I went to get my eyes checked yesterday for the first time in 7 years (I know, I know). Turns out there have been many advances in contact-lens technology since then, and there might in fact be nothing wrong with my itchy, dry eyes that a better lens can’t fix. Which I might have found out had I had my eyes checked in all that time, but the place where I get my lens refills never pressed the issue by, you know, following state law and asking me for a new scrip every two years. Well, not until they hired someone new, who asked me on my new refill.
And, well, I wasn’t seeing so well out of my old, scratched glasses and the contacts were getting miserable to wear, and blurry. So I shuffled off to the eye doctor yesterday with my beloved yet somewhat battered 7-year-old Alain Mikli frames, hoping to get out of there with a simple change of lenses and exam for less than $300 or so.
It was not to be. Now that I am 40, I have entered the land of reading glasses, which for me means (more expensive) progressive lenses since I’m also blind as a bat. As for the contacts, they’re hooking me up with better, moister lenses but doing the monovision thing as well, which means slightly undercorrecting my nondominant eye for reading but fully correcting the dominant eye for distance vision (and, possibly, correcting the slight astigmatism in that eye, but we’re doing a trial of the non-astigmatism-correcting lens first). Unfortunately, this cost me more than I’d hoped to get away with, but that’s what you get for putting these things off, I suppose.
And hell, if it means I can freaking SEE again, it will be worth it.
I can’t even remember the last time I had my eyes checked. It’s been more than 7 years, that much I can say.
Zuzu, I got tired of spending $400 a year on dang frames and lenses. WHen I tried to get just lenses, it was still over $200. Sheesh. Of course, now I need progressive bifocals as well. May as well stick a dang coke bottle on my eyeballs.
Just for future reference, I was able to replace my lenses in my favorite frames by going here: EyeglassDirect.com. There’s also zenni optical [online] where you can get frames and lenses. I ordered my progressive lenses and frames there. $70. Schweet!
Good luck with the transition from “regular” lenses to progressive bifocals — I almost fell off a curb the first time I wore mine.
CLD, how does that work? Do you have to go get fitted by someone local and then order the lenses to their specs? How do the lenses get into your frames?
Heh. Me too. I’m heading to the eye doctor now that the new year has come and gone and my flexible spending account is refunding. I know I will end up with reading glasses.
Hey zuzu — sorry I took a while to get back! You get a copy of your prescription from your regular doctor. Also ask for your pupilary distance [PD] — the distance between your two pupils — it helps the optometrist to determine the right viewing area of the new lenses. If you’re using the folks who put new lenses in your old glasses, you place the order and send them your old glasses. They can actually use your old lenses to determine your PD. I wore my old, funky backup glasses for a week or so until my new, awesome lenses, nicely edge-polished and installed arrived in my favorite old frames. Great service — I could see perfectly out of them.
If you use the zenni optical folks, you’ll definitely need to provide your PD with your prescription and you’ll choose new frames from their site. They’ll ship the new frames with lenses to you within about two weeks. Lots of options there.
Anyway, I hope things work out!