Lenscrafters ... so far

As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I was thinking about trying
single vision lenses after a couple years in bifocals (the small
eye place I've been going to got a new young doctor who said I
could do either). Well since the location is now some distance
from my home, and the doctor was different anyway, I decided it
was time to check out the chain place around the corner,
Lenscrafters.

They have a 30 return for any reason deal, so I said "Do you mind
that I want to get single vision lenses know that their is a
50/50 chance I'll be back in 2 weeks to change to bifocals?" They
said no so that's what I did. I got plastic lenses (CR39) and
metal frames -$205 with the random discount.

Anyway, I've had them for 10 days and so far I really wished I
had bifocals like twice (once with a menu in a dark restaurant)
but the rest of the time I've REALLY enjoyed not having bifocals
anymore.

There is one "issue". At a distance, things are a bit blurry when
I look straight ahead. We are talk street sign distances here. But
if I tilt my head back about say 15 degrees, it becomes clear as
a bell. I went back the the Lenscrafters today to see what the
deal was, figuring the had miss the optical center. After much
dotting of lenses and consultations with their optometrist, they
declared that optical center almost never mattered with plastic
single vision and it was most likely as a result of my
astigmatism and that I just needed to adject to it. The OC of
the lenses was well below my eye, butI said I would give it
another week. They also looked at my old lenses and said they
had the same low OC which proved it wasn't an issue (of course
they are bifocals ...)

Can someone explain to me what is happening optically. I don't
see how this can work out, physics wise. Thanx for any light
you can shed on this.

I'm viewing this chain eye place thing as a learning experience.
If it doesn't work out, I can always go back to the small place
where the optometrist is only there like 7 hours a week and
its a road trip.

-A

 

You did not say which material you got in your SV lenses. Aspheric lens
designs do require that the optical center be fit properly on your face. You
can google "aspheric lens" to get the physics or more info.

Also, I have found that polycarb lens material exacerbates the situation you
described.

 

Excellent information. This whole vision thing was much more
complicated than I
realized.

Went back to LC yesterday. A different set of people there this week.
Didn't
try to tell me it was just astigmatism this time. First had them refit
the
frames (they messed with the nice fit last time trying to make them
work). Had
them double check the script was entered in their computer right and
had
them recheck my PD. So, after a bunch of measuring, they redid the
lenses.
First impression is that they are MUCH better, though I'll wait a few
days
to be sure. Oh, they raised the optical center about 6mm. It's now
clear when
I look straight ahead. Nice.

Thanks again for the people who wrote!

-A