Quote:
Originally Posted by Canehdianman
I just had my optometrist refuse to provide me with my PD measurement.
He made up a few ridiculous reasons why:
1) it would make him liable for any glasses I buy online not fitting properly;
2) it is the responsibility of wherever I buy glasses to measure my PD; and
3) PD isn't just a set number, it needs to be adjusted for each pair of glasses as they all sit differently on your face.
#1 is more or less complete load of bull. I couldn't believe he had the balls to even mention it knowing his customer is a lawyer.
#2 makes a little more sense. However, I know he has my PD on file (as I have bought glasses from him in the past, before I discovered that glasses don't have to be $600).
#3 is, as near as I can tell, a lie. PD is simply the distance between your pupils. It doesn't change once your head stops growing.
Now, I understand why he is reluctant to provide the PD to people. It is about the only leverage he has to try to force customers to keep buying glasses from him (at $600) instead of online for $30. It is no different than dozens of other industries that have changed due to technology. The old guard tries to hold on as long as possible to their incredible profit margins.
However, my understanding stops when, after I politely request the information from my file, he refuses to provide it. I know it is in my file already, he doesn't have to perform a new PD test to give it to me. At that point, he is withholding my information from me.
How can he do this without being sanctioned by the College of Optometrists?
Follow-up question - Do you refuse to provide PD measurements?
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There is no legal obligation for an Optometrist to provide you with the PD measurement. It is his/her legal obligation to provide you with a prescription, as long as you have paid all outstanding balances.
Everyone handles this different. Some places will charge you a set fee for a PD measurement. Other places will not hand it out at all. We generally provide it free of charge, but you have to sit through an Optician providing you with an explanation of the differences in technology out there and the problems associated with ordering glasses online (i posted a study early that showed that 44 to 50% of glasses made online are made incorrectly).
As for the cost of glasses, there is a tonne that goes into it. You are likely getting high quality/high index lenses for that $600. You will likely notice a decrease in the quality of the optics, as well as more chance of the pair being made incorrectly. Everyone has to make their own decision based on price/quality and where that trade-off is.
Honestly, it is a contentious issue, but it has lead to Optometrists trying to find new ways to lower their costs in order to provide good service/products without compromising in quality.