While I am being paid to write this post (as is obvious from its being in my “for hire” category), I would almost consider writing it for free…
It would seem as though some eyecare “professionals” are getting a little… cranky… over customers asking them to provide a pupillary distance – what is that, and why does it matter? Simply put, your pupillary distance, or PD, is just that – the distance between the centers of your respective pupils. Measuring it is not difficult – there exist specific machines to do so, and one can even manage it with a tape-measure if you are steady of hands – but it is an important aspect to purchasing lenses for glasses. That distance is employed to ensure that the optical center of your lens (especially important for high-powered lenses) is positioned directly in front of your pupil, where it will not only do the most good, but also where it really needs to be to adequately correct your vision.
So why are these supposed “professionals” flipping out over a simple measurement? That distance is key for ordering eyeglasses online. Some online companies will just do a “default” setting for your PD, while others require a specific number, but in either case, it is you, the customer, who will suffer if your eyeglasses are not 100% correct for your eyes. However, the opticians of the world have realized that if they give out this number, people will probably use it to go elsewhere to get their eyeglasses, which represents a lost sale for them.
And this is where the story gets complicated. Opticians are not doctors, but optometrists and opthalmologists are, and the latter appear to be required, by federal law, to provide you your prescription when you ask for it… the only catch is that most actual, honest-to-God eye doctors do not actually measure your PD in the process of writing their scrips. Sphere, cylinder, axis, and near addition are basically required to be on the little slip of paper s/he hands you, but PD is typically measured by the optician in the eyeglass store next door, and they are not bound by the same federal law (which might or might not exist – I have only found it mentioned, never actually cited).
So what should we, the customers, do about this? Well, first, you can ask your eye doctor to measure your PD for you – they might not, but it is worth a shot. Second, you can measure it yourself, by a variety of methods. Third and finally, you can ask opticians to do it, and then walk out if they are unwilling to measure your PD, even for a fee.
And, last but not least, you can order your eyeglasses from Zenni Optical, where you can literally procure basic prescription lenses in basic frames for all of $8 (not including shipping)… and that is what is rightfully scaring the opticians of America these days – they know they cannot compete with prices like that, so they will do everything they can to keep people coming back to them. However, we have had very good experiences with Zenni, and we just put in another order for more glasses for Better Half, her mother, and a friend of ours – while the shipping does take a few weeks, you really cannot beat memory titanium frames sporting polycarbonate, anti-reflection-coated lenses for all of $40 (before shipping).
I am a big fan of voting with your dollar… it is just a matter of where you want to spend it – it is every optician’s right to refuse to measure my PD for me, and it is my right to take my business somewhere else.
—– This post sponsored by Zenni Optical, your source for eyeglasses online. —–
I am fortunate enough that I get a pair of glasses or contacts free each year. As long as my prescription doesn’t change before that year, I am gold. Useful to note if my situation should change however.
I have used Zenni for years. Excellent customer service and quality.
With glasses so cheap, I have several spare pair….one in each vehicle, and 2 in my Bug Out Bag.
If you need glasses, and do not have several spares for you BOB, then you are missing out on a really important prep item.
ANd the folks at Zenni HAVEN’T paid me for this endorsement.
@Patrick – Lucky you
. My eyes seem to have stabilized a little, but I have not quite lucked out with the free glasses yet. And as long as you get past not being able to try them on, Zenni’s glasses are not all that bad at all.
@Mr. B – Good call! Glasses should never be disposeable, but it certainly never hurts to have a few backup pairs on hand and in strateigic locations should you need them. Grinding glasses is not exactly something that can be accomplished in your backyard
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Nothing wrong with blogging for cash, especially if you are all upfront about it.
I’ve had a similar experience, but for some reason the tracback didn’t work. My post is here, and its mostly about negotiating with my health care provider for that all important pupillary distance.
Having that number and my prescription in hand – and doing some work myself with a good quality ruler marked in millimeters – resulted in glasses that fit better than my last three visits to the eyeglass fitting “professionals”. You may need to bend the earpieces, but lacking a pile of hot sand, I use a pot of boiling water.
Zenni lets you also order an extra frame for half the original price (half what you paid for frame + lens). You can keep this on hand as a set of spare parts if you are at all hard on equipment like I am. I also recommend spares for the Katrina Kit, every glove box, and your range bag.
Hey, if I can get someone to pay me for a post I would have written otherwise, I consider that a win
. And as my disclosure page up at the top indicates, any posts contained within the “for hire” category are sponsored… they may actually end up representing my viewpoints, but it is not guaranteed.
Apparently there are about a dozen and one ways to get your pupillary distances measured, which really makes the bald-faced refusal by the opticians somewhat laughable… sure, if they were doing something no one else could, I could see it. Sure, if it was complicated/complex/time-consuming, I could see it. And I do agree with paying for services rendered… but come on people! Five seconds with the little gadget every optician’s office has, and it is done. Big deal.
Good idea about just getting spare frames… Lenses used to be the weak points, but that is no longer the case (thankfully). And swapping out lenses is something of trivial work these days (at least for fully-rimmed glasses), so I definitely see the utility.
I took a sharpi pen to my Dad’s pair while he was wearing them, then measured between the dots. That worked, and they seemed to fit OK, but it’s a but of a kludge.
Sure beats the snot out of having some technician refuse you and being stuck… I might have used dry-erase, though
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