Quote:
Originally Posted by Hesla
This issue is way more complicated than CBC is making it seem.
The guy in the article was providing prescriptions using a computerized system that is quite inaccurate and does not take into account how your eyes work together (binocular vision) or health concerns. Clearly contacts and guys like this would rather you just buy glasses and contacts without proper eye health check ups (ie they want you to not have to have regular eye checkups with an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist). Sight - testing is extremely dangerous as many common eye conditions have been missed due to going this route. The guy in the article was in trouble because basic eye health problems were missed when customers (not patients as that would mean they received health care) went to his office and were told that they did not need to see an Optometrist. He was warned and fined many times before the courts had to step in. Currently groups with no financial stake in eye wear (like the Canadian Medical Association, Canadian National Institue for the Blind, Canadian Diabetes Association' and the College of Physicians and surgeons) have all come out In support of regular eye examinations.
An analogy would be a non-doctor taking blood pressure readings and prescribing you drugs without taking into consideration other factors like baseline readings, other health problems and drug interactions.
The lenses he talks about are bare bones. No coatings, polycarbonate lenses (safety lenses which have poor optics and scratch easily) and lots of imperfections. There is a huge disparity in the quality of lenses on the market and as such a big disparity in costs. Online retailers use these same bare-bones lenses to keep their costs low. When people compare the vision wth these lenses and those of NIKON, Pentax and Shamir (lenses with superior optics and customization) there is a noticeable difference in quality of vision and patient satisfaction.
I know that the majority of Optometrists care about their patents eye health first and foremost and strive to provide the best vision possible, which includes providing the best products.
As for Luxottica they are trying to gain a Monopoly in eye care and as a result they have driven up prices. The thing they do that is worse than that is sell the same frame to different places at vastly different prices because they own such a huge percentage of opticals in the country. I order to keep costs low they use the same poor quality lenses used by guys like the Optician mentioned in the article, they just charge more.
Look into www.fyidoctors.com and The doctors eye care network. These two groups are groupings of Optometry practices that have buying power to provide lower cost on frames and lenses (highest quality only) while maintaining a high standard of health care.
I know it is a long read but this is some insight into Optometry that many in the public do not have. Maybe I have said too much, but I feel that eye care in this country is at a cross roads and the public needs to know that Optometrists are there for your best interest. |
No it was not too long, it was informative. Why do places like Lenscrafter do not release your pupil distance even if you paid for the examinations? They obviously want your business and preventing you from buying online. In BC, any store can give you an examination and provide all your details incl PDs even selling their frames and lens at lower costs. The Provincial government allows for more freedom and less monopolistic approach than the rest of Canada.
You mentioned the machine the guy (who was charged) used for eye exams is not accurate enough, however, the real determination of that is the lens that are made from the measurements. If the machine spits out the right numbers and the lens work, then none is the wiser (?)
I guess one of the ways to save money (if not living in BC) would be to get your eye examined and getting all measurements incl PD then order online with all the info. Once you get the glasses and they do not fit quite well (this could occur as well while with instore personalized service), then I would proceed to any eye glass store and get them readjusted. At least you could save $300-600 by buying online.
For eye exams regarding health reasons, I would go to my optometrist. Most people want to change frames for fashion reasons and not for eye problems. For trend setters, it can become expensive by going through all the system's guidelines.
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