dilemma

I REALLY need new glasses (would love contacts again, but sure can't afford that right now). Mine must be close to 10 years old, badly scratched, held together with miniature baling wire (twistie wire) etc.

I called the place I got them from to see if I could at least get the old script to order some new ones on line, but they don't even have my name in their system any more. I probably need a different prescription anyway but having lenses with the old one that I could actually see through would be a vast improvement.

So here is my dilemma: local eye place wants $120 for exam. cheapo chain place in the mall has coupons for $40-50 BUT that involves a 60 mile (one way) drive in a decrepit, shitty gas mileage truck that will end up adding at least $30 for fuel and potentially more if it breaks down or I can't resist running other errands.

What should I do? I hate the idea of paying $120 vs $50 although they probably will do a better exam. ggggrrrrrr:mad:

:eyes: :rofl:

You should have a real medical doctor examine your eyes every once in a while, not just an optician.

He will dilate your eyes and examine their interior for any problems, check your intrarocular pressure, as well as write a prescription for glasses.

And I know I am (long) overdue, but like a lot of people these days, money is a real issue.x(

tell you the prescription of the old glasses. I've had them do it before an eye exam, so they had a starting point. There's some sort of machine for that.

neither of the two places I talked to, offered anything to help after I explained the tight finance problem.

http://www.drug3k.com/forum1/Optical/can-an-optician-determine-the-prescription-for-an-existing-pair-of-glasses-208392.htm which ought to be cheaper than an exam. Usual caveats about believing what you read on the Internets, of course.

those would look great on me too:rofl:

I couldnt get anybody to copy my prescription and ended up having to pay for the eye exam. Something about how rapidly our eyes and our prescriptions change, they arent willing to go past a certain time. If your old glasses work well for you, you might lie to them about how long you have had them.

what? if I can't afford it I'm likely to just go with out period, so I don't understand why you can't use an old prescription for glasses if it helps.

If the choice is glasses or not. Don't think using an old, possibly wrong eyeglass prescription is going to hurt anything more than doing nothing.

;-)

I haven't done it yet but I've heard that there are outlets that you can buy online and get the glasses for as little as $10. It used to be that the exam and the glasses would set me back $250 - $300 but I've heard that you can get excellent glasses for much, much cheaper buying them online.

My glasses are the same age as yours, really scratched, also held together with wire, the one nose piece is missing, the other one is broken in half and I have a permanent sore where the broken piece rests on my nose! I really need to just bite the bullet and get the new glasses but every time I get bonked on the head by the filly, or pushed by one of the big TB bullies and my glasses get whalloped, I think "thank gawd these are already a disaster. I'd be furious if they just broke a new pair of glasses".

So I procrastinate.... (what else is new)

the first big "bending" and lens popping out was a horse head to the face.

I get new nose pieces from the local pharmacy - they even put them in for $5 (although I hate for anybody to handle and actually see how they are held together up close :rofl: )

for sure I am ordering on-line - I want to see how they are plus seem so cheap - even if they are crap I can order more than once.

For me I break the good ones as fast as the cheap so...

"Pupillary Distance (PD) is the distance between pupils, usually given in millimeters, it is sometimes known as the interpupillary Distance (IPD). It is written as two values if the prescription is for bifocals or progressive lenses - these are the pupillary distances for the distance and near fixation (essentially, the upper and lower part of the lenses). They differ due to pupillary convergence when looking at near objects. Additionally, an eyeglasses prescription may include a monocular pupillary distance ("monocular PD"). These measurements indicate, in millimeters, the distances from each pupil to the center of the nose where the center of the frame bridge rests. PD measurements are essential for all spectacle dispensings, monocular PDs being essential in progressive lenses and for those with high prescription. PDs can be measured using a pupilometer or by using a ruler. In countries such as the United Kingdom, PD measurement is not a legal requirement as part of the prescription and is often not included."

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeglass_prescription

Makes fence mending kinda difficult though. :)

the picture I mean! link says forbidden :(

oh and you can tell by my post history just how much fence work I am getting done:hide:

I think. :blush:

I had to load the url into my browser "manually" lets see if it will post for me:



nope - strange. but I saw it! and I laughed!

Sorry, I know money is tight, but I can tell you first hand that there are eye diseases (Like Glaucoma, to name just one) that can take your sight without you really noticing until it is too late to be helped/healed. I really urge everyone to get an eye exam and have that inner eye pressure checked on an annual basis (unless your eye doc suggests a different schedule for you...)

As for glasses and contacts, I would suggest that you get the script from the eye doc--including the pupillary distance which IS very important--and then order the new glasses online. I dunno that I'd try it for something like a no-line bi-focal, but for single vision glasses you really can save a LOT of money by ordering online. My eyes are really bad and I need a high index script. I priced out glasses at both Lenscrafters and a couple of buyers' clubs, and I was facing about $350 for a new pair of glasses. I ordered a pair from Coastal Contacts dot com and paid $125 total for a pair of Halston Frames with high index lenses and all the suggested coatings (non glare and UV and what not...)

I love em. If I can get my script filled that cheap, I can afford to buy some new glasses more often than every five years (which is how long I wore my last pair...) By all means, you can save on the glasses, but do not scrimp when it comes to your eye exam--ok?


Good luck!




Laura