Another Optometrist with a chip on his shoulder

Posted by Ira at Friday, February 27, 2009

I got a comment to a post the other day that curled my hair. Read...

My optometrist's receptionist called the law on me claiming I was disruptive, when I questioned why Dr. H walked away from me after I asked for my PD. When the cops came and questioned us both, the optometrist told them that the PD varied according to which frames a patient chose and how thick the lenses were, and that that's why he was refusing to give it to me.

I told the cops the PD was the distance between your pupils and they told me Dr. H was a doctor and that I wasn't, and that I didn't know what I was talking about.

My mother, another patient of Dr. H, was in the office with me when this occurred! I hadn't been to the eye doctor in five years because I couldn't afford it. If I weren't legally blind with uncorrected vision, I'd give up on them completely after this fiasco. I still need progressive lenses and I still don't know my PD...and I'm out $74.00.

This is obviously a person in need of affordable eyeglasses. The doctor, an "a-hole" to be sure, could have done a better job of explaining the fact that there are two PD's for multi-focal lenses -- and then provided the numbers. Isn't there some equivalent of a Hippocratic Oath for optometrists?

This is exactly the reason that I have a problem with the "connected" optometrist. It's like trusting Ronald McDonald to bring you to the best place in town for a hamburger -- sort of.

Related Posts and Links:

"Project Dean": Part 6 - Perfect Progressives Online

The Elusive PD -- and How to Wrangle Yours.

15 comments:

At February 27, 2009 at 8:24 AM Kathy Howe said...: That is disappointing to read. I recently had my eyes examined and my doctor handed me a business card with my prescription on the back before I even ASKED for it.
At February 27, 2009 at 8:34 AM Anonymous said...: This right here is why I buy online. And this right here isn't going to help people get in and get there eyes checked on a regular basis at all...
At February 27, 2009 at 10:45 AM Anonymous said...: My local High end Opti-Mart didn't blink when I asked for my P.D, he even gave me the combined AND each eye,since they are different. This local chain doesn't have a frame displayed for under 150.00, most are from 225.00 to 400.00. They also didn't have ANY frames with a front width of over 125-130mm, I can't believe that people in Houston are ALL pin-headed.

BTW I told them when I made the appointment that I wanted a Rx only, and if they had a problem with that, I would take my business elsewhere. (But not in a sarcastic tone, just friendly and matter of fact.)
At February 27, 2009 at 10:48 AM Anonymous said...: First mistake is calling an optometrist a doctor. Most MDs classify Optometrists in the same grouping as dental hygeinists. Personally I think that's an insult to dental hygeinists.
At February 27, 2009 at 10:43 PM Anonymous said...: I read the article on Lifehacker the other day and decided to try buying glasses online for the first time (and found this site)!

Before I ordered, however, I wanted to know my PD. I walked into Sears Optical - they've been easier to deal with in the past than Lenscrafters or Pearle - and asked about it.

Not only was the optometrist there more than happy to provide it, he was interested in why I wanted to know. I told him I was about to order a pair of glasses online and he asked for the URL's so he could check them out.

Whether he actually wanted to order himself some cheap glasses or just wanted to get more information I can't say, but he was helpful and happy to help.
At March 2, 2009 at 11:44 AM Anonymous said...: I AM wondering how belligerent this guy got. Not to say it wasn't somewhat justified because it's dumb the doc wouldn't give him his PD, but I'd think things WOULD have had to get fairly disruptive for them to call the cops (my hubby is a cop, so I know they do get called for nothing often - but still).

Perhaps the customer didn't handle it as well as it could have been handled. He should have had a glassyeyes business card!

But, belligerent customer (kidding :) ) do know that you should be able to go to your local WalMart optician and have your PD checked no problem. Take you prescription with you, even. I've had them check the lenses of some glasses I got online and they have no problem with it. Actually, chances are that if you go to any optician that isn't your normal one and ask for it, they'll give you some info in the hopes of gaining a new customer.

Thankfully, my doc will also give me the info if I stop in there and need it. The optician does give me crap (cheap, blahblah), but they'll give it to me.
At March 2, 2009 at 6:41 PM oggerblay said...: interesting story. but if the writer has a Rx as strong as mine, he may have problems getting it filled online. I need progressive bifocals at -11 and -10, with distance +2. But Goggles4less refused to fill the Rx saying they were too strong. Does anyone know of a site that will fill that Rx?
At March 19, 2009 at 8:05 AM Anonymous said...: The opto who did my test was a total jackass regarding my PD as well, when he got wind that I wanted to shop around he went on a spiel about how online stores are ruining his business and he wouldn't help them profit. Made me feel like I stole his advice.

So no PD from him, and he refused to tell me the model of glasses I liked when I rang up later as well, and he proceeded to hang up on me.
At April 3, 2009 at 11:17 AM eyeguy said...: You should know that its quite improbable that you could fill a progressive lens rx online. This type of Rx requires two sets of very precise measurements, one which you can get from a professional, another which requires that you have the frame in hand!

It is also not advisable to assume that a frame you choose online will fit, or that a pd alone is sufficient to produce satisfactory vision.

The angle of the frame on your face, the vertical displacement from mechanical center of your pupils, the base curve that you are used to wearing, and the material of the lens all have a part in a well made and comfortable pair of glasses.

Good luck figuring this out on your own!
At April 3, 2009 at 11:19 AM eyeguy said...: You should know that its quite improbable that you could fill a progressive lens rx online. This type of Rx requires two sets of very precise measurements, one which you can get from a professional, another which requires that you have the frame in hand!

It is also not advisable to assume that a frame you choose online will fit, or that a pd alone is sufficient to produce satisfactory vision.

The angle of the frame on your face, the vertical displacement from mechanical center of your pupils, the base curve that you are used to wearing, and the material of the lens all have a part in a well made and comfortable pair of glasses.

Good luck figuring this out on your own!
At April 6, 2009 at 10:55 PM Unknown said...: I always tell a bit of a white lie- I wear both contacts and glasses. I ask for a prescription for both to keep with me when I travel in case something happens when I'm far from home.

However, because my insurance covers a few packages of contacts if I order them at the office, I do that too. So, that might make them more friendly. I NEVER buy glasses there!
At April 9, 2009 at 1:52 AM oggerblay said...: I actually got Optical4Less to fill my very strong progressive bifocal Rx. took a little longer than advertised but the price was less than half of what i paid Lenscrafter last year.
since this was a back up pair and since lenscrafter took over a month and 3 tries to get decent working lenses for me, i figured i would try the online route.
Result: lenses are workable, although not perfect (especially for computer work). But fit and finish are fine and given the savings, well worth it for a backup pair.
At April 12, 2009 at 2:22 AM Firewalker said...: I'd have to say that what eyeguy said is pure BUNK!!!
I've worn progressives for years, and have yet to have a optician measure the angle of the frames relative to my face.

All that's needed for acceptable progressive fitting is the PD, the lens height, and how high the patient wears their glasses on their nose.
Most people would be more than happy with a fitting height of approx. 40% of the lens height.

Eyeguy is just another "professional" trying to scare people into buying outrageously overpriced glasses, instead of deciding how and where their hard earned $$$ should be spent.
At April 17, 2009 at 1:21 PM eyeguy said...: Firewalker is plainly uninformed, and goes to idiot opticians. Unfortunately, there are many around.

Progressive lens fitting is an art, and the more measurements and adjustments performed, the better they work. Check this out..

http://www.aitindustries.com/pages/products/ecp/dispensing/the_center_automatic_patient_measurement_system.html

Its a $10,000 machine to measure what your optician is SUPPOSED to. Why bother with a machine like this if it didn't matter???
At July 9, 2010 at 8:34 PM Anonymous said...: You can't be legally blind with no correction by definition! Legally blind is defined in terms of your best corrected acuity. That being said maybe the doc thought you meant seg height which would vary with frame or lens. you are right in thinking it odd the doc wouldn't provide you with your PD.