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March 27, 2008
For Your Own Good?
Grrr.
Oh, am I in a Lileks-esque 'politely rant about life in general' mood.
So I put it below the fold.
This evening, my glasses broke. I hate wearing glasses sometimes, and this is why. I figured since I'm almost completely helpless without them, I'd get them replaced this evening. So I drove to the store I've gotten my glasses from the last few times - I won't say the name, but it rhymes with DensShamfters.
When I got to the store, I was told that the prescription on record was too old, and had expired. A call to my optometrist for a more recent prescription was also unsuccessful, as that prescription (the one I currently use and have no problems with) had also expired. I was told that it was against the store’s policy to use expired prescriptions, and there was nothing they could do.
So new glasses? Tomorrow, after a needless trip to the optometrist.
Here's what I don't understand. Eyeglass prescriptions aren't like prescriptions for drugs, are they? Places like, er, DensShamfters aren't hospitals or medical facilities - they're retail outlets. So if I want to buy eyeglasses based on the prescription from when I was 12 years old, I should be able to do so. In that way, they're not much different from McDonald's. Here's how it works - I give you money, you give me product. It's that simple.
Well, except for the whole bad-for-you food thing. And the grease.
Posted by slublog at March 27, 2008 08:32 PM
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Comments
Damn, I'm glad I'm one of the only people on any side of this family that still doesn't need glasses.
:)
don't hurt me for gloating.
Posted by: coldmexican at March 27, 2008 09:39 PM
Grrr...how badly do you want to read that Lincoln Child book? :-)
Posted by: Slublog at March 27, 2008 09:56 PM
Not as bad as you don't want me to give away some juicy tidbits about Battlestar stuff...
I am willing to wait til softcover.
You should be glouting about 'The Ruins' being made into a movie so quickly.
Posted by: coldmexican at March 28, 2008 01:25 AM
I got LASIK years ago, and although my eyes have deteriorated a bit since then, it is leaps and bounds better than not being able to read the alarm clock farther than 2" from my face.
It's similar in Pennsylvania - my fiance wears glasses (sucker!), and they won't let her order new glasses or lenses without an updated prescription. I believe they passed a law requiring that. Which is bs! I'm SURE the optometrists' union had nothing to do with that law getting passed. It's communist!
Posted by: JohnW at March 28, 2008 08:37 AM
Next time, if the frames broke but the lenses are intact, take them in after 5 pm. Act like you're gonna cry. Ask them to get a prescription off the lenses and please please please cut your glasses right now, because you're so freaking blind without them.
This is why I wear the thick black plastic-framed birth control glasses - they're kinda hard to break.
Posted by: Alice H at March 28, 2008 08:40 PM
Chalk up another LASIK success story here. Like coldmexican my eyes are succumbing to middle age and will soon need reading glasses. Despite that I still smile inside when poor saps with glasses fog up when coming indoors.
As far as giving glasses out like candy: think about the lawyers. What's going to happen when you jump a curb and mow down the crowd down the casino bnecause you "didn't see them waving at you to veer away"?
Posted by: jimbro at March 30, 2008 08:27 AM
Same thing happened to me recently! So annoying - broken glasses, can't see a damn thing without them - and everyone stopping you from getting what you need. I understand them wanting to protect themselves from giving out old, expired prescriptions but jeez, if you glasses are broken it's clearly not optional for you!
Posted by: Kris, in New England at March 31, 2008 09:49 AM