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Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,745
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

Can you tell me about the cost, recommendations for any providers and your experience with them.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,955
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

Have you been told you need prism lenses? If you do, they are essential, and should be made by a skilled optician. They add cost to prescriptions for standard glasses, or in certain cases, are priced for just the prisms. I wore prisms for well over 50 years and had chronic double vision without them. By the time I had corrective surgery, I was wearing trifocals with a different prism set for each of the trifocals, so 6 different settings.
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,295
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

I wear prisms because of my double vision. Do not go to a "chain", but rather to a well-established optometry place. Cost for mine was somewhere between $600-$700,including frames. If you need them,they are a godsend.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,745
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

Thank you for your responses.

I have been told this is the only way to rid the double and blurry vision as a result of multiple sclerosis. I have recently undergone surgery for same by my smart neuro-ophthalmologist for this, hoping to prevent the prism lens, to no avail, so when that failed, he used the prism lens during my followup examination, I could see better than I have in the last 20 years. For the first time in as many as 20 years, I could see without fuzzy, blurry or diplopic vision.

I am interested in the cost as well since I have recently spent enough on my mouth to buy a Mercedes convertible but I will use the shoppe at my physician's office. This is a very big practice of about 15 physicians with a nice (but very expensive) eyewear shop. Regardless, I am willing to pay what I can afford to see again the way I once did.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,295
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

Dear NAT, I have been wearing prisms for years. My neuro-op will not do the surgery because my double vision keeps getting worse. However,with prisms,except for the wandering eyes,I can see very well. No one knows my glasses are prisms unless I tell or show them. I get my glasses from a well-known eye hospital in Philly and wouldn't go anywhere else. Please post when/if you get your prisms. Best wishes,Beachy.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,955
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

Bless you, NAT, I actually cried each time my pediatric ophthalmologist showed me by using very large prisms how well I might actually be able to see. I had gotten to the point at which no glasses could be made that would be able to correct my sight. My surgery resulted in complete removal of my double vision. If you are able to achieve correction with glasses please pursue every possible way of getting them. I had no idea how severe the stress of double vision was until I had the experience of seeing a single image. I am SO GRATEFUL to my surgeon. She was not sure if I would need glasses with a very simple prism arrangement or not, but as soon as I woke up from the surgery I could see without glasses. What a gift. I will be hoping that you and beach get the very best correction possible. beachy, my surgeon trained at that eye hospital!
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,745
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

Thank you all so very, very much. I worked until I just could no longer close one eye and see. The 'bad' eyelid had become so overused that it was painful to keep it closed. When I awaken in the morning, I have to go around closing all the shutters in my house because I can not tolerate any light whatsoever. My neuro-opth put the "ugly" lens over my eye and the light did not bother me at all when he put it directly in front of me and brought it forward.

I am getting excited because I cannot read a whole recipe without stopping and having to re-read because I opened my other eye, I lose my place when I do that and I feel that I am all left-handed.

I have to have 3 months of drops for inflammation and Restasis because my eyes are very dry. So after the 3 months of eyedrops he feels I will be ready for the lenses. I have recently had the surgery after having both cataracts removed. I developed cataracts early secondary to all the steroids.

I will come back here and let you know when I get the lens. I would not care if the lens was as big as the one he used in the office if I did not have blurry, double vision or photosensitivity or night blindness. I am VERY excited.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,501
Registered: ‎07-03-2012

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

Nat, I find this topic very interesting. My Mom has macular degeneration. My DH & I have been taking her to a clinic for 1 1/2 years for shots & xrays. Do you think these prism lenses might help her? Right now she can barely read anything. The Eye Dr. keeps saying that she should not get her lenses changed yet, but to me that is so frustrating to hear that on each & every visit. I myself was diagnosed with CIDP at age 53 almost 13 years ago. It is an off branch of MS. Because I was on prednesone for the first 2 years, I also had to have cataract surgery. 10 years later, I am doing great. I do get gama gard infusions every 6-8 weeks, but they do sustain me quite nicely. Prayers & good luck to all of you with these eye concerns.

Occasional Contributor
Posts: 10
Registered: ‎03-17-2010

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

I have had glasses with prisms for about a year for driving. They are amazing as the image (or car) becomes one instead of one and a half or two! Yes, go to an eye specialist to get the tests and prescription. I did not find them to be expensive and they are a Godsend if you need them. Well worth it!

Regular Contributor
Posts: 207
Registered: ‎03-25-2011

Re: Prism lenses, if you wear them. Cost, recommendations for provider

On 2/21/2014 twinny2 said:

Nat, I find this topic very interesting. My Mom has macular degeneration. My DH & I have been taking her to a clinic for 1 1/2 years for shots & xrays. Do you think these prism lenses might help her? Right now she can barely read anything. The Eye Dr. keeps saying that she should not get her lenses changed yet, but to me that is so frustrating to hear that on each & every visit. I myself was diagnosed with CIDP at age 53 almost 13 years ago. It is an off branch of MS. Because I was on prednesone for the first 2 years, I also had to have cataract surgery. 10 years later, I am doing great. I do get gama gard infusions every 6-8 weeks, but they do sustain me quite nicely. Prayers & good luck to all of you with these eye concerns.

Hi,Just wanted to ket you know that I am an optician and prism will not correct damage from Macular degeneration.Sorry.

Also,prism is a very common add on to a lens and I would not pay an exhorbitant fee ofr this.Maybe 50 to 80 dollars.If you are a costco member you might want to check the price.They are highly regarded in the optical field.As long as the prescribing Dr writes the rx correctly it should not need to be purchased at the Drs office,any good optician can fill it easily.Most lenses are surfaced by computers now .