[Magdalen] opinions on web based eye glasses???

[Lynn Ronkainen]

Thanks Scott.
Growing up I always saw an Ophthalmologist so never connected 'the glasses 
store' with a person who also examined eyes.

As an adult, I have gone mostly to Optometrists, all of which I've had great 
confidence in.  They all had 'showrooms'.. sometimes I ordered through/from 
them, sometimes not.  Yes, I always got pressure. I've usually worn the same 
frames, even in the age of 'plastic' frames (the previous age), for several 
prescription cycles - read that 'new lenses'.... that is behavior that is 
also not appreciated and now a days frames have become a fashion statement, 
all the better to change them every time so you 'keep up' with the styles. 
Not for me.  The frame style I've been wearing since '04 are perfect for me 
and this pair of frames will be my third.

Now, devoid of any insurance coverage for eye exams (one of the parts of 
'Obama care' that got cut after the first year as a 'must include'), I've 
looked into buying it myself, but doing the math, it doesn't really make 
much of a difference - pay the insurance or pay the eye-guy.

When I started my investigating for exam/frames (current ones falling 
apart - I thought that this miracle metal titanium lasted forever?!), the 
exam is in the 95.-150. range for an optometrist. Duplicating my frames at 3 
different places I went in to would be 400. for the frames (I've found them 
on line from $180. - 235.) - SO... I feel comfortable thinking that the 
people I've spoken with are still making a tidy sum on these frames.  The 
polycarbonate lenses, which also need to be polished on the perimeter edges, 
in a 'lined' bifocal are also quoted as running $125. - 250. a pair (lenses 
only)....

That is when I started getting creative, ventured online and made some phone 
calls, and bought a  Groupon for a local Optometrist who I know is good as 
some of my friends go there.  The exam is a 'deal', but a special retina 
test is extra ($55.). They have an allowance toward frames, but not lenses 
and my price online for the frames is a better deal than buying the frames 
through him with my 'allowance'.  The eye care industry is in a tough 
situation with the online competition, but I'm not sure what or where the 
answer is to handling the huge cost difference.  Even when I had eye 
insurance I would have had to pay over $300. in the scenario I'm involved in 
now. SIGH (cosmic).

Lynn



website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck
 "Either Freedom for all or stop talking about Freedom at all" from a talk 
by Richard Rohr

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Scott Knitter" <scottknitter at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2016 1:22 PM
To: "Magdalen at herberthouse.org" <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] opinions on web based eye glasses???

> I think it's a good idea if one's prescription allows for it; the
> stupid hangup, though, is getting one's pupillary distance measured
> accurately. Apparently optometrists are often loath to give you this
> number because they don't want to help you order glasses online. There
> are YouTubes showing how to try to measure it yourself, but I don't
> trust myself to do this without error.
>
> The answer is probably that you should request the PD if they don't
> put it on your prescription and be a bit indignant with them if they
> give you flack about it. It's a measurement that you own and should be
> able to have and use as you wish.
>
> The key to successful online glasses, I'd think, is to get exactly
> what the optometrist prescribed; for instance, if you need progressive
> lenses, don't try to order something less than that...but maybe the
> more scrupulous vendors will make sure you're getting what is
> prescribed and not engage in game-playing.
>
> I like some of Warby-Parker's glasses but am not sure they can
> accommodate my progressive prescription. Maybe by now they do. I
> haven't looked in a while. They do have a showroom here in Chicago
> where I can actually go and try on all their frames.
>
> I happened to find some frames I love at my optometrist's small
> office, but generally the in-person glasses-buying experience involves
> a small selection and/or high pressure to run up the bill and get
> something more than what you need or wanted when you came in. I like
> the idea of online selection and precision, as long as the lenses and
> frames they sell are of high quality. Caveat emptor as always.
>
> On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 11:30 AM, Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com> 
> wrote:
>> SO... has anyone in the pub had experience buying frames and or lenses
>> online? what say yea??
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Scott R. Knitter
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA