I absolutely HATE going to an optometrist and feeling pressured to get glasses there. I know, I know…grow a spine. How do you handle this? Where do you get glasses? I wear progressive bifocals. I guess I need to look for an optometrist not associated with an optical shop?
I think that at our age we shoud be having an exam by an ophthomologist, not an optometrist. The former is an MD and looks for additional stuff that the latter doesn’t.
Once I get my prescription from the ophthomologist, I’m free to go anywhere I want.
Once in a while Mr. goes to see his favorite ophthalmologist, but the majority of his eye exams are done at Costco. And that’s where he gets his glasses with every bell and whistle possible.
Ah, well, I am under the care of an ophthalmologist for my eyes but alas her next available appt. isn’t till Sept. 20 and I’ve decided I want new glasses for my son’s wedding on Sept. 1.
We see an ophthalmologist and have purchased glasses from him, Costco and recently, college son purchased 2 pairs from Warby Parker. I think it depends on what all is involved in your prescription.
@VeryHappy What conditions/exams does an ophthalmologist perform that an optometrist doesn’t? My optometrist does many checks for eye health and conditions. I always thought the key difference between the two was that one was trained to do surgery and the other wasn’t.
Good thread. I wear progressive bifocals as well and my optometrist is somewhat limited in his line of options. I know many people order online these days but I’m not sure they are the best for progressives from what I’ve read.
My other problem is I’m so blind I don’t know what looks good on me without someone I trust along. That used to be my daughter but her visits home are often busy holiday weekends.
Costco will be your best bet for inexpensive eyeglasses. The only things I don’t like is their somewhat limited selection of really high-end frames and the lack of Crizal as an option for anti-reflective coating.
@VeryHappy is right, an ophthalmologist will generally be able to do everything that an optometrist can do, plus more. I’m forced to see one every 2 years because I’m considered glaucoma suspect for the last 30 years. Your health insurance plan should cover this.
H and I also see an ophthalmologist at a local practice. H used to get his progressive glasses made at BJ’s while I used to get mine from a wonderful optician whose shop was closer to us, but after she went out of business, H and I both began using the optical shop associated with the ophthalmology practice, which is in the same office.
I am satisfied with the selection of frames and with the quality of the glasses and service they offer, but if I were not satisfied, I would take my glasses Rx with me and shop around for another optician.
We have had trouble with only one practice in our town. The two practices we primarily use, just hand us the Rx, at most might just ask if we would like to look at glasses or order contacts. But there is no pressure and they don’t get rude or snippy. At one of the places, I usually do get my glasses there but order contacts online. My D goes to the other place (a national chain) for her exam but orders contacts online also.
I decided to give the problematic practice a 2nd chance due to availability of appointment and the original doctor from 5 years ago not being there anymore. Same thing happened again! They not only do not automatically hand over the Rx but even try not to give it to you when you ask for it, all contrary to federal law!
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0116-prescription-glasses-and-contact-lenses
So my advice would be to try a different office where they very likely will just hand you your Rx. If for some reason they don’t, just mention that it’s federal law.
Imo, for most of us, an optometrist is fine, if he or she is good and we don’t have medical conditions that affect the eyes. Mine detected a possible eye condition (after a fall) and referred me to the group’s MD for that level of expertise, a specialist. By the time my appt rolled around I was fine and the opthamologist said it was ok to deal routinely with the optometrist. But this is not a mall location.
And my place makes it clear, every appt, that I don’t need to buy my glasses there. In fact, I originally visited one of their sites that doesn’t even have frames for sale. But frankly, if I don’t order the glasses then and there, I’m likely to wait a year.
D2 was sent for baseline tests after pre-glaucoma was suspected. Later, they decided she doesn’t have any suspicious signs. Shrugs shoulders. I don’t think, in either case, that they were just drumming up business.
If you have a complicated script, you may want to steer away from the Zenni’s and Warby Parker type places. My husband who has a straight forward easy 20/60 prescription loved his Zenni’s. I am close to legally blind without my glasses, have an astigmatism, and need progressives and the Zenni’s were horrible.
Just say at the end of the exam in a private office (we went to optometrist who has her own shop) calmly, ‘May I have a written script please?’ I think that the younger optometrists are more used to this than the older ones.
H and I got progressives at Costco, High Index. And H also got progressive polarized Rx Rayban sunglasses ordered online and loves them. I plan to order contacts from Costco, last time ordered from 1800contacts. They are roughly the same price. D and SIL ordered from Warby Parker online but they have single lens.
@VaBluebird your best bet would be to just get a plain ‘ol exam somewhere (Costco also has them) and then do the glasses at Costco. Turnaround time is a week. I don’t think you’ll be able to go to a regular place and get it done before Sept 1.
LensCrafters made baby kiddo’s glasses in 4 hours. But we paid $400 - about 2.5X what the glasses would have cost at Costco. I believe Costco owns a lab in CA that makes their glasses.
You don’t have to articulate that you don’t want to buy your glasses at the optometrist’s office. Just say, “I can’t stay to shop for glasses right now. Did you give me a copy of my prescription? I’d like to have it. Okay, see you next week maybe.”. Or maybe not.
I see an optometrist regularly and never have felt pressure to buy glasses from their shop. Years ago I used to buy glasses and frames at the optometrist, but these days I purchase contact lenses and glasses online-- my optometrist is happy to provide the prescription. I think if I had unusual prescription needs I could run into a problem.
So perhaps you just need to find a different optometrist? I’ve used the same office probably for at least the past 30 years.
@doschicos Take selfies with frames on. I am also quite blind. When I try glasses, I used to take selfies. Now that I had a cataract surgery, I can see well. For picking out frames tho, I found that selfies are still the way to go. I picked out a pair of shades by comparing selfies with different frames.
I disagree that once you reach a certain age you need an ophthalmologist. I have several good friends who are ODs and they test for everything an MD does. Of course, if they see something not right, they refer out to the MD. Or if you are a diabetic or something, you may need to see the MD perhaps. But ODs can test for macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts etc.
All of the above applies to an independent OD. My friends in the business will not hire ODs who have been working in Lenscrafters and the like for any years. They have found that those offices are more geared toward prescription filling and the docs do not always stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge and equipment.
I have never felt pressure to buy at the optometrists office. One friend does have a fabulous optician so I usually go there. Plus I like supporting a small business.
^^^ Since the 90s, optometrists in all states have been licensed to treat glaucoma. Most, if not all, optometrists do diabetic eye examinations and evaluate and manage conditions such as dry eyes and macular degneration. If you get to the point where you need cataract surgery or injections into your eye (for macular degeneration) then the optometrist will refer you to the appropriate ophthalmologist.
That said, optometrists practice in a variety of settings. If you are going to Target, Walmart, Lenscrafters, Costco, etc. you may be getting a different level of exam than you would if you went to an optometrist in a medical setting.
When you go to an ophthalmology practice for a routine exam, your exam will often be done by an optometrist, not the ophthalmologist.
Bottom line is to get a quality exam and then ask for your prescription to go.
We have purchased our glasses from Costco for decades. None of our eye specialists can compete on price. H has sometimes bought glasses and contacts from his optician because he has very specialized requirements. We have never had any issues getting written prescriptions to shop where we like.