Surgery--Again

I know, I know, I know.

I wonder though, where all those eye glasses that are donated go to. Every ophthalmologist I've been to in forever has a collection thing for donating old glasses.

Me, my eyes demand trifocals and just the perfect donation would never happen, especially given the variation between my two eyes. Though maybe there is a lens bank somewhere. (There should be, dammit)

Are you seeing the eye people at Bellevue? They may have some ideas, especially if your eye needs are relatively straightforward. I bet there are programs..

Personally, I figure people throw eyeglasses out every day of the week. Maybe the city dump, only half kidding. Reminding myself of the movie, Dodeskaden by Kurosawa, an old favorite. But the small dump we helped redesign back in my last home town made efforts to put aside useful stuff. Don't know re eyeglasses, though.

Don't be offended, I don't mean you should trek to the dump - just that I am betting there are caches of eyeglasses somewhere, possibly available, and maybe Bellevue folk know about that.

Just the frames could save a bundle.

osso, I will ask at Bellevue. But my needs are not straightforward. I have complicated requirements because of combined astigmatism and myopia.

I currently have three separate pairs of glasses: seeing, reading, and computing. I'll ask if the prescription can be combined in some way.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Roger, Frames: One is broken, one is ugly, all three are very old. But I'll ask when I get to the eyeglass place.

The last time I got glasses, with very simple, inexpensive frames, the total was somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000. My lenses are complicated.

Fie and feh.

Yikes! A goil has to see!

I have astigmatism, myopia, glaucoma in one eye, rp in both, reduced peripheral vision in both, and blepharitis in one, and probably stuff I've forgotten - glasses can happen. I'll be a goner if I ever get macular degeneration.

Yes, they can be combined, that's why I wear trifocals. See across a big room, see a bookshelf 12 feet from me, see what I am drawing on my drafting table or see my computer.

Doctors and optometrists have always tried to talk me into bifocals, which I tried once - no go. I need the tri so I don't have to take off my glasses to see a drawing or computer or similar clearly. A restaurant - seeing the whole place, seeing a waiter approaching, seeing a menu. I tend to take off the glasses when I eat, since I can see the food and get a rest from looking around.

I paid something like 340. for two pair of trifocals in a 2 for 1 at the one place in town I could find that did trifocals, famously very expensive. That was in 2009. I forget the name of the place but I'll search and get back to you, as I remember it as part of a chain.
edit - that included frames.

They messed up the dark glasses, wayyy too dark, I insisted they did them over.. and they did.

You know me, hell on wheels.

I also have astigmatism, in both eyes, quite severe in one eye, and myopia. I also have 3 pairs of glasses--for reading, the computer, and for distance. The distance glasses I use mainly for driving, the other 2 I really need constantly.

People I've known who tried Varilux, progressive lens type glasses, found them difficult to get used to, even though they correct vision at all distances. And they are expensive. One of my friends just quit using them after several years because he didn't think they were worth it. Truthfully, I'd rather use my 3 pairs of glasses. It just requires carrying a larger handbag.

I used to pay an average of $300-$350 a pair at places like Lenscrafters. There are no private opticians in this area, just the chains, like Lenscrafters, Cohen, and Pearle, and they are all similarly priced. But I tend to be somewhat hard on glasses--I break frames, sit on them, lose them, etc. so I found I needed "backup" glasses handy because I can't drive without them, or see a computer screen clearly without them--so I needed 2 pairs of each of those handy, just to be safe, and for driving, I need prescription sunglasses as well. In a pinch I can use the drugstore reading glasses, but I need a prescription lens for the other 2 types. Well, buying 5 or 6 pairs at a time got really pricey, and, frugal person that I am, I found a much much cheaper way to get my glasses.

I went to one of the discount places that sells a complete pair of glasses, frames and lens, for $39.95. How can they do that? Well the frames may be last year's models, or discontinued styles, and their selection is much more limited. But I've always been able to find frames that are very well made, look good, fit well, and are quite stylish--often the same designer name frames that are sold elsewhere at a large markup. My sunglasses, for instance, are a great Ralph Lauren frame, and I love them. And there is no difference in the quality of the lenses compared to the more expensive stores. I've had my glasses checked by my ophthalmologist and he's assured me the lenses are just fine. About the main difference is that I've got to wait almost two weeks to get each new pair because they have to order the lenses. And, for an additional $15 they can add scratch-proofing and a tint if you want that, bringing the total to $55 a pair. And sometimes I have to make a few trips to the store to find frames I really like, but they get some new ones in weekly, so that's never been a big deal.

So, for the average cost of one pair of glasses, at a place like Lenscrafters, I'm able to get 6 pairs at my favorite discount place--and I don't have to worry so much about breaking or losing them. I always have an extra pair of each handy, and I couldn't be happier.

Don't be afraid to check out the discount eyeglass places, I'm sure they have them in the City. The mark-up on eyeglass frames and lenses is huge, and it's mainly that mark-up you're saving in these places. And overstocks and discontinued frame models have to be sold off--and these places do that. I don't care if my Norma Kamali frames are from last year--I saw the same frames on the internet, for 5X what I paid for them at my discount place, with my lenses, so they can't be that "dated". As long as the lens quality is good, and after years of buying these discount glasses, I'm convinced it is, I'm not about to pay more than $40-$55 for glasses any more.

Thanks, firefly. I've already been perusing the discount places. In the past I went to the "best" place because I was concerned about the quality of the lenses.

I'll do some investigating. And I think I'll ask the doc for several prescriptions. One for trifocals and three for separate glasses.

I'm not pushing for people to get trifocals, just trying to explain them. I can walk down my street and see the distance, the end of the wall, and the lavender blossoms I'm walking by, all at the same time. This is good to a lifelong myopic.

I've been told people have trouble getting used to them.
I remember my mother getting bifocals and giving up as they made her dizzy. Fifty years later, I figure the prescription was off or she needed more time.
I have my father's eyes (myopic) and nose (extremely diminished sense of smell).

I'm not feet sturdy anymore - and that is more peripheral vision related than other stuff. My peripheral vision is overlayable, well tested over time - the same now as it was 25 or many more years ago, just that I'm more fragile and careful. Actual looking at the neighborhood and mountains on the other side of town, I'm good.

You and me both.

I think it was an article in Consumer Reports magazine, many years ago, that changed my mind. As I recall, they found no significant differences, in terms of distortions, or imperfections, in the lenses, regardless of where they were purchased, and price was not a factor. And the eyeglass places are all capable of matching your prescription exactly.

I think most single distance lenses are now pre-ground for every conceivable prescription, and to fit every conceivable frame size, and they just pop the one with your prescription into the frame you select. And the same manufacturers supply the lenses to all the places--certainly to all the big chains, and they're all made from the same materials. The big chains maintain a big inventory on the lenses, so they can get glasses ready more quickly, while the discount place I go to doesn't stock lenses at all. They send out the frame you select to have the prescription lens put in it, which is why there's a longer wait for the glasses.

One advantage of having astigmatism is that you'll spot any distortion, or error, in the prescription pretty fast--immediately after they give you your new glasses to try on. You realize it instantly. Things definitely don't look right, or you can't focus properly. That happened to me once at a private optician, and once at the discount place. No problemo at either place. They re-checked the lens, could see the deviation from my prescription, and simply made me a new pair. And the ophthalmologist always checks all my glasses for me against my prescription, so that's helped to do away with any lingering qualms I had about my cheapo glasses.

There's a difference between the Varilux-type progressive lenses, and trifocals. Progressive lenses correct vision at all distances, rather than the three distinct areas on a trifocal, and they allegedly give you more natural vision. But they are difficult to get used to--even my ophthalmologist complained to me about how long it took him. I don't think I have the patience for that.

I wouldn't want to drive with trifocals, and I think I'd even find bifocals a pain. I don't mind changing glasses, or carrying several pairs around. I normally don't wear glasses except when I read, go on the computer, or drive.

I tried a blended lens once, the blend bit takes up too much room for me. I drove California up and down many times (two dozen?) with trifocals, happy girl. See the forest, see the road, see the speedometer when you need to go down to 15 mph in the redwoods and see them all quickly.

We all differ.

I do mind changing glasses. It was hard for me before my dark glasses broke, going in and out of stores and homes as I'm "night blind" which means I can't go into city garages easily including on foot. Any friend of mine who has spent time with me in regular life knows I trip on steps I don't see, am chary in the dark as opposed to my usual protobitch self. I've fallen in some great places (the Greek Theater, a bar in Tijuana before having a drink - that in a family situation, me sitting on the floor instead of the booth it was so dark; walking into a door in Mexico) - well, never mind, I just added all that to say that glasses wearing and changing hasn't been simple.

Probably part of why I like the trifocals - if you get used to them, they are simple.

We concur in that in my house I rarely put on my glasses since it is small, I see well enough generally, and see the computer sans glasses.

ditto on that

I kind of like handing my prescription in and getting a whoa from the optician. My special spin on it is my extremely wideset eyes. Larry, my favourite old optician, mentions it every time I go in. Nevah seen anything like it in 50 years in the business (he retired from a fancy private optical shop - now he manages a franchise with cheapie glasses at the grocery store). $800 glasses / $100 glasses - turns out the quality is the same when I have the opthamologist test them. The cheapies just aren't top of the line fashion-wise.

Saw the eye doc earlier today.

We discussed glasses, the cost of glasses, and my options. He told me that regardless of the discount, my lenses will be more costly than expected. They're very strong. Sigh.

This was one of the worst days I've had in a long time. Waited for 40 minutes on line at the hospital registrations desk. A long wait. Standing and getting uncomfortable. When I left the hospital, the heavens opened. It was raining so hard that it was not possible to see across the street. Thunder and lightning.

I tried to get a cab. I found a few that were dropping people off. The cabbies were going off duty. Since I had been out there for over two hours, I offered the drivers bribes. No takers. My legs were hurting. I was drenched. I couldn't see well because my pupils were dilated. At one point I was standing in the gutter and a car was heading straight at me. I tried to step up onto the sidewalk, but I couldn't do it. A man saw me struggling and offered me his arm. I took it.

I mentioned that I had been out there for over two hours. He asked me what I expected. It's Noo Yawk. It's raining. I said I expected it to be difficult. I didn't expect it to take two hours. He asked me if I could take the bus. I said that I had trouble getting on the bus and getting off the bus. Even if I managed to get on and off, I'd have to take a cab when I got off the bus--or two more buses to get me home. Thud.

He asked me if I knew of a private car service. I said I did but that I didn't have a phone. He called for me. Earliest car available, ten p.m.

I told him to go home. He said he wouldn't leave me until he saw me inside a vehicle on my way home!

I told him I was offering bribes to cab drivers with no luck, but that I was willing to pay to get myself home. He got windows shut on him despite the money.

A car from a private service stopped to pick up a prearranged fare. He ran up to it, offered the driver my bribe, and got a yes.

I got in and got home for a mere fifty dollars. Can I afford fifty dollars? No. Could I stay out there and wait? No.

When I got home, I dried myself off, rested, got dressed again, and ran some errands. My legs were sore. I could barely walk. Asthma acting up. I could barely breathe. Got back with my supplies. I plan on not standing up tomorrow, except to go to the bathroom and get food.

I don't believe in heaven. Don't believe in angels. But that man was angelic sent from somewhere to help me. I don't think I'll ever forget his kindness. Uh oh. I'm tearing up. There were many, many distressed people out there, but he helped me.

He said he liked performing a mitzah for the day. (He was not Jewish, but this is Noo Yawk. Lotsa people know a little Yiddish.) I told him this was not a day mitzah. It would apply to the entire month of May.

The driver of the car I got in didn't speak Yiddish or much English. I spoke to him in pidgin Spanish. He was thrilled. He was also thrilled at the fifty bucks.

((((((((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))))

At least you got to be a mitzvah.

Hoe much are the bloody glasses?

The doc estimated $300 or more for one pair--the distance pair.

I'm gonna have to wait. I may get one pair at a time. I have to do some checking around.

Hope I don't get pneumonia from being wet for so long. My clothes, including underwear, are drying out.

Gosh, what a nightmare the whole day was. The costly estimates for spectacles, queuing for so long in hospital, the awful weather, the hideous wait for a cab - you really must have been despairing. Oh Roberta, thank heavens you found the Good Samaritan! What a lovely man - did you take contact details from him? Wonder if you'll ever come across him again. So nice to hear there really are some decent people out there ...

How are you feeling now? I hope the ordeal hasn't taken a toll on your health.

I'm exhausted today. Temporarily awake. I couldn't walk last night. I'm wondering what's going on. I've been to that hospital more than 100 times, in all kinds of weather. Never had such problems before. That's the second time in one week I had a hellish time getting a cab. Makes me leery of going out in the rain.

I didn't find the nice man. He found me. When I first saw him, I thought he was a college kid. Nope. He's 48. I don't have his name, but he has mine (I had to give it to him re the call to the cab company). I don't expect to see him again, although we're both Bellevue patients.

IMO, it was just one of those NYC street encounters.

Reminds me of a time back in the old days when I could take subways and walk and other fancy stuff.

I was minding my own business waiting for the train (subway). Two bewildered and nearly hysterical people came up to me to ask me how to get somewhere. It involved changing trains. They looked so terrified that I took them where they were going. I was late for work. Maybe those people remember me as the Good Samaritan. Quien sabe.

We Noo Yawkers are tough, but not cold.

They probably do! I bet you never forget your own Good Samaritan!