Opticians refusing to give me my pupillary distance

[amdhunter]

I broke my glasses and want to get an exam to buy my next pair of glasses from zenni optical. What I am doing is calling ahead of time and asking if they will provide me this, as all I want to do is get a prescription and buy my glasses online.

So far, I called 3 different places and they don't provide this number, as it's the glasses retailers who fit the glasses for you.

What kind of bullshit is this? I don't want to measure it myself. I can see them trying to protect their super high margins but this is ridiculous.

FTC even states that PD is part of the prescription...

 

[TheGardener]

I don't want to be responsible if this doesn't work, but you could have someone measure the distance between your pupils using a ruler. http://static.zennioptical.com/media/Zenni-Optical-PD-Ruler.pdf

This is what the dude at Target did to fit me. My prescription also does not include this. I did ask my optometrist last year what the PD was. She already knew that I didn't buy my glasses there, so there was no hassle in giving me the number. She wrote it down on the back of the prescription. Or maybe I did that. Haven't had the initiative to order online. Finding the prices no less than Target.

 

[Shawn]

Paces that also sell glasses usually will provide it if you ask them. Write it down because it shouldn't change.

 

[amdhunter]

Paces that also sell glasses usually will provide it if you ask them. Write it down because it shouldn't change.

Will they do it for free though? I'm tired of paying $700 for glasses.

 

[IronWing]

I've done it for myself with a caliper. Just don't poke your eyes out.

 

[highland145]

Will they do it for free though? I'm tired of paying $700 for glasses.

I feel you there. My last pair was pushing $600.

Just went through costco...$270 for the whole package but the 1st pair sucked. They checked them to the prescription and said that they were spot on. The Dr was right there so he checked my eyes again and adjusted the prescription. They're ready now but I haven't picked them up yet. We'll see....heh...

 

[Midwayman]

Be careful measuring your own IPD. Focus distance matters. Often if you measure it on your own you end up with your eyes pointed together and too small of a IPD.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Try an opthamologist. And make sure you make a copy of the paper he gives you with your measurements on it, BEFORE you turn it over to your glasses shop, because they won't give it back.

 

[Kazukian]

Call the last place you got your glasses from.

 

[Imp]

I got lucky and at least one of my prescriptions had it. I've heard of people that had trouble like OP getting it. You can probably figure out why -- and they can figure out why you want it.

 

[Kazukian]

I've gone into a Wal Mart before and had a friendly tech measure it for me.

 

[IronWing]

Be careful measuring your own IPD. Focus distance matters. Often if you measure it on your own you end up with your eyes pointed together and too small of a IPD.

Yeah, I thought about that when I did it. I stood a couple feet from a mirror and used the reflection to keep my eyes pointed straight ahead. Zenni didn't have safety glasses that worked with my Rx so I ended up at a local glasses place where they took their own measurement. I nailed the IPD spot on.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Park a ruler on your nose and take a selfie.

 

[Imp]

I've done it for myself with a caliper. Just don't poke your eyes out.

I just bought one of those. Went full retard and didn't know how to use it at first -- not digital. Solved the problem with a quick google, luckily. I actually used it before in high school or college but haven't since.

 

[bradly1101]

When I asked my optometrist for PD, they brought out a small device that I looked into to get it. I was seeing them also for medical reasons. It was at the practice of Lawrence J Geisse in Los Alamitos CA if you're local - they have an affiliated optometrist's office.

 

[Elixer]

I think some states even have laws on the book that they must give you the PD, since it is part of the prescription.
If the doctor's visit was paid by insurance, there is a good chance that complaining to them may help fix the matter as well.

 

[Kazukian]

It's 72 right, 71 left. Trust me.

You weigh 253 lbs, your shoe size is 12E, you're a shower, not a grower.

 

[Aikouka]

I've done it for myself with a caliper. Just don't poke your eyes out.

Heh.. I did the same thing when I needed to get my IPD for the Vive. I'd close one eye and see when the very sharp, pointy thing was in the center of my eye and do the same for the other side. If I recall, mine was 73.3, which is large enough that most of those online glasses sites give me a pop-up stating "Are you sure...?"

 

[nakedfrog]

Heh.. I did the same thing when I needed to get my IPD for the Vive. I'd close one eye and see when the very sharp, pointy thing was in the center of my eye and do the same for the other side. If I recall, mine was 73.3, which is large enough that most of those online glasses sites give me a pop-up stating "Are you sure...?"

That's a pretty big number, I'd question the accuracy too.

 

[mikeymikec]

700 DOLLARS FOR GLASSES?!?

I paid £180 UKP in 2005 for my driving glasses, nice frames too, inflation may have taken it up a bit, but I doubt it would have gone up that much!

I wouldn't dream of paying £530 ($700 according to a currency converter) for glasses.

I recently had my sunglasses fitted with prescription lenses, I think that only set me back an absolute max of £70.

 

[Shawn]

It's 72 right, 71 left. Trust me.

You weigh 253 lbs, your shoe size is 12E, you're a shower, not a grower.

wat

 

[Shawn]

Will they do it for free though? I'm tired of paying $700 for glasses.

Always been free for me.

 

[Zee]

Park a ruler on your nose and take a selfie.

this. i had someone take a high res pic. you can pinpoint the exact center of your iris

 

[nakedfrog]

700 DOLLARS FOR GLASSES?!?

I paid £180 UKP in 2005 for my driving glasses, nice frames too, inflation may have taken it up a bit, but I doubt it would have gone up that much!

I wouldn't dream of paying £530 ($700 according to a currency converter) for glasses.

I recently had my sunglasses fitted with prescription lenses, I think that only set me back an absolute max of £70.

It's not common here AFAIK, generally for people with exceedingly poor eyesight, or other factors (bifocals, fancy lenses/frames).
Before I started getting mine online, it was under $200 for me.

 

[mikeymikec]

It's not common here AFAIK, generally for people with exceedingly poor eyesight, or other factors (bifocals, fancy lenses/frames).
Before I started getting mine online, it was under $200 for me.

Yeah, my dad's glasses are more expensive than mine (his are varifocal), and AFAIK he doesn't go for fancy frames, which might make up the difference.