High myopia prescription..where to get glasses?

biggurs

My advice will be for you to go to a practice whether it's a multiple or an independent and found out if they have a resident dispensing optician.
A dispensing optician is someone who actually understands the various prescriptions, the theory behind it all and will therefore advise you the best type of lenses, the most appropriate size and shape of frame to fit that prescription and most importantly a lot of people seem to ignore BACK VERTEX DISTANCE.
This is the distance from the back of the lens to the surface of your eye when the eye test was done. If it was found to be 11mm and you try on a frame that is sitting 13mm away from your eye then your prescription will need to be modified to compensate for that especially with your prescription.
This only applies to prescriptions of more than + or - 5.00D

So seek out a Dispensing Optician.
Majority of prescriptions can be dispensed by a dispensing assistant but high prescriptions and sound professional advise you will get from a dispensing optician whether it's specsavers or Smith & sons.

Almost 20 years as an ophthalmic professional

the_devil_made_me_do_it

My local Asda opticans has a dispensing optician. She helped me choose the frames, yet she was still unable to get the lens makers to make lenses that didn't look like jam jar bottoms.

I think many of these types of opticians ie Asda, specsavers ect use lens makers who provide budget lenses for people whose prescriptions ain't very high. These companies can't have the equipment to handle high prescriptions.

nedmundo

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

I have actually seen a pair of frames on the internet. Would an optician be prepared to fit lenses in them?

No reason why the shouldn't - although you will need proof of purchase and you won't have any comeback if the lenses come back too thick, even with the thinnest lens material possible.

What you need is the smallest lens size possible, centred with your pupils, with a thick rim, but big enough to fit comfortably. Can you really achieve that by shopping online?

nedmundo

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

We can't help needing glasses, yet we are punished for it & taken advantage of really.

It's no different to needing other things in everyday life - shoes, clothes, food etc. The problem lies in that manufacturing lenses to that prescription is very costly, and may take several goes to get it right.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

nedmundo wrote: »

It's no different to needing other things in everyday life - shoes, clothes, food etc. The problem lies in that manufacturing lenses to that prescription is very costly, and may take several goes to get it right.

I have to disagree. It's totally different. Without my glasses I wouldn't even be able to leave the house. I am completely defenseless without glasses or contact lenses.

I only wish I could afford a sight correction procedure.

Fire_Fox

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

I have to disagree. It's totally different. Without my glasses I wouldn't even be able to leave the house. I am completely defenseless without glasses or contact lenses.

I only wish I could afford a sight correction procedure.

Is there any way you could save up to go abroad for the op? I don't mean anywhere iffy, somewhere in the EU like Belgium which has an excellent reputation for clean healthcare facilities and a few cosmetic companies with permanent bases here.

I do think there ought to be more help on the NHS for people with more severe eye issues. My father and my ex could barely see anything without their glasses, yet nothing as strong as your prescription required.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Sight correction for me would be the same procedure as cataract surgery, which is why it is so expensive.

Years ago I was advised to go to Sunderland Eye Infirmary for any sight correction procedure, so am a bit dubious about going anywhere else.

barbaraemmerson

ok
first for glasses - have you tried Costco - for really difficult cases they have an area optician/dispenser who comes up to Aberdeen once a month - my daughter had real problems with her lenses and he came up and sorted her straight away - but gave her a months supply to try to make sure before she actually bought them - but also gave her a 5 day supply of dailies in the same range (as she happened to mention going to T in the park) absolutely superb service and I now go there too.

Corrective surgery - both my husband and son had their eyes corrected - husband was -9.25 and -8.75 at Optimax in Kuala Lumpur - a bit of a radical idea but could end up being a LOT cheaper than having it done here and a holiday to boot.
They are extremely efficient and professional and do so many every day that they have probably come across every prescription possible. You have to go the day before to be checked out and then turn up for further tests the morning of the op - Both son and husband were operated on early afternoon with 20/20 vision the same evening - absolutely fab.
They have their own experts for difficult cases who they can schedule you with.
Was cheaper to fly my son out from Aberdeen, have it done then send him home than having it done here in the UK - absolutely crazy.
Neither of them have had any problems whatsoever and declare it the best thing they have ever done.
My husband used to get his lenses made in France to make them super thin and light but costing £400+ - get the money back from the op within a few years and no longer the hassle of glasses

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I am not a suitable candidate for laser surgery. It would have to be lens replacement procedure where they remove the lens and replace it with a new one.

As for traveling to another country, I wouldn't even know how to start looking.

aggypanthus

My relative had the lens replacement surgery, I am wary of that and laser, my optician thinks its still very new technology and is yet to prove its self longterm.

OP where did you get your last pair from and were they ok? theres limits to what even the thinnest lenses can do, to negate the bottle effect lol, we have to accept that, my asda ones were fine as they are small frames. the prob will be when the trend for larger frames catches up with us.