Why can't I continue to wear my 'old' prescription lenses if that's what I choose??

nedmundo

My logic would be to just get some distance specs made, but up to the new prescription - it should in theory be sharper. You have to wear them, so if you don't want varifocals, then that's your choice.

TeamLowe

Tao81 wrote: »

What's amazed me is they are prepared to correct my vision in either eye to suit my needs via contact lenses and seem be willing to give me whatever works best, so why can't they do this with glasses lenses??

As contact lenses are closer to your eye, you actually need a weaker perscription than for glasses. my eyesight is horrible, my eyes measure at around -16 for glasses but only -14 for contacts

If you're only just over the border into varifocal territory so to speak, it may be that your perscription in contact lenses is that much less that you don't need them. not that i understand varifocals at all

123louisa

I dont see the problem unless I am missing something, with you just getting a distance pair, I have dispensed many many single vision pairs of glasses for people who dont want variofocals, when asked about varifocals just say no thank you I would prefer to just get distance specs, it is a business at the end of the day so they are going to try and sell you up if they can.

Online opticians should be taking details of where you last sight test was etc and phoning the store to check dates etc or requesting a copy of the rx.

The contact lens thing.

From what I remember working there, we only had the solutions on the shelf that came with the plans, they were not really for sale over the counter ( and we were next door to the chemist which sold a huge range) we did sell them but run the risk of a customer coming in to collect lenses who had solution included in their plan but not having to give them because it had been sold. Especially if its a Boots D&A store they probably only had boots solution for their boots BVP plan customers.

Nicki

I think OP's problem, unless I have completely misunderstood, is that he is unable to read when wearing the new distance prescription, but can still manage to do so with his old distance prescription. As his job means he can't chop and change glasses, he needs his old prescription to be able to see both at distance and to read. So it doesn't help him to have his new glasses made up in the new distance prescription.

123louisa

Ok thanks. Makes it a bit clearer.

You can have some glasses made that are just distance glasses and an intermediate prescriptionie for using a computer or model making. I had some made for my dad who does woodwork, he needed to be able to see his plans at a distance, but do some close work too but not at a reading distance and doesnt like varifocals.

You can also go back and ask the Optom to tweak the prescription halfway, to account for reading in them, but they dont have to.

However, I wouldnt, and I dont think any optician would glaze a pair of specs to an old prescription, I seem to remember it being a legal thing, that the date on the old rx is an expiary date.

mishkanorman

Word of warning to op, if you are given a prescription for driving that you fail to use it *may* invalidate your car insurance. Best bet is to speak to an optician and get your script changed.

Newly_retired

This thing about not getting on with varifocals - when I first got a pair, I was told if I didn't get on with them to come back within a month and they would use a different sort. I did this and the second pair were fine. I wouldn't be without them now.

beca

123louisa wrote: »

Ok thanks. Makes it a bit clearer.

You can have some glasses made that are just distance glasses and an intermediate prescriptionie for using a computer or model making. I had some made for my dad who does woodwork, he needed to be able to see his plans at a distance, but do some close work too but not at a reading distance and doesnt like varifocals.

You can also go back and ask the Optom to tweak the prescription halfway, to account for reading in them, but they dont have to.

However, I wouldnt, and I dont think any optician would glaze a pair of specs to an old prescription, I seem to remember it being a legal thing, that the date on the old rx is an expiary date.

I get totally fed up with opticians doing the hard sell on varifocals. Mine was really patronising about it even though I kept telling him no.

There must be a huge profit margin on glasses. I have only had mine a few months a a piece has fallen of the frame (I am always v careful with them as I rely on them so much). Optician refused to fix em saying I had to buy new ones which is bloody ridiculous. Most other things of that price come with some sort of 12 month guarantee but according to my otician because I did not take out extra insurance on them, they are not covered. What the hell is that all about?

**dancingbutterfly**

beca,

all frames and lenses are covered by a 12 month guarantee(Sp?) It wont cost the opticians anything to send the frame/lense back to be replaced, apart from the postage.

Where I worked lenses were covered for 2 years and all frames for 12 months. The actual cost of both of these is so small anyway (most!) the optician is doing more harm than good saying they wont replace them, therefore losing your business!

gauly

You can buy contact lenses (and presumably glasses too) on the internet without a prescription from other countries that don't have the same laws as here in England. One site I saw had a branch in the Netherlands where apparently this is legal. Whether it is a good idea or not medically speaking is another matter - though I can't imagine what the problem would be.

The other thing to investigate is getting varifocals from an online company where they would be significantly cheaper. Then you'll just have to learn to get on with them since sooner or later you are going to have to swap to them as your eyesight gets worse.