help needed please [Archive] - OptiBoard Discussion Forums

amanda

10-19-2005, 10:49 AM

I would like to find a place in my city where I can fill Shmair lens.

Is there a phone number I can call (say contact Shamir dircetly) and get the eye place that would dispense Shamir lens?

Obviously, the ones I was dealing were reluctant - it shows in their voice - and I am concern about getting cheated, if they are that reluctant. At the moment I get a price quote from a nearby city (San Franciso) for Shamir Office (CR39) that is $50 cheaper than Sola Access (CR39) including UV, scratch protection, and AR (I guess that would pay for my gas driving 3 hours roud trip). Here is the break down:

Sola Access vs Shamir Office
Lens 165 149
Scartch protection 15 included in base price
UV proetction 15 25
AR 90 65 (Zeiss)

Still, it would be nice if I can do it locally.

DaQuano

10-19-2005, 11:01 AM

The web address for Shamir is www.shamirlens.com (http://www.shamirlens.com) or the phone number is 877-shamir1. Customer service could direct you to a practice in your area.

optiboard1

10-19-2005, 02:05 PM

amanda

10-19-2005, 02:34 PM

i see by your last post you are wearing progressive lenses and you want info on new ones i read alot about shamir lenses on this website i did a little homework on this lens but i have not tried it yet and i do not know much about it i might try it sometime when more labs carry but with all the labs out there who base on price or gimmick i would be leary to use a lab i never heard of

I get your point. That place was referred to me from a number I saw on website which dispsense Shamir but it turned out that they only dispense directly to the eyeglasses stores, not to individual customer but she gave me his number in San Francisco, and another place in SF that uses Shamir, saying that his place can also get any other brand aside from Shamir.

on the subject of access lens it is not a progressive even though it does not have a line it is for computer

Wow..thanks for the info. That lady who suggested me Soal Access failed to tell me that part. I don't think she likes that I am doing research instead of jumping to do whatever she said.

and lastly on a lens called perfax no such thing ask who makes it probley an in house brand

The guy was proabbly trying to make it look like he has more access to different brands than others; he didn't understand that all I care about was whether he could what I wanted. I want Shamir office for my computer galsses. A while ago, I did google search for local places and asked one place whether they could get me Shamir. her price quote was the same as the guy in SF but she refused to tell me the name for the AR and said I need to come in. So I called another place, happened ot be in that same area, the girl who answered didn't even know much about anything and said that his boss would can call me back but she ended up asking me to come in. I didn't even try to get rpice quote. I am just trying to determien a place that has their act
together can do what I want.

Then I found a list of satisfaction level and found out that the second one I called has second highest rating ( 8.5 ). The highest is 8.65 and I called that place was told that they only use Varilux and told me about Variluz Readable for computer pair. So it is hard to find a palce that can get me any brand I want.

Susan

10-19-2005, 05:01 PM

Why dont you try your wholesale lab they should be able to get any lens you want or contact Shamir directly thur their web sight www. shamirlens.com 888-707-7760.:nerd:

Happylady

10-19-2005, 05:11 PM

I would think that most private opticals can get the Shamir lenses. I have never used them but I can get them from my private lab.

Reading about them on this web site has made me interested in the lenses, though. Plus I know someone that wore the Picollo and liked it. I am planning to research these lenses more. I have always used the Access lens, but if the Office allows my patients to see further then that sounds like a lens I am interested in using.

amanda

10-19-2005, 06:41 PM

Why dont you try your wholesale lab they should be able to get any lens you want or contact Shamir directly thur their web sight www. shamirlens.com 888-707-7760.:nerd:

I got the number for wholesale lab in this city through 877-shamir1 but they won
't tell me where to go. I was told to call places here and ask myself. I did ask the AR for the Office, Piccolo, and Autograph. They said they don't sell autograph and the AR they told me for Office and Piccolo are Vivis and Carat respectively. I guess that's what the lab iin this area would use. The guy in SF would use Zeiss for Office. I have no idea whther those Vivis and Carat are as good as Zeiss. I haven't read up on Zeiss either but I know it is a good brand.

I am getting so exhausted about this. These places would not talk much on the phone wanting to come in and buy the frames and the lens there, I guess. My perosnality is that if someone tells me the info on phone, they are ethical and I prefr to give that place my business. So I am going to drive to SF and giev that guy my business as far as putting lens. For the frame, I need to find something I like which is a pain, a real pain.

amanda

10-19-2005, 06:44 PM

I would think that most private opticals can get the Shamir lenses. I have never used them but I can get them from my private lab.

Reading about them on this web site has made me interested in the lenses, though. Plus I know someone that wore the Picollo and liked it. I am planning to research these lenses more.

What's the fitting height requirement for Piccolo?

Happylady

10-19-2005, 07:25 PM

I have read the Piccolo fitting height is 16 and 17. Not sure which is correct. I can check at work tomorrow.

Have you tried calling private opticals and private optometrists offices near you to see if they fit these lenses?

I understand the Access has a better intermediate area then the Office, but that the Office allows you to see a little further. Why do you want the Office rather then the Access?

Zeiss makes the Carat. Zeiss makes several AR coats. Their standard one is Zeiss Super ET. Some people call it Zeiss blue because it has a slight blue color. Then they make the Carat Advantage AR. It has a harder hard coat and a top coat that makes it easier to clean. They also make a Zeiss Gold AR which is rarely used.

amanda

10-19-2005, 07:55 PM

lastly on a lens called perfax no such thing ask who makes it probley an in house brand

I called the guy in SF again and asked about Varilux Readable vs Shamir Office. He said Shamir office uses the engineering as for Vairlux readable. In summary, he seems to not want to supposr the big monopoly Varilux. I told him that I would do Shamir office for my computer pair and am interested in Varilux Panamic for dress pair. That's when he brought up perfax again by saying that *there is a Japanese product better than Varilux * because Perfax is made for individually. He sounded like manuafacturing for the individual but that can't be.

I said I am reluctant to go for something that I have no information on and asked him how long they have been around. He said 3 years and continued that they are fighting who invented first and hence not released in the market yet. He also said that if I use Perfax, I can get better view than panamic with fitting height as low as 15 mm because of the newer technlogy. I asked again and again about that to make sure but I am stale on my Physics and have no clue how adavanced the technology is to guess on his claim.

Of course I *was* enticed by the fact that 15mm would fit in the frame I like where I wanted to put Panamic. I want wider Intermediate range than what I have now and hence was keen on Panamic. My concern is with this Perfax, may be I would be short changed for something equivalent to Ellipse and not get equal or bettern than Panamic. Anyone has anysugegstion? If you are in my shoes, wWould anyone give Prerfax a chance?

He did say that Perfax is more expensive than Varilux Panamic. He didn't give me the price for Panamic. This Perfax would be $420 (for the lens, scratch and uv protection + AR (he didn't give me the name but said as good as Crizel Alize quality). Local stores want $99 for Crizel Alize + 230 for Panamic (scratch protection included) + 25 for UV brining total less than $400.

It seems that he just wants to support the new guy in the market like Shamir or Perfax over Varilux which is fine by me if I can get Panamic quality on those brand. But how would I know w/o any data available. I am not going to take his word at face value.

Happylady

10-19-2005, 08:50 PM

I am sorry, I have never heard of the Perfax progressive.

What lens material are you getting? If it is high index or polycarb the uv protection is built in, you don't need to add it.

jbiggs114

10-19-2005, 09:41 PM

Piccolo fitting ht. 16mm

jbiggs114

10-19-2005, 09:50 PM

Never heard of Prefax and I can't find it listed in the OLA 2005 Progressive Identifer. This identifer shows 278 progressive lenses and it is a current issue.

If you are looking for a very low fitting height I would recommend the Hoya Summit cd. This lenses can be fit at 14mm which is what Hoya has recommended. Then I would have them apply Hoya Super Hi-Vision A/R. Great A/r with a 2 year warranty or life of the rx (which is usually 2 years).

DaQuano

10-19-2005, 09:53 PM

Did he possibly say Pentax?

spartus

10-19-2005, 10:33 PM

Heh. Beware if he tries to sell you a "Vanilux Paramic" along with that "Perfax".

On another note, I'm fairly sure the Piccolo is 16mm minimum--though more room is better. Also, the Varilux Ellipse has a minimum fitting height of 14, if you want a fuller picture of short-fitting-height progressives.

jbiggs114

10-19-2005, 11:18 PM

I am sure that any private optical shop or O.D. office can get any lense you request. If they can't it is because they only want to support certain companies or the lab they use is probably owned by the lense company and doesn't want to supply them with it. If they say they can't get it from their lab asked them to contact a lab that does have the lense you want. After all, it is your $ being spent and if the lense you want is not a good choice for you the dispenser should be edcuated enough to explain why. Before making the choice of what lense to use, one should take a look at the rx and what size frame and understand what your visual needs are.

amanda

10-20-2005, 10:45 AM

I am sorry, I have never heard of the Perfax progressive.

What lens material are you getting? If it is high index or polycarb the uv protection is built in, you don't need to add it.

He said high index 1.67 and it has AR already in it that has same quality as Crizal Alize. I haven't decided that I would get that one based on hsiw orda, knwoign that he wants to support the little guys over what
s best for me. I am interested in giving himt he business because st leas he can get anyhting I want. The only pain is his location.

amanda

10-20-2005, 10:53 AM

Never heard of Prefax and I can't find it listed in the OLA 2005 Progressive Identifer. This identifer shows 278 progressive lenses and it is a current issue.

Thanks.

If you are looking for a very low fitting height I would recommend the Hoya Summit cd. This lenses can be fit at 14mm which is what Hoya has recommended. Then I would have them apply Hoya Super Hi-Vision A/R. Great A/r with a 2 year warranty or life of the rx (which is usually 2 years).

I was going to do Panamic and hence get a frame that meets fitting height requirement for Panamic, i.e 18mm but he told me to do Perfax saying that it is better than Panamic, telling me that I can use 15mm fitting height.

Only if I can't find a frame big enough to do panamic, I would do Ellipse or Piccolo which would work with 16mm fitting height.

Then, I ntoiced post by someone who said nothign works 100% unless fiting height is 20mm. Oh, well.

Thanks for the info on perfax. I am not going for it; how can 15mm fitting height lens give a vision that is better than Panamic that require 18mm fitting height. That doesn't make sense. I am sure that Varilux would know about this so called newer technology used in perfax and create the lens that would work with 15mm fitting height giving better vision than Panamic.
And I don't want to be his guinea pig, testing this perfax on me.

amanda

10-20-2005, 10:56 AM

The web address for Shamir is www.shamirlens.com (http://www.shamirlens.com/) or the phone number is 877-shamir1. Customer service could direct you to a practice in your area.

I went to their site but still I don't see AR recommendation for Shamir Office. I understand that high index products have AR already coated (like Varilux high index one having Crizal Alize) but I am using CR39 and hence must choose an AR. What would be the name for MAR for Shamir Office?

QDO1

10-20-2005, 10:59 AM

Do you mean Pentax? they have a whole range of PPL's

amanda

10-20-2005, 11:03 AM

Heh. Beware if he tries to sell you a "Vanilux Paramic" along with that "Perfax".

He seems against Varilux and I don't know why?

On another note, I'm fairly sure the Piccolo is 16mm minimum--though more room is better.
That's what the Shamir site says.

Also, the Varilux Ellipse has a minimum fitting height of 14, if you want a fuller picture of short-fitting-height progressives.

Oh, that's the kind of info I want to use in making comparison between piccolo and ellipse. I'll keep that in mind. I think I know biut what exactly does it mean by fuller picture? Panamic gives wider intermediate range, i.e longer distance for intermediate range than Ellipse, right?

amanda

10-20-2005, 11:05 AM

Do you mean Pentax? they have a whole range of PPL's

Well, he has German access but I think I heard him well. Alos, he should correct me when I was pronouncing Perfax.

Can you tell me about Pentax a bit? Does it come anyhwere close to Varilux? He was saying that perfax is better than Varilux.

QDO1

10-20-2005, 11:20 AM

Well, he has German access but I think I heard him well. Alos, he should correct me when I was pronouncing Perfax.

Can you tell me about Pentax a bit? Does it come anyhwere close to Varilux? He was saying that perfax is better than Varilux.

Here comes another car analogy

Like GM and Ford and Nisan all have a SUV, medium, small and superminni car, most of the lens manufacturers have a hard, soft, aspheric, individual, short/long progression lens in their family of lenses. Pentax is the same

I strongly advise you spend some time to hunt out a qualified dispenser, who will take the folowing things into account before even contemplating a lens design or frame shape for you

prescription
visual acuities
postural problems
lifestyle
occupation
previous prescription and design(s)
work life balance
VDU usage & office set up
vehical usage
and much more
That one-to-one appointment with a true professional, will make the difference between a OK pair of spectacles, and a truly excelent pair

I know you are struggling to find one, but it might be good to ask some coleagues or friends, to see who they recommend. It is a shame that as a consumer, you rightly feel the service our industry offers you is poor, and you have a point. It is up to us professionals to raise the game a little, and chalenge poor service, rather than turn a blind eye to it

amanda

10-20-2005, 11:51 AM

Here comes another car analogy

Like GM and Ford and Nisan all have a SUV, medium, small and superminni car, most of the lens manufacturers have a hard, soft, aspheric, individual, short/long progression lens in their family of lenses. Pentax is the same

I understand.

I strongly advise you spend some time to hunt out a qualified dispenser, who will take the folowing things into account before even contemplating a lens design or frame shape for you

prescription
visual acuities
postural problems
lifestyle
occupation
previous prescription and design(s)
work life balance
VDU usage & office set up
vehical usage
and much more
That one-to-one appointment with a true professional, will make the difference between a OK pair of spectacles, and a truly excelent pair

Yes a true professional who is not interested in being loyal to one brand name or prefer to supprot the little guy at the expense of the customer.

I know you are struggling to find one, but it might be good to ask some coleagues or friends, to see who they recommend.

I have asked. I don't know anyone who wears progressive.

It is a shame that as a consumer, you rightly feel the service our industry offers you is poor, and you have a point. It is up to us professionals to raise the game a little, and chalenge poor service, rather than turn a blind eye to it

Thanks. In the last 5 years, I have spent so much money on my eye glasses, making dress pair and sunglasses each time, and I am so hurt right now that no one ever mentioned about having a computer pair as well, which would have saved me so much neck pain and should pain. I even had to go to massage therapy for myofacial release for shoulder pain. Currently, I am feeling pain here and there ( like a needle poking me on the inside muscle) all over upper back/ shoulder area. I should just go do the computer first and get out of this night mare immediately.

QDO1

10-20-2005, 12:03 PM

Thanks. In the last 5 years, I have spent so much money on my eye glasses, making dress pair and sunglasses each time, and I am so hurt right now that no one ever mentioned about having a computer pair as well, which would have saved me so much neck pain and should pain. I even had to go to massage therapy for myofacial release for shoulder pain. Currently, I am feeling pain here and there ( like a needle poking me on the inside muscle) all over upper back/ shoulder area. I should just go do the computer first and get out of this night mare immediately.

Sounds like some form of occupational lens would be the way to go, allong with a regular pair of spectacles. The options could be

Single vision screen only pair (which may be good enough for near too depending on your prescription)
Inter/near bifocals
Progressive type office lens
I often reccomend 2 pairs of spectacles - one regular, and another occupational. Think about it - your VDU may take up the same visual area as the space just above your steering wheel in your car. Clearly I wouldnt want to stuff up your distance vision by popping a little intermediate there - or you would be quite upset when you had a car mishap...

I dont live in the US, so I wouldnt like to reccomend someone. Perhaps post a message with the district you live in on here, and ask the frame / lens REP's to recommend a store for you - they tend to see most of them, and know whats good, and what isn't. A frame rep might be more impartial

amanda

10-20-2005, 12:04 PM

I am sure that any private optical shop or O.D. office can get any lense you request. If they can't it is because they only want to support certain companies or the lab they use is probably owned by the lense company

Then, they don't even give me info on other choices. That's the problem I am facing and hence am trying to get the info and establish some options here first and then find an optical shop that would can do all the options I am interested in, i.e they can go over the opitions I come up with and help me decid which one to go with. So far, no one has impressed me as unbaised professional.

and doesn't want to supply them with it. If they say they can't get it from their lab asked them to contact a lab that does have the lense you want. After all, it is your $ being spent and if the lense you want is not a good choice for you the dispenser should be edcuated enough to explain why.

Their attitude is this: they won't act like thay are not educated enough. They would act like they are so educated and hence they only deal with th best brand and I should just listen to them.

Before making the choice of what lense to use, one should take a look at the rx and what size frame and understand what your visual needs are

Well, about the frame, I don't want to have to compromise and get, say Ellipse, instead of Panamic, if I could find a slighlty bigger frame *that I would like*. So in opinion, this decsision should not be made in a linear way like get RX and Frame, collect visual needs, and decide the lens when the bettern lens choice can be obtained had I chosen a slightly bigger frame.

QDO1

10-20-2005, 12:10 PM

So in opinion, this decsision should not be made in a linear way like get RX and Frame, collect visual needs, and decide the lens when the bettern lens choice can be obtained had I chosen a slightly bigger frame.

With an attitude like that - I would offer you a job! - may I borrow that comment for my office noticebard?

amanda

10-20-2005, 12:23 PM

Sounds like some form of occupational lens would be the way to go, allong with a regular pair of spectacles. The options could be

Single vision screen only pair (which may be good enough for near too depending on your prescription)
Inter/near bifocals
Progressive type office lens

Yes, I plan to do a regualr pair, a computer pair, and a pair for sunglasses. I am going to buy frames too. I do have one frame still new, a Ralph Lauren, that has 15mm fitting height for me. It is not necessary that that I use this frame. I will use the most suiatble frame for each pair.

I often reccomend 2 pairs of spectacles - one regular, and another occupational. Think about it - your VDU may take up the same visual area as the space just above your steering wheel in your car. Clearly I wouldnt want to stuff up your distance vision by popping a little intermediate there - or you would be quite upset when you had a car mishap...

I dont live in the US, so I wouldnt like to reccomend someone. Perhaps post a message with the district you live in on here, and ask the frame / lens REP's to recommend a store for you - they tend to see most of them, and know whats good, and what isn't. A frame rep might be more impartial

That's a good idea.

amanda

10-20-2005, 12:30 PM

Have you tried calling private opticals and private optometrists offices near you to see if they fit these lenses?

yes but no one competent so far. One place wouldn't even talk to me except the secretary said that her boss would call back. I am going there on Saturday. if he gets impateitn when I am asking questions, I will just leave.

I understand the Access has a better intermediate area then the Office, but that the Office allows you to see a little further. Why do you want the Office rather then the Access?

I thought that Office is as good as Access for Intermediate PLUS give a little further in distance (13ft) than Access (7 ft).

Zeiss makes the Carat. Zeiss makes several AR coats. Their standard one is Zeiss Super ET. Some people call it Zeiss blue because it has a slight blue color. Then they make the Carat Advantage AR. It has a harder hard coat and a top coat that makes it easier to clean. They also make a Zeiss Gold AR which is rarely used.

Is Zeiss AR the best suitable or MAr for Office? What AR wiuld be suitable for Sola Access?

Though my prescripiton is low, I am extremely sensitive with my vision.

amanda

10-20-2005, 11:42 PM

With an attitude like that - I would offer you a job! - may I borrow that comment for my office noticebard?

Are you serious? If you are, go for it.

Happylady

10-21-2005, 02:06 PM

I'm surprised you are having so much trouble.

I have never used the Office, I am basing my imformation on what I read on this forum. Dr, Sheedy says " the Office has relatively more near area then than intermediate area(i.e. the unwanted astigmatism is placed higher in the lens) compared to the others. It's more reading-oriented lens, with reasonable balance."

What is MAr? My first choice for Sola Access would be the Teflon AR since it is made by Sola. I have however seen a couple bad Teflon ARs. Any of the
Zeiss ARs would be an excellent choice.

amanda

10-22-2005, 07:51 AM

I'm surprised you are having so much trouble.

It is mainly due to limited frame choice; only small one works for me face. Then, the place that fills Sola Access do not know much about Shamir Office. I called VSP office and got a couple of places not far from me that can do Shamir office. I don't know whether they can give me comparative info with Sola Access. It seems that I will lose out on intermediate with Office.

I have never used the Office, I am basing my imformation on what I read on this forum. Dr, Sheedy says " the Office has relatively more near area then than intermediate area(i.e. the unwanted astigmatism is placed higher in the lens) compared to the others. It's more reading-oriented lens, with reasonable balance."

I came to understand about the difference between Access and Office but now I am clear on that info with your help. Thanks. I can see why Shamir Office is labelled Office, not computer pair while Sola Access is advertised as Computer pair.

What is MAR? My first choice for Sola Access would be the Teflon AR since it is made by Sola. I have however seen a couple bad Teflon ARs. Any of the Zeiss ARs would be an excellent choice.

People here in this forum are using MAR for manufacture AR. Thanks for the RA info on Access. Boy, the place which introduced me to the info on Access wanted to use Super Hi-Vision which I found out from another tread was made for Hoya lens only.

jbiggs114

10-22-2005, 10:45 AM

Go for the office. It has your intermediate in the top, reading in the bottom half and you can still look up away from your desk and see around the room. Just don't forget you have them on and drive.
In the wholesale lab that I am a rep for, the guy that does all the specialty work (drilling, hand polishes, facets, etc.) wears the office. He has tried them all and has been in the business 30 years.
Why would you need 3 fields of vision sitting at your computer? All you need is intermediate and near. If you have 3 then the intermediate fall in the chanel, the same as your progressive.

amanda

10-23-2005, 01:48 AM