RKastner Loc: Davenport, FL

For most of my life I've worn glasses.

About 18 years ago I got fed up with spending the money on new glasses every year or two and had LASIK done. I loved not having to wear glasses...especially when it was lightly raining....hell even when it was normal raining. Then I noticed about 2-3 years ago I noticed that my vision was worsening. I pissed me off that I needed glasses again. It turns out that I was starting to get cataracts. I got that taken care of. Just went to the eye doctor and guess what? Yeah....I need glasses again. Yeah....I just turned 65, so this shouldn't be a huge surprise, but I guess it is.

I can't explain it...but this really bothers me. I didn't think that my vision had deteriorated. The great eye doctor told me that if I had an eye test at the DMV that they would fail me and tell me to get an exam. If it wasn't for that I might have ignored it for another year or so. I guess not.

My wife is probably right (aren't they always?) in telling me, "So you need glasses. It's not like they're amputating a limb or something."

I also know why my FIL (when he was alive) got the ugliest glasses there were. My insurance nicely covers getting some nice frames, it's the lenses that kill you. If you want lined bifocals....great! If you want progressive lenses....at least something that gives a decent near vision area....that's extra. Transitions....that's extra. Polycarbonate....that's extra too. So, if you don't read a lot (I do), want a separate set of sunglasses (non-prescription) and heavier lenses...you're fine. Everything nice is extra.

Honestly.....it's not that much worse than when I was working and had vision insurance. I'm just venting.

Thanks for listening to me vent and complain.

Resume your normal programming.

rwm283main Loc: Terryville, CT

Yes siree, a lot of us are in the same boat.
I tried on-line glasses from Zinne, using the prescription I get from my annual eye exam and the glasses are pretty good for what I need. At my age I’m not trying to impress anyone, the glasses just need to be functional and good quality.
Stay well

Dannj

A friend of mine wears glasses for distance but not for reading. She’s having cataracts removed and will now need the glasses for reading but not for distance.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

I had cataract surgery a couple of months ago, and it's not fully healed yet. I have worn glasses for 40 years.

I had my choice of implanting a lens that Medicare would pay for, which focuses near or far, but not both, (I've always been farsighted so I picked that one) or one that cost $3600 each and Medicare would not pay for. That one gives you normal vision and you don't need glasses at all. I also have astigmatism, and that is another added cost.

I took the farsighted Medicare-covered lens and now wear glasses only to read and work on the computer, but I can legally drive without them. I just got my Driver License renewed and passed the eye test with ease.

I was 80 before the cataracts got bad enough for surgery.

lukevaliant Loc: gloucester city,n. j.

listen,,go to dollar store and get cheaters,they work better than my 300$$ prescriptions , if not you lost nothing,,luke

pendennis

I wore glasses for nearly 50 years. I only started when I failed the vision exam for a Navy ROTC scholarship. My astigmatism was horrible (4.5 cylinder, the max correctable), as well as myopia. I developed cataracts starting @ 2011, and in two years, I decided enough was enough. I discussed with my Ophthalmic surgeon and he advised me of a new, at the time, toric lens which could possibly completely correct my astigmatism as well as fix the cataracts. It's been over ten years, and I still only need a 1.5 diopter correction for reading only.

The great part is being able to wear all the cool sunglasses like Wiley-X which are wrap-arounds, and my shooting glasses don't need inserts.

My ophthalmologist is now concerned about the possibility of glaucoma. He hasn't found any signs yet (pressure in each eye is about 17, and no signs of nerve inflammation). I read that the normal pressure range is 12-22, so mine is at the center. My range of vision hasn't changed in 12 years. He's a very cautious doctor, and I'm hoping this is only a "preventive" measure, although if glaucoma sets in there's no real cure.

RKastner Loc: Davenport, FL

Yeah....I've been using readers...for reading. Cheaters aren't going to help my distance vision, especially while driving.

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

I totally get it. I have Progressive, Transitions, non-glare glasses. Plus I have to have contacts for when I play tennis, because I can't play with the Progressive lenses.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

I had my eye fixed back in the 90s. I’m now 70 and stopped wearing glasses. But the doctor said that my eyes would age like normal people. Eventually I started using glasses just for reading. I still enjoy not having to wear glasses outside and even when I’m in my convertible won’t have my sunglasses on sometimes I’ll take them off because I don’t like the feeling of the weight on my nose.

Morry Loc: Palm Springs, CA

I agree with you. Had the same experience . . . and it was not price that was the main thing.

Red6

I have worn glasses for most of my life, I started wearing them in the 6th or 7th grade. I was terribly nearsighted, meaning that I could not see distant objects and was around the 20/200-300 range. Up close I was fine and could read small print with no problems. However, anything more than a few feet away was a blur.

In my mid-40s I decided to have LASIK. I reasoned that my distant vision was so bad that if something happened to my thick heavy glasses, I would be almost helpless. I would not be able to drive or be able to do much of anything that required me to see beyond a few feet.

I had a great doctor. He first explained to me that he was certain that he could restore my distant vision to 20/30 or even 20/20 and would not need glasses for distant vision or nearsightedness. HOWEVER, at my age then, presbyopia or old age vision which affects near vision would soon affect my vision and NO surgery or treatment was available. Glasses would be the only solution. Presbyopia affects nearly everyone in mid-life.

The surgery was 100% successful and I had near-perfect DISTANT vision of 20/20 in each eye. I could drive without glasses and see anything in the distance. However, just as my doctor warned, within a year the old age vision started affecting me and I needed readers to be able to see and read anything.

I chose to go back to glasses which basically had no vision correction for distance but had progressive lenses for close-up reading and close work. My distant vision is still better than 20/30 and I could get by with readers. But I hated the thought of carrying these all the time and putting them on and off constantly, especially in stores when I want read the contents or instructions on something. Reading things in the car can also be a challenge without readers or lenses. The glasses with progressives fixes all this. When I need to read close, the progressives come into use, when I need to see distance, the progressives are not used. They take a little getting used to but this usually takes no more than a few days.

One thing we have to realize as we get older is there is no perfect solution for good vision. EVERYTHING is a compromise. I have noticed that people who had perfect vision for most of their life really seem to suffer when they need to wear glasses for old age vision (presbyopia). Many struggle to get used to using glasses. Those of us who have worn glasses for most of our lives seem to adapt faster. But it is still a compromise. Luckily vision insurance is relatively cheap and affordable.

But I do not buy prescription sunglasses. I like to use flip-up clip-on sun protection. These seem to give the most flexibility and allow you to flip them up in the car if you need to look down into the darker areas of the car to find something without disturbing your vision or switching to a regular pair of glasses. They are also light and fairly inexpensive compared to prescription sunglasses.

Tdearing Loc: Rockport, TX

I'm 63 and being retired these last years, I grind through a few history books a week. Not surprisingly, like many in our age group I have had to purchase bifocals, and I cannot say enough how satisfied with Zinnie I have been. You can get a great pair of bifocals for less than $100 that will match up nicely to others at twice the price.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Getting Old Ain’t For Sissies!

There are three stores in Brooklyn, NY. They offer prescription lenses. Nothing fancy or elaborate at about $100 per pair!!

Here’s how they do it. They buy frames from many stores that are last year’s designs. They are organized and your can pick from a whole bunch of frames. They keep in stock all sorts of lens magnifications. You can bring in a new prescription or the one you have now! I generally pay by credit card. In about a half hour, I have a new pair. Perfect!
I generally order three pairs, one for my everyday wear and a spare to have. I also order a pair for use as sunglasses.

There are some caveats here.
First they are located in Brooklyn. Second, they are closed on Saturday since it is run by Chasidic Jews.

I don’t mind since it is about a half-hour drive from my house.

I wish I had entrepreneurial spirit to build a store like this. I’m just a happy pharmacist slinging pills to pay the bills!

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

I guess I'm lucky. After my second cataract several ago no glasses near or far. I can read well except in very dim light.

agillot

If it is mostly for reading , Walmart or ? , a pack of 3 for under $ 10 .60 minutes did a show on that , $ 100 frames cost $ 5.00 at the wholesale level , dont be a sucker .