I am an Optometrist, Ask me Anything.

[FlamesPuck12]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I also want to ask... what are your thoughts of wearing contacts that are monthlies over a course of a few months? This is of course not constant wearing. I might wear it literally 3 times in a month.

There are dailies I've tried, but there are times where I do need to wear them for a few days and I think monthlies fit my need the best.

I have the same question. Are the 1-month contact lenses, 1 month from their first use, or about 30 days of use?

[Knut]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Thanks. I'll definitely try that. I have an appointment booked on Monday.

A few more questions...

Do you think it is okay to take a nap/sleep for a day with contacts on? I've heard mixed things from different optometrists about this. I know ideally I should take it off but if I sleep over at a friends or go camping etc. sometimes I don't want to bring my glasses in case they break.

My eyes were a little red after about 8 hrs of wearing them, is this normal or should I stop wearing them?

From earlier in the thread.

Depends on the brand of Lenses and the individual. Air Optix Night and Day and Purevision lenses are approved for 30 days of continuous wear (ie. do not take them out all month). Biofinity, Air Optix and Oasys are approved for 6 days of continuous wear. All other brands are not approved or not safe for overnight wear.

Keep in mind though, that Overnight wear is not for everyone and a proper trial, with Optometrist supervision, should be conducted.

Personally, I only fit them overnight if a patient asks for it as it does open yourself up for more complications. If you do sleep in them, if your eyes are red and sore take them out.

The first step is to determine which brand you are in. IF you wear any of the above brands then it is ok for occasional overnight use. But I must emphasize that you talk to your Optometrist about potential overnight use as not all eyes do well with it.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I also want to ask... what are your thoughts of wearing contacts that are monthlies over a course of a few months? This is of course not constant wearing. I might wear it literally 3 times in a month.

There are dailies I've tried, but there are times where I do need to wear them for a few days and I think monthlies fit my need the best.

Originally Posted by FlamesPuck12

I have the same question. Are the 1-month contact lenses, 1 month from their first use, or about 30 days of use?

One month contact lenses are good for one month once you open the package. These limits are for consumer protection as your chance of infections and other complications really increases past the one month mark (or the two week mark, or the one day mark depending on the lens).

The other problem is that CL solution is really only good for about 1 week in the case. So when your contacts sit in the case for a long period of time the solution actually becomes a "nutrient soup" for bacteria.

If you find yourself only wearing lenses part time then Dailies are the best bet for you. The cost of dailies is less than monthlies if you are only using them a couple times a week. Also, Dailies solve the problem of sleeping in them as you can chuck them out before bed and put in a new set the next day.

The big thing people have to remember with contact lenses is that they are a medical device and should be used as indicated.

[VERVE]

I finished watching a Fifth Estate program on Luxottica ripping consumers off with over charging for eye glasses and playing keep away with their PDs from their consumers. One person who operated a store selling eye glasses at a reasonable price and providing eye exam was charged. A monopoly by Luxottica owning many chains of stores under different names and the government protects them and allows the over charging to continue.

What is your opinion of the article? Is it fair for the government to allow this ripping off of the consumers all in the name of self-interests?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...s.html?cmp=rss

[Textcritic]

Never mind...

I thought the title of this thread at a glance was "I am an optimist.'

[Knut]

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.

[pylon]

I have been buying my glasses from the regular places for years. Lenscrafters, Crown, bought a pair from Hakim Optical about a year and a half ago. EVERY SINGLE TIME, they screw up the adjustment for my stigmatism, and I end up with everything tilted to the left, like I am having an LSD trip, and need to spend a week with headaches adapting. And I always was buying the top end pentax lenses.

So the last time I had my prescription done, I had my optometrist measure my pupil distance, and I ordered from clearly contacts. I checked off every box on the option list, and got a complete pair for $92. They showed up in the mail, and it was the clearest, sharpest, most accurate pair of glasses I have ever owned. Went back online and ordered 3 more pairs, and every single pair was flawless in the prescription execution. The total for 4 brand name pairs, was around $380. The cost for 1 pair, from Lenscrafters with same ultra thin lenses, was $650, with the identical frame.

I understand there may be some risks ordering online, but when you are paying 7 X more in the retail, brick and mortar location, I am willing to take the risk on getting a couple dud pairs. At first I was happy with how much money I saved, but after thinking about it, I was so frikkin po'd that I had been ripped off so bad by the eye wear industry over the years.

Frame retailers have a criminal markup. $3-400 is what you pay for a pair of decent frames. A chunk of moulded plastic worth $2. $400 buys you any of the following:

- A laptop
- A smart Phone
- An 18" Alloy wheel for a car
- A hydroformed Aircraft grade aluminum bicycle frame....and about a million other things that require infinitely more engineering precision and material costs. It is such a scam it is disgusting. They could sell titanium frames, for $20 and still be making a 500% markup.

Also, I see no difference when I order online and punch in my prescription and measurements provided by my optometrist, or have some Devry grad, punch it in at the store and walk it to the lens lab at the back. Either way, the person making the glasses aren't seeing me. And I trust my optometrists measurements any day of the week, over the Eyewear store person.

[Knut]

^ perfect example Pylon

here is the way to think of things.

Online = lower quality materials, greater risk, old model designer frames and overstocked frames (think Outlet mall), minimal warranty, no personalized service, lower price.

Optometrist office = higher quality materials, less risk, newest model frames, great waranties, personalized service, higher price.

Luxottica (pearle, lenscrafters, sears and equivalents) = lower quality, higher risk, poor service and warranty, and higher prices.


IMO there is a market for the first two to survive and thrive. It is the 3rd one that creates the problem in the industry and has the most detrimental effect to eye care.

Get routine eye examinations with your Optometist and if you want to buy online pay to have the proper measurements done at the Optometry office.

At our office we will provide you with all the measurements needed to purchase online, routine adjustments and nose-pad/screw replacement for a flat fee. This also includes checking for defects in glasses purchased elsewhere.

[pylon]

And I can dig that. If I was dealing with a bifocal prescription or something super complex, I would certainly do the Optometrist office thing. But dealing with a pretty simple nearsighted prescription with a stigmatism adjustment, I am comfortable taking the online gamble.

PM me your info. My optometrist is going away to be a full time mom soon, and I will need someone new. My annual is coming up soon. Also it would be nice to have a contact should one of my bargain basement e-pairs need an adjustment.

Cheers.

[stampsx2]

Is it possible that my eyes let in more light than other peoples. People keep trying to give me a light to read when i really don't need it. I also get headaches if I don't wear sunglasses on a very bright day.

[Sr. Mints]

Seeing as how it seems every eyeglass store is owned by the same company here, and don't carry what I want, where do I find Lunor glasses in Calgary?

[VERVE]

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.

Ido noto w ap air ofe yegl assesb ythe w ay. Noty et. Tha nk sag ain.

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Never mind...

I thought the title of this thread at a glance was "I am an optimist.'

Umm...in that case, someone may need an eye examination.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by VERVE

Ido noto w ap air ofe yegl assesb ythe w ay. Noty et. Tha nk sag ain.

Having bad eyes, doesn't make you a dislexic ###### you know.

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by pylon

Having bad eyes, doesn't make you a dislexic ###### you know.

Easy man. I think you mean dyslexic. The above arrangement of words was a poor attempt at humour to demonstrate that my eye sight is losing its strength to read clearly. The off beat words were not meant as a joke on persons suffering from dyslexia. You are flying off the handle with what you think was a joke about dyslexics. Perhaps you should refrain from using the word "######" as well. It is not a politically correct choice word to use, it is insulting. People with dyslexia are not "######s". So relax and stop reading between the lines. In this case, it serves no purpose and your reasonings of dyslexic being ######s- doesn't do your explanation any justice.

[Aegypticus]

I've been sleeping really weird hours lately. Last night and today I've had a pain behind my right eye that I can only describe as feeling like a pulled muscle. Also, my right eyelid is noticeably swollen today. Should I be concerned?

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Aegypticus

I've been sleeping really weird hours lately. Last night and today I've had a pain behind my right eye that I can only describe as feeling like a pulled muscle. Also, my right eyelid is noticeably swollen today. Should I be concerned?

I would recommend an immediate (like Today) appointment with your Optometrist. Likely just eye strain, but it needs to be checked to rule out anything else more serious.

[Aegypticus]

Alright, thanks very much for the quick reply.

[core_upt]

Question regarding astigmatism and contacts...

My current prescription is for a little distance correction -1ish, but I have really bad astigmatism, like -4.25.

I went to Costco to book a contact lens fitting and they told me that there are no disposable contacts that will work with my high level of astigmatism. But, they did say I could look into hard lenses.

I then went on Clearly Contacts and have found 'Toric' lenses that would match my rx.... is this an option?

Before I spend $ with a doctor, what are my contact options?

Thanks!

[Knut]

There are soft contact lens options, but they are speciality options and Costco likely does not carry them.

Proclear Toric XR or Frequency Toric XR are two that can be used that are montly disposible.

You should really get a fit done at an Optometrist for this type of prescription, they are notoriously hard to nail down an accurate prescription/fit.

Hard lenses are you best chance getting vision comparable to glasses (or in some cases better) but they take weeks to get used to. It is an option you should consider though if slightly blurry vision really bothers you.