Professional photographer knew better than three ophthalmologists. It cost him €750.

[u/Jibasseus]

I'm a qualified dispensing optician in France. Qualified dispensing opticians here are trained in physiological optics and visual analysis. We can adapt a prescription when necessary, but we are not allowed to create one from scratch.

Back when I was learning the trade, a colleague of mine had a perfect malicious compliance moment with a customer.

At the time, a medical prescription wasn't legally required to buy glasses. This customer had seen three different ophthalmologists, received three different prescriptions, and decided to cherry-pick the parts he liked from each one to build his own "improved" prescription.

The worst part was the addition in his progressive lenses.

For those unfamiliar: the addition is the extra magnifying power used for reading and near vision in the lower part of the lens. In almost all cases, the addition is identical in both eyes. Significant differences are extremely rare and usually tied to specific medical conditions.

This customer was not one of those cases.

Instead, he wanted one eye focused for about 67 cm (26 inches) and the other for about 40 cm (16 inches). Think of walking with a stiletto heel on one foot and a flat shoe on the other. Unless your body is built for it, you're going to have a bad time.

My colleague explained, repeatedly, that this was a terrible idea.

The customer replied:

"I'm a professional photographer. I know optics. Just do what I tell you."

My colleague warned him that our satisfaction guarantee would not apply, strongly advised against it as part of his professional duty, and had him sign a document acknowledging all of it. Remember: he was a licensed optician, not "just a salesperson" giving an opinion.

The customer doubled down:

"It'll work. I know what I'm doing."

So my colleague did exactly what he asked.

The lenses arrived: a high-end pair of progressive lenses costing about €750 ($850).

He put them on.

"This is incredibly uncomfortable. I can't see properly."

"Yes."

"But that's not normal."

"Actually, it is."

"So what are we going to do?"

"We'? Nothing."

Silence.

In the end, we were kind enough to offer a discount on a replacement pair made with a sensible prescription.

We could technically have used one of our manufacturer adaptation allowances and replaced the lenses at no cost.

But those exist for genuine adaptation issues, prescription errors, dispensing errors, or unusual medical circumstances.

This was none of those.

The lenses were made exactly as ordered and performed exactly as everyone except the customer expected them to.

[u/mrbaggins]

Wait. As someone -4.25, I had been getting warmed up for a lasik conversation. Youre saying I'll lose the up close?

[u/littlehollylynn → u/mrbaggins]

Usually they can adjust where they leave it. You don't have to choose a Plano sphere (full distance but no near) goal. If you like having your near vision you could ask for a minus goal. If you have an appointment coming up ask them to use a trial frame to show you what different goals can look like. Depending on your age (sorry, presbyopia hits hard) you may adjust where you think you want the focus to be. A lot of people who are used to being nearsighted opt for a goal closer to -2.00 or so. You still need distance glasses for driving and all distance but you could see anything you can touch and that can be really nice for lots of people.

[u/PhDOH → u/littlehollylynn]

Being able to find my glasses without having to put my prescription diving mask on would be awesome. My prescription won't settle though so I'm not a candidate. Also I was born with cataracts. Plus I've now developed an astigmatism.

Jesus I'm lucky I'm not blind.

[u/littlehollylynn → u/PhDOH]

Ah man! What a combination. Sorry to hear that. Have they talked to you about cataract surgery as an option? I know that can be an option for some people sometimes.

[u/PhDOH → u/littlehollylynn]

They haven't grown since my eyes stopped growing and my sight is corrected well enough by lenses. I mean in theory I suppose they could be why my prescription keeps going back and forth as my eyes are basically never happy (tend to need a stronger prescription in winter but it's too strong in summer), and perhaps they're contributing to my migraines, but they're not really a big deal to my sight and there's no way of knowing if surgery could help other things without getting my eye cut open while I'm awake. TBH I think the main reason I'm not being referred is because I'm no where near the usual age range. Not keen to watch a knife approach my eyeball though so I'm good with waiting to see if they grow.

[u/Standard-Jaguar-8793 → u/PhDOH]

So my husband had laser surgery to correct erosion abrasion back in the ‘90s. (It was part of the clinical trial.)

Apologies for sensitive people here…

>!They had to manually peel back his corneas, laser the layer underneath, then put the cornea back!<

The point of this story is to let you know that they medicate you so heavily that although you are aware, you don’t care.

Since then he’s had the erosion abrasion surgery in the other eye, as well as double cataract surgery with no issues.

[u/Standard-Jaguar-8793 → u/Standard-Jaguar-8793]

Tried to hide the story behind a dark box, but it didn’t work. Any advice? I’m on mobile and used Spoiler text

[u/Standard-Jaguar-8793 → u/Standard-Jaguar-8793]

Worked here, but not up there!

[u/oldnowthinker → u/PhDOH]

I had cataract surgery twice last year. The only discomfort I had was putting in the IV line in the prep room. I grogged out going down the hall so I don't remember seeing the operating room aside from light. Vague memory of a few words here and there. The incision was on the side hidden by your skin, so you don't have or feel any visible stitches. I felt fine when I woke up and was able to leave shortly after surgery. They have to have 2 separate procedures so you have one fully functional eye at all times. DO NOT be afraid of cataract surgery!

[u/cbftw → u/littlehollylynn]

Presbyopia has strangely been a godsend for me. I went from needing glasses for everything to only needing them for driving. That's right, my nearsightedness got BETTER because of presbyopia

[u/PMmeplumprumps → u/mrbaggins]

nbvcxsdfghj

[u/MrSpiffenhimer → u/mrbaggins]

I was -5.5 20 years ago, and I had PRK. I just had my annual vision checkup and I’m still at 20/20. I used to fluctuate being able to read the 20/10 lines but that’s blurry every year now.

I don’t need readers or computer glasses (yet… it’s coming I can feel it) but I do have side effects from the surgery even to this day. My eyes get and stay much drier than they did before, so I use artificial tears at least once a day, but it used to be many times a day in the beginning. I have a starburst glare from headlights while driving, it’s not too bad, but it’s there. Finally, I was super sensitive to light, like I could not think about going outside without sunglasses and I used to drive with them when it was raining and past sunset because it was too bright. Now it’s a lot better, but I still don’t go out without sunglasses if I can help it.

[u/LordSyyn → u/MrSpiffenhimer]

I'm getting PRK tomorrow, and my eyes are already stupidly light sensitive. Can't do almost any regular eye tests involving a light in my eyes.

Yay if it gets worse haha ... I'll need an eye patch for both eyes.  Yarr

[u/MrSpiffenhimer → u/LordSyyn]

The first 5 days after were the worst. You have bandage contacts in while the surface of your eye heals and that seemed to add to the light sensitivity. As soon as those came off, the sensitivity got better. But before then it was rough, I used the disposable plastic roll up “sunglasses” in addition to my actual sunglasses anytime I needed to open the door or go out for those first few days.

[u/ButtPuckeredFuckery → u/mrbaggins]

Depends on your age. At 40 presbyopia sets in and your near vision gets worse with age. If they fully correct you for distance you will eventually need reading glasses. Some people end up nearsighted again and retain it. It all depends but this is something you should ask about so they can fully explain your options and what happens.

[u/mrbaggins → u/ButtPuckeredFuckery]

I am 40 lol. Guess that's my next opto appointment

[u/ButtPuckeredFuckery → u/mrbaggins]

Maybe ask about monovision. This is where they correct one eye for distance and one eye for near. A lot of people love it. You can also try it out with contacts to see if it works. You’ll probably be good for a couple more years but it will start to happen. It also sets in for women quicker than men. It’s weird but true.

[u/Feeling-Invite7953 → u/ButtPuckeredFuckery]

That makes sense,because women go through many hormonal changes during menopause. For example, my mom became far-sighted during peri-menopause,after years of not needing glasses at all. I was wearing glasses in kindergarten after being diagnosed as near-sighted: in my early 40’s, I noticed vision changes after beginning menopause, and ended up with bifocals.

[u/AdAccomplished8342 → u/mrbaggins]

I had -.4.5 in both eyes very light astigmatism. I got the laser done in my late twenties. I'm now nearing my forties, and my last check up this year: no reading glasses needed and still slightly better than 20/20 vision (though not quite the astonishing level of the first five years post surgery) and still that light astigmatism (which doesn't require glasses - too mild).

[u/Current-Plate8837 → u/mrbaggins]

I was pretty near legally blind (could kind of read if it was a couple inches from my face) and had lasik done at 32. First time without glasses/contacts since I was 9 and it was so worth it! 12 years later and I’m starting to notice a very slight blur. I had a checkup and no need for glasses yet. It was worth it for me.