First off, the opticians here are ridiculously thorough. I half-expected a quick “read that chart, good luck,” but instead I got a full, almost detective-level interrogation of my eyes. The optometrist, a calm woman with very tidy handwriting, explained every single puff of air and flash of light.
I learned that my left eye is a bit of a slacker (classic, right?) and that I’ve been compensating by overworking the right one. Honestly, it’s the most personalised attention my eyeballs have ever received. And the best part? They actually listened when I said I wanted frames that didn’t make me look like a librarian from a 1990s movie.
Plus—and this is where the irony kicks in—they have a huge selection. I went in thinking I’d grab the first pair that fit, and I ended up trying on seventeen frames while the staff politely pretended not to judge my indecisiveness. I finally settled on a deep blue pair that made me feel like a slightly more artsy version of myself.
The hearing check: because I’m not as young as I think
Now, I wasn’t planning on visiting the audiologist side. But while I was waiting for my glasses to be adjusted, I noticed a sign: “Free hearing check.” And I thought, why not humiliate myself for free? So I sat in the soundproof booth—which feels like a spaceship designed by IKEA—and pressed a button every time I heard a beep.
The audiologist, a friendly guy with a very quiet voice (Ironic? Probably intentional.), told me my hearing is “totally normal for someone your age.” Which is code for “you’re not deaf yet, but you will eventually miss your friends’ subtle jokes.” He showed me a tiny, almost invisible hearing aid that he said could help with conversations in crowded pubs. I didn’t buy one, but I filed that information under “emergency future purchases.”
Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists - Cheltenham North West Sainsbury
Let’s be real: getting your hearing checked feels like admitting you’re an adult who can no longer pretend the world is loud enough. But here, they make it so casual that you almost feel cool for doing it. Almost.
