Eyeglasses

[Buck]

Previous optometrist (he's since retired) told me during exam:
You know why you look so much older than you really are? It's your eyelids. You can get those done really easy now. In and out same day.

I was like 'WTF!' I don't need unsolicited cosmetic surgery advice from my optometrist!
I don't ask my doctor about bifocals during a rectal exam! Let's stay on topic!

 

[User 11148]

I don't ask my doctor about bifocals during a rectal exam! Let's stay on topic!

Hmmmm. During such I think I'd rather talk about my golf game, his/her golf game, the state of the Cowboys, what Steelers may or may not go on the disabled list ... ANYTHING other than the topic "at hand."

 

[BTExpress]

What I'm driving at is that you just don't buy some pre-made distance glasses off the shelf like you do with reading glasses.

You can in Russia. Freedom (from mandatory $99 exams) !

 

[Vombatus]

Hmmmm. During such I think I'd rather talk about my golf game, his/her golf game, the state of the Cowboys, what Steelers may or may not go on the disabled list ... ANYTHING other than the topic "at hand."

Better situation than what could be on the tip of his tongue. If her tongue, hmm... buy me a drink first.

 

[JohnHammond]

You can in Russia. Freedom (from mandatory $99 exams) !

You can get a prescription online using a laptop and smartphone. Only $40, but I'm not spending that kind of dough to see how accurate it is. Also not legal in several states.

Vision prescriptions from the comfort of home

 

[Vombatus]

You can get a prescription online using a laptop and smartphone. Only $40, but I'm not spending that kind of dough to see how accurate it is. Also not legal in several states.

Vision prescriptions from the comfort of home

I don't know how well that would work in extreme cases. Like those cross-eyed funny people.

 

[User 11148]

Vision prescriptions from the comfort of home

Just tried to sign up and they won't do 'em for old farts (50+).

 

[SpeedTchr]

My trust in eye docs has diminished steadily. Next to last one I went to spent more time lying to me about his college athletic exploits than actually doing a good job with the exam. I ended up with ****ty progressive lenses that I didn't want, so I took them back and told them to stick them where the speculum don't shine.

 

[Songbird]

I didn't get reading glasses till 3 years ago. Can't believe how much crisper everything was/is.

 

[EStreetJoe]

I spend a little extra when it comes to my eyes, an ophthalmologist for the eye exam (not an optometrists) and obviously an optician for my glasses. As I said before I use the local optician (not a chain store) for the glasses, might cost a little more but I get personalized quality service from someone that knows me and gives me good quality service.

 

[JohnHammond]

I'm wearing progressives bought online (39dollarglasses.com) and they're as good as any I've ever had. They were $150 or so with all the bells and whistles, and they'd have been $400+ at Walmart and more elsewhere.

All these places -- both the online places and your traditional neighborhood folks -- buy the blanks from the same manufacturers. It's a ridiculously low-skilled operation.

It's been about 20 years, but I bought glasses from a guy who was a precursor to the online retailers. He rented a kiosk in a mall (think cell phone retailer space), and had the machines to grind and edge the lens. Paid about $50 for a decent frame and polycarbonate lenses, and took about an hour. I like the small optical shops, but the selection is usually poor. The large retailers badger you with upsells, and the prices are ridiculous. Vision insurance just doesn't cover much when you go to a traditional retailer, besides the exam.

 

[BTExpress]

Vision insurance in general is cheap, and you pretty much get what you pay for, which isn't much.

Anything serious automatically becomes "medical". I thought I might be experiencing early signs of a detached retina a few months ago (turned out to be a detached vitreous, which is no big deal). Everything went to the medical plan.

 

[JohnHammond]

Distance or reading glasses?

Please don't tell me a lot of ****heads are on our nation's roads with Walmart distance glasses.

Thought about your question more and realized people use OTC readers as a cheaper alternative to buying prescription glasses to correct farsightedness. Of course the problem with that are OTC readers have the same prescription for both eyes and the PD isn't customized.