eye exam and glasses within a day?

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pih

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#324087 28-Apr-2010 11:04

bazzer: ow!? If I'd known about that I might have stuck with glasses instead of spending nearly $10K on surgery!? My eyes were as bad as yours and the expense of high-RI glasses (and lack of frame choice actually)?finally got to be too much for me.

P.S. How did get titanium (I'm auming thin) frames?? Even with the highest index, my lenses were always so thick at the edge.? Perhaps you don't mind the look?

Yep, thin frames and thick lenses - they are not as bad as you might think. They always cut the lens so that the frames are more towards the outer edge, so front on it's hard to notice. I personally wear contacts half the time anyway (and I'm marred so no chicks to woo), so the thick lenses don't bother me. I choose smaller frames to minimize the effects but that's about it. I personally also feel that going frameless emphasizes the thickness of already thick lenses.

Frankrockk: sorry for making your OT thread even more OT, I didn't mean for this to become a general glasses discussion :)

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bazzer

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#324094 28-Apr-2010 11:15

vinnieg: oh and Bazzer, just wondering, was that $10k for two surgeries on each eye? because the first one didn't quite work?

What's your current vision?

I was thinking of doing the same and hopefully get 20-15 or 20-10 vision down at the Wellington Eye Centre, but I know the cost is going to be at least 6k, more if they have to do another op

My vision was too poor to get LASIK, so I had ICL, it's a bit more expensive. Seems to be pretty good so far, better than 6/6. I would think 6/3 would be a bit ambitious, that's pretty much the limit. Still, it's awesome being able to see in the morning :)

P.S. Sorry for the OT, OP!

NonprayingMantis

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#324112 28-Apr-2010 11:43

Personally I'd steer clear of ordering glasses online for anything but the most basic prescriptions.

One of the things you pay for in the price when buying instore is the dispense. that is where the dispensing optician helps to fit your glasses and checks they are 'working' properly.
this is a critical part of getting glasses - especially for glasses with unusual shapes (small frames in particular), things like bifocals or varifocals, or high prescriptions. It's also not something you can do yourself - it's a minimum 2 year qualification to do this, and is not simple.

Missing that out by ordering online just to save a few bucks is, IMO, silly.

contact lenses online, however, is a different story. (assuming you get your first pairs from a store where they can help you fit them properly)

vinnieg

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#324113 28-Apr-2010 11:43

also sorry for OT :), thanks Bazzer, looking at LASIK now, woohoo

OP did you have any luck getting the glasses?

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

pih

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#324432 28-Apr-2010 22:04

pih: ...(and I'm marred so no chicks to woo)

That was supposed to say married... (is there a difference? :) )

NonprayingMantis: Personally I'd steer clear of ordering glasses online for anything but the most basic prescriptions.

One of the things you pay for in the price when buying instore is the dispense. that is where the dispensing optician helps to fit your glasses and checks they are 'working' properly.
this is a critical part of getting glasses - especially for glasses with unusual shapes (small frames in particular), things like bifocals or varifocals, or high prescriptions. It's also not something you can do yourself - it's a minimum 2 year qualification to do this, and is not simple.

Missing that out by ordering online just to save a few bucks is, IMO, silly.

contact lenses online, however, is a different story. (assuming you get your first pairs from a store where they can help you fit them properly)

I agree that dispensing opticians are the ones qualified to fit glasses properly, but all they pass to the manufacturer is your full prescription - lens prescription and pupillary distance. Other factors such as proper frame size, final lens weight, optimal lens index and edge thickness, even proper frame fitting can be self-ascertained when you've been wearing glasses for over 20 years like I have. The only thing that might be missing is that final step you refer to as checking it's all "working properly", but for glasses I only wear about half the time it's worth the 90% saving (and your optometrist can always check them for you). Perhaps the only thing that you don't get with an online pair of specs is the guarantee that your glasses will suit you, and that if they are not "right" for you they'll be put right free of charge, but at that price you can order 5 pairs and still pay less than a single one here in NZ!

As always, ymmv...

pih

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#325513 1-May-2010 09:25

vinnieg: also sorry for OT :), thanks Bazzer, looking at LASIK now, woohoo

OP did you have any luck getting the glasses?

My brother just got PRK about a week ago in the US - he decided on that over Lasik for a few different reasons - if you're looking into it he has written up a blow-by-blow on his blog that may interest you: metalev.org

I'd personally love to get laser treatment, but the cost and risk associated with it seem too great (I have some other complicating factors too). At one stage I was considering IOL's (intra-occular lenses), as they can treat higher prescriptions with it, and it's reverseable (with only the risk of infection each time), but I think the price is higher again, and not many places do them here I don't think.

bazzer

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#325518 1-May-2010 09:59

pih: I'd personally love to get laser treatment, but the cost and risk associated with it seem too great (I have some other complicating factors too). At one stage I was considering IOL's (intra-occular lenses), as they can treat higher prescriptions with it, and it's reverseable (with only the risk of infection each time), but I think the price is higher again, and not many places do them here I don't think.

That is what I had done a month ago. It was expensive, but it's nice not to have to worry about glasses/contacts. I wouldn't have thought you'd be a candidate for laser surgery (I wasn't). I went to the Eye Institute in Remuera. PM me if you want any details.

KJensen

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#325715 2-May-2010 08:26

Hi there,
I am an Optometrist in Auckland and have two Visique Optometry Stores, Howick and Papakura.
The length of time it takes to have your glasses ready, does depend on your prescription. If your lenses can be made from a stock lens and if you choose a full rim frame ( either plastic or metal), the lenses should be able to be back the following afternoon if you were tested in the morning.
If your lenses have to be a grind lens ( ie. your prescription is out of stock range or your frame requires a special fitting) the lenses can take 5-10 working days.
If we can be of help, please contact us.
K Jensen.

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