I just escaped a HUGE eye care ripoff. ( UPDATE: glasses came and are perfect)

[dixiegrrrrl]

Last edited Tue Mar 29, 2016, 03:23 PM - Edit history (1)

The time has come that I need eyeglasses to see the computer clearly enough.
Been getting by without them, and have using orange colored sunglasses to block the blue light from the puter and the e-book at night, which has been having a very positive effect on the quality of my sleep and stopping watery itchy eyes.
Screen words are still a bit blurry tho.

So,time to get the prescription glasses, and the eye doc firmly declared since they were for the computer, I HAD to have the special blue light coating.
ok...quick vision check, then I am marched over to the nice young thang sitting at the glasses fitting table.
But, I have played this game before, so I asked her for the bill for just the exam and that I would have to wait to get enough money for the glasses and could I please have a copy of the prescription for my files.
Exam only bill came to $33.00.

The special coated lenses came to 400.00!
Without even counting the frames.

Can I just have the eyeglasses with out the bluelight coating?
NO, she said.
( That is bs and I know it)

Now this is the ONLY eye doc in town, and they are part of a chain which is the only one in any of the nearby towns.

Got home, immediately called the Canadian eyewear company that I had bought my last prescription from in November,
( single lens prescription, frames, free magnetic sunglasses, hard clamshell case, and 100% guarantee for a year) for $49.00, no tax.
I could have bought more expensive frames, but the ones I got are of excellent quality also.

Had to bargain a bit because of the special blue light preventive coating, at first they asked 200.00, then 150.00
but I know a secret.
I know that making lenses for glasses is done in just a few places in the country, and that it costs under $12.00 or so to make them, and the rest is profit. ( Hat Tip to Consumerist.com)
and I know that there is negotiation room with online eyewear places. ( Mr. Dixie has used them for years)

Bottom line......frames, glasses, coating, $83.00, no tax, will be here within 10 days of last Wed.

[LiberalEsto]

1. Check out the free f.lux download which reduces blue light in the evenings

http://download.cnet.com/f-lux/3000-2094_4-75447318.html

I found out about it from the DU computer support group and love it

[angstlessk]

13. I just got flex...WOW

I hope my runny eyes, when I do intensive work, will help me see more clearly...sometimes I have to looker closer to see the difference between a 6 or an 8

[Baobab]

76. Antioxidants will help preserve numerous aspects of vision longer

One of the best ones and its cheap is alpha lipoic acid, another really good one is n-acetylcysteine, also
resveratrol, curcumin, carnosine (can be made into eyedrops - must be buffered saline, very weak, causes dramatic improvement in some eye conditions of aging) astaxanthin, quercetin, EGCG/green tea, selenium, zinc, ascorbic acid, vitamin e

[catchnrelease]

16. I love it

I've been using f.lux for awhile now and love it. Highly recommend it to anyone on the computer a lot in the evenings.

[HeartoftheMidwest]

21. Ditto that.......

...it's free and works beautifully. Anecdotal for sure, but am sleeping better with f.lux, even though computer use hasn't changed.

[dixiegrrrrl]

48. Happy to hear you are sleeping better.

I thought maybe i was imagining things when I started using blue light blocking sunglasses at night for the puter and the e-book.
Not only was I sleeping deeper, I was more awake all of the next AND had more energy.

Kept an eye on the change for the last 3 weeks, and it seems to be the same.
The one night I did not use the glasses I did not feel as "up" the next day.

[HeartoftheMidwest]

52. Certainly true....

...we also make sure all lights are out or covered: computers, chargers, modems, all give off varying amounts of light, and some are quite bright. Not easy to reduce light or omit all light from your sleeping quarters.
Glad you're feeling better too!

[csziggy]

37. Rather than go to Cnet to download, go straight to the source

I got a warning from Ublock about the Cnet site - and have been getting warnings from various protective software on it for years - so I went to the site for F.lux: https://justgetflux.com/ No warnings there!

In addition their site has a lot of information about the basis on which they make claims about their software.

Thanks for the recommendation!

[TexasBushwhacker]

72. There's also Twilight n/t

[mrmpa]

99. Just downloaded it........

will have a cataract removed in 2 weeks. Will be using cheaters for awhile, until I can buy a prescription pair, this should help.

[Hekate]

113. This appears to be for PC with Windows. Will it work for Mac/ iPads?

I'd love to have this feature.

[Person 2713]

2. Yes I don't know who buys at these places. I assume insurance is paying for it and getting ripped o

off and then the eye insurance goes up in price for the patient. Last pair $19 and kids ask my kid where he bought his glasses .
I told him to say he doesn't remember
Why? because the worry warts will take one of us aside and assure us the glasses( probably done at the same lab as their last year's fashion sold this year at$400 glasses ) are not good for his eyes or some crap we as informed consumers, don't care to hear

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Medicare pays for one eye exam a year and basic one lens glasses in cheap frames.

But every year the deductible is 140.00 or so, so I would not have been covered.

I know what you mean by worry worts.

I have 2 neighbors in their 80's.
One of them is very good at finding bargains, and she likes the idea of where I got my glasses.
Interestingly, she is a pretty well off widow.

the other neighbor is not that well off, yet will not buy online glasses.
she is, poor thing, very very compliant with the medical authorities, even the one who mis-managed her care.
He has retired now, thank god.

[passiveporcupine]

44. The last time I had my eyes checked, I accidentally got the vision exam

And I ended up having to pay for it out of pocket. Medicare covered the rest. I didn't go in for vision, but for flashers and floaters...needed to make sure I didn't have a serious problem. He tricked me into letting him do the vision test. So, when did Medicare start giving us one vision exam a year? And glasses? I wasn't aware of this.

[dixiegrrrrl]

67. Check your 2016 Medicare book.

And another happy surprise.
I went to see doc couple weeks ago for the annual quick check up and prescription re-newals.
Because of the deductible I have to pay the office visit charge.
But, this time, office manager said no charge.
She said Medicare allows one free annual per year.
So me and my money happily went home.

[passiveporcupine]

84. Yeah, the free annual exam has been a thing since ACA kicked in

but you are not allowed to talk about any new issues. You really are not supposed to talk about anything...just let him check your heart and chest and/or whatever your annual exam consists of. I never qualify for the free exam.

[dixiegrrrrl]

85. I thought she looked a bit flummoxed when I asked why I had to pay last year.

The doc's office was not at all slow in getting up to speed about raising their office visit from 50.00 to 100.00 when the ACA kicked in.
Seems to be a bit slow on other stuff tho.
Watching a bunch of computer illiterate people try to use the mandated computers is quite painful for me.

[passiveporcupine]

89. Your bill jumped from $50 to $100?

When I paid cash, they charged me $100. As soon as I had Medicare the bill went up to $300 a visit, and now because of the new classification for pain meds (which I need daily) I am supposed to see the doc four times a year. I can't afford that (even on Medicare), and my doc is nice enough that he's letting me see him twice a year and he's giving me refills two times a year without a visit.

I'm still paying more than I used to at $100 a year for an annual visit to renew my meds. I never had enough to actually see him for anything else. I've learned the web is my friend. When something goes wrong I look it up on line and try to figure out how to treat myself.

Mayo clinic and Merck manuals are my go to places for medical info. Could not manage without them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

96. We live in a small rural town in the South.

Expenses overall are about 1/3 of the West Coast, and I assume East Coast cities.

The office visits in 2005 were 35.00, no insurance.
then went up to 50.00 for a year just before ACA
then went up to 100.00 just after ACA.
Fortunately we both had Medicare at the 100.00 mark,
BUT
the deductible is 140.00 something so even then we pay out of pocket.

until this year apparently, when Medicare and ACA says one free exam.
Since we only see doc once a year, barring emergencies, I am happy to pocket the 100.00. as of this year.

btw...Mr. Dixie broke his back last May.
The GP doc here has been good about pain meds, the only rule is Mr. has to pick up script and hand carry to pharmacy, about every 3 weeks.
Doc office and pharmacy are close together, no big deal.

[mrmpa]

101. on my pain med prescriptions.........

My doctor writes me 2 prescription, both for a 45 day (90 pills) of vicodin. On the second prescription she writes that it is to be filled after 90 days (she figures the date out) & sends me home with them. Have never had a problem getting that second script filles.

[passiveporcupine]

104. OMG, how did he break his back?

I hope he's doing OK. Has he had surgery, or is this something surgery can't help?

I'm glad Mr. Dixie has you to help him. And I really do hope he's going to heal OK and be able to get around without a lot of pain for the rest of his life, because that's just not easy to do.

[dixiegrrrrl]

105. He has a bum foot/leg. And he mis-stepped, lost his balance and landed flat on his lower back

on hardwood floor.
I knew instantly he had done serious damage, cause he was in agony and could not even begin to move for 30 minutes.

MRI showed compressed vertebrae and bulging discs in his lower spine.
Specialist ( we lucked out there, were referred to the best in the Gulf area) said a back brace over time would do the same as any operation and would avoid any possible problems because of an operation.
Irony there, we have insurance and could not afford operation, but did not need it. Ain't that way it goes?

And he is healing nicely, but still on ( reduced) pain meds, some days are better than others.

[passiveporcupine]

106. I'm glad they were able to help him without surgery

I opted for surgery when I was 35 (I lost a disc and was in constant misery) and when I was 45, I had a synovial cyst in my spine rupture and leave me with permanent nerve damage in my spine. If I had not had a spinal fusion at 35, I would never have had the synovial cyst in the first place. I am so glad for you he didn't go that route. Exercise...for the rest of his life, is what he needs to keep him with a functioning spine and mobility.

[dixiegrrrrl]

107. Spinal fusion is exactly what the doc said was one option

but we instinctively did not like the idea.
Thank you for that info, I will share it with my man, I know he will be very relieved to hear he made the right choice.

[dlwickham]

92. My eye doctor doesn't take Medicare

I thought none of them did

[dixiegrrrrl]

97. When I called, they said they did.

But because I had that deductible at the time, I paid for the exam.

[RKP5637]

3. Good to know! The blue coating must be new. I got computer glasses years ago, still

use them, no blue coating. ... but now I just use magnified readers, seems to work OK for me, at least for now. There are so many ripoffs in the country. US should just be renamed United Ripoff, Inc. The great country of scams.

[Mosby]

10. its anti reflective coating

My glasses have UV, AR and anti scratch coating.

The AR coating can be green or blue.

[RKP5637]

17. Thanks!!! n/t

[passiveporcupine]

86. I saw some glasses in the store for night time driving

Cheap, like reading glasses...no prescription, but lenses are tinted an olive green or blue. Is that the AR coating you are talking about? If you can get it so cheap at Walmart, why would it cost so much to add that coating to glasses at an eyeglass store?

Silly question, I know.

I have trouble with night time driving and I was thinking of getting some of those, but I need prescription glasses to drive and I've needed new glasses for some time, so if this AR coating will help with night driving, I know I need that on my next pair of driving glasses. And I guess on my next pair of computer glasses too. Right now I'm working sans glasses on the computer and I'm practically blind most of the day from eye strain.

I hope this AV stuff works for night driving. I'm at the point where I try to never drive at night any more because the lights are so hard on my eyes.

[dixiegrrrrl]

88. Have you been checked for cataracts?

That is one thing that makes eyes so very sensitive to light.

I have found that my prescription sunglasses, with the polarized tinting, really reduces glare even in light fog.

Other claim that orange tinted glasses cut off glare at night.

Having said that, I do not drive at night, there is no need to now that I am at home all the time.

[passiveporcupine]

90. It's probably been five years since my eyes were last checked

and no sign of cataracts then. They said I might be getting glaucoma though, and I should be going in for a yearly exam for that. If it's free now, I will check that out. Plus, as I said, I really really need new glasses. Have not gotten any for over ten years and my glasses are scratched and they bug the hell out of me to see through the scratches, so I mostly go without, except for driving.

[Mosby]

94. prescription lenses with AR coating are clear

You can only see the green or blue via reflection off the lens from a light source.

If you need prescription glasses you should definitely get AR coating. The coating really helps with night driving. If your correction is more than mild I would ask about high index lenses. what might be bothering your eyes is UV light, you can get a coating for that also.

[passiveporcupine]

95. Thanks Mosby!

[dflprincess]

46. When I'm not in front of a computer

I wear glasses with a progressive lens and those lens cost a small fortune but they work so much better for me than a bifocal and I'm well on my way to needing a trifocal.

As I type this and for most the day at work I wear a pair of readers I got at the drugstore. Much easier to see the screen with them than progressive lens.

My eye doctor (who gets ranked as one of the best in the area) told if the cheap ones work for me that's just fine by him. He's not convinced that most people need the computer glasses unless it's really bothering their eyes and thinks some of the hype around the them is just hype. He pointed out that you most often hear it mentioned in commercials for places that sell glasses.

[RKP5637]

54. I wear progressive trifocal lens, but in general my vision is pretty good, so I don't wear them

too much unless I feel a headache coming on. It's at the PC things sometimes start to get blurry, so that's when I tried the cheap ones rather than my weaker PC glasses. They really work well. Definitely, trying to wear progressive glasses at a PC will drive one up the wall!!! My ophthalmologist who is highly regarded like your dr. said pretty much the same. The cheap ones are find if they work for you.

[scscholar]

4. How did you get your PD?

PD = pupillary distance.

I worked for an optometrist, and while they legally had to give your your prescription, they didn't have to give you the PD so you couldn't buy glasses online that fit. Be very careful buying glasses without that the right PD! Also, a good doctor will reduce the PD by a couple of mm if you need to see close-up for reading or to use a computer. I saw a lot of people buy glasses online only to waste all of their money and have to come back in to buy something that actually works for much more money.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. This time around the PD WAS on the prescription.

Last time I checked the prescription against an older one for the same distance glasses I had gotten a few years before.
They were the same.
I save all my prescriptions for at least 10 years, in case we have to leave the house in a hurricane.

And, if it were off, I could always return the glasses for a refund.

[scscholar]

47. But it doesn't legally have to be!

The medical cartel screws us hard. So hard.

[A Little Weird]

9. Get someone to measure

I printed out a ruler - http://www.glasses.com/downloads/glassesPDRuler.pdf - and had a buddy check it. I actually had 3 different people measure it and when they all gave me the same number I assumed it was correct.

I went from paying $300+ every time I had to buy glasses to paying less than $50.

[Person 2713]

12. That is $250 in your pocket . Not providing the pd if it was measured at an exam you paid for?

That's someone trying to get the $300 in thier pocket and no one else allowed to see exam results

[Person 2713]

15. So your employer could have provided the pd from an exam that was paid for by the patient

but did not so people could not buy glasses online
But choosing not to provide the PD resulted in some patients wasting money and having to come back to spend more money with the doctors

Doesn't really equate to buying glasses online is a waste of money or glasses online do not fit
I will not say what it equates to for me

[Codeine]

61. Get a ruler with metric markings.

Have someone hold the ruler right up to your eyes while you stare into the distance. The measurement from pupil center to pupil center is your PD.

Hell, I did mine in the mirror by myself and it was accurate, but that's not recommended.

[dixiegrrrrl]

68. Mr. Dixie does same thing for both of us.

And as my prescription confirms, it is correct.

[noiretextatique]

70. Zenni and other places show you how to measure PD

I did mine...no problems.

[scscholar]

73. Please don't do this!

The measurement is critical. Unless you get it to within two millimeters or less, it will bother you and probably give you headaches. Again, I saw time and time again when someone bought glasses online that had to throw them away because they got the PP wrong. Don't waste your money. Get glasses that fit.

[obamanut2012]

93. Not true whatsoever

It's 100% possible to get accurate PD at home, and order from Zenni or Warby Parker.

It should be a Federal law that the PD is on the script, too.

[dixiegrrrrl]

98. I think your concern might be mis-placed, esp. here on DU.

There are plenty of people who are capable of taking accurate PD readings at home with the correct measuring implement, like Mr. Dixie does.
I admire people who empower themselves.

[noiretextatique]

110. I have been measuring my own frames for over 5 years

No problems thus far.

[scscholar]

111. You got lucky then

Even off by a few mm too small can make the edges of the lenses much bigger. Also, it can cause a colored shadow around edges if it isn't perfectly correct. My current glasses have an intentional 2mm too small PD for reading and using a computer. They suck for long distance because of that. The PD matters.

[noiretextatique]

117. Knock it off, would you?

Are you a lobbyist for the optometry industry? It's really not rocket science, as you claim.

[Doremus]

91. Costco optometrist gave me mine, both closeup and distance

I believe Costco's eye exams are administered by private docs, i.e. not Costco employees. So they really have no incentive to withhold the PDs.

[Scuba]

6. Medicare for All, including dental, optical, hearing aids and mental health services.

And yes, we can afford it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Ramen to that.

totally agree.

except...not good enough to HAVE Medicare unless it covers the important stuff.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

23. Don't forget the free drugs!

[napi21]

53. I don't think drugs are free. The euro model his plan is patterened after does not

offer FREE DRUGS. Much cheaper than those in the US, but not free.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

63. Darn!

[airplaneman]

119. I have a saying

You cannot see - not covered
You cannot hear - not covered
You cannot chew - not covered
You cannot pee - well now your covered

And yes I cannot wait for the day we are all covered for complete health.

-Airplane

[malaise]

11. The system works for corporations and their owners

It has nothing to do with society and people other than wanting our labor for peanuts, ignorance, silence and money

[packman]

14. Old joke about squeezing the last dollar

Doctor - "Exam $150"
Customer nods O.K.
Doctor - "Frame will be $100"
Customer nods
"Lens $75"
Still no response
"Each"

Dentists are the worst though, IMHO.

[Person 2713]

18. I have a rare good dentist but most are greedy rip offs yes beware . There was an investigation

report where someone visited 50 dentist for an exam and consultation
Work needed ? Went from$0 to $50,000 for the same mouth all within 3 months time of the investigation and the $50 k office was as crowded as the rest!


I know a friend is getting ripped off but it is someone who thinks all his doctors are gods so I wouldn't even try to get involved . Every tooth root canal and capped by now I think . I once asked were you in pain?, he said no,the dentist just said it was time for a root canal on that tooth
Were they 'timed ' to car payments I wondered???

[cer7711]

20. Would you care to share the name of that Canadian eyewear company?

Thanks!

[dixiegrrrrl]

25. Coastal dot com

They are in Vancouver BC

You can order online like buying something from Amazon
or
you can call their tollfree #, which I recommend the first time, and order with nice person who answers, they give you helpful info about what the prescription codes mean.
You just have to read the codes to them..

Best thing to do is get an idea online of the glasses prices and the special offers, like Buy One, get one free, and they have 49.00 frames, free lenses, which is what I got the first time.
Make sure you know the single vision lenses are free, you are paying for frames.

If you are on the East side of the country, shipping (free) takes about 10 days, it has to clear customs.

They also do contacts and other eyewear.

Also there are other online stores, Mr. Dixie prefers a different one than what I used, but both of them came thru with great prices and no problems.


VERY nice people.

[cer7711]

39. Great! Thank you.

Bookmarked in my browser now.

Cheers!

[zentrum]

19. WOW. Thanks for telling us!

[Ed Suspicious]

22. I used to pay hundreds. No longer.

http://www.zennioptical.com/

[Snotcicles]

26. Can you get bifocal and trifocal with them? nt

[elmac]

28. I know they have bifocals

I just get separate reading, computer and driving glasses. At about $8 per and they last longer then my local shop charging hundreds, those days are done.

[Snotcicles]

31. Wow, what do you have to have to get them besides the prescription? nt

[Ed Suspicious]

33. Select frames, enter prescription, chose lens options, pay, wait a couple weeks.

I have 3 pairs in rotation because now I can.

[Snotcicles]

40. Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the tip. nt

[Person 2713]

58. Zenni ships out of CA it is good and fast

[Snotcicles]

32. I'll be using them too. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

49. Mr. Dixie got trifocals with Zenni.

Several times.
No problems with them at all.

[Codeine]

62. Yes, and progressives. nt

[elmac]

27. Been using Zenni for over a decade, great place

great prices.

[womanofthehills]

35. I love Zenni too

my computer glasses cost $16.00 and they are excellent. They will even send you a PD measurement tool. I'm about to order more glasses from them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

29. THAT's the one Mr.dixie uses.

Thanks for helping me remember the name!

[elljay]

34. I got three pairs of glasses

including sunglasses clips for two, for about $100 from Zenni (they had a special). Very pleased.

[Habibi]

42. I've had good luck with Zenni, too.

But I'm open to other suggestions.

[TexasBushwhacker]

71. I like EyeBuyDirect and Coastal too

I've gotten several glasses from Zenni as well.

[ET Awful]

74. Also try

coastal.com

and

39dollarglasses.com

I've had EXCELLENT results with all three, with Coastal having a slight edge.

[ET Awful]

75. Oh, and another place that's slightly pricier but makes trendier stuff

warbyparker.com

[Major Nikon]

24. You can save even more money by just going to just about any pharmacy

Reading glasses don't require a prescription. All you need to do is pick out a pair that allows you to focus at the distance you require. So just measure the distance to your monitor and pick out a pair that allows you to focus at that distance. They are so cheap you can buy multiple pairs to keep at home and the office because inevitably you lose them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

30. My eyes are too different for reading glasses.

I have myopia and astigmatism, and only prescription glasses make them work together.

[womanofthehills]

38. I also have astigmatism in one eye

so the prescription works much better. Zenni has some glasses for as little as $6.95 including the lens.

[Omaha Steve]

36. Thanks for posting

Bookmarking.

K&R!

OS

[Laura PourMeADrink]

41. wow - you rock DG !!

[dixiegrrrrl]

50. My motto has always been "there's gotta be a better way"

and " where's the loophole?"

I am getting really really really tired of being seen as a helpless "consumer" to be ripped off by everyone all day long.

[Holly_Hobby]

43. zennioptical.com

Have been using them for nearly 10 years. Husband's tinted, coated progressive bifocal lenses and metal John Lennon frames are $90 vs. $950 at the Mall. If you need just readers, they're about $20.

http://www.zennioptical.com/450015-metal-alloy-full-rim-frame-with-spring-hinge.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

51. 950??????!!!!!

That is unconscionable.
Absolutely no excuse for that.

[Holly_Hobby]

60. Yeah...

The frames are $495, the lenses $500. Plus tax.

My BIL just paid $1,100 for glasses at the same store at the Mall.

[nichomachus]

55. Just be careful

Do all the measurements correctly -- esp. the bridge measurement. I use Zenni and it took me a couple of errors before I learned. Take a pair of glasses that fit well and measure everything about them -- and then choose carefully. All glasses are not the same.

However, you can save a lot of money.

[NJCher]

45. Bravo, you, DixxieGrrrrl

Cher

[AgadorSparticus]

56. I went to all the chained eyeglass places and they all wanted a a ridiculous amount. $600

For 1pair of eyeglass. And that is WITH insurance. I said no thanks. Went online to eyebuydirect.com and got a pair of bifocals for $120. Never again will I go to a chained eye place.

[dixiegrrrrl]

57. Was the eye exam over priced?

Did you have any problems getting a copy of your prescription?

[AgadorSparticus]

59. No. The price of the eye exam was normally priced $40-60

& they gave me a copy. They just wanted an arm and a leg for the lenses. It was just over the top insanity. Who spends that kind of money? Well, not me, anyways. ...

[Sunlei]

64. good job escaping the glasses ripoffs! I like contacts but use glasses & my online secret is...

http://www.39dollarglasses.com/

One can just fill in the prescription numbers, they don't demand a copy of your RX and low price contacts /w free shipping arrive soon. Same for their glasses.

I've bought the glasses too, even the $39 glasses with free included coating. I always gently clean glasses with joy-dish suds, dry with soft cloth. Doesn't scratch even the un coated lens. joy has a rinsing agent so no streaks.

[IWriteGoodly]

65. Blue block reading glasses

My optician didn't even know what blue block AR coatings are! After he checked it out he came back with a price of $329 for the lenses. Just reading for computer!

I have been getting reading glasses with blue block tints and AR coatings from Reading Glasses ETC. It's a small company owned by an optician and they do things a bit differently. Buy a frame ($29 and up) and the lenses are included. Then you can add-on a blue block AR coating for $15 or a blue block tint for $10. They make the lenses for the frame they are not premade. I need different powers in my right and left and no problem.

I have 2 pairs for reading, 1 for computer and got a pair for prescription distance vision for $10 extra. Free shipping, case, cloth, cleaner. I got tired of cheap readers and those all seem too small for my big head. I have never paid more than $74. Takes about a week to get. I don't think they do bifocals though. Great quality!

[dixiegrrrrl]

87. I could just scream.

400.00 for the blue block
and then she LIED and said they could not just make a normal prescription so I could at least see the puter.

The grapevine will do them in for that, tho. There is nothing like the Southern grapevine.
and I notice, driving by their office often, they do not have many cars in front.

I am gonna go check out your link..always nice to have sources.

[tammywammy]

66. Unfortunately for me, my eye sight is so poor that the online places don't make my prescription

I spend about $500 for new frames and lenses every couple of years. With the high index lenses if they did do my prescription I could save a couple hundred on glasses.

[ga_girl]

78. Me too

About a +5 in both eyes, with a +2 reader, with astigmatism.

The killer, however, is prism, a total of 9 diopter horizontal and 4 diopter vertical.

Bought the frame online, and lenses at the local optician.

[noiretextatique]

69. I've been using Zenni

My last pair were @ $40.00.

[Yo_Mama]

77. Thanks for posting - it may help many. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

80. Just got email......my glasses will be here this afternoon!!

Remarkably fast service from Vancouver Canada to Alabama..I ordered them mid afternoon Wed. and Canada observes Good Friday as holiday.

I see no reason many many people cannot do same. It just takes a few minutes to learn how to shop for the glasses on line.

[SunSeeker]

79. K & R & bookmarked!

[Califonz]

81. The new one at the optometrist

is to stand in front of some new hocus-pocus machine that does who knows what and you end up with a $170 line item on your bill for "physio enhanced fit" -- utter bullshit ripoff, IMO. My glasses fit fine for 30 years before that bit of razzle dazzle.

I switched to a different optometrist afterwards...

[Bayard]

82. I was surprised

Just ordered new glasses at Walmart's optical. Already had the prescription from optometrist. Was quite surprised, after looking at frames up to couple hundred dollars, that the ones that looked best were $9. Problem was, with the no-see bifocal lenses, ended up being over $300.

[dixiegrrrrl]

83. Mr. Dixie has progressive TRI focals, and got them much cheaper online.

That requires a bit lens, so cost a bit more than the smaller lens would.

Yu might want to, next time, check out a couple of the online places mentioned in this thread and compare prices.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

100. Sounds good

I wear contacts when I go out but have had the same pair of eyeglasses for ten years because I can't justify paying 600 dollars for something I only wear around the house.

[greymouse]

102. another vote for f.lux

[Dont call me Shirley]

103. Thanks, dixiegirrrrl. K R & B.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

108. Another online place:

www.goggles4u.com

I have ordered bifocals in the past from both Zenni Optical and Goggles 4 U and was pleased. I am very nearsighted and in bifocals for 20 years or so. Became nearsighted as a small child who loved to read.

[dixiegrrrrl]

109. Thank you for that, will add it to my list.

Always nice to get price quotes from more than one place to dicker about.

[Shankapotomus]

112. Okay, I'm up for new lenses (for distance) soon

Is it possible for you to share the website you ordered your lenses from?

Thanks and glad you were able to save money!

[dixiegrrrrl]

114. See my comment #25 up thread.

Also, several people here have had good experience with http://www.zennioptical.com/

and
there are comments in this thread about how to use the sites.

Really much easier to do than you might think.
Mine came yesterday afternoon and are perfect.

[Shankapotomus]

115. Thank you! Nt

[jonks2746]

116. That's unfortunate

I'm glad things worked out for you in the end, though.

[airplaneman]

118. I have put some thought on where we are all ripped off every day.

Eye glasses is certainly one of them and I congratulate you on finding an alternative.

Others are:

Hearing aids.
All made in china for about $10-$100 a pair sell for $3,000 to $16,000

Ink cartridges like HP you must pay about $60 a set if you want ones that work and they last about 30 copies.

Pharmaceutical drugs.
$100,000 for hepatitis C but in India the same drug is about $300.

Hospitals.
Epidural shots $4000 each versus $700 in a clinic - I have paid both prices.

-Airplane

[dixiegrrrrl]

120. Ink cartridges.....indeed!

Fortunately I do not have to use them anymore.......really surprised someone has not come up with an alternaitve.

don't even wanna start with dentists.