2 weeks later for another pair! Can you believe in 22 years of wearing glasses I have never had prescription sunglasses? For me they were just an expense I couldn't justify so it meant always wearing contacts when it was sunny or using these gigantic sunglasses my Dad gave me that go over your existing glasses so you look like a glaucoma grandma! My Bruce sunglasses in plum are far more stylish and made sunglare worries on my morning commute a thing of the past. I honestly can't believe I went this long without prescription sunglasses! Iolla frames can be purchased online and shipped straight to your door or you can pop in to the showroom on Argyle Street in Glasgow if you like to try on your frames before you buy. I love supporting local businesses and it's even more amazing when the local business service and product is better value for money than the corporate conglomerates!

I HAVE just had my second experience with Optical Express, and it was as good as the first -…read moreperfect. The eye test was thorough, the staff at Partick, Glasgow, were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, and I was surprised to find my two new pairs of glasses ready to collect in just a couple of days. Test on the Wednesday afternoon, glasses ready on the Saturday morning. I have tried several Glasgow opticians over the years, and the others were either average or downright woeful. Optical Express will be my automatic choice from now on, so please keep up the good work, Partick branch!

Don't let looks be deceiving. Despite having big brown eyes, I am blind as a bat!…read more Moving to another country, and getting reestablished is never a cakewalk. Before I moved over, I brought with me a 2-year supply of contact lenses to avoid seeing the eye doctor in the UK. But then, I was on my very last pair of lenses... which I desperately stretched from 1 month wear into 2 (I can see my ophthalmologist back in the US shaking his head at me right now). So I bit the bullet... I did a bit of research online, and figured because this was quite convenient I would book an appointment. I phoned up, the woman was nice enough and instructed me to "wear my lenses to the appointment". Done. When I showed up to the shop, I checked in for my appointment, and the guy behind the counter looked at me disdainfully and said, "Do you have your contacts in?" "Yes, the woman on the phone said to wear them to my appointment." "You need to take them out." "Do you have any cases?" "No." What optician does not stock spare lenses cases for patients?! Or just in general or for purchase? Anyway, shortly after I was called back for my appointment into a very dirty grotty room, where I was sat down and spoken to like I was a disabled 5-year-old. I am not mentally challenged. I have three f'ing degrees, including a masters. Your representative on the phone instructed me to wear my lenses to this bloody appointment! Irate, I left without an examination, prescription, or new lenses. I probably should have known better with the word "Express" in the name to steer clear... because it certainly was a waste of time, and terrible customer service, indeed. GROWL.

Perfect service from start to finish, great pricing. Particular thanks go to the man that tested my…read moreeyes, he was simply a pleasure. Thank you

The store owner is SO kind and professional!He treated me as if my vision problems were his own…read more Will be returning for any future needs.

I first started wearing glasses when I was studying abroad and so having never been to an opticians…read morein Glasgow before, I wasn't really sure where to go when I realised I needed new lenses.. In the end I opted for Vision Express at the top of Byres Road, mainly because of its convenient location but also because the shop was new and shiny and I quite liked their adverts on TV. It was a good choice. I visited one wet, weekday morning and was immediately impressed with the friendliness of the receptionist and my optometrist who both gave me excellent advice on lenses and frames. I was concerned about being without my only pair of glasses as it was during my exams, and time was precious. Luckily however, my type of lenses were available in store and so I only had a short 20 minutes to wait to pick them up (and what a good excuse to treat yourself to a coffee in Heart Buchannan next door while you wait).

I've only been brave enough to venture in here once and I reckon that'll be the least time too. The…read moreexterior of this little place looks funky and a bit more individual that over opticians you'll find around. However, this individuality is not so attractive in its interior. It's a little too small for my liking with less than friendly staff watching you like a hawk (would anyone really smash glass cabinets open to steal spectacles with plain glass in them??). Meanwhile, the selection of glasses is rather limited, all designer makes and have hefty price tags attached to them. I don't really like to say it BUT should have gone to Specsavers.

Insight is a free eye test that had an opening slot. I had been to Specsavers and Optical Express…read morewho both said that I would have to come back later or another day for an eye test. Let me first explain why I wanted one, because I was getting such a sore head when I was reading on the computer all the time and also when I was reading. It was time to get those multi-coloured glasses on and give it a shot. Great I thought, Insight could see me. The lady was polite, not much else, but she did everything I would have expected and concluded that one of my eyes was a little lazier than the other so I could benefit from a few eye exercises that I could do everyday. I was recommende tomporary glasses for these exercises, but opted to just freestyle them glasses-less. Very expensive are glasses.

I love you, Home Bargains!…read more Is there anything you can't get in here? I go in for one or two things and come out with bags full of random stuff. I mainly go here for the 25p Koka noodles (I'm addicted) and the amazing salted tortilla chips they sell. Their home cleaning section is amazing and so much cheaper than normal supermarkets. I bought some toys here for some of my friend's kids too, they always have excellent offers on branded toys. Lots of cheap and weird booze to be found also, always a good stop if you're having folk over or having a party. DVDs, plants, clothes, books, cycling gear... It really is a wee Aladdin's cave. Plus, their card machine is super fast, and you never wait long in a queue, no matter how busy it is. Winner!

I have been negelecting Home Bargains a bit lately as my Daughter has been doing the shopping, I…read morerealised though that she does not think about the cleaning and laundry she thinks it is all done by the Pixies. Or who keeps the cupboard stocked with the Koka Noodles that she likes to snack on. As the name implies there are bargains to be had. Lately they have been expanding their stock they now have an area that sells Wine Beer & Cider, and fresh vegetables. I spent £18.00 the other day and came out with two bags of goodies you always find more that you went in for and then wonder how you managed without it.