by Bill Riales
Published: Wed, February 06, 2008 - 9:00 pm CST
Last Updated: Wed, March 19, 2008 - 11:02 am CST
We didn't have to look hard to find someone who has had difficulty with glasses bought from a one hour optical store. Regina Johnson works in the business office right here at News 5. She told us about trouble she had with a new pair."They were made out of the wrong material and the bifocal was in the wrong place, plus the reading part had been made too strong--it was stronger than what the prescription was written." said Regina
Her prescription is not exactly an easy one but because of the time it takes to see her opthamologist, she decided to try out some of the one hour places for convenience. At first, she didn't realize the glasses she'd ordered might be flawed.
She said, "I knew I couldn't adjust."
It's a common complaint among people who have received glasses that didn't match their prescription.
Opthamogist Dr. Valerie Vick told us that some of the time the difficulty is in placing the lens blank in the frame so that the optical center of the lens lines up with the patients visual axis. Says Dr. Vick, "that's determined by the measurement that's made of the distance between the patients pupils."
Dr.Vick provided three identical prescriptions that we took to three different Mobile eyeglass stores who advertise 'one-hour service available. She and the certified opticians at Premier Medical Eye group agreed to evaluate the glasses we bought. Premier requires its opticians to be certified by the American Board of Opticianry. But Alabama does not have a law requiring opticians to be licensed. Certified optician Martha Orso walked us through the steps that should be done when a prescription is filled---and the glasses are fitted by an optician.
Measuring the distance between patient's pupils is standard . The center of the lens is then found on a lensometer, the frame is measured and sized with the lens--then the lens is cut to fit. Those are the basics. However a lot of other variables may determine the glasses you end up with. The style the frame is a factor. So is the type of lens, for example those with no-line bifocals or special coatings. The prescription we used in our test is straightforward. No bifocals, tinting or coating.
Dr. Vick says, "Most of the time if the correct lens blank is chosen to put in the frames then there's not a problem with the prescriptions, even in a short period of time such as a one hour turnaround with an optical shop."
So how did the one hour shops we tested do? Our first pair came from Eyeglass World on Airport Boulevard. According to Orso, they passed the test. We also visited Lenscrafters on Airport, and Eye Express in Tillman's corner. We're pleased to report the glasses we bought there also passed the test. The pair from Lenscrafters were ready in an hour. The pair from Eye Express were ready in half an hour.
Dr. Vick says its not just a matter of making correct lenses. She says getting the prescription right in the exam room will help ensure a more comfortable pair of glasses. For that, she recommends,
"Certainly they should go on a day they are well rested and for diabetic patients a day when their blood sugar is stable because that changes the refraction and the shape of their lens even day to day and sometimes hour to hour."
Just how much you'll pay for glasses is another story. It depends on how savvy a shopper you are and arming yourself with information. Below is a link to a Consumer Reports magazine survey that breaks down many of the things you should know about eyeglasses, eye exams, materials and prices.
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