New to glasses and no support from optician
Discussion
Hi, I've spent a very frustrating evening trying to work out whether:
1. I've got the wrong glasses
2. I'm not doing something I should be
3. I'm doing something I shouldn't
I picked up my first pair of glasses from the optician today and I can't see through them well. They don't make anything clearer and I can't read a computer screen with them at all. Last week when I got tested, I was told I needed then for vdu work but when I picked them up today I was told they were for distance. All I was told was try then for 7-10 days and come back and that I would get used to them. Am I meant to wear them all the time in this period? Do I wear then for driving for instance (glad I didn't on the way home thinking about it - I would have been a total liability). Do the eyes adapt or should it be clear from day one? Spry if these are stupid questions but none of the family wear glasses so I've not got any real life experts to ask...
Is this normal for opticians by the way? I would have thought that someone spending £316 on glasses would get a bit of support as a first time user.
1. I've got the wrong glasses
2. I'm not doing something I should be
3. I'm doing something I shouldn't
I picked up my first pair of glasses from the optician today and I can't see through them well. They don't make anything clearer and I can't read a computer screen with them at all. Last week when I got tested, I was told I needed then for vdu work but when I picked them up today I was told they were for distance. All I was told was try then for 7-10 days and come back and that I would get used to them. Am I meant to wear them all the time in this period? Do I wear then for driving for instance (glad I didn't on the way home thinking about it - I would have been a total liability). Do the eyes adapt or should it be clear from day one? Spry if these are stupid questions but none of the family wear glasses so I've not got any real life experts to ask...
Is this normal for opticians by the way? I would have thought that someone spending £316 on glasses would get a bit of support as a first time user.
I do not wear glasses but the last time I had an eye test I was told by the grumpy optician bloke that I needed them, I was a bit taken back by this as I have no trouble seeing signs, words or anything else up close or far away and do not think my eye sight was in any need of improving, I only went for a test because the wife told me to.
He tried to hard sell me into parting with a few hundred quid and my questions were met with short shrift and "because you do" type of answers, I left the premises feeling a bit pressured after making excuses about needing to go to the bank.
I went straight to another opticians who tested me and told me my eyes were fine and no need for glasses.
I always suggest a second opinion is a good idea when it comes to things like this, the second optician was nicer, not part of a the national chain spectacle-you-pay-less-money like the first and I will return periodically for tests to ensure I am ok. I would imagine the aftercare is better with smaller independants too.
He tried to hard sell me into parting with a few hundred quid and my questions were met with short shrift and "because you do" type of answers, I left the premises feeling a bit pressured after making excuses about needing to go to the bank.
I went straight to another opticians who tested me and told me my eyes were fine and no need for glasses.
I always suggest a second opinion is a good idea when it comes to things like this, the second optician was nicer, not part of a the national chain spectacle-you-pay-less-money like the first and I will return periodically for tests to ensure I am ok. I would imagine the aftercare is better with smaller independants too.
Vytalis said:
They make things bigger (I assume you mean when holding them at arms length?). Going to track script down now.
Making things bigger is a lens for longsightedness (like I have) so they're the right ones for if you need glasses for reading and computers and such. No need to wear them for driving at all if you can read the road signs OK.As a rough guess I should think the optician has included an adjustment for astigmatism (where the eye is not quite spherical and loses focus at all distances) which would manifest itself as the image "stretching" along an axis when the glasses are held at arm's length. If they've done this it's likely that this will be what's causing the issues.
If the astigmatism is only minor, an optician may choose to not correct the astigmatism since it's likely the patient has been affected for years and has learnt to live with it. Changes to astigmatism do tend to make the wearer a bit dizzy for a week or so.
Have found script:
Right - sphere: -0.25, Cyl: -1.00, axis: 100, aided VA 6/6, near N5
Left - sphere: plano, cyl: -2.00, axis: 155, aided VA 6/30-1
This was an independent - I was wary of going to a chain and so picked an independent hoping that they'd have more time to explain what needed to happen. I wouldn't be able to type this if I was wearing them at the moment, they seem that bad.
Right - sphere: -0.25, Cyl: -1.00, axis: 100, aided VA 6/6, near N5
Left - sphere: plano, cyl: -2.00, axis: 155, aided VA 6/30-1
This was an independent - I was wary of going to a chain and so picked an independent hoping that they'd have more time to explain what needed to happen. I wouldn't be able to type this if I was wearing them at the moment, they seem that bad.
davepoth said:
If the astigmatism is only minor, an optician may choose to not correct the astigmatism since it's likely the patient has been affected for years and has learnt to live with it. Changes to astigmatism do tend to make the wearer a bit dizzy for a week or so.
So give the eyes time to adjust to them and the issues are because I've learned to live with my current situation? Makes sense (but knackers my ability to get through my deadline next week...)And thanks both for such a rapid response
Vytalis said:
Glasses £149, dispensing fee £132, eye exam £35. No more breakdown than that.
I've never paid more than a tenner for an eye test - then I take my prescription and order glasses over the 'net.
I could get 5 pairs of glasses for that kind of cash - with thin, reactolite, anti-glare, anti-scratch lenses.
VeeFour said:
I've never paid more than a tenner for an eye test - then I take my prescription and order glasses over the 'net.
I could get 5 pairs of glasses for that kind of cash - with thin, reactolite, anti-glare, anti-scratch lenses.
VeeFour said:
I've never paid more than a tenner for an eye test - then I take my prescription and order glasses over the 'net.
I could get 5 pairs of glasses for that kind of cash - with thin, reactolite, anti-glare, anti-scratch lenses.
I can confirm that in terms of longsightedness, there is absolutely no need for you to wear glasses for using a computer.
Right - sphere: -0.25, Cyl: -1.00, axis: 100, aided VA 6/6, near N5
Left - sphere: plano, cyl: -2.00, axis: 155, aided VA 6/30-1
The Sphere bit is the long/short sighted bit, and suggests a tiny bit of nearsightedness, but nothing to be bothered about. Your left eye is not shortsighted at all (the lens that side is plane glass)
The Cyl bit is the astigmatism part, and looks to be the bit. Both eyes needed a bit of a tweak. It's the astigmatism that's being dealt with by these glasses really. And that will make your head a bit messed up for a while. When looking at square things your brain perceives them as "skewed", even though what you were looking at before was actually skewed.
To prove the glasses are working, go to this website and look at the diagram.
http://www.perret-optic.ch/optometrie/test_vision_...
With the glasses on, all of the lines should be clear. With the glasses off, you should only be able to see the lines completely clearly along the same axis as mentioned in your prescription.
Right - sphere: -0.25, Cyl: -1.00, axis: 100, aided VA 6/6, near N5
Left - sphere: plano, cyl: -2.00, axis: 155, aided VA 6/30-1
The Sphere bit is the long/short sighted bit, and suggests a tiny bit of nearsightedness, but nothing to be bothered about. Your left eye is not shortsighted at all (the lens that side is plane glass)
The Cyl bit is the astigmatism part, and looks to be the bit. Both eyes needed a bit of a tweak. It's the astigmatism that's being dealt with by these glasses really. And that will make your head a bit messed up for a while. When looking at square things your brain perceives them as "skewed", even though what you were looking at before was actually skewed.
To prove the glasses are working, go to this website and look at the diagram.
http://www.perret-optic.ch/optometrie/test_vision_...
With the glasses on, all of the lines should be clear. With the glasses off, you should only be able to see the lines completely clearly along the same axis as mentioned in your prescription.
Vytalis said:
Dammit, looks like I've been completely screwed then... Not having anyone around that wears glasses I was a completely uninformed buyer (which I try NEVER to be). What is the position on refunds? I had that 'tingle' in the back of my mind when the guy started a very perfunctory sale but went along with it. I picked them up this afternoon.
Without naming names, was it a national chain?SPR2 said:
Who do you recommend for glasses over the 'net'?
www.optical4less.comBased in Hong Kong, takes 10-14 days for orders to arrive - and always labelled so customs won't sniff around the packages too much. (I've never had a bill from them).
Prices vary depending on the relative strength of sterling vs the US dollar, but, unless you have a funny prescription, around 50-75 quid a pair with fancy lenses is about right.
Vytalis said:
No - I avoided the nationals. This was an independent, in a small market town in Derbyshire (should be broad enough to not name names, but also give you an idea of why I thought it was 'safe')
Hmm. There is a possibility that the prescription is a little out, since there is a little bit of guesswork involved with astigmatism, and it does change a little depending on lots of things (mine gets worse when I have a blocked nose). The tricky thing here is that you don't know what's good and what isn't since these are your first pair. The only thing to do really is try them for a week. The dizzyness should subside.
On the cost, I would be a bit grumpy frankly. It sounds like you've been sold every extra possible (anti-scratch, very high index lenses, anti glare etc.) which may not really have been that necessary. Although conceivably if you had bought "fashion" frames they could have been that expensive.
Vytalis said:
Have found script:
Right - sphere: -0.25, Cyl: -1.00, axis: 100, aided VA 6/6, near N5
Left - sphere: plano, cyl: -2.00, axis: 155, aided VA 6/30-1
James,Right - sphere: -0.25, Cyl: -1.00, axis: 100, aided VA 6/6, near N5
Left - sphere: plano, cyl: -2.00, axis: 155, aided VA 6/30-1
You should feel your distance vision is better with these than without. It feel a bit odd to start with but it should be clearer. If it isn't there is something amiss.
Choose a target look at it with and without R only. If it isn't goodwith your glasses try twisting them each way a little. If you can find a better spot they have been put in "off axis" and will need retesting/remaking.
Your L is poor according to the above. 6/30 is quite blurred even at its best. Is that right?
You may find they make things look sloped - a door frame might seem a bit rhomboidal, a round plate oval etc. That's fine and should go away.
But it should be sharper from the off.
If it seems odd go back and ask. If they are half way decent then they'll listen and act - don't forget there are bad independents and good multiples too.
If need be tell me where you are and I'll see if I know someone.
David
Vytalis said:
No - I avoided the nationals. This was an independent, in a small market town in Derbyshire (should be broad enough to not name names, but also give you an idea of why I thought it was 'safe')
All my family wear glasses and we avoid the indies now - of course there will be good ones but they really don't like correcting issues. The chains have gear which more or less tests your eyes auomatically and all they have to is check the results and tweak them. We have has a couple of problems but they'll unhesitatingly change glasses if you're not happy.DKL said:
Deva Link said:
All my family wear glasses and we avoid the indies now - of course there will be good ones but they really don't like correcting issues.
Interesting. Are we talking about potential errors as on this thread or just changing your mind?Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff