If you have no interest in reading about my vision problems then look away and come back later. I know I have lost some followers since I digressed from my usual topics but I also know that some of you are interested in how I am getting on.
Things have taken a more positive turn and my new glasses arrived this week. To say they are specialist lenses and two holiday periods got in the way they arrived remarkably quickly.
The lenses are plastic and blended lenticulars and so far I am very pleased with them.
The vision is better as I could have larger frames and no longer peer from behind the glasses when looking down which made going down stairs tricky.
The lenses are expensive - the NHS don't help people with my sort of vision and classify the lenses as purely cosmetic. The glasses do look better on - my eyes are less piggy looking - but that wasn't the main reason for my attempts to track down something better than the original lenses. Incidentally the NHS classified the first lot of lenses as cosmetic too as the high index glass is thinner than the standard plastic lenses - just imagine what they would be like.
My new optician has also saved me the expense of two more pairs of glasses for reading and for computer work. He showed me how to slide the glasses down my nose to focus on near or intermediate objects. No chopping and changing between pairs of glasses needed. This was a bit uncomfortable with the first lot of glasses as they pinched my nose but works perfectly with the new lightweight ones. I wonder how many opticians would do themselves out of sales like that?
I have written to the large multinational company and asked why, if a small independent optician can cater for my needs, they can't and also stated that I had paid out a considerable amount for a pair of glasses that don't meet my needs.
By the way in it's mission statement the said company claim they are:
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I'm glad things have taken a turn for the better, Sue - and that you got your deposit back. The NHS seems to think that MOST specs are "cosmetic". Jane, being diabetic, needs very special glasses, which cost a fortune, and the NHS won't help.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why correcting poor eyesight is badly catered for by the NHS? Some cosmetic surgery comes under the NHS if it can be shown that it is necessary for a patients mental well-being so why not when it comes to glasses etc. Even eye tests are only free in certain cases. People on low incomes must really struggle. As a child my parents bought me spectacles as the NHS ones were dire - not the sort to make a child feel confident wearing them. The optician was telling me of one six year old boy with really poor eyesight and a tendency to be accident prone. The NHS would only fund one pair so his parents had to buy a second pair fuill price as they daren't let him out without any glasses.
DeleteTell them you have followers who love you everywhere. Power of the press!
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have omitted a picture the new specs modelled on the said nose!
The said nose is camera shy, Roger.
DeleteNew year, new glasses! Glad to hear they are doing the trick! Best wishes
ReplyDeleteBelinda
Thanks, Belinda
DeleteThat is great news Sue. On the contacts front, I have age-related dry eye too, and manage with disposable 1-day contact lenses and preservative-free single-use eye drops. No more cleaning and rinsing. I found the cost to be almost equal to buying 1 pair of contacts and the accompanying solution for the year. Ironically, my doctor prescribed medicated eye drops but they only irritated my eyes even further. Regards, Rebecca
ReplyDeleteI've always worn the hard gas permeable lenses, Rebecca as I have been told that I can't get soft lenses are disposable ones in my prescription. Maybe this optician knows better. I have to use eyedrops to control my eye pressure and they can make eyes dry but the drops are preservative free which is one advantage. It's a catch 22 situation as if the pressure isn't controlled it can damage the optic nerve.
DeleteI'm so glad you've got some good new glasses. My other half had a terrible time with a big national optician. He got a refund in the end and went to see the optician I've been going to since I was 5, she's brilliant, and sorted him out.
ReplyDeleteI started wearing glasses when I was 10, CJ but I should have worn them much earlier as I fluked my way through school eye tests. I was with an independent optician then but he was bought out by a larger company and then they were bought out by another company and so it went on until I ended up with the one I was with recently. Martyn is with a different national chain but he has been impressed with my new optician and is going to change to them to.
DeleteGreat news. Never hurts anyone to ask for a refund. The worst thing is that you are told "no."
ReplyDelete-Ray
I am wondering what the optician who supplied the older glasses will have to say in reply to my email complaint, Ray. I doubt whether they will be offering any sort of refund.
DeleteUpdate - I did get a refund - I referred the optician to this blog post.
DeleteGood for you! glad you are doing well, love your posts and I´ve learned a lot from you. Good luck!!!! besos. Lilián.¡
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lillian I am glad that you find the blog useful.
DeleteGood news all around - that's wonderful, Sue! I'm so happy to hear that your new glasses are such a big improvement over your old ones. And not having to purchase several pairs for different purposes...what an added bonus that is!
ReplyDeleteThat was a good tip, Margaret. If I had had to buy another two pairs of glasses it would have amounted to a small fortune.
DeleteGreat news about your new glasses. I'm so happy that things have improved for you! Also, you got your deposit back, more great news.
ReplyDeleteI was expecting more of a fight about I deposit, Anne. They had made it quite clear at my final appointment that if I made the decision not to proceed then I would forfeit my deposit. I do have to wait until the middle of January for the deposit to be refunded though. They said it would take 28 days after my email was received. I wonder what they would say if we say that it will take 28 days from the date of order to pay them. It was a case of pay up front.
DeleteEyes are so very important, so anything that helps is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to find such a good optician.
Here in the states, we get no help for things like this. My husband has to have special lenses and we must save all year for them. It's outrageous that something really so small must cost so very very much.
Best to you
I agree, so. I wonder how many people struggle with their eyesight because they can't afford to buy glasses. Many opticians offer cut price frames but it's the lenses that cost the biggest amount in cases such as mine and your husbands.
DeleteI'm glad things have improved Sue & you now have an optician that can help meet part of your needs. Your older pair contains a lens of similar thickness to my right eye. I am currently with a chain who at present suit my needs, they have both mine & my fathers history. With reference to followers leaving, it is something to do with Blogger, everyone has been affected it seems x
ReplyDeleteMy old optician have a file on me as thick as an encyclopaedia, Jo. I was wondering whether I could request to have it forwarded to my new optician.
DeleteThat's interesting about followers, I just thought they'd all gone off me.
So glad to hear you have positive progress on the eye front & well done that Independent Optician for their high level of customer service (they deserve to get lots of extra business - an article/letter in the local paper maybe ????).
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult and exhausting when you have to battle to get the appropriate services, and I fear for the well-being of people less able to do so due to age or circumstances.
One of Martyn's comments, S and D was that we could have easily walked out from the first opticians thinking that there was nothing else to be done. As that is what they told us. It was just that I was determined to try and sort something else out. I spent hours searching the Internet for a solution and ended up finding it on my doorstep. In many ways it's why I have written these posts in order to encourage other people not to take no for an answer. I do intend to post on things like Facebook and Twitter about my new optician as soon as we have finished sorting out contact lenses etc. The local newspaper is a thought.
DeleteSue, it's great to hear such positive news :) I imagine that both your nose and your eyes are happy about the turn of events. I have to wear two pairs of specs - one of which has a rather chunky frame which I will definitely be changing this year. I wonder what sort of response you will get back from the multi-national company. With regard to followers you might be interested in this article : http://buzz.blogger.com/2015/12/an-update-on-google-friend-connect.html
ReplyDeleteMy nose and eyes are much happier. Anna. The optician thought it could take until the middle of this week to get used to them but I was getting there when I left the shop. The multinational is in no hurry to repond.
DeleteThanks for the link.
Great start to the new year! If you find lenses are available that will be an added bonus.
ReplyDeleteThe optometrist thinks he should be able to sort something out - he's just not sure which options will will have to try out, L. A good start in pone way but we have had a bit of a traumatic time involving a little dog and an emergency operation. So far things are working out OK fingers crossed.
DeleteOnly the other day my mum and I had a conversation about her glasses and how they were beginning to hurt her nose. I must show her this post so she can look into getting something a bit more light weight and possibly more comfortable for her.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the refund department!
I hope she finds something to improve things, Angie. If her lenses aren't thick it may be that she needs a plastic frame without the short of nose clips. I don;t expect a refund from the optician who prescribed the first glasses and am still waiting for the one relating to the surgery,
DeleteHi Sue, long time no see...(no pun intended) I feel I have returned half way through a story here so will go back at some point and catch up. I am sorry you have lost some readers but \i was not one that left due to content...I just haven't been anywhere!! I am glad you are finally getting your vision soted and I wish you luck in sorting out some contacts...I know how much I love mine!! One thing reading your post for me did do was remind me I need to book and eye appointment. I have wanted to for so long...my last glasses reacted really badly with my eczema and the really cheap replacement pair I got I'm really not keen on. Maybe we will both be 'seeing' more comfortably in the very near future!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I gave you a prompt Tanya and good to 'see' you around again. I was going on the number of Followers on the sidebar going down but apparently Blogger has been messing around. Hope that you sort out some good glasses.
DeleteThat is WONDERFUL news Sue. Now you can really enjoy 2016. Take care now. Marion x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marion
DeleteI hope you enjoy your new glasses. For me, using new glasses is always uncomfortable, needs adapting time.
ReplyDeleteI think that I am used to them now Endah :-)
DeleteThat's very good news! Now you can see the world more comfortably! Thanks to the supplier!
ReplyDeleteThanks indeed, Malar
DeleteThings are looking up! Sorry :(
ReplyDeleteIt's great news Sue. Good luck with the contacts.
Thanks Jessica, I've just got back from the opticians and he has given me some advice about my dry eyes and also ordered some contact lenses for me which are made from material which is supposed to be more comfortable. I will need to go back again to have the fitting checked when they arrive.
DeleteHow good to read of all these positives!!! The new specs do look better and a lot lighter, and how fab you got your surgery money back which pays for the new improved specs! I'm glad you had a go at the big company.....as you say it's odd how a small outfit can sort the problem. Lovely to hear they are not on the make either! Now....here's to that dry eye problem being sorted out. Good luck with that Sue.xxx
ReplyDeleteI have had my drive I examination, Dina and it seems my tears are not of good quality. I have been given some tips and drops and capsules etc to try and help with that. Here's hoping
DeleteGood to hear that your are getting some positive outcomes now regarding your glasses and makes sense that you were able to get your deposit back. Good news.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for more good outcomes too, Annye
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