New glasses, focal length is wrong?
May 1, 2015 7:20 AM Subscribe
I bought my first pair of eyeglasses recently and they look great, but after about ten days I just can't get used to them. They are sharp when I hold my phone or a book a foot from my face, but not as sharp when something is further away (like my computer screen). These are single-vision glasses so I'm not just looking through the wrong part.
I told the Dr that I was on the computer all day and that it was going to be my primary use for glasses. I *can* read without them, I just have to enlarge the text, sometimes to a ridiculous amount. Drugstore reading glasses give me a headache because my right eye is significantly worse than my left (the prescription did work insofar as it evened them out).
So what do I do? Do I just have to pay for another pair of lenses? Would my (premium) vision insurance pay for a replacement so soon? Is it going to matter that I've waited 10 days (several of those days I didn't wear them at all)? Probably relevant: I went to a really nice independent store and not a chain.
I told the Dr that I was on the computer all day and that it was going to be my primary use for glasses. I *can* read without them, I just have to enlarge the text, sometimes to a ridiculous amount. Drugstore reading glasses give me a headache because my right eye is significantly worse than my left (the prescription did work insofar as it evened them out).
So what do I do? Do I just have to pay for another pair of lenses? Would my (premium) vision insurance pay for a replacement so soon? Is it going to matter that I've waited 10 days (several of those days I didn't wear them at all)? Probably relevant: I went to a really nice independent store and not a chain.
It takes about 4 hours to get used to new glasses. Go back to the eye doctor and tell them that they messed up and need to fix it at no charge. You need bifocals.
posted by myselfasme at 7:24 AM on May 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by myselfasme at 7:24 AM on May 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
These sound like reading glasses, primarily for when you're at the computer, yes?
Sounds like the doctor (or you) misjudged how far you sit from the screen. In an ideal world, the doc would go to your workplace and take a measurement. We do not live in that world.
If the doc is on location of the eye glass store, they'll probably swap the lenses for free. Give them a call.
(If you need to use the glasses to see at different distances, then yes - you need bifocals or progressive lenses.)
posted by vitabellosi at 7:30 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sounds like the doctor (or you) misjudged how far you sit from the screen. In an ideal world, the doc would go to your workplace and take a measurement. We do not live in that world.
If the doc is on location of the eye glass store, they'll probably swap the lenses for free. Give them a call.
(If you need to use the glasses to see at different distances, then yes - you need bifocals or progressive lenses.)
posted by vitabellosi at 7:30 AM on May 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yes, at 40 it's no surprise that single-vision lenses aren't doing it for you.
posted by jon1270 at 7:30 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jon1270 at 7:30 AM on May 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Measure (don't estimate) the distance from your eyes to the monitor and give that to the shop. The glasses will then be good for computer work, but little else. Is your distance vision okay? Can you read books without difficulty? I have three pairs of glasses: reading, computer and walking-around. The first two are single-vision and the last are progressives.* That's life after 40.
*progressives can be used for reading and computer work, but they're not comfortable for long stretches
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:49 AM on May 1, 2015
*progressives can be used for reading and computer work, but they're not comfortable for long stretches
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:49 AM on May 1, 2015
Time for bi/tri-focals, I'm afraid. Welcome to the club.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:51 AM on May 1, 2015
posted by Thorzdad at 7:51 AM on May 1, 2015
Bad prescriptions happen, fairly often in my experience, but I have heard that reading glasses have an adjustment period, where they feel weird, and you're still well within that.
This has some more information that maybe you can use to determine which is the case for you.
Or you could just call the shop and ask them what to do. The advantage of going to a nice independent store is that you get better service than you do at a discount chain or online. You're probably paying a premium for that, so don't feel bad about availing yourself.
posted by ernielundquist at 7:59 AM on May 1, 2015
This has some more information that maybe you can use to determine which is the case for you.
Or you could just call the shop and ask them what to do. The advantage of going to a nice independent store is that you get better service than you do at a discount chain or online. You're probably paying a premium for that, so don't feel bad about availing yourself.
posted by ernielundquist at 7:59 AM on May 1, 2015
Go to your local drug store and buy a pair of reading glasses that seem weaker than your new glasses. Or, if you know the magnification of your new glasses, choose lower magnification. For example, if your glasses are 1.75, try out a pair that are 1.25. When testing look at text in the store at the same distance from your eyes as your computer screen at home.
posted by mono blanco at 7:59 AM on May 1, 2015
posted by mono blanco at 7:59 AM on May 1, 2015
Look the place up on line and see if they have their policy on the web page. A lot of places have an easy return policy because this it's not an unusual problem and they don't want to lose customers. Go in with a positive attitude, say you love the frames but you can't see. They are used to this, they want you to be happy. Go in even if the policy, is not on the web page or it says you are too late., see what they can do for you. Be pleasant. If you decide, with their help that you need bi or tri there would be an up charge but I don't think you'll have to take the whole hit. You can also look them up on yelp or something and see what other customers say too.
posted by BoscosMom at 8:05 AM on May 1, 2015
posted by BoscosMom at 8:05 AM on May 1, 2015
I agree with other posters that bad prescriptions are not uncommon. I went to a high class boutique specialist that sold me a prescription at a premium price that I could not use. I found the optometrist at my local Costco store to always get it right.
posted by nogero at 8:33 AM on May 1, 2015
posted by nogero at 8:33 AM on May 1, 2015
Yep, I think you've hit bifocal age. it's really annoying and is what i suspect is behind the uptick in my migraines lately.
posted by poffin boffin at 8:37 AM on May 1, 2015
posted by poffin boffin at 8:37 AM on May 1, 2015
Agreed that you need bifocals. The prescription is good for up close, so that's what should be in the lower reading part. The prescription is too strong for far away.
So giving an example, if your current prescription is +6.25, you'll probably need something like a +5.25 with an add +1.00 bifocal prescription instead.
Optometrists are really used to having to remake glasses for people, and they're also used to people getting the wrong prescription. I had to have my glasses remade 3 times before it was right last year. Go back and have them start over.
ETA: I didn't read close enough, if they're primarily for computer use, you have two options: have them make them less strong so ONLY the computer screen is in focus, or do transitional bifocals so there's a middle part, between up close and far away, where the screen is in focus. The advantage of transitional bifocals is you can use your glasses all the time for everything, but they can be hard to get used to.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:38 AM on May 1, 2015
So giving an example, if your current prescription is +6.25, you'll probably need something like a +5.25 with an add +1.00 bifocal prescription instead.
Optometrists are really used to having to remake glasses for people, and they're also used to people getting the wrong prescription. I had to have my glasses remade 3 times before it was right last year. Go back and have them start over.
ETA: I didn't read close enough, if they're primarily for computer use, you have two options: have them make them less strong so ONLY the computer screen is in focus, or do transitional bifocals so there's a middle part, between up close and far away, where the screen is in focus. The advantage of transitional bifocals is you can use your glasses all the time for everything, but they can be hard to get used to.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:38 AM on May 1, 2015
I recently got a prescription for my first reading glasses. I was getting headaches after sitting in front of the computer all day, so the optometrist suggested I might be more comfortable with reading glasses, even though I don't feel like I don't see well. I didn't want to spend a fortune on prescription glasses just in case I didn't like having to get used to them, so I decided to get a trial pair from Zenni. Zenni needs you to provide the pupillary distance, which my optometrist was able to check for me (at a charge of $15). Turns out the pupillary distance matters in particular for reading glasses - your pupils are a tad closer together for objects near to you than they are if you are looking at the computer for example. There is a standard pupillary distance and then for reading they deduct some number of millimeters and for computers they deduct a different number.
(I ended up not liking reading glasses. I had the Zenni pair checked by the optometrist, and they confirmed Zenni had executed the prescription flawlessly. I am just not ready for reading glasses.)
posted by Dragonness at 10:20 AM on May 1, 2015
(I ended up not liking reading glasses. I had the Zenni pair checked by the optometrist, and they confirmed Zenni had executed the prescription flawlessly. I am just not ready for reading glasses.)
posted by Dragonness at 10:20 AM on May 1, 2015
i once went back to my eye doctor 6 months after I got a new prescription and she replaced them (the original pair hadn't matched the prescription).
If the prescription isn't working for you, go back to the optometrist and explain that. They should work with you so that you end up with a functional pair of glasses.
posted by leahwrenn at 10:25 AM on May 1, 2015
If the prescription isn't working for you, go back to the optometrist and explain that. They should work with you so that you end up with a functional pair of glasses.
posted by leahwrenn at 10:25 AM on May 1, 2015
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posted by desjardins at 7:21 AM on May 1, 2015