folekaule@lemmy.world 7 months ago
I’m addition to what was already mentioned, I will say that is not like that everywhere. In Europe I can go to an optician and they will do the eye test and sell you glasses without any kind of medical prescription. I would only see the actual eye doctor if I had some medical issue (e.g. diabetes).
I suspect some of that relates to reimbursement. My insurance in the US covers my eye glasses and checkups. In Europe my glasses were not covered.
I suspect that you are correct about reimbursement.
However, when a person visits an optician or an optometrist, at the end of the visit they receive a set of specifications for correcting their eyesight back to as close to “normal” vision as possible. The catch for those specs being called a prescription is that a person cannot walk in and purchase any corrective lenses that they choose. Instead, they are limited to options that fit their specific corrections only.
Yep. You still get the measurements done and can get a piece of paper with the numbers on it from the optometrist.
Things have improved over time in the US. As someone mentioned, you can submit your prescription to an online store and get cheaper glasses that way. It used to be I had to go to an eye doctor’s office for that.
They still try to convince you to stay with them, of course. When I needed bifocals they tried to tell me I had to come in for training on how to wear them. I declined.
As is typical for the US, if you have good insurance you’re generally in good shape. I haven’t had out of pocket expenses for glasses for years, and I only paid a small amount to have laser surgery later.
Things seems to have got better! My optometrist wouldn’t give the PD, only the prescription numbers. Was so mad I quit going for a few years, but in 50 years of wearing glasses, he really is the shit. So, went back. Now I get my PD and numbers, no hassle.
And yeah, I got my last pair from his office because I had solid insurance. Still could have got glasses from Zenni for the same or less, without insurance.
Are there now better places for specs online? Have only ever used Zenni.
I’ve used EyeBuyDirect before and they were alright. It’s been a couple years tho.
Pieisawesome@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 months ago
That’s what people in the US mostly do.
You are still getting a glasses prescription, but since you are purchasing from the eye doctor who examined you, the “need” for a prescription is abstracted away.
If you called and asked for a written prescription, they would give it to you