Among Friends

[Shanus]

OK, so I've been complaining that my typing skills are less than great and spellcheck is not really helping my posts. 

We took our 4 pr. of glassses, sun glasses, too (only 3 months old) to the store where we purchased them and they were made correctly according to the doc or rather the technician's precriptions.

So, IMHO the techs are not properly trained to do the "is number one better than number two, better here or better there" assessment and the recommended prescriptions. DH and I both have had difficulty reading with our graduated bifocals...distance vision not too bad.

The ophthalmologist is spending less less than 5 minutes examining eyes and the techs in the office are doing every else...checking pressure, etc. Our insurance was charged almost $400 for each of us for those 5 minutes w/ the doc. 

We're thinking what do we do next about approaching the opthamologist. 

Anys thoughts, recommendations or similar experiences? 

[Group 5 minus 1]

Had the same experience w/my new glasses. There is a 60 day guaranteew/mine. Waiting for new ones to come in. Was the doctor an ophthmologist (MD) or an optometrist (OD)? Did you tell them and are they replacing the glasses/

[Kachina624]

First, are you sure the doctor you are seeing is an opthomologist and not an optometrist?  The clinic where I've gone for years has a few opthomologists on staff but they treat diseases of the eye, one does cataract surgeries, they don't do routine eye exams.  Get a copy of your prescription and have it checked by a third party to see if it matches your glasses or have the doctor do it if you trust him. 

[depglass]

Have you worn progressives before?  I just can't use them, I feel like I'm in a fun house.  I'd go back to regular bifocals.  I'm assuming the techs have been properly trained.  In my office the opthalmologist  does the complete test.

[Group 5 minus 1]

DEPGLASS: Are you sure an MD is checking your eyes for glasses?

[tucsongal]

I had always gone to see an ophthalmologist for yearly exams and prescription updates. My doctor is no longer doing routine exams so I recently went to an optometrist they recommended(doctor of optometry). I had the most thorough exam ever, my new prescription is so much better, I can’t believe it. The optometry office had technology I had ever seen before and the optometrist spent a lot of time with me.

After my last prescription update from the ophthalmology office, my vision was not really improved and I had reached the point where I was having to take my glasses off and put smaller print up to my face. I am now reading small print without difficulty and in fact just purchased a second pair because if something happens to these, I would never want to go back to my previous glasses, even short term.

Sorry to be long-winded but I’m so happy with my new glasses 😎. I will not be going back to an ophthalmologist unless there’s a medical issue, and I already have a retina specialist. So you might want to ask around about a good optometrist. I would still call your ophthalmologist first and let them know that your new prescription is not helping as it should be.

[ALRATIBA]

My eye "doctor" doesn't do exams for glasses.  Optometrist does that.  

Once, when I went to pick up my glassess - left lens was really wrong.  Optometrist looked - and he had inadvertently wrote + for both lenses when one should have been plus and the other minus. 

[patbz]

Just ask for Office Manager, explain problem and have the doctor personally check your eyes and replace glasses for free.  I've had issues twice with glasses over the years.  One time it was a miss transcribed prescription and once it was the facility that made the glasses ( these were through the doctor's office, never had a problem with Zenni).

[Janey2]

Years ago I was told (by an ophthalmologist) when getting an eye exam go to a optometrist. They do a better job at seeing if you might need glasses or a new prescription. For everything else (eye disease, eye pain, etc.) see a ophthalmologist.

[millieshops]

@Shanus   I see my ophthalmologist on a regular basis for my eye health issues, but I do not pay that office for a script for my lenses.  For that, I have been using a local optometrist which is what I did prior to having issues with the health of my eyes.   

My ophthalmologist does not sell glasses and does not seem at alll concerned I do not use him to get my scripts.  The techs still go through the whole exam routine, just do not issue me a script.  Either way my cost is the same.  My insurance does not cover refraction costs.