Interesting question, yesterday

**Diane** · 01-26-2012, 07:24 PM

regarding someone wanting me to make glasses for their son-in-law who is in prison. It seems that he's become presbyopic and is doing a lot of studying. He will be getting his masters in theology in prison. The question comes from the fact that although the prison will furnish glasses for him, even bifocals, the mother-in-law doesn't trust that they will be accurate. She "knows" that when I used to make her glasses, that I would mark on her demo lenses, and she thinks she could do that and then bring them to me to make the glasses. She thinks he needs a PAL. I could just "teach" her how. Oh, BTW, she wouldn't hold me accountable for any errors.

What are your thoughts on this?
:)
Diane

**finefocus** · 01-26-2012, 07:32 PM

You could take a shot at working from pupil-center dots; lots of "opticians" do this all the time. You might even get lucky and produce a usable pair of glasses. But you still have no chance of true success unless you go inside to fit them. It seems that there are too many ways to go wrong here, and even if you are told you won't be held responsible, you will hold yourself responsible.

**anthonyf1509** · 01-26-2012, 08:35 PM

We had similar scenario and made SV near (2) and nothing could be better. Go 1 near 1 far if you have to.

**Fezz** · 01-26-2012, 08:56 PM

Politely decline.

**Wes** · 01-26-2012, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by anthonyf1509

We had similar scenario and made SV near (2) and nothing could be better. Go 1 near 1 far if you have to.

Let's look at this. Assuming the rx isn't extreme, and the prison Dr. or nurse provides a pd, just about anything you make him is probably going to be better than nothing, and at least as good as the prison glasses.
Anthony's suggestion here is the best. I'd avoid a PAL like the plague, but a FT would most likely be ok as well. If she measures him in the proper manner, and you confirm that it looks ok (2-5 below), then go for it. I've done it a couple times (never a PAL, I refuse) and I've never had an issue.

**Johns** · 01-26-2012, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by finefocus

You could take a shot at working from pupil-center dots; lots of "opticians" do this all the time.

I'm glad you put "opticians" in quotes.

**Johns** · 01-26-2012, 09:55 PM

If ever there was a scenario for online glasses, this is it. In fact, I think that this is the ONLY case where online glasses are appropriate.

**Java99** · 01-27-2012, 01:32 PM

I've had to deal with this before. I did SV DVO and NVO. We also had to mail them with a company shipping label, the prison would not accept them mailed or carried in from the mother.