so I go from no glasses - to bifocals in one hour

13 years ago

Got in to see the optometrist last night...one hour later and $550 lighter...I will be wearing bifocals within the next 7 days.

I am happy I went to a local doctor...no rush....no waiting....made a few networking connections...all's well..

I am also not too unhappy with the price. It included the exam, frames and Crizal lens (that added $200!)

I truly consider myself lucky my eyes have held out as long as they have...5 sisters and both parents have worn them since teenagers.

So....at 46 yrs old...I guess I will count my blessings!

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Comments (11)

azzalea
13 years ago
I wouldn't be too unhappy about the price. A thorough exam alone can cost that much or more if photos, visual field tests, etc are included. And glasses? I get mine at the dispensary where opticians train at the local community college. Getting my glasses at cost (designer frames, progressive lenses, Crizal non-glare coating) they usually run in the $200 range, but the same glasses, would be $800-1000 if I got them at the optical shop where dd works (and that's WITH the family discount). So you did very well.

A tip, since you're a first time glasses wearer. With the Crizal coating, your glasses are going to get a lot dirtier, a lot faster and be a lot harder to clean. Be sure to use ONLY optical lens cleaner and delicate task wipers. NEVER use dish soap--that can destroy the coating; and never ever use a paper towel or regular tissue. They can have impurities in them that scratch your lenses. But the Crizal is amazing, and well worth the extra work. It's unbelievable the difference it makes at nighttime.

Oh, and don't forget--while an optometrist is fine for a refraction, they're NOT medical drs. For the health of our eyes, we all (whether we need glasses or not) need to go to an opthalmologist at least every 2 years by the time we reach our 40s. There are a number of very serious conditions that can start occurring at that age. Some, like glaucoma, have NO early symptoms but can rob us of sight we cannot get back. But if caught and treated early they can be stopped, and sight saved.

This post was edited by azzalea on Wed, Jul 31, 13 at 11:52
susanjf_gw
13 years ago
azalea, our dr at Costco was able to dilate and do the test now .i was surprised at the drops at all, used to be pressure only...had to walk out with dark throwaways...but do have to agree that at the slightest change you ought to see a specialist...because of dh's dad, he sees the Costco dr yearly...
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I use line-bifocals. These were recommended to me over progressive lenses by several optomists. The line-bifocals provide a larger area of corrorrection for close work and distortions are minimized. For computer gazing, it is a pain in the ah... neck to hold one's head back to bring the reading part into play. I purchased an ordinary set of reading glasses, diopter 2.0 for me, to use at the computer desk. These have been a neck saver! I have some astigmatism, different in each eye, therefore plain reading glasses are not the cure all for small print and clsoe work, but for sitting back with my eyes 18 to 24 inches from the screen, the readers are just fine for 95% of my computer screen viewing. When I need to, I temporarily switch back to the prescription pair. Over the past 20 years, I have bought glasses from 3 different commercial suppliers. I soon stopped buying from Pearle Vision because as they changed their business model, the service got worse and slower. The last straw was when I watched counter person wreck my frames by forcing the lens in place without loosening the screws. When I objected, she said, "I do this all the time. Its ok." The next day, I found that the screws had stripped from excessive load. I began using Stein Optical becasue they offered 1 hr or a bit more service at certain stores. Over the years, the turn around time became a week or more, yet they were still advertising 1 hr service. I suppose they can do quick service for the most simple of lenses, but must make custon lenes for astigmatism and/or bifocals. Their counter personnel has declined over the years, that is, at the store I went to. For the last two prescriptions, I used Wal Mart of all places! Their service was equal to any of the local stores except for the high end fancy houses. The cost was lower and they were more willing to work with the customer. For example, my present frames were in fairly good shape so they ofered to cut lenses to fit my existing frames rather than to push a new set of frames on me. My frames were scanned, the lens made, and the lens fit was good. They also had Stetson frames in stock, my favorite. I've been wearing Stetsons for the past 6 years. Other stores in town change their frames periodically and then tells the customer he has to buy new frames, too. My Mechanic had a special pair made for him. His glasses have the bifocal part in the upper part of the lense! Why? It is for using while peering under a car while it is up on the rack. In that situation, conventional bifocals are impossible. These are called, mechanic's glasses, and are used by mechanics, wall paper hangers, and interior painters. Although, when I spoke with a professional painter, he said that he buys regular reading glasses for $20 or less, and when these get scratched or paint splattered, he tosses them and breaks out another pair. He buys plastic lenses for safety reasons.
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bee0hio
13 years ago
...while an optometrist is fine for a refraction, they're NOT medical drs. For the health of our eyes, we all (whether we need glasses or not) need to go to an opthalmologist at least every 2 years by the time we reach our 40s. There are a number of very serious conditions that can start occurring at that age.
No, I don't believe that is accurate, in saying optometrists are trained to only do refraction. They also are trained to diagnose & treat eye diseases. If one needs eye surgery or has a complex eye disease, the optometrist would then refer the person to an ophthalmologist. So if you have gone to an optometrist & everything is A-ok, no need to also see an ophthalmologist.

Here is a link that might be useful: Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist: Whatâs the Difference?
yayagal
13 years ago
Next time go to Coastal.com and get your first pair of glasses for twelve dollars. You choose the face shape and then the frames and they type in your rx for the glasses or you can call them and do it via phone. Great product.
Elmer J Fudd
13 years ago
Bee, that page you linked to was written by an optometrist. It says that going to an optometrist instead of an ophthalmologist is the better choice, because it's easier to get an appointment. Say what?

Ophthalmologists have double the years of post BA training (8 vs 4). If an optometrist tells you everything is A-ok, is that because everything is A-ok or could it be that you have a problem that they didn't recognize or understand?

I think seeing an ophthalmologist every few years and an optometrist in-between is a good strategy if you can afford it. Many ophthalmologists have optometrists working for them to do the eye refraction work anyway so you often don't need to go to two places.

It's like when I'm sick and go to the medical office. No, I don't want to see a nurse practitioner, a physician's assistant or an osteopath. Yes, I'll wait extra to see the MD. To each his own.
ruthieg__tx
13 years ago
Welllllllll I see a nurse Practitioner and I have never ever been as happy with my health care...For the first time in my life I feel I'm a partner in my own health care...I see someone that isn't embarrassed to whip out a computer and check the drug she is getting ready to prescribe me...Gosh her ego doesn't keep her from listening to what I have to say..somewhere along the line, no one told her that her patients were supposed to bow down and kiss her feet before she could discuss my health with me....OK i know this has nothing to do with the subject at hand but the comparison was made and I'm so tickled with my health care provider I'll stand up and fight for her...She is the best I have ever had ..so dont be so quick to rule out an alternative person...If that's what you choose, so be it but you can't make a blanket statement about every Optometrist or Optomologist etc etc etc

This post was edited by ruthieg__tx on Wed, Jul 31, 13 at 16:58
lisa_fla
13 years ago
I fully trust my optician. He will refer me if something is beyond his training. They can certainly spot glaucoma, cataracts, retina problems. Your glasses price sounds about right from an eye dr. I usually take the rx to an eyeglass place to have it filled. Mine were $339 at BJ's and I got $100 back from eye insurance after that. I have a very strong rx plus progressives. Nothing wrong with getting them from your eye dr. I probably would too but we have 5 in glasses and 4 in contacts in our household!
azzalea
13 years ago
Lisa, I do hope you're not going to an optician for your eye exams. They're not medical personnel, at all--they're trained to make glasses. In a good state, they've had maybe 2 years training. In some states ANYONE can call themselves an optician--with no training, no boards, nothing. If you've got an optician who is doing eye exams,. you SHOULD NOT be trusting him/her at all, because that's NOT in their job description (my DD is a NJ optician--one of the states with the highest requirements in the nation and she's not permitted to do eye exams or fit contacts).
tami_ohio
13 years ago
Salgal, my DB did the same thing today!
lisa_fla
13 years ago
You are right Azalea-its an optometrist. I was confused.
3katz4me
13 years ago
My strip mall optometrist (in Lenscrafters) spotted signs of glaucoma. The ophthalmologist at my medical clinic saw no indications of glaucoma. I brought a copy of the record of my optometrist exam and the ophthalmologist couldn't begin to imagine whatever gave the optometrist the idea I might have glaucoma. Me thinks the optometrist might have wanted to bill for some additional tests she wanted me to come back for and bill to my medical insurance company (vs. my vision plan for the first exam).

Great news on the glaucoma but it was the last mall eye exam I'll be having.

so I go from no glasses - to bifocals in one hour

Comments (11)

azzalea

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