Getting the right prescription for glasses is a challenge.....

Colleen

Colleen

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
I have a lazy left eye. I've had it since I was a kid. Probably born with it. So, my I'm right eye dominate. I go every year for my exam and according to my eye doc this year my Rx has changed quite a bit. I got new lenses for my frames through my eye doc and when I got them I couldn't see, especially with the bifocal. I kept trying to wear them because I thought I needed to "adjust" to a new Rx.

Let me back up a bit. When I got my new Rx lenses the gal talked me into getting Progressive lenses. I told her I'd tried them before years ago and couldn't get use to them. She said they've changed quite a bit over the years and that would be the way to go since I'd have 3 levels of vision and no line bifocals. I gave in, even though the doc who just examined me said I'd never be able to wear Progressives with a lazy eye because my eye doesn't focus where it's suppose to. I told her that, and she said she'd never heard of that. I'm easily influenced so she went ahead and gave me Progressives.

I tried them for a month or so and just could not see and constant headaches. I took them back and she said they'd have them re-made with regular lenses and bifocals. They came back and it was like trying to see through rainbows. She had had them made with regular poly instead of high resolution lenses. So, back they go again.

By this time, I'm not very confident that they'll be right this time either, so I ordered a pair from Zenni. They were inexpensive as I didn't want to spend a whole lot on a pair that I wasn't sure that the Rx was even right. Next year, I'm going to someone else. Anyway...the Zenni glasses are perfect. They automatically use the high resolution lenses so there's no "rainbowing". I guess you don't always get the best from an eye doc's place.

Anyone else have problems with your eye doctor???
 

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I got two pairs of progressive lenses. With neither can I read things that are a foot, or two, away, including my truck's dashboard, when I'm driving at night. Next time, I'm just getting lenses for my nearsightedness. With that part of my present lens prescription, I can read my dash just fine.
 
I've worn glasses most of my life, and had several different eye doctors over the years...some good, others not so much. I've tried a couple of these "national" chains....Lenscrafters, etc....with mixed results. About 10 years ago, a doctor opened a new eye clinic in a nearby town, and I tried him. He has been quite good. I go in for a thorough exam every year, and he recommended taking a couple of daily vitamins that have helped keep my vision quite stable. I get titanium frames, polymer progressive lenses, with good scratch resistance. His prices are fair, and vision insurance covers about 2/3rd's of the overall costs, and most importantly, my eyes don't seem to be getting any worse with age. Eye doctors are just like any other doctor....some are quite good, others seem to just be in it for the money.
 

Don M. said:
I've worn glasses most of my life, and had several different eye doctors over the years...some good, others not so much. I've tried a couple of these "national" chains....Lenscrafters, etc....with mixed results. About 10 years ago, a doctor opened a new eye clinic in a nearby town, and I tried him. He has been quite good. I go in for a thorough exam every year, and he recommended taking a couple of daily vitamins that have helped keep my vision quite stable. I get titanium frames, polymer progressive lenses, with good scratch resistance. His prices are fair, and vision insurance covers about 2/3rd's of the overall costs, and most importantly, my eyes don't seem to be getting any worse with age. Eye doctors are just like any other doctor....some are quite good, others seem to just be in it for the money.
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I think part of why my Rx changed so much is because my cataracts are "getting there" according to the eye doc. Could be why I can't seem to get enough light to do my cross stitching these days. I just thought the gal in the office on the glasses side was not quite up to par. She should have listened to me when I told her I couldn't wear Progressives, but I took her at her word that they had changed over the years. Not! Then to give me plain old poly lenses. SHEESH!

I actually didn't wear glasses "full time" until I turned 55+.
 
I have a similar problem, Colleen. One eye is substantially weaker than the other, so getting my prescription right is a challenge. Last year my prescription changed and after having the glasses re-made twice I just went back to my old ones, which I'm still wearing. It's time for my eye exam so I am hoping I get a better result this time. (I get annual eye exams because my father had macular degeneration and I want to keep on top of things.) I do wear progressives but I've been thinking about trying old style "trifocals" because I need the "close, medium distance, and far" lenses.
 
I too have worn glasses all my life. I have only peripheral vision in one eye, so only read with one eye. Also have astigmatism. I went to progressive lenses almost 20 years ago. They do take getting used too, and when changing RX's, again, need time to get used to. Having said that, there is a substantial difference in the quality of the lenses. You have to be sure you're getting the better lenses (which you can research for yourself). The less expensive lenses (a.k.a cheaper) may have problems with distortion. Also, coatings on the lenses may affect you. Wife had a scratch coating on her lenses that produced the 'rainbows'. Had it removed and it was fine.
 
treeguy64 said:
I got two pairs of progressive lenses. With neither can I read things that are a foot, or two, away, including my truck's dashboard, when I'm driving at night. Next time, I'm just getting lenses for my nearsightedness. With that part of my present lens prescription, I can read my dash just fine.
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Then, I would think, they were not ground properly, the RX was not correct, or poor quality lens . I've not had a problem with 3 pairs, over 20 years, of progressives and I have one 'bad' eye, astigmatism, and I'm farsighted. The quality of the better lenses is really good these days.
 
I tried progressive lenses and returned them for bifocals. They drove me nuts. One issue that really troubled me was it was difficult and time consuming to find the right head position when looking at the driver's side mirror while driving. Very dangerous. I did have trifocals which were necessary for a job I had, but now bifocals suffice. I am happy with my current eye doctor.
 
Believe it or not I have good luck with the Costco optometrist, I originally went to a private practice optometrist and was sold a pair of progressives that cost $500.00. They almost caused me to have a car accident and I went back to him and told him they needed to be changed and he said it just took some time to get used to them. I didn’t wait and went to the Costco optometrist out of desperation and was provided a new prescription that work great. I tried to get a refund from the other optometrist and he said he didn’t do refunds. I still have those glasses in my dresser at home and I’ve never worn them. I could not use my old frames for the new glasses as the shape of the frame did not conform to my prescription. I wear progressive trifocals.
 
C'est Moi said:
I have a similar problem, Colleen. One eye is substantially weaker than the other, so getting my prescription right is a challenge. Last year my prescription changed and after having the glasses re-made twice I just went back to my old ones, which I'm still wearing. It's time for my eye exam so I am hoping I get a better result this time. (I get annual eye exams because my father had macular degeneration and I want to keep on top of things.) I do wear progressives but I've been thinking about trying old style "trifocals" because I need the "close, medium distance, and far" lenses.
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Do they even make the old-fashioned trifocals?? I thought that's what Progressives were.

I was adopted so I don't have any family medical history to be aware of as I get older. Everything is just going to be a surprise, I guess.
 
Colleen said:
Do they even make the old-fashioned trifocals?? I thought that's what Progressives were.

I was adopted so I don't have any family medical history to be aware of as I get older. Everything is just going to be a surprise, I guess.
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Actually, progressives are not trifocals. They are "graduated strength" lenses. From google...

Bifocals contain two lens powers; trifocals have three. Progressive multifocal lenses gradually change in power from the top half of the lens to the bottom, and thus contain many lens powers.

I have tried several types of lenses, including contacts (mono-vision and bifocal). I can see fine with the contacts but I absolutely HATE "fooling" with them. So we'll see what happens after my next eye exam!! :D I hope your replacement glasses will work for you.
 
Colleen said:
Do they even make the old-fashioned trifocals?? I thought that's what Progressives were.

I was adopted so I don't have any family medical history to be aware of as I get older. Everything is just going to be a surprise, I guess.
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They are called trifocals but you don’t see the lines in the lenses.
 
C'est Moi said:
Actually, progressives are not trifocals. They are "graduated strength" lenses. From google...

Bifocals contain two lens powers; trifocals have three. Progressive multifocal lenses gradually change in power from the top half of the lens to the bottom, and thus contain many lens powers.

I have tried several types of lenses, including contacts (mono-vision and bifocal). I can see fine with the contacts but I absolutely HATE "fooling" with them. So we'll see what happens after my next eye exam!! :D I hope your replacement glasses will work for you.
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These were not even offered to me...just the Progressives. Hmmmm......

I remember years ago that a lot of people I worked with wore trifocals (I didn't even wear glasses back then). I thought they no longer existed and that Progressives took their place since you have 3 vision areas. I hated the Progressives! No peripheral vision and I could never figure out which way to tilt my head to get the object I was looking at in the right spot. What a pain!
 
Colleen said:
These were not even offered to me...just the Progressives. Hmmmm......

I remember years ago that a lot of people I worked with wore trifocals (I didn't even wear glasses back then). I thought they no longer existed and that Progressives took their place since you have 3 vision areas. I hated the Progressives! No peripheral vision and I could never figure out which way to tilt my head to get the object I was looking at in the right spot. What a pain!
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As far as I know, the old-school trifocals are still available...but I'm not sure. I know the progressives can be made in a way to widen the center focus area; I believe for people who do a lot of computer work. So there are some tweaks that can be made in the lenses.

I would like some smaller frames but there is a minimum frame size for progressive lenses. It does take a while to become accustomed to progressives, which can be frustrating!
 

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