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Bad D&A!
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Kernow_Kid
Posts: 96 Forumite
My Girlfriend is having problems with Donald & Aitchison.
She wasn't happy with her contacts from Specsavers, so went to D&A to get another opinion. Once the test was done (she needs aspherics instead), she asked for the perscription.
The examiner said she would have to wait till after the trial and then sign up for 3 months at £30 per month.
She said no, and he got funny so she left.
When she went back for the trial lenses, he wouldn't let her leave until she signed up. Again she said no and tried to remove them, he said Ok, she could trial them. The perscription was obviously wrong as everything was blurred, but he said it would settle. It didn't, even after changing left to right.
He has said that it is Law that they are not allowed to give out the perscription until after 3 months.
I think this is rubbish but have no way of checking. I know that after an eye test they must hand over the perscription, but is it the same with a contact lens test?
I've said to use the Data Protection Act to get the info, but as the contacts were blurry, would it be worth it?
Any help will be great.
Ta, KK
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She wasn't happy with her contacts from Specsavers, so went to D&A to get another opinion. Once the test was done (she needs aspherics instead), she asked for the perscription.
The examiner said she would have to wait till after the trial and then sign up for 3 months at £30 per month.
She said no, and he got funny so she left.
When she went back for the trial lenses, he wouldn't let her leave until she signed up. Again she said no and tried to remove them, he said Ok, she could trial them. The perscription was obviously wrong as everything was blurred, but he said it would settle. It didn't, even after changing left to right.
He has said that it is Law that they are not allowed to give out the perscription until after 3 months.
I think this is rubbish but have no way of checking. I know that after an eye test they must hand over the perscription, but is it the same with a contact lens test?
I've said to use the Data Protection Act to get the info, but as the contacts were blurry, would it be worth it?
Any help will be great.
Ta, KK
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Be Pure, Be Vigilant, Behave!:A
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Comments
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Kernow_Kid wrote: »He has said that it is Law that they are not allowed to give out the perscription until after 3 months.
Don't know about the legal side, but I would have thought that the prescription comes with the eye test (not the lenses) as it is a type of receipt for services. I've never had this problem with my local optician and I think D & A are trying it on.
From their own website:
http://www.danda.co.uk/opticians/eye_care/eye_exam4.asp
"STEP 4. The Prescription
The results of all of these tests are then discussed and considered with your personal preferences.
At the end of your examination, your optometrist will advise if you need vision correction, or whether a new prescription is required. This is given to you as a written statement, together with your prescription and a date for your next appointment.
If we detect signs of any condition or general health problem, we may carry out additional examinations, which may lead to a referral to your doctor for further investigation.
It all takes around 25 minutes."0 -
This is what panther posted on the contact lens discussion thread:
If an optician refuses to supply a written contact lens prescription report them to the General Optical Council. Taken from the GOC website: http://www.optical.org
The contact lens (specification) rules 1989
The General Optical Council, in exercise of their powers under section 31(1)(e) of the Opticians Act 1958, hereby make the following rules:-
Citation and commencement
1. These rules may be cited as the Contact Lens (Specification) Rules 1989 and shall come into force on the 1st day of June 1989.
Duty to provide specification
2. An optician who fits a person with a contact lens shall on completing the fitting give to him a written statement of the particulars necessary to enable the lens to be replicated.
Jurisdiction
The Council deals with concerns about registrants who have:
· been convicted of a criminal offence;
· been guilty of serious professional misconduct;
· breached a rule regarding professional activities by, for example
◦ producing inappropriate publicity,
◦ not supplying a contact lens specification,
◦ failing to refer to a general medical practitioner when appropriate to do so.0 -
D&A are crap - a friend of mine sucessfully sued them after they mis-diagnosed their eye condition no fewer than 3 times, telling them their sight was perfect and he probably had a brain tumour. Nice.April Grocery Challenge £81/£1200
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This is what panther posted on the contact lens discussion thread:
If an optician refuses to supply a written contact lens prescription report them to the General Optical Council. Taken from the GOC website: http://www.optical.org
The contact lens (specification) rules 1989
The General Optical Council, in exercise of their powers under section 31(1)(e) of the Opticians Act 1958, hereby make the following rules:-
Citation and commencement
1. These rules may be cited as the Contact Lens (Specification) Rules 1989 and shall come into force on the 1st day of June 1989.
Duty to provide specification
2. An optician who fits a person with a contact lens shall on completing the fitting give to him a written statement of the particulars necessary to enable the lens to be replicated.
Jurisdiction
The Council deals with concerns about registrants who have:
· been convicted of a criminal offence;
· been guilty of serious professional misconduct;
· breached a rule regarding professional activities by, for example
◦ producing inappropriate publicity,
◦ not supplying a contact lens specification,
◦ failing to refer to a general medical practitioner when appropriate to do so.
:T That's exactly what I needed. Perfect, I'll take this in and show them and keep you all posted on what happens.:beer:Be Pure, Be Vigilant, Behave!:A0 -
They don't have to give the contact lens prescription until after the trail as they don't know if the specification is correct for the patient. The Contact Lens prescription (which is different from a Sight Test prescription as the lens sits closer to the eye) also contains fitting information. If a lens supplied to that fitting has not been trialled for a meaningful period of time then the Optician won't know if it is correct. However, 3 months is a long time to trial a lens for an existing wearer. Sounds typical of D&A - they are the most expensive opticians out there. I hope this helps.0
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Go to a smaller independant Opthalmologist, rather than a 'chain' brand and have her eyes tested and see what they say....you may get a better service.0
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i personally wouldnt go all guns blazing with the info printed out as most likely you will get their backs up and make things more tricky for yourself.
Its the legal responsibility of the contact lens fitter to ensure the lenses are correct and if they arent happy then they wont actually prescribe anything, at the moment your girlfriend has been given more of a recommendation than an actual prescription. If you read section 2 Duty to provide specification it states on 'completing the fitting' at the moment the optician is stating that the fitting is not complete.
If you feel you arent treated fairly walk away and find someone who is prepared to explain WHY rather than just telling you you HAVE to do something. It is for your girlfriends own good that she has not been given the prescription BUT they have done it in a real poor way.
As for the blurred lenses, this can be quite usual and is why a trial is often done, so little tweaks can be made but not at your expense !
mishkaBow Ties ARE cool :cool:"Just because you are offended, doesnt mean you are right" Ricky Gervais
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D&A gave me my prescription after my eye test last year..Ellie :cool:
"man is born free but everywhere he is in chains"
J-J Rousseau0 -
D&A were perfectly happy to give me my eye test prescription straight away (including extra measurements such as pupillary distance) even though I actually told them it was because I wanted to go and buy spare glasses cheaper.
However for my contact lens prescription (which is different) they would not give this to me until after 3 months because they said they couldn't give it out until they were sure the fitting was right. In the end after 3 months they decided the lenses were wrong for me, so I had to try again with a different brand (which actually do feel much better). I haven't yet asked for the written prescription again yet as I've got a backlog to get through from D&A before I want to order more from someone else, but I don't anticipate any problems getting it when I want it, based on what they said before (ie yes we can give it to you but not before the 3 month check-up).
It is a bit annoying not to get it straight away, but does make sense seeing as badly-fitted contact lenses could actually damage your sight. I expect they don't want you to be able to sue them for giving you the wrong fitting!0 -
I used to work for D&A and they used to tell us to sign people up before we give them trial lenses. Hence the reason why I don't work there. Any questions please PM me.I am full of joy, abundance, wealth and love.I am a money magnet. Money comes easily and frequently.Canada excursion fund £1243/2500£10000 from £100 challenge £0/£10,0000
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