iluvdisectingppl

I work in a large optical lab and we only up-charge on power if the power is over a + or - 6.00D. And it can add up depending on the amount of power above that range. We could care less if you are a +5.00 in one eye and a -5.00 in the other (aside from verification of the RX for correctness). The material the lenses are made out of tends to be where the expense comes from on the lab side. But we also don't control how much your office up-charges you on the final product.

Lol! Well good. Having truly poor vision is such a challenge. Some of the RXs I see on a daily basis provide unique challenges to find something that will even work successfully. Then of course adding in "opticians" that aren't really opticians and have no understanding of how the lenses will turn out and sell customers with super high RXs frames that are totally inappropriate is a daily frustration.

Basically to boil it down to the most simple terms... The Sphere power relates to your focal length. With minus powers (like you) a person can see better up close than far away without correction. The higher the power (diopters) the shorter distance you have to see clearly. My RX is about a -1.25 with cyl. So without correction I can further than you before thing start to lose clarity (if we were standing next to each other). With plus sphere powers, people can't see well up close, but see distance fine. Again, the higher the power the shorter range of clear vision they have without correction.

The Cylinder correction... I found the easiest way to explain it is that it adds an extra layer or blurriness to the Sphere power. To correct the blurriness extra correction at the axis perscribed is ground into the lens. The higher the cylinder power the more blurry things are. People with astigmatism (what the cylinder corrects) will never be able to see clearly with an rx that just has sphere power. Both sphere and cylinder are needed for clarity.

I could get super technical if you want and go into prism correction, add powers, and all the nitty gritty measurements on buying glasses in relation to your RX but I tend to bore people with that lol.

Though, with your perscription do NOT let the sales person try to talk you into a wrapped sun frame (think Nike or Oakley sport frames). Cosmetically and optically your perscription will be horrible in those frames. (I can explain in further detail if you want) You'll want a fairly flat frame for your sunglasses.

On a positive note, you RX is high... but man, it's nothing compared to some of the ones I see on a daily basis!!!

I did work for one of the national chains first. But yet still was competent enough to understand how the final product would turn out to properly advise the patients. But I love the challenge of the lab so much more.

Though, what really scares me are the online retailers. There's really no accountability there. And I've dealt with patients of our accounts that have purchased X-high-end-lens product online and have gotten really really cheap lenses instead (like basically buying a Porche and getting a Kia). Plus, are the RXs verified for accuracy properly? A recent Canadian study said No! I just read it like 2 days ago. Out of 36 single lenses (16 pair of glasses) 6 lenses didn't match the RX and 13 of the 16 frames weren't four-pointed correctly.

I seethe every time some one suggests buying glasses online. My ex did and made up his own RX and the company made it without verifying with a Doctor that is was a legal RX!!!

It doesn't bother me in terms of interfering with my business, but people being duped and thinking they are getting exactly what they want when it's totally not. I got it off the internet so it must be perfect.

No problem! I want you to have sunglasses that are functional and let you see with minimal distortion, as well as ones that look cosmetically appealing!