The glasses woe is strong with this one

[valis2]

So I've been to the optometrist seven times as of last week, and had three different right lenses put in. They put the third one in last week, and I am still getting the ghosting/double image problem.

The earliest appointment the ophthalmologist had was for today. I went in, explained my issues, and the ophthal did some of the typical testing (same stuff the optometrist did). He also checked the shape of my cornea, because apparently there is a condition which causes a warped cornea which has the same symptoms. I'm "borderline" for the warped cornea syndrome in my right eye, but he doesn't think that's it; he thinks it's the lenses.

He then shipped me next door to the teeny eyeglasses store that shares the suite with him. A jolly fellow in his late fifties took my glasses and began to study them. He asked me several questions while his wife tried to track down my previous prescription for the lenses before the lenses of doom.

The jolly fellow--we'll call him Don--came back out of his teeny office and showed me an instrument that looked like a pocketwatch at first. He explained that it was a lens clock, and that it measured curvature. He showed the curvature on the left lens, which ranged from 4 to 4.25 or so. Then he showed me the right lens. It ranged from 4 to 2.75 back to 4.25. Which, apparently, can cause ghosting.

The lens clock turned out to be Don's father's instrument. He told me that the new machines are fantastic, but sometimes you have to go "old school" to figure things out.

So Don wrote a lovely note to my optometrist, and I went back and gave it to the people who work there. I told them that at this point I don't even care about the frames any longer. I'll buy new frames. Just get me new lenses.

Thankfully, the girl ignored me. She ended up making a pair of "loaner" glasses (!!!) on the spot, and took my glasses, telling me they would investigate this further. I explained that I leave next Tuesday and I need the glasses before that. She asked if she could mail them to me. I agreed.

They handed me the loaner glasses, and I couldn't tell if there was an issue because my eyes were still dilated. Now, though, that I look a little less stoned, I can see that even the loaner glasses have the ghosting. GRAH. GRAH. GRAH.

I really hope they figure this out and that they heed Don's advice. If they send me another pair of ghosting glasses, I will cry, because I will be in WI for 39 days without proper eyeglasses, and there are a couple weeks where I basically work 12 hour days, and I cannot do so without splitting headaches and awfulness with this pair of glasses.

I know this has only been a month, but I seriously can't take this much longer. The headaches are omnipresent. They're worse than the usual old-prescription headaches. I want this to end!

Oh, and this loaner set of glasses? has no anti-glare. So I have to drive to WI with them and it's going to be awful.

Okay, enough whining.

Comments

[torra.livejournal.com]

I don't have much of anything helpful to imput here, you just sounded like you need a hug. {{{{hugs}}}}

[todayiamadaisy]

I second the (hug).

Don sounds like a treasure. I hope his advice works.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Awww! Thank you so much. It's very much appreciated. *hugs back*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

He was awesome. At one point he said something snarky to his wife, and said, "It's okay, she's my wife." Then later he said, "Tacos tonight?" And she said, "Taco shells for me. Crushed taco shells for you." LOL.

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

Argh! How frustrating. I sure hope they get it fixed properly.

Next time you need glasses go see Don! He sounds awesome.

[venivincere]

Can't you ask them for a refund then go get your glasses from the teeny shop next your ophthalmologist?

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Sending hugs.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

I do wish you get this sorted out. I've never had any such problems with my glasses so I can't imagine the struggle you're going through.

Good luck...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I really do hope they figure it out. And yeah, I'm totally having Don regret. :(

[valis2.livejournal.com]

That's definitely a possibility. However, after they put so much time, effort, and cost into the lenses, and because they've been so helpful so far, I'd like to give them one last chance. If they screw up the next set, I think I'll wander over to Don. *nodnod*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hugs back*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've never had these problems before, either! So frustrating. I hope they get it right this time!!

[tudorpot.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry - they have FAILED so badly they don't deserve another chance after the trial glasses. Go to Don. You have been more than patient, put up with all this grief and expense of seeing the eye doc.
Hope your trip goes well.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

They have a satisfaction guaranteed promise--however, it is probably to the effect of "we'll keep making your glasses until we get them right," not "cash back."

Part of the issue is that I used my own frames, not theirs, and it's a line of frames that they don't carry. They seem to be very committed to getting them right, so I'm going to give them another try. ;)

Thanks!

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

How frustrating! I am frustrated with you!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I am frustrated with you!

lol! Why, what did I do? *grins*

Ah, the joys of text communication... ;)

[venivincere]

All my good luck are belong to you.

[sylvadin.livejournal.com]

You're not whining - you're expressing understandable frustration. You have both my sympathy and my empathy for what you're going through.

Finding the best prescription for a patient isn't just science and numbers, it's also part artform and deductive skills. Some patients have eyes that are *sensitive* to noticing changes or distortions in a prescription lens that the average person wouldn't notice. This can be particularly applified when one starts experiencing the vision changes that normally start around middle age.


In my case, something as simple as what material the lens are made out of can have a major difference as to how well they work for me, particularly when it comes to driving at night - same prescription, same frame, theoretically same everything, yet a lens made from one type of high-index material might give me ghosting, while another brand doesn't.

You say you haven't had these problems before... Out of curiousity, is this a new optometry clinic you've been using? If so, it may be possible that they simply don't *get* what your eyes need, in which case you should find another clinic. While it's not uncommon to sometimes need more than one try to get a lens *right*, each attempt should be heading in the direction of improvement over the last attempt. If not...

*hugs*

[catyah.livejournal.com]

Lots of :: HUGS :: from me, too. You really have my sympathy, hon.

Also, I totally agree that you should go back to Don for your next set of glasses. Wouldn't it be something if he got them right on his first try?

AND lastly, if they could make you a pair of *loaner*(???) glasses right away, maybe you should call them back before they start working on your (hopefully) permanent glasses. "Hey, those glasses that you made me yesterday? I've still got that ghosting problem with them, so how about you do something *different* with the next pair, huh?"

[cordeliadelayne]

*hugs you muchly* I can't believe this hasn't been resolved yet. I hope a solution occurs sharpish.

[slavelabour.livejournal.com]

Well, shit. {{{hugs}}} I wish I could offer more.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

I say just cut out the hedging and waffling people and go with Don ... can't hurt to see what he devises for you.

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

"Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid. Geteilte Liebe ist doppelte Liebe."

Means: "Share sorrow and it lessens. Share Love and it grows."

(It´s not exactly translated, but you get the meaning!)

*BIG hug* and all the good luck, that they get it right before you leave.

Rain

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

Poor thing! I sure hope "old school" will save the day. month. whatever. A month with bad vision and headaches is not acceptable. I can't really understand why they don't find the problem. Optical physics isn't THAT complicated.
*keeping fingers crossed*

[vanityfair00.livejournal.com]

How miserable! I hope they figure it out soon. God I would be a complete wreck without my glasses.