Optometrist experience: thoughts?

[johnjohn320]

I'm a 24/7 glasses-wearer, and since it's been a few years since my last prescription change, I knew it was time for an update. Thing is, my employer dropped the VSP from my insurance plan last year. So, deciding to try to save a few bucks, I went to the "optical center" at my local Target. I was the first appointment of the day, but the doctor was extremely late getting into the office. Maybe for that reason, my appointment felt extremely rushed-probably less than 10 minutes total. Nevertheless, I got my prescription, went online to Zenni Optical, and ordered a new pair of glasses. They came a couple days ago, and I'm extremely disappointed. The prescription doesn't seem quite right, the frames don't fit very well at all, they look nothing like the picture, and it's really cheap, crappy quality. I know, I know: what did I expect? You get what you pay for.

So I thought about chalking it up to a learning experience, eating the cost of my Zenni glasses (not much), and returning to the optometrist who I used to see when I had insurance. He always did really great, thorough work, and I've always been happy. But I called his office to see how much an appointment costs without insurance: $125. Ouch. And I'm sure that the cost of new glasses from his office would also be quite high.

So, I'm feeling pretty dumb at the moment. Maybe eyewear wasn't something smart for me to skimp on. Am I the only one who's been burned by the big box store optometrists?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Walmart has been my go to eyeware store for the last few years! Fantastic service and good warranty! They measure the eyes correctly and I have had 2 pairs completely replaced no questions asked!!

 

[DrPizza]

I did Walmart for the prescription, Zenni for the glasses, and have been satisfied every time. In the fall, I tried getting in at Walmart, but never had time on a day when they took insurance (some days are just for non-insurance customers.) Perhaps they do insurance and non-insurance on separate days because there's a difference in quality of the exam, and they want to keep it straight what level of care they're providing?? Anyhow, I went to a different local optometrist. My prescription had barely changed at all. He checked my distance vision, he checked my close vision. Up close, I don't need glasses - and according to him, I'll likely never need glasses for reading. I stepped out of his office and instantly the guy in charge of picking out frames and stuff was instantly trying to sell me progressive lenses? It confused the shit out of me - one guy says, "don't need glasses for reading" the next guy says, "need magnification for reading." I said, "bye."

So, at least in my experience, the quality of care seems to vary.

 

[sdifox]

I have never had an optometrist appointment shorter than forty minutes. No not including wait time.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

So I thought about chalking it up to a learning experience, eating the cost of my Zenni glasses (not much), and returning to the optometrist who I used to see when I had insurance. He always did really great, thorough work, and I've always been happy. But I called his office to see how much an appointment costs without insurance: $125. Ouch. And I'm sure that the cost of new glasses from his office would also be quite high.

You can get examined and prescribed by your doc and take that to buy somewhere else. You don't have to buy at his office.

But yes, that's the average price for the optometrist.

Other option? Lasik like me

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Costco eye exam, $55.

 

[lxskllr]

I went to walmart last time. I think I got what I paid for. Not great, not terrible, not perfect, but acceptable for the money. Glasses aren't great, but aren't junk, prescription is close, but not perfect... Will probably go there again.

 

[JEDIYoda]

My optometrist charges $50 for eye exams to his patients and if your just a walk in the total goes up to $75!!!
Of course I have other issues with my eyes.
My #1 tip when buying frames and glasses -- Never, ever purchase from your eye doctors -- the price goes right through the ceiling!!
Walmart has treated me well for the last few years and even went out of their way to replace a pair of my glasses!!

 

[Carson Dyle]

I'm becoming a bit more farsighted as I get older. It's very, very gradual, though. Been nearsighted since I was seven and my prescription hasn't changed in forty years.

I go to an MD (ophthalmologist) for my eye exams. May as well do it right if you're going to do it at all.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That seems sketchy as hell. I'd go to a real optometrist office and see an actual optometrist. They will then help you pick a frame that looks good on you and stuff, then get the lenses cut to fit it and then adjust it for you etc when it comes in.

Or get LASIK... but not at a retail store lol, at a real optometrist. Actually the ones that do LASIK are even a step above that. Go for the one that has the most experience and good track record, it's not something you want to skimp on.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Or get LASIK... but not at a retail store lol, at a real optometrist. Actually the ones that do LASIK are even a step above that. Go for the one that has the most experience and good track record, it's not something you want to skimp on.

ODs are only allowed to do LASIK in a couple of states. Oklahoma and Kentucky, from what I read. I'd want nothing to do with that.

 

[DrPizza]

I'm becoming a bit more farsighted as I get older. It's very, very gradual, though. Been nearsighted since I was seven and my prescription hasn't changed in forty years.

I go to an MD (ophthalmologist) for my eye exams. May as well do it right if you're going to do it at all.

I'm not sure that nearsighted and farsighted mean what you think they mean. Near sighted means you can see things near, but not far. Farsighted means you can see things clearly at a distance, but not things up close. So, becoming "more farsighted" implies your distance vision is improving. But, since you've been nearsighted, that your close up vision is getting worse.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I'm not sure that nearsighted and farsighted mean what you think they mean. Near sighted means you can see things near, but not far. Farsighted means you can see things clearly at a distance, but not things up close. So, becoming "more farsighted" implies your distance vision is improving. But, since you've been nearsighted, that your close up vision is getting worse.

Presbyopia.

 

[RollWave]

I go to an MD (ophthalmologist) for my eye exams. May as well do it right if you're going to do it at all.

As an ophthalmologist I'd say this guy has it right.

 

[Carson Dyle]

As an ophthalmologist I'd say this guy has it right.

Oooh... Can we turn this thread into "Ask the ophthalmologist"?

Do you feel there's a cutoff age for LASIK? Or is it more proper to evaluate each patient on a case by case basis?

 

[RollWave]

Oooh... Can we turn this thread into "Ask the ophthalmologist"?

Do you feel there's a cutoff age for LASIK? Or is it more proper to evaluate each patient on a case by case basis?

Haha I can play along for a bit. I'd say it depends on what you do, why you want it, and of course a number of different measurements of your eye. The closer you get to cataract surgery age the less it makes sense. I'd also say that those that have had Lasik will not necessarily have as good vision post-cataract surgery compared to someone who hasnt all other things being equal.

 

[Imp]

Did you know what your prescription was before going to the cheapo optome-whatever?

I paid ~$70 for my last two, different guy from the one I went to a for a decade. Brought my old prescriptions with me, and my appointments were about 30 minutes both times.

 

[zinfamous]

I only ever go to ophthalmologists. I don't dick around with internet-licensed walk-up prescriptions when it comes to my shitty eyesight.

 

[RollWave]

I only ever go to ophthalmologists. I don't dick around with internet-licensed walk-up prescriptions when it comes to my shitty eyesight.

Good for you.

 

[rh71]

Maybe the eye docs in this thread can tell me - my kids were borderline needing glasses at age 6 when we had them checked out. And since no doc was able to confirm glasses actually help to fix their eyesight going forward as they grow older, and they were reading books and seeing the board at school fine, we decided it was a waste of time (after paying for glasses and wearing them a few weeks). Their eyes re-adjust themselves up to age 10 I heard. Thoughts? I just feel like if they're seeing fine (even if 1 eye is weaker), it's really not worth checking it every year.

 

[boomerang]

Costco eye exam, $55.

Yup. Both myself and my wife have never had a bad pair of glasses from them.

The OP, at this point, doesn't know if the problem was the exam, Zenni or both so the right course of action can't truly be known.

 

[Linflas]

Presbyopia.

I am having real issues with this now. I wear contacts and they just can't seem to find a way to correct for both presbyopia and my nearsightedness. I end up wearing multifocals and still have to use reading glasses when wearing the contacts. I don't bother with bifocal glasses since when I am wearing glasses and want to read I just remove the glasses and I can read just fine.

 

[PottedMeat]

Their eyes re-adjust themselves up to age 10 I heard. Thoughts? I just feel like if they're seeing fine (even if 1 eye is weaker), it's really not worth checking it every year.

do they still do eye exams in the nurse's office every couple years in ny? i think that's the only reason my nearsightedness got caught.


heh people check it every year? i think i do once every 10...

 

[Chiropteran]

There is no problem with Zenni, bought many pairs of cheap usable glasses from them.

Find a good optimologistian, get your prescription done there, ask for pupillary distance, and then sent the prescription to Zenni for glasses.

 

[johnjohn320]

Yup. Both myself and my wife have never had a bad pair of glasses from them.

The OP, at this point, doesn't know if the problem was the exam, Zenni or both so the right course of action can't truly be known.

Yeah, I think that's about the long and the short of it. When I look dead-on, things are crystal clear. Peripherals, not so much. It's a weird kind of buggy, fish-eye quality on the edges, enough to be pretty bothersome, with everything skewed and blurred in my periphery. Is it poor fitting glasses or a bad prescription? Who knows. I may just need to bite the bullet, go back to the good optometrist, and start fresh. This will have been about a $100 mistake, all told, but what can you do?