The results of eye tests vary widely, with none of the high street optician chains a clear winner, consumer organisation Consumentenbond has found.

The organisation sent 20 ‘mystery clients’ to have their eyes tested at chains Eyelove, Eye Wish, Hans Anders, Pearle, Specsavers and at independent optometrists. Two optometrists from Utrecht’s hbo college also performed a test as a reference.

Results at every one of the chains turned out to vary significantly. Some divergence is not unusual, spokesman Jan Roelof Polling said. ‘It can be down to the time of day, or if a person is tired or has a cold. But a difference of more than half a diopter (the unit used for the optical power of a lens) is too much.’

Specsavers and Eyewish performed better than the other chains, with Eyelove ending at the bottom of the list with the greatest number of divergent measurement results.

The Consumentenbond advises people who are not satisfied with their new glasses to return them to the shop. Most chains will offer a new test or a refund.