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| Getting glasses; ...and required prescriptions | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 2 2010, 09:49 AM (341 Views) | |
| The 89th Key | Aug 2 2010, 09:49 AM Post #1 |
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So I'm new to the glasses world. Last year I had an eye exam done and the doctor recommended a very mild prescription for some glasses to use while, for example, sitting at my computer at work. I lean away from the monitor and with the glasses it makes the text crystal clear. I could read without them, but again, it just makes the pixels very sharp. So I got these glasses and use them at work, and while it's been about a year and a half, I decided I should get a pair for when I'm at home. Makes sense, right? Well, as I said, I'm new to the glasses world and I went back into the glasses shop where I bought the first pair, and they asked for the prescription. I just said that I'd like to get a second pair of the kind I bought a little over a year ago. Apparently a fresh prescription (within the last year) is REQUIRED. WTF. I have the prescription from January 2009, with the specifications for the lenses, I figured that's all I needed to get a duplicate pair. Apparently not! I'm just curious as to why this is...it's not like I'm going to hurt myself by "overdosing" on wearing glasses. Perhaps getting brand new glasses with a brand new prescription is one thing...but why is there such a strict standard of having a (within the last year) prescription in order to get another pair? Even if it's the exact same I bought a little over a year ago? Sure your eyes may change a bit within the year or two, but shouldn't that be my prerogative about whether or not I have the absolute best lenses for my eyes? Very odd. I had no idea the prescription glasses industry was so strict! |
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| Copper | Aug 2 2010, 10:06 AM Post #2 |
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Shortstop
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Sure you won't overdose, but what if some young kid got a hold of them and used them to hallucinate? And then went out and wrecked his car? |
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The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy | |
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| PattyP | Aug 2 2010, 10:46 AM Post #3 |
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Senior Carp
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Have you tried over-the-counter readers? They come in several different strengths so you may be able to find something that mimics your prescription glasses. As middled-aged person who's had lasik surgery, I have multiple pairs of them. They are a god send. |
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A tired dog is a good dog. "Dogs' lives are too short...their only fault, really." A.S. Turnbull | |
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| Kincaid | Aug 2 2010, 10:47 AM Post #4 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Is it maybe just that shop? Wonder if you went to a different store if they could look at the specifications you have, or if you don't have the numbers, if they could just check the glasses you have and duplicate them. |
| Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006. | |
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| Kincaid | Aug 2 2010, 10:50 AM Post #5 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Very likely not. I understand that there are special "computer glasses" designed to reduce eye strain just when using a monitor. Not sure how that is. However, I do have a second pair of readers (from the Dollar Tree - $1) and use them when I am reading in bed and have already put my glasses away for the night. |
| Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006. | |
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| The 89th Key | Aug 2 2010, 11:02 AM Post #6 |
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Patty - I was under the impression that those reader glasses simply enlarged the text? It's a thought though... Kincaid - I may call around. This shop is right next to my home, so it's convenient, and where I got my glasses last time. I was just surprised to find out how strict they were with "we need an official prescription before we can order your lenses" rule. New to me! |
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| brenda | Aug 2 2010, 11:13 AM Post #7 |
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..............
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89 - Does your eye doctor's office offer glasses? Mine does, so one time a few years ago I just called and told them I wanted another pair, even with the same frames. They looked up my file and made them. I went for the final fitting and paid for them. |
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“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” ~A.A. Milne | |
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| VPG | Aug 2 2010, 11:34 AM Post #8 |
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Pisa-Carp
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I have reader glasses all over my Apt. and in my car. I can find a pair any place. I bought them all at the dollar store. Your 'script glasses have a number that corresponds to the number on the $ store glasses. My case it's 250. |
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I'M NOT YELLING.........I'M ITALIAN...........THAT'S HOW WE TALK! "People say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look." Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1971 | |
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| The 89th Key | Aug 2 2010, 11:37 AM Post #9 |
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UPDATE: Just called up the store and talked to someone else. For whatever reason, I said the same thing ("I'm just looking to get a 2nd pair") and they didn't question the prescription thing. They just looked up my order from last year and ordered an exact duplicate, should be ready in a few days. I guess it depends on who you talk to! |
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| brenda | Aug 2 2010, 11:42 AM Post #10 |
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..............
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You got that right! Good for you. |
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“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” ~A.A. Milne | |
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| The 89th Key | Aug 2 2010, 12:00 PM Post #11 |
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Thanks Brenda - and in response to your post, that's what I *thought* would happen. But on Friday when I went in, for whatever reason they were being very nice but strict about it. Caught me off guard. I guess the person today saw the dollar signs (and extremely reasonable request) over a possible prescription requirement. |
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| John D'Oh | Aug 2 2010, 01:21 PM Post #12 |
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MAMIL
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I think it's generally a good idea to get your eyes tested every three to four years, but probably not so much when you're young. I just bought my second pair of progressives. I didn't need anything at all until I was in my mid-30's. It was the blinding headaches that eventually gave it away.
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| What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket? | |
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| Jolly | Aug 2 2010, 01:33 PM Post #13 |
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Geaux Tigers!
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Yeah, but can ya get 'em for $8? http://www.zennioptical.com/home.php |
| The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros | |
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| RosemaryTwo | Aug 2 2010, 01:48 PM Post #14 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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89th, this is a HUGE pet pieve of mine. It's a law (federal?) that a vendor cannot refill contacts / glasses without a current prescription, which expires after one year. Ideas to circumvent the law (some of these apply to contact lenses, but you'll need those soon enough): 1. Do what you did; just ask someone else. 2. Keep a copy of your "old" prescription and order from a Canadian Web site. Just punch in the data and voila. 3. Buy contacts at Costco that will last for a year. Go back in 6 months and buy another year's supply. If they ask, tell 'em you use them (assuming they're disposable) more than the recommended once a week. Then maybe try again three months later. Be very polite and dress well. 4. Go to a glasses store with your prescription written on a plain piece of paper and tell them your original prescription is wet and illegible and your optomitrist just died and you can't remember his name anyway but you just had an appointment two weeks ago and your eyes are fine. 5. Lobby your congressman, like the optomitrist lobbying group surely did. Not saying I've done any of these things, but I say number 4 is the most likely to sound reasonable. I like to put lots of thought to this issue, so if I come up with more options, I will let you know. Edited by RosemaryTwo, Aug 2 2010, 01:49 PM.
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| "Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua | |
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| 1hp | Aug 2 2010, 03:06 PM Post #15 |
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Fulla-Carp
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Costco allows 2 years on a prescription. Actually, I'll revise that. I get my eyes tested by the optometrist at Costco. The prescription he gives me clearly states that the prescription is good for 2 years (prescription has an expiration date). Costco's eyeglass department honours this. 89th - if those pixels are looking sharp you'd either better 1) get a new monitor as yours must have such a low resolution that you can see the pixels, or 2) double check that they didn't give you a prescription for microscope lenses. |
| There are 10 kinds of people in this world, those that understand binary and................ | |
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| The 89th Key | Aug 2 2010, 03:46 PM Post #16 |
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R2 - good to see I'm not alone, and I'm new to this! 1hp -
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It was the blinding headaches that eventually gave it away.


5:02 PM Jul 10