PLEASE HELP Problem with new glasses

In Feb. 06 I went to have my eyes examined because age is making it
hard for me to see up close out of my glasses. My glasses are for
distance. I am 45 (well, ok almost 46) and have been wearing glasses
for distance since I was 23. The eye exam showed that my distance
vision had improved some and that my close up vision wasn't what it
used to be. I've been looking under my glasses or taking them off to
see printed material. I usually only wear my glasses to shop, go to
mass, and drive. I had never been to this OD b/4 but he was covered on
my insurance. I was going to get my rx filled where I used to but
decided get them at the OD office (eye doc and eyeglass place in one).
The girls in the office talked me into getting progressive. I had
great reservations but after two weeks decided to get them.

They were awful. I could only see clearly out of a small portion of
the glasses and driving was a nightmare. Peripheral vision was
sickening. I went back. They said they would exchange them for a
single or bifocal. I went w/the bifocal. Upclose was fine. Distance,
however, was off. I called them after two weeks and the girl said I
just needed to get used to them. I was still wearing my old
prescrption sunglasses. I gave it more time but nothing changed.

I went back for another eye exam. He said my eyes were dry and to use
artifical tears for 2 weeks then come back. If nothing had changed, he
would write a new rx. During the next week I noticed that when I
looked directly through the glasses that things were just not clear but
when I looked through them across my nose (head turned right) that
things became sharp. I went back and told the doc. He said I was
creating a myopia. He did his checking with the machine lenses stuff
and wrote a new prescription. Things at 20/20 seem good, it was the
distance stuff - like reading the grocery store signs, speed limit
signs, road signs, etc that were not sharp).

The girl at the front office said this was the last change they would
make. They were going to charge me for a new rx, but being the vocal
person I am said no way. I have had the new glasses for about 3 weeks.
I am having the same problem as before, not quite sharp in the center
but if I turn my head to the right it is much better. It is not as bad
as the first rx the doc wrote but I am not satisfied. I have paid $175
out of pocket for the lenses. I made an appt. w a new doc for next
week. I will have to pay the cost of the exam myself but for some
reason the first doc's office never submitted the lens/frame stuff to
the insurance co. So as of right now, I can still get new lenses. It
will still cost me about $80 for the crizal coating plus the exam.

Sorry this is so long but I am in need of advice. What is causing me
to see less sharply out of the center of these glasses? Does the fact
that they are bifocals have anything to do w/it? The bifocal part is
extremely annoying and if I end up getting new lenses, I will get
single distance and continue to look under my glasses for close up
stuff. If the new doc says the rx is correct, could the manufacturer
have messed them up? What should I do w/regards to the $175 I am out
from the old doc? If I call them now, they will realize they did not
submit the claim for the lenses and frames and will do so, causing me
to have to pay out of pocket for any new lenses I may need. My
insurance will only cover exams/frames/lenses every two years. Why
can't I see right out of these glasses?

Thanks for any help/advice/experience anyone can give.

Jo

What is your pescription? What you can do is read something as far away
as possible with your single vision lens then do the same with the
bifocals. Progressives may take some time to get used to, the upper
half is for distance and the lower half for near, you need to look at
the right segment for maximal clarity. Took my dad a week to get used
to his plus progressives, ditto to my mom for her minus progressives.
Taking your glasses off for near is another solution, something one of
the old lady I know in person does. Another old lady just doesnt bother
wearing distance glasses except sometimes to drive and shes between -1
and -1.5

Dear Jo,

Subject: Lower-cost Lenses

Jo> have messed them up?

Otis> Probably.


What should I do w/regards to the $175 I am out
from the old doc?

Otis> Probably.

Otis> There are lower cost
lenses on the "Net" for about
$20 to $30 -- you might look
at Zenni optical for a better
price -- if these ODs keep
on giving you "changed"
prescriptions. After
awhile they do "add up".

Otis

Jo-

You just got the two least-valuable opinions on this forum. Wait just
a bit. It can only get better from here....

Thank you Neil, I will wait for better advice.

Jo

well if you dont like what others say, do what you want, its your eyes.
If you arent going to listen to anyone that says anything you disagree
with, why bother asking unless the advice is something you are going to
do anyway? Do whatever makes you happy, forget what others say. Thats
the best I can say. Its your eyes and only you know whats best for YOU

by the way, I hate to say this but I think theres some rudeness here. I
speak from the experience of my parents reguarding time to get used to
progressives. You chose to listen or not to listen. Everyone can tell
you the same story and if you dont like what you hear, you wont listen
anyway even if its good advice! You havent even told your pescription!

Ace, did you even read my post? I don't have progressives. That isn't
what my question was about. And I don't appreciate your insinuation
that I am an old lady.

On 19 May 2006 13:47:45 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>by the way, I hate to say this but I think theres some rudeness here. I
>speak from the experience of my parents reguarding time to get used to
>progressives. You chose to listen or not to listen. Everyone can tell
>you the same story and if you dont like what you hear, you wont listen
>anyway even if its good advice! You havent even told your pescription!

Shhhhh. She'll be okay. Don't take it so personally. She'll simply
get MUCH better advice from any of the OD's on this board than from
you or Otis.

Easy there, Ace. It'll all be alright. No need to get so snippy
toward her......

You stated your case. Once the doc's weigh in, she'll do what she
thinks is best.

jo wrote:
> Ace, did you even read my post? I don't have
> progressives. That isn't what my question was about.
> And I don't appreciate your insinuation that I am an old
> lady.

Ace only advises. Ace doesn't see the need to read the
questions (not that the advice would be any different
or better).

-Quick