Friday night at work I was wiping my glasses down for the 100th time (with all the mask wearing and crummy weather, this has become a huge, horrible part of my life), and they broke in half at the nosepiece. Thankfully, I carry my old pair in the car as a spare, but they are about 7 years old, and really suck. The world doesn't give a shit about those of us who work nights and weekends, so I had to wait until today during the day, when I was supposed to be sleeping, to call the eye place about getting a replacement set.

What I wanted was for them to just use my old prescription and order me a new pair exactly like my old ones. Well, it's been 3 years since my last exam (my eyes haven't changed...there's been no need to go back), and I was informed that since glasses are "medical devices", ordering them without a current prescription is a violation of state law. WTF, over? Why is there a law about this? They're fucking eyeglasses, not methadone!

I've been feeling sick all weekend, and just found out yesterday that my Sgt. tested positive for COVID, so I had to go in this afternoon myself to get tested. I told the guy this, and he told me that I could not come in for an exam right now. He did agree to order me a set of replacement frames and mail them to me. So now the eye place loses out on a sale of new lenses, and I get to transfer my old scratched up lenses into a new pair of frames instead of having a nice new clean pair....which means that I won't be able to see as well as I would have if they'd just ordered me a new set. How is this logical or better in any way?

Somewhere some shithead politician is patting himself on the back today because his legislation is saving the world from the travesties of prescription eyewear abuse .

That is the law in every state I have experience with. Usually a prescription for glasses is valid for 12 months.

I can think of the reasons for it. I am sure there are some stubborn fucks out there who might go three years without an eye exam and then just order a new pair without any real way of evaluating of whether their prescription has changed, but maybe you don't know anyone like that.

Maybe the optometrists just have a really good lobby.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
Why is there a law about this?

There's no good reason for a law about this.

Think of all the things that are legal to buy that can be bad for us (tobacco, alcohol, etc.) We are supposed to be able to use our judgment on those. But no, you can't on your own judgment on eyeglass prescriptions.

I could see a store saying, "Our returns and guarantees policies aren't valid if you don't have a current prescription" but that's the absolute limit of reasonableness. It's not the state's concern.

It's your money. Why do we need professional politicians to keep you from getting what you want, instead of mandating you can only buy what they 'feel' you need?

I could see politicians having time to address the heartbreak of outdated eyeglass prescriptions if they had no larger issues to address - idle hands and all that. But as things stand, it's guaranteed that effort going into trashing stale optical prescriptions could/should have gone to better policy-making instead.

Follow-the-money analysis would suggest the optician/opthamalogy lobby, but that wouldn't be possible without politicians wanting to show how much better they think than the public.

Zenni Optical. Order new glasses online. They don’t ask how old your Rx is. I’ve been buying glasses from Zenni for over 10 years.

https://www.zennioptical.com/

quote:

I can think of the reasons for it. I am sure there are some stubborn fucks out there who might go three years without an eye exam and then just order a new pair without any real way of evaluating of whether their prescription has changed, but maybe you don't know anyone like that.

I was just at my family doctor last month for a physical, and passed the eye exam 20/10 in both eyes, corrected with my current (well, I guess now former) glasses. I don't need to pay some eye doctor $85 to tell me the same thing, then write me a permission slip to get new lenses. That's just stupid.

And really, what's the problem if somebody does? Isn't that their choice? Who are they hurting but themselves? So long as they can pass the eye exam at the BMV when they renew their license, why should the state care?

quote:

Maybe the optometrists just have a really good lobby.

"Somewhere some shithead politician is patting himself on the back today"

Nah. He's putting on his new glasses...

It's the same way with contact lenses.

I've had the same contact lens prescription for the past 15ish years. Rx has yet to change one bit.

Every year I have to pay to go get a new eye exam (with an extra upcharge because it's a contact lens exam), just to get a new prescription so I can order another annual supply of the same damn contacts I've been wearing for over a decade.

At least with glasses, you don't have to get a new set until they break or your eyes change.

You might also try sportrx.com. They made a C19 exception on prescription age for me.

quote:

Nah. He's putting on his new glasses...

Ok, I'll admit it, this made me laugh .

As to ordering them online, that's not a bad idea. Unfortunately I don't have a record of my scrip...something I should probably correct the next time I have an exam.

Zenni for the yup. I get my free exam every year, via insurance and order at least two pair from Zenni. Two pairs of wireless frames, all coatings with one pair having auto tinting for about $60

Zenni optical

In California, eyeglass prescriptions are good for 24 months, and contact prescriptions are good for 12 months.

If you have Costco available, get a new prescription, then go and get TWO pair of glasses. They usually give you a discount on the 2nd pair. I've done this for both myself and my father.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
It's the same way with contact lenses.

I've had the same contact lens prescription for the past 15ish years. Rx has yet to change one bit.

Every year I have to pay to go get a new eye exam (with an extra upcharge because it's a contact lens exam), just to get a new prescription so I can order another annual supply of the same damn contacts I've been wearing for over a decade.

At least with glasses, you don't have to get a new set until they break or your eyes change.

Couldn't you just buy in 'bulk' , within reason with expiration dates? And just go every 2-3 years for an Rx renewal.

It's great to know that the government is saving us from out of date prescription optics. I will sleep well this evening knowing that the scourge of a old optics is abated.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
That is the law in every state I have experience with. Usually a prescription for glasses is valid for 12 months.

I can think of the reasons for it. I am sure there are some stubborn fucks out there who might go three years without an eye exam and then just order a new pair without any real way of evaluating of whether their prescription has changed, but maybe you don't know anyone like that.

Maybe the optometrists just have a really good lobby.

I am one of those "stubborn fucks" you are referring to.

Why? Because I have artificial lenses in my eyes and the Rx doesn't change. NO reason to cause me to pay more just to replace frames and lenses when they get scratched.

Ridiculous nonsense provides employment to a whole coven of idiots who have no real ability to produce anything.

The prescription is the most noticeable but not the most import part of the exam. They also check for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease - just off the top of my head.

Should it be a legal requirement, though? It does parallel the rest of our health care - I can only get so many refills of my meds before I have to see a doctor to have the prescriptions renewed. That's also a legal requirement.

quote:

They also check for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease -

And every swinging dick and any one that's a chick, should decide if that is something they want to spend their money on, to have checked.

I do not require anyone to spend my money for me, nor see if I wiped my ass enough.

(getthegovernmentthehelloffmylawn.com)

True the requirement sucks, but you should have an eye exam every year anyway. Many health issues can be discovered by a thorough exam.

quote:

"Somewhere some shithead politician is patting himself on the back today"

Nah, "Somewhere some shithead politician is stuffing his wallet today"

FIFY