Store claims to be unable to fill prescription

**stedel** · 03-12-2014, 06:05 PM

So, first a little bit of backstory.

About a year ago my mom had a retinal detachment. When she phoned her optometrist over and over again, over the course of 4 days with the very, very obvious symptoms of a detachment, and she was told each time that it was nothing serious. Finally she went down to the office and barged in, demanding to see the optometrist. He took one took at her and sent her to the emergency room. (Personally I'd be living in his house by this point, but she doesn't want to sue for his obvious incompetence. Doesn't want to make trouble for some reason. She's in the US on a green card, and I'm of the opinion that she thinks she'll be booted out of the country if she complains about anyone. As it is she says she gets harassed in stores all the time and told to "go back to the middle east". I didn't realized Canadian accents sounded Arabic, but I've actually heard about a small number of people having that happen to them. Who knew hehe. Accents are funny things:-). They're so... relative to your own ear and its experiences.)

Because her retina had been detached for so long, the surgeons who operated on her eye weren't able to completely repair the damage, as you'd expect under those conditions. She can now see 20/30 with correction, and her ophthalmologist has told her it will never be better than that. (I'm impressed that they were able to save that much! From what I'm reading their surgical techniques have really improved over the years.)

He also told her that optometrists weren't "real doctors", and said that they were "useless quacks like chiropractors" (his words, not mine:P), especially the guy she'd gone to. (BTW, is there an organization to report people like him to? He deserves to be disbarred, or whatever the term is for his profession.) He said that while he doesn't actively recommend that anyone see an optometrist normally, that goes doubly for her. She should only see specialists now. That last bit kinda makes sense to me, given the damage to her eye. EDITED TO ADD: Maybe optometrists and ophthalmologists just like to war against each other for business? I know that here (in Saskatchewan) optometrists managed to get ophthalmologists banned from giving out prescriptions unless they've been referred to them by an optometrist. How they managed that I don't know.

Because of the retinal detachment, a cataract formed in the affected eye. This was expected under the circumstances, and they replaced the lens.

Anyway, now we get to the important bit. Her ophthalmologist gave her a new prescription that looked pretty standard to me (please note that I've rounded the numbers to the nearest whole (except the add) to preserve privacy, because the formatting of the prescription is what I'm interested in):

Right Eye: Sphere:-4.00, Cyl:-1.00, Axis:10, Add: +2.25
Left Eye: Sphere:-3.00 Cyl/Axis: Sphere, Add: +2.25

Then it said BCVA Right: 20/30 -1, and BCVA Left: NI, which I think just means that that's the best her vision can be corrected to. It also had the standard "this prescription expires 1 year from issue." and the name and signature of the doctor. That's all that was there.

She took it to a glasses store, and the person behind the counter refused to make her a pair of progressive computer glasses "because one of the eyes doesn't have cylinder, and you need cylinder to make computer glasses." (WTF? Are they stupid?) So my mom just got a distance pair made up. When she went back (today) to pick up the distance pair, she asked again (because I told her they were nuts;)) and they told her, "we can't make them up because that add is only good for reading". But I looked at the prescription myself, and it doesn't say "SVN" or "reading only" or anything like that.

Am I crazy, or are the people at the store pretty dense? Or am I missing something obvious?

PS: All this took place in Oklahoma if you're wondering. Oh the stories I could tell about that place. No one has any training for the job they're doing. Dentists assistants, nurses aids in doctor's offices, people in optical stores, they're just all hired straight off the street. It's crazy.

**Uilleann** · 03-12-2014, 06:50 PM

First, yes, the original OD is ripe for a malpractice suit at the very least. Secondly, your MD is almost as bad, and his blanket absolute statements have almost no credible merit either. Third, yes, there are often skirmishes in the long running battles between the three O's here. Fourth, the idiot behind the counter at the glasses-R-us shop doesn't know what their doing either.

Find a reputable certified or licensed optician to make those up. Heck, for that matter, I'd expect even the likes of Zenni or WP could handle that SRx without choking anymore than they usually do on any other SRx. ;) But really, do Mom a favor, find a reputable dispenser in her area, and spend the money to have things done up proper.

**stedel** · 03-12-2014, 07:00 PM

I actually tried to do that... but I couldn't find anyone in her area that I wanted to send her to. The nearest ones I could find that had good reviews were in Texas and Kansas, and "that's just too far to drive, son!"

So that brings up another question: does anyone here have a recommendation of a good non-Glasses-R-Us (I don't know who came up with it, I'm totally stealing that) retailer in OK? Preferably in the Tulsa area? I'm sure there must be at least one or two.

**Wes** · 03-12-2014, 07:49 PM

So just post "NEED TULSA, OKLAHOMA OPTICIAN!" and see if anyone bites.

**drk** · 03-12-2014, 09:29 PM

Have her see Bobby Christiansen http://visionsource-midwestcity.com/...doctors-staff/

**fjpod** · 03-13-2014, 01:52 AM

If indeed the optometrist did what your mom said, he did wrong. He is liable, not the whole profession. There are just as many horror stories out there about surgeons, dentists...and undertakers. Stupidity is not unique to optometry.

In my experience, there is usually more to the story.

**CCGREEN** · 03-13-2014, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by fjpod

In my experience, there is usually more to the story.

And a wise man will hold his tounge and listen to both sides before passing judgment or firing off like a lose cannon. One surely would not want to get sucked into the skirmish. I do my best to avoid ligation at all cost. It can be a very unpleasant experience.

**ex-optician** · 03-13-2014, 09:31 AM

Sorry to hear about your mother. I personally believe that the optometrist did not act properly but there were other options. When it comes to signs and symptoms effecting your vision it should be handle promptly. There are other optometrists or even better the hospital emergency ward to see an opthalmologist. As far as getting the prescription filled that should be no problem getting it filled by a competent optician or optometrist. Unfortunately not all proffessionals are created equal and your mom has paid the price. Sometimes a second opinion is necessary especially when the consequences can be serious.

**drk** · 03-13-2014, 09:44 AM

P.S. Don't go to an ER with an eye problem unless you can't into a normal clinic.

**ex-optician** · 03-13-2014, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by drk

P.S. Don't go to an ER with an eye problem unless you can't into a normal clinic.

When you have vision problems such as blurred vision it could be neurological as well. If it is the early signs of a stroke with prompt attention the better the outcome and less damage. I am not familar with the hospital procedures in the U.S. but in Canada the hospital staff will decide if it is urgent. This is standard procedure according to most 1st aid courses.

**coupe** · 03-13-2014, 12:30 PM

A quick look will tell you that Oklahoma is A NON-LICENSED STATE...meaning anybody without any training can sell Rx eyeglasses. The advise given at this store shows the value of seeing a licenced professional optician. Conatct The Americain Board of Opticians 1-800-296-1379 , 703-719-5800 and ask them if they know of an ABOC acredited optician working in Oklahoma. Althought a non-liceced state, there are some liceneced opticians working there, I would guess.

**drk** · 03-13-2014, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by ex-optician

When you have vision problems such as blurred vision it could be neurological as well. If it is the early signs of a stroke with prompt attention the better the outcome and less damage. I am not familar with the hospital procedures in the U.S. but in Canada the hospital staff will decide if it is urgent. This is standard procedure according to most 1st aid courses.

Ok. Don't know the ropes in Canada.