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

mishkanorman

**dancingbutterfly** wrote: »

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!

nice post in theory, however beca didnt state what the damage was. "bits" dont "just fall off" glasses, if the opticians have refused to replace them perhaps there is clear (albeit unintentional) damage as opposed to manufacture fault which is all a guarantee covers.

I am amazed at the amount of people on this thread who are so quick to dismiss the OP's opticians findings and the possible problems associated with ignoring it :eek:

gauly

mishkanorman wrote: »

I am amazed at the amount of people on this thread who are so quick to dismiss the OP's opticians findings and the possible problems associated with ignoring it :eek:

I can see that you need a regular optician's appointment to check for various eye diseases and problems - the OP's had that and is fine. Just out of curiousity does anyone know what problems could be caused by using the wrong prescription in your glasses? I know some people get headaches but I guess that isn't a problem here but is that's the only medical problem? (Obviously there are non-medical problems, like it's not a good idea driving with the wrong prescription, for example).

tidus

OK.

Sounds like you are myopic (short sighted) and at a guess in mid 40s.

Sounds like you have become slightly more myopic and therefore need stronger spectacles for distance.

However, if this is done, your reading will get worse, so you have been recommended varifocals.

What you are wearing at present is basically a compromise - slightly weak for distance (but not too bad - you might percieve distance to be clear but is probably isn't 100%), but able to read well enough.

Assuming the above to be correct,

Your options are:
1) Try varifocals - if you are successful with them, you should get improved distance vision and maybe improved reading (or at least no worse than at present)

2) Get the new prescription made up just in distance only, which will improve distance and worsten reading

3) Get your old precription duplicated, and continue with the compromise until it is no longer acceptable.

If you decide on option 3, ask to see the Optometrist again and ask if they will consider changing the prescription to match, or at least very close to, what you have at present, explaining that you are happy with the vision. I would usually be happy doing this provided you were well within the legal standard for driving (if you drive) and I have demonstrated the other options to you so you can make an informed choice.

scooby088

Since your prescription has changed and wearing your old prescription specs could cause more harm than good.

Tao81

Thanks for all the replies.

Nicki wrote: »

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.

That's exactly the issue Nicki, hence why I would choose to continue wearing my previous prescription.

I spoke with a local optician yesterday and was told the difference between my recent 2011 and previous 2009 prescription, is so minor that sometimes this difference can be explained simply as my eyes being tired on the day my test (which was more than likely the case).
I've now booked for another test. As I'm thinking that my eyes shouldn't show up any signs of strain as I've been on a weeks annual leave.
I have to pay full price £25 yet again, between £40-50 spent before I've even got to the stage of shelling out for new frame with lenses!...But if it solves my problem it will be money well spent.

Bronnie

Tao81 wrote: »

It's really strange how they now are quite willing to work with me and fit me with different lenses to best suit me for reading and distance at the same time, but are refusing to do this via spectacles?? Doesn't seem right and the cynic in me says that they are more desperate to get me into contacts as they make a huge margin, whereas with glasses it's peanuts in comparison, once every two years.


QUOTE]

BTW, this is not a magical solution either. I have varifocal lenses and there is a close/distance compromise with them too. I only wear them for work as they are helpful within the confines of a room, where I continually need to switch from reading to looking up and around , but slightly disorientating for me personally when worn outside in a wider space.

I agree, Boots are VERY eager to promote the contact lens solution in my experience

purplephoenix85

Specsavers supply my lenses and even the optician recommended shopping around for compatible solutions and eye drops, as long as the brands I use are suitable for use with their lenses. Have a look online at ASDA Opticians, they're the cheapest for me and tbh I now buy my lenses from them (paying £3/month to Specsavers by direct debit for lens aftercare). You can keep your eye tests and aftercare with your current optician, but after verifying your prescription, ASDA are more than happy to provide lenses, solutions and everything else you'd need. HTH

Running_Horse

Tao81 wrote: »

Don't want varifocals and it's not practical for me to use two separate pairs of glasses within my job due to the nature of my work (not desk based or static role).

This is not going to go away. You are getting older, and your reading prescription is going to increase every year.

If you are in the tiny mionority who cannot get on with varifocals, then I suggest bifocals are the way forward.

eira

Interesting-thought I might be the only one who had trouble with Boots opticians. I had a pair of varifocals prescribed and never got on with them. I mostly wear contact lenses (one eye with a weaker prescription and the other a stronger one ).I can read and see at a distance with no problem unless the light is very dim and the print very small.
I went to Boots for a test and got a patronising, bossy optician. I also paid £10 for the 'photograph at the back of the eye'.Wasn't given the result then and when I rang up I was told that the opticians notes were illegible and they couldn't read the results-or whether there were any.
When test was finished the optician marched me accross the store saying I needed varifocals or 'worse case scenario' distance glasses and reading glasses. I came out with a cheap pair of distance glasses. She kept on saying that what I had said about my eyesight was 'against the law of physics'. (

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Very unpleasant-won't go back again-and as for the £10 eye test !!!

Now go to a non-chain optician-much better.
Agree with others-I reckon the profit margins on glasses are huge and they know they've got a more or less captive market.

Running_Horse

eira wrote: »

I reckon the profit margins on glasses are huge

Wrong. The mark up from cost price is huge. The profit margin is tiny when you factor in staff costs, rent, rates, electricity etc. For the likes of Boots, 5% profit on turnover would be considered good. In many years in the past they have made a loss. Many a sensible businessman has thought the same as you and got their fingers burned. Apparently even Glasses Direct do not make a profit.