Polarization and Astigmatism

**acoakley** · 12-01-2011, 11:00 AM

For all of you experts out there who know more than me...

I had a patient come in today to purchase RX sunglasses. We were discussing polarized lenses and she told me she was told she cannot wear polarized lenses because she has some astigmatism. Her Rx is quite low (OD -1.00 -.50 x 015; OS -.50 -.75 x 177). I have always thought that as long as the lenses are manufactured and edged correctly so that the 180 line and the cylinder axis are correct (and match), a person with cylinder correction can wear a polarized lens. Am I incorrect?

**Wes** · 12-01-2011, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by acoakley

For all of you experts out there who know more than me...

I had a patient come in today to purchase RX sunglasses. We were discussing polarized lenses and she told me she was told she cannot wear polarized lenses because she has some astigmatism. Her Rx is quite low (OD -1.00 -.50 x 015; OS -.50 -.75 x 177). I have always thought that as long as the lenses are manufactured and edged correctly so that the 180 line and the cylinder axis are correct (and match), a person with cylinder correction can wear a polarized lens. Am I incorrect?

Funny, I had someone in last week that said someone told her the same thing. It's BS. Astigmatism is just a big scary word...

**DragonLensmanWV** · 12-01-2011, 12:12 PM

Especially since most people think it's a singular disease as in "a stigmatism".
Put her at ease and put her in polarized.

**chip anderson** · 12-01-2011, 12:15 PM

You right, she wrong. I suspect most Rx polaized lenses have more cylinder than she's got. Some have a lot more.

Chip

**Pogu** · 12-01-2011, 12:31 PM

I just edged a pair for a gentleman with -5.00 cyl the other day, no problem.

This lady went to a shop of losers who make up excuses and blame the product everytime they screw somthing up. We use to have a guy here that blamed poly for everything and convinced his px that he was right, of course all his 'material non-adapts' had major revisions to fitting measuements thrown in for good luck.

**acoakley** · 12-01-2011, 12:32 PM

Thanks everyone! I thought it was BS! I tried to put her at ease and put her in polarized but she would not even try it. She was convinced that she can't wear it.

**chip anderson** · 12-01-2011, 01:32 PM

Some people will but brand name, or vote a certian party no matter what the evidence is. Don't waste time on such people, give them what they want even if it's wrong for them.
I'm not saying don't lay out the arguements for the better product, but don't bother to argue if the customer won't listen.

Chip

**PhillyEyes** · 12-01-2011, 01:45 PM

the problem is that most of these places have "clerks" not opticians working the floor, and i emphasize the word "clerks" because they no little or none of what the hell they are talking about, they are just doing what they are told to do, sell.

The "clerk" probably overheard her OD or optician say that... "people with high astigmatism generally dislike the distortion it causes in WRAP sunglasses".

Which is entirely true, depending on rx and frame of course.

This "clerk" interpreted that to mean... "anyone with astigmatism cant wear sunglasses"

completely wrong.

**DragonLensmanWV** · 12-01-2011, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by acoakley

Thanks everyone! I thought it was BS! I tried to put her at ease and put her in polarized but she would not even try it. She was convinced that she can't wear it.

She probably heard it from an authority at the hair parlor. I get a lot of women who've been told to never get Transitions by their beautician.

**acoakley** · 12-01-2011, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by PhillyEyes

the problem is that most of these places have "clerks" not opticians working the floor, and i emphasize the word "clerks" because they no little or none of what the hell they are talking about, they are just doing what they are told to do, sell.

The "clerk" probably overheard her OD or optician say that... "people with high astigmatism generally dislike the distortion it causes in WRAP sunglasses".

Which is entirely true, depending on rx and frame of course.

This "clerk" interpreted that to mean... "anyone with astigmatism cant wear sunglasses"

completely wrong.

Unfortunately, I did some searching and figured out that the person who told her this is the manager of our optical. She has worked in opticals for over ten years but has no drive to actually learn how or why things work. When she is given opportunities for trainings, etc, she just brushes them off. Then when she doesn't know things, she just makes something up or sends the patient back to see the doctor (blaming the Rx for problems). Until I started working here, she trained all of the opticians who worked under her so no one knew enough to say effectively prove was wrong. They all just believed that whatever she said was correct. I have spent the past year and a half using research, trainings, etc to try and fix this. Unfortunately, it just falls on deaf ears when it comes to her. Fortunately, the administration in our office finally sees it and so some changes are being made. I have worked in optics for less years than her but, I am continually learning and trying to better myself as an optician. Thanks Optiboard for the help! I just don't understand how people are okay with knowing/doing just enough to get by in their chosen profession.

**Barry Santini** · 12-01-2011, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by acoakley

Then when (they) doesn't know things, (they) just makes something up...

Gosh that sounds familiar. Kinda like when labs say the job had "breakage" (WTF!!) When was the last time a lab actually had a lens "break" during processing. "Twelfth's" useta bug me. Now, "breakage" does.

B

**acoakley** · 12-01-2011, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Barry Santini

Gosh that sounds familiar. Kinda like when labs say the job had "breakage" (WTF!!) When was the last time a lab actually had a lens "break" during processing. "Twelfth's" useta bug me. Now, "breakage" does.

B

Yes, exactly! It drives me crazy!

**chip anderson** · 12-01-2011, 03:20 PM

Oddly enough, "breakage" seems to include, off power, off axis, scratches, off seg.ht., off shape, off anything.
The really odd thing is every lab seems to have a woman that when replying to job inquiries, can say: "They had a breakage" with exactly the same inflection as the woman at every other labs.

Chip

**Barry Santini** · 12-01-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by chip anderson

oddly enough, "breakage" seems to include, off power, off axis, scratches, off seg.ht., off shape, off anything.
The really odd thing is every lab seems to have a woman that when replying to job inquiries, can say: "they had a breakage" with exactly the same inflection as the woman at every other labs.

Chip

+1!

b

**Wes** · 12-01-2011, 04:46 PM

They don't want to say specifically HOW they messed up, just that "it broke" It's easier than admitting they haven't calibrated the machinery for a few months.

**Striderswife** · 12-01-2011, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by chip anderson

Oddly enough, "breakage" seems to include, off power, off axis, scratches, off seg.ht., off shape, off anything.
The really odd thing is every lab seems to have a woman that when replying to job inquiries, can say: "They had a breakage" with exactly the same inflection as the woman at every other labs.

Chip

Ah, hahahaha! This is so true! I think I've heard that statement from just about every lab I've used for the last 10 years. X^) ~snicker

**Speed** · 12-01-2011, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Barry Santini

Gosh that sounds familiar. Kinda like when labs say the job had "breakage" (WTF!!) When was the last time a lab actually had a lens "break" during processing. "Twelfth's" useta bug me. Now, "breakage" does.

B

What bugs me is when a despenser has a breakage and wants the lab to resupply the lens at no charge.

**PhillyEyes** · 12-01-2011, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Speed

What bugs me is when a despenser has a breakage and wants the lab to resupply the lens at no charge.

Better labs will always replace a lens, even higher ended pricey ones if we (the dispenser) break it, slip it, crack it, smash it over a coworkers head, get fed up and throw em to the ground and stomp on them...

The labs I deal with offer 50% discount or usually a 100% comped replacement lens, no matter what it is, if I screwed up during the edging process.

They are making enough money on the sale of the first pair to give a once-in-a-while freebie broken by the dispenser.

**Speed** · 12-01-2011, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by PhillyEyes

Better labs will always replace a lens, even higher ended pricey ones if we (the dispenser) break it, slip it, crack it, smash it over a coworkers head, get fed up and throw em to the ground and stomp on them...

This teaches your employees not to give a crap. And why I am retired from the lab biz.

Originally Posted by PhillyEyes

They are making enough money on the sale of the first pair to give a once-in-a-while freebie broken by the dispenser.

This is what your customers think about you. Is it true? I can remember customers telling me that progressive refits of scratch warrantee jobs did not cost me anything. Do progressive refit and scratch warrantees not cost you anything? Let alone covering breakage for retail dummies.

**Barry Santini** · 12-01-2011, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Speed

What bugs me is when a despenser has a breakage and wants the lab to resupply the lens at no charge.

Yeah, I understand. But unfortunatley for the labs, and fortunately for the dispensers, labs are another step down the optical *food* chain, i.e., dispensers are to labs as (referring) doctors are to dispensers.

It's nature's way. Accept it.

B

**Speed** · 12-01-2011, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Barry Santini

Yeah, I understand. But unfortunatley for the labs, and fortunately for the dispensers, labs are another step down the optical *food* chain, i.e., dispensers are to labs as (referring) doctors are to dispensers.

It's nature's way. Accept it.

B

And as dispensers are to consumers.

**Barry Santini** · 12-01-2011, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Speed

And as dispensers are to consumers.

No. Here Speed, I think a *backflow* exists at this level.

B

**Judy Canty** · 12-01-2011, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by PhillyEyes

Better labs will always replace a lens, even higher ended pricey ones if we (the dispenser) break it, slip it, crack it, smash it over a coworkers head, get fed up and throw em to the ground and stomp on them...

The labs I deal with offer 50% discount or usually a 100% comped replacement lens, no matter what it is, if I screwed up during the edging process.

They are making enough money on the sale of the first pair to give a once-in-a-while freebie broken by the dispenser.

And yet we complain when Essilor continues to gobble up smaller independent labs. Sad really, most of us can't see the forest for the trees.

**optical24/7** · 12-01-2011, 08:36 PM

"Breakage" goes back to the old glass days..(yea, it broke, really!). It's like "RLX". Who the heck uses *RLX*? (Is it still around even?) But some lab's CS reps still will refer to an SRC as *RLX*. I personally like to hear a CS rep say "breakage" and "RLX"...It tells me they've been around the block and have some experience. ( Add a gravely, Marlboro induced voice, and you got a rep that knows how to get things done in the lab! And, when there's no way something's gonna make it through the lab today.)