I just got back from my 1st ever eye exam and wanted to get some other opinions from people who wear glasses.

I never needed glasses until a couple year ago, when I started having to use readers for close up stuff. Nowadays, letters are a little fuzzy at a distance. When I use my main computer, the one I'm typing on right now, I am sitting 6-7 feet away from a 42" screen and using a wireless keyboard with a joy pointer. This is how I usually surf and work. I do have a couple of other workstations, where I sit up close and I need to use my reading glasses when using those. Anyway, over the last year or so, the letters are getting a little fuzzy at this distance, even when enlarged on a 42" screen. It's certainly nothing like having on readers and sitting up close.

So, I thought I'd check out this deal I saw on the web from America's Best where they were offering a free eye exam and two cheap pairs of glasses for $69.00. I made an appointment and went for the exam today. They seemed nice, service was good and the optometrist was friendly. After the exam, the optometrist said I had 20/100 up close and 20/50 far away. I don't think I have 20/50 far away but that is what she said. I'd guess more like 20/40 but hey, what do I know?

Anyway, they first tried to up-sale me $15 for some additional exam they said I needed, then they never mentioned anything about the $69.00 deal. The optometrist wanted to hook me up with fancy progressive lens and told me that I'd needed to wear the glasses full time and I would have headaches for a couple of weeks my until my eyes adjusted. I'm sure those gasses wouldn't be cheap. I told her that I wasn't ready to commit to wearing glasses full time and just wanted something that I could wear while looking 6-7 feet across the room at a computer monitor, like I'm doing right now. She didn't seem to happy about that idea. Anyway, she begrudgingly said she would prescribe the far away lenses but she would write the prescription in such a way that would hurry along my progression to wearing glasses full time, which I thought was a little odd.

Then, at the very end, after I picked out my two frames, they told me the lenses would be thicker and heavier than the samples and I needed to pay extra for the lighter ones, also that I could buy scratch resistance and better quality lenses for more money. I stuck to my guns and went with the $69.00 specials. They told me they would call in 7-10 days and I could pick them up. I also had to ask for a copy of the results of the eye exam and a copy of the prescription. They didn't offer up those until I specifically asked for them.

I guess you get what you pay for so Ill just have to wait and see how it all works out. After this experience, I thinking doctors should be completely independent of the eyeglass store. I'm not sure I trust a doctor who might have a financial incentive, other than the fee they get for the eye exam, which might have been the case here.

I just passed the eye exam at the DMV so my eyes aren't that bad when viewing far away objects. It's just a little blurrier than I'd like, especially when looking at computer graphics. What are your thoughts? Did I do the right thing by delaying my move to wearing glasses full time? Should I even trust the optometrist in these kinds of places?

Thanks!

First, after what you have described, I think they saw you coming. Instead of going for a "good deal" at a chain outfit, I think you'd be better off going to a private optometrist. A private optometrist is not going to be into expensive upgrades, etc. Usually an optometrist sends off your prescription to a place where they make the lenses or there might even be a place in the eye clinic where they make the lenses.

I don't like what they said about the frames not being as thick as the ones you looked at. I don't like much of anything they told you. They're looking into making money off an uninformed public. They make the deal sound so good until you go in.

You may have to wear glasses full time and that's OK, but you need to see someone you can trust. From what you said, I wouldn't trust the America's Best at all.

My only advice is to survey your friends who wear glasses, that's how I found two methods I was comfortable with. Both were small, independent operators, all round nice folks. One was an Optometrist who also sold glasses. A majority of the big chains are owned by one huge Italian company the Luxottica Group. To compete the small operator doesn't have a chance so they give the best bang for your buck!

That is my same feeling. There is so much of that any more, it is like buying swamp land in Florida which you don't see until you sign on the dotted line.
You only get one set of eyes and I would go to a licensed optometrist and they are not going to try to sell you glasses, they just check your eyes and give you a prescription so you can go out and shop around.
If they find you need glasses for distance, that will also go on record at the drivers license places. It will say right on your license that you have to wear them to drive.
Anyway, don't screw around with those get rich quick places, they are a bunch of crooks.

This says it all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq3H1QZlct0

Sounds like you have a good view, but you're presenting visual fatigue due to excessive time in front of screens.
Wearing glasses will really relieve a lot, and your vision would not be blurred as it has been lately.
Not using them will only aggravate your situation, and you'll have so much need to wear glasses that will not even need to be an optometrist to tell you that.

Another question is about trusting the professional who examines you. This is crucial. I'd rather pay more and be in good hands, than save and jeopardize my health. In the end the cost will be even greater.

The impression I have is that you need the call here "reading glasses". But it seems that you are reading (includes up that digital works) all the time.

In short, all these doubts should have been resolved when you made the query the ophthalmologist.

About the lenses and frames is like that. There are cheaper lenses, but they are resin, thick and leave you with a look to be using bottom-of-bottle. And they need more robust and thick frames.

The best lenses; thin and anti-glare, are well much more expensive.

But the fact is that your eyes are not getting blurry for no reason.

Not to go postponing what the long term will compromenter your vision, or do you follow the guidelines of the ophthalmologist, or search for another eye doctor that you can trust.

@O & Odin - Well, I kinda felt like there was something a little hinky about the whole situation but after further consideration, that doesn't necessarily mean the doctors prescription was off. I can't see much of anything up close, without at least +1.5 readers. I was studying this prescription, trying to understand the numbers and she has prescribed +2.0 for up close, which I know is about right.

I also know that my far vision is not exactly perfect so it probably does make sense to have bifocals, or progressive lenses, as she originally suggested. I'm not that familiar with the other numbers on the prescription, but as far as I can tell, they don't seem out of line.


I think the scam comes into play when they offer the $69.00 deal to suck you in, then try to up-sale you on everything. You walk in expecting to pay $69.00 and walk out paying $300-$400. It's classic bait & switch. When people try to pull that on me, I usually just say; "Well, I was going to buy this but now you've talked me out it". Then, I leave.

I would have had to pay $50 for the exam anyway, so paying $20 more for the glasses didn't seem like a big gamble, at that point.

I went with one pair of +2.0 readers and one pair of single vision lenses with the suggested prescription. I guess if the glasses are crap, I've still got a valid prescription (good for 1 year) and a pair of readers (surely they can't screw those up).

At least, I didn't get suckered into paying more that what I planned on when I walked in.

@Molly - I just got my driver's license renewed for 10 years so I don't have to worry about that for awhile.

@rich2005

@Akros - Good suggestions. In terms of style/fashion, I don't really mind if the lenses are a little thicker. If they are too heavy, I could see where that would be a problem. Hopefully, my vision is such that the lenses won't need to be too thick.

I trust mine Tux, but, I did spend nearly $750 for eye exam and 2 pair of glasses (hence I only see them once every 4 years so the amortization isn't so bad; my newly acquired insurance doesn cover the exam either or the glasses unfortunately (does cover things like eye surgery). Thinking about banking the $15/month (or is it a paycheck) since it's all but useless to me. Still, I'd rather pay for service and know that then get the airport (piecemeal you to death) treatment.

So, basically what you're saying, Lyle, is that good specs these days cost a minimum of $300-$400 a pair? When I was looking at their price list today, their top of the line lenses were like $350, and that didn't include frames.

I guess I'd better find a freelance gig to be able to afford those. Either that, or sell something.

lol; only reason mine were so cheap is that I only need glasses behind the computer screen so just got computer glasses. My neck's no longer sore now which is cool (before, because of the sweetspot with respect to bifocals, I had to lift my neck all the way up and look through the bottom of the lens; that eventually led to some severe neck soring which now I no longer have (only took 3.5 years of putting up with that to finally get the computer specs). I have astigmatism so it really is only an issue with computer text and paper text. Based on what you told us about your eyesight, you are just about legally blind so stop being a cheapskate and get them $450 pair. lol

I actually thought about lazer eye surgery so I wouldn't have to worry about glasses anymore (eyes don't change much after you reach 40 and I'm well past that now). Decided I would continue to pass this option.

Tux, I'm with Lyle on the cost and term. I've paid as high as $600 for high end progressives, but usually try to budget $400. Not too bad for a 3 or 4 year investment in a nonrenewable resource.

My last pair were Progressives (didn't want the line) and that's roughly what I paid for them too Odin (only only got the one pair; lol). The computer glasses were cheap in comparison (like I said; around $750 for the two pair including the eye exam). Use one pair at home (wearing them now) and the other at work (leave them in the locker; work for a computer related helpdesk call center so behind the computer all day).

Well, I just passed a DMV exam and they are set to measure 20/40 so I think I'm right on the border there. Yeah, on the close up stuff, I'm pretty much blind.

But dang, that seems like a lot of money for glasses. I didn't realize that a decent pair were so expensive. I buy cheap sunglasses because I always loose or break them. I guess if I paid $600 for a pair, I'd pay more attention and be more careful with them. It sounds like the whole industry is a racket, though. $600 seems a bit much for a few ounces of plastic resin and glass.

I can buy a pretty nice set of reading glasses at the dollar store for $20. What's up with $600? Are they bejeweled?

Hey, I think I might have found just the ticket: Adjustable Eyeglasses.

wow those are pretty cool glasses

and the cost sounds about right. We have insurance so don't pay nearly as much which is good news for me

Yeah; the superfocus glasses is a cool technology but they aren't cheap either if you get a pair designed for you own vision. Not sure about using a generic one though. I just wish my Optimologist would provide superfocus glasses but alas he won't.

My opinions (not so much thoughts) run against the progressives/bifocals; just get a pair dedicated to the task. As for myself, I have prescription sunglasses for driving, and regular lenses for 4-5 feet away. You can buy a couple of pairs dedicated for different uses and it'll cost much less than a single pair of progressives.

When I was young I was fined $25 for not wearing my glasses while driving. Ever since then, I make sure that I always pass the DMV vision test so that my license will not have that restriction. I do this by wearing my glasses as I start the test, then quickly "realize" that I having my "reading glasses" on. After removing my glasses, I take the test and recite the letters that I've just memorized.

This was my thought process going in. I figured I'd have the readers for close up and the prescription lenses for surfing on my LCD TV, which is 6'-7' feet away.

If I can see well with the prescription I received, I can get higher quality glasses or prescription sunglasses to use while driving, if needed.

One of the points the doctor made, and one of the things I wondered about, was if I started wearing prescription glasses for several hours a day, would it affect the 20/40 vision I have now and force me into wearing the prescription lenses all the time. I think the answer to that might be, yes.

I've been wearing glasses since i was 3 and it wasn't up until i was about 18 that i realised what a ball ache it was to go through and buy new glasses.

I've been pretty lucky to be able to use independent opticians my whole life and avoid the chain ones and their ludicrous prices but even then i'm looking at about £120-150 (reasonably cheap in the grand scale of things because i like my frames to be plain black and very simple).

But hey, your eyes are important. I'd much prefer to spend money looking after them instead of ignoring the problem and have them deteriorate rapidly.

My Wife just bought hers at our local Family Eye Care.
She got really nice glasses and exam included for 400 USD.
My advice is to check your local eye care places that deal with families. You are usually going to get the best deals there. As they generally include exam, lenses, and frames. All inclusive at one fair price.

She see's the Dr only when her glasses seem to cause her headaches (about every 2-3 years). Then she usually gets a lighter prescription. I wear them at my pc screen also. I really need bi-focals.