Advice Needed

[jnas]

I recently went to a local eye store for a checkup and new glasses. I was tested and told that my prescription had changed slightly; I believe it was .25 on one eye, which was no surprise because I’ve been procrastinating for a while now. I picked out a set of wireless frames and chose the transition lenses. I believe these are the one that tint in the sunlight. I believe they are Polycarbonate. For a little more information I have a stigmatism in both eyes. When I tried the glasses the first time I knew immediately that something was wrong because it felt like my eyes were being pulled inward. The technician checked and there was definitely a problem. The second set of lenses was better but there was still a problem with my eyes being pulled in. The third set of lenses seemed ok but I could definitely tell that there was a prescription difference. I was told that my eyes just needed to adjust to the new prescription. I wore them for a while (almost 4 months) during which time I was having some health issues. I was having headaches at the same time but figured it was just stress. One day when I was having a headache I decided to try wearing my old glasses to see if that helped and sure enough I had no more headaches. It took another two months before I could get back to the doctor to do anything. When I went in and explained all this to the doctor she said that her tech was having a problem cutting lenses for the wireless frames and that I should pick out a full frame. I picked out a new frame and she marked the center and I left. I the new glasses came in I tried them on and again the lenses were cut wrong. I am currently waiting on them to order new lenses.

My question is, is this a common problem or is the technician incompetent. Everyone is real nice in the office and has been working to fix this with no complaints but my Wife keeps telling me to get my money back and go somewhere else. She tends to be a little hot headed sometimes but I’ve never had a problem like this in the past.

[Al]

No doubt, there is a "learning" period required when putting a new optical system on for the first time. Some people adjust very quickly to a new presription and others take longer periods to "learn". Based on your historical account, I would feel comfortable in suggesting something "went wrong" with your eyewear. It has been my experience over my career to witness inexperienced dispensers and fabrication issues.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to try another professional practice.

[jnas]

I have had the same prescrition for 10 years but I didn't have a problem back then in adjusting. On the last set the tech told me that he had gotten the lense rotated when he was cutting.

[Al]

It sounds like this practice is trying to help, I am just a bit confused as to why these glasses were dispensed to you in they were aware of a "rotation" issue.

Do you happen to know the complete Rx that was prescribed? It may help understand some of the "pulling" you described earlier.

[jnas]

The prescription is

L) -250 -150 Axis 74

R) -225 -200 Axis 92

[chip anderson]

We all make these mistakes, but a competent tech should find them before you get called and told they are ready. Any tech should make very sure that there is no mistake on something he is re-making after haveing let one mistake get out the door on a given patient. A competent doctor, if he is in the self referral business is responsible for making sure he has compentent help.

Yes, you should start over elsewhere.
Chip

[Adam Simmonds]

You're on your fourth set of lenses with these guys? I admire your patience and tenacity.

The assertion that a technician is having a problem fitting wireless frames is laughable.

Without doubt, you should try somewhere else. And, with all due respect, your current optician will probably be happy to see you go!

[jnas]

The doctor and technician are very nice and have been real apologetic about everything. I have my old glasses to wear in the mean time. I do wish I could have kept the wirelell frames but the ones Im getting now are titanium and are real light. I just got a call from the tech and he said they are ready now and that he triple checked them. Ill post back after I pick them up in the morning.

[HarryC]

Is this "tech" a licenced optician?

The prescription you posted seems to be a pretty normal run of the mill Rx. I can't see why anyone would have to recut those lenses 4 times in order to get it right. Heres a couple pointers.
The axis (rotation) on that Rx can't be more than 2 degrees off.
If everything is made correctly and you still are having problems it could be the material of the lenses. Try to stay away from polycarbonate and go with a high index.
Is the person who is final inspecting these lenses qualified? Are they certified/licenced?

[Johns]

You get the "nice guy" & "Mr patient" award ! I think that you might be a little too laid back in this case, however.

If you are going to give this outfit one last chance, have the doctor, not the technician, (I'm assuming there is no optician on site) double check the glasses for you.

[Texas Ranger]

jnas, it is understanable since you're in Houston, Texas has to licensing standards. if the practice is not capable of doing skilled finish lab work, they should not be doing it, they should have sent your order out to a good lab, which there are several in Houston. you should not have had this problem for a .25 change, usless of course, a moderate axis change was also ordered. you should be getting a refund; look for a competent abo certified optician, and better yet, have another eye exam too. your wife is quite right! OMG, if we had to do very many orders more than once, i'd go find something else to do, but we love doing it right!

[paw]

chip anderson said:
A competent doctor, if he is in the self referral business is responsible for making sure he has compentent help.

Chip

Just curious...You've mentioned with disapproval over several different posts about self-referral and in-house dispensing...does that mean if opticians won the right to refract, then they would send the patient elsewhere to get the RX filled?

[chip anderson]

Paw:

Unless I am mistaken, Eyeglass 1 is the current law of the land. I Believe it states: " All precribers must give the patient a copy of his Rx in his hand at the time of refraction."

So if opticians become precribers, then they must allow the patient to have the Rx filled where ever they wish.

Chip

Of course I suspect compliance with this would be no better than that of O.D.'s and M.D.'s who self refer and the same pressures would be place on the patient to get it filled in house as are now exerted.

I also doubt that Opticians will ever be allowed to Rx in a completely independent environment.

[paw]

Chip,

I must say, I wish I understood better where you are coming from. The extreme dislike you have for ODs is dismaying. All I can say is that in our office, the patient is ALWAYS handed a copy of their Rx. Even with that in hand, most patients choose to stay in the office to get their Rx filled because it's convenient and they trust us and apparently our service/knowledge/frame selection/price meets their needs, not because we exert pressure on them to stay. (Believe me, we've had our share of patients who are intent on going elsewhere, and pressure is not exerted on the patient then either). Would they get a better result if they went elsewhere? IMHO, no, and I believe most patients know that too, so why bother going elsewhere? I feel you think the Dr is "forcing" the patient to stay when actually the patient is choosing to stay.

[jnas]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the input I did pickup my new glasses Friday and upon putting them on, my eyes readjusted to the new prescription very quick and I had none of the previous problems so I think he got them right this time.