Optician wrote out wrong prescription - what should I do?

alison6692

Hello

Firstly - sorry if this isn't the right place to post. Feel free to move mods.

Okay I will try to summarise this.

Eye test in Nov 08.
Couldn't find glasses I liked in the Opticains so took my prescription somewhere else and bought glasses.

Straight away felt something wasn't right. Went back to the place where I got my glasses - they checked and the lenses matched my prescription. I rang the place that did my prescription and was told they had no concerns.
I chased this up with both places and was told it would take a while to get used too.

Have had lots of problems with balance, ground moving, headaches.

Crashed my car - nobody was hurt but drove into the trolley park in Tesco.
Nearly dropped my daughter on the stairs as the stairs felt like they were moving.

Was very concerned. Followed up GP - have been reffered to a neurologist.

Today I found out that the prescription had been written correctly in my notes but incorrectly on the card I take away.

I am so cross and so upset and relieved I am not going mad.

I have no idea what to do - I am going to meet the manager of the Opticians tomorrow. They have agreed to pay for new lenses - I am also thinking of asking them to pay £100 to cover the cost of the tyre that I burst when I crashed the car. I also want them to pay back the cost of the eye test that they made me pay today cheeky !!!!!!s. Do you think thats reasonable?

Thanks Alison x

GlasweJen

this is disgraceful! was it the actual optician who wrote the card or an assistant?

alison6692

Well I thought it was the assistant but the optician told me today that she should have written it as she is legally obliged to write it. I am taking it in for her to have a look at tomorrow.

sillyvixen

was it the copy you were given following your site test?? if so it should have been written and signed by the optician - if you gained a further copy after it may have been written by another member of staff - where i work if asked by a customer to write a copy prescription it is normal practice to get another member of staff to double check what you have written.

alison6692

It was the original that I was given at the time of testing. It is signed and dated so I can confirm with them. The optician thinks it was her error and was very apologetic.
I am not normally the kind of person who would complain but this has been a nightmare for me since Nov - thinking I was going crazy as everyone was so flippant about my symptoms.

Alison x

robin58

I think you should get the cost of the retest either from the optician who wrote the wrong one or claim it back from the NHS.

flossy_splodge

Oh this brings back happy memories!
I also had a sight test, had glasses made up and had exactly same symptoms as you.
Went back to opticians who discovered there was a transcribing error onto the order from the prescription.
Scant apologies but correction made and new glasses ordered.
These 2nd pair turned out to be no better than 1st.
Back I went, feeling a bit as if it simply must be me!
They checked again and said all seemed well but a different optician would do a new test as the previous 'child' (very new graduate) who had done the first one had left and was now backpacking somewhere....
Turned out prescription was just simply WRONG!
So 3rd new pair ordered.
When these came, off I went again relieved that this time they must have got it right.
Yup, you guessed, still felt dizzy, slightly sick etc.
Went back in great trepidation this time thinking maybe I am just so anxious it MUST be me.
The assistant checked the on screen order WITH me and yup, they'd transcribed it incorrectly AGAIN!!
And I was the one who spotted it this time!
So I quietly waited til manager had apologised and said they would expedite the re-order and I said 'and of course I will be getting these at no cost, ie a full refund for all the trouble I've had'.
Yes of course came the reply!
And I did.
So stick to your guns, what they did was DANGEROUS :eek: and if they want to avoid bad publicity suggest they make it worth while for you not to go to the press.
This is just lousy management and unprofessionalism and will only improve if it hurts them, ie in their pockets.
Good luck.:T

alison6692

Thanks for the responses everyone. I will let you know how I get on.

Alison x

GlasweJen

yes, i'm training as an opticial assistant and i never ever ever write out the card, the optician MUST fill in the prescription that you are given away with you!.

alison6692

Thanks Jen - It was written out by the optician. Still no proper as the manager had left by the time I arrived. Travelling on public transport is a nightmare.

Alison x

hardpressed

Make sure you keep the original prescription and give them a photocopy so you have the evidence.