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Original poster

Optician help please. So fed up.

52 replies

tectonicplates · 17/01/2019 13:24

Went to the same optician for about ten years, all fine, no problems. Then one day they got my prescription wrong so they changed it. Was fine for a couple of weeks, then didn't work any more so they changed it and got it wrong again. Couldn't help me with contact lenses, gave me about five different strengths of contact lenses and told me they wouldn't change them again until I'd decided on my contact lenses. None of them were right so I gave up and found a new optician.

Second optician changed my glasses and they were wrong again. Changed them and they were wrong AGAIN. Gave me contact lenses that were wrong and made me feel sick. Every time this happens my neck seizes up and I end up seeing an osteopath. So far I've seen two osteopaths and a physiotherapist, and all of them have helped but said my neck will never fully resolve itself until my glasses get sorted. The optician said he'd never heard of such a thing. Hmm So they changed my glasses again, they were fine for a week or two but then didn't work any more.

Second optician actually phoned the first optician to ask for prescription records but couldn't find anything useful or any clues to anything.

I want to the second optician again this morning for another eye test and they told me a slight change in prescription which they insisted was right even though I couldn't see properly. They have now told me that some people have a weaker eye and will never be able to see 100% properly, even with glasses. Sorry but I don't buy this at all. Surely the whole point of glasses is that they make you be able to see properly. Otherwise what's the point?

The second optician have now said they can't help me any further and have offered to give me refund (their idea - I didn't even ask for a refund). Which is fine but they're basically washing they hands of me. They said they can't even suggest who could help me. I've had all the eye health test things where they look at the back of your eye etc and peripheral vision tests etc, which showed great eye health and no problems.

The first optician has refused to see me again, apparently because I "upset" them by asking for a refund (which they refused) and going to the second optician.

Can someone PLEASE tell me what to do? It's actually got to the point where opticians are refusing to help me! If I go to a third one, I'm sure the same thing will happen again.

And please no replies that just recommend opticians. I went to the second one on a personal recommendation and it didn't work. There is obviously something deeper going on here.

Why do I keep getting glass that are either wrong straight away, or right for a couple of weeks but become wrong again?

My neck hurts.

OP posts:
explodingkitten · 17/01/2019 13:45

Maybe you should go see a proper eye doctor (not sure if that is the proper term in english) in a hospital to check out if there is something weird going on with your eyes. Or maybe you need a neurologist to check if your brain is sending the signals through properly. It sounds really strange that the glasses are fine at first and then you have a problem after two weeks.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor.

explodingkitten · 17/01/2019 13:49

They have now told me that some people have a weaker eye and will never be able to see 100% properly, even with glasses. Sorry but I don't buy this at all. Surely the whole point of glasses is that they make you be able to see properly. Otherwise what's the point?

This might be possible though, I have a small injury in the left side of my left eye and it doesn't work properly there, glasses don't fix it because they can't fix something that can't see.

Original poster
tectonicplates · 17/01/2019 13:53

But I don't have any injuries in my eye.

And they're refusing to refer me to an eye doctor because they're saying my situation is natural and I don't actually have a valid complaint.

OP posts:

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friendshipfloss · 17/01/2019 14:11

Perhaps it is worth looking at this from a different angle. Could it be the tension in your neck that is causing vision issues? Perhaps a visit to your doctor to investigate the issue with your neck might be a good next step.

dentydown · 17/01/2019 14:17

Would asking you go for a hospital referral work? Explain how the opticians are not getting a working pair of glasses for you and it’s a problem. It may be something else happening with your eyes.
It might be you need a third optician, and there’s nothing wrong!

Original poster
tectonicplates · 17/01/2019 14:25

No because I never had any tension in my neck until this optical problem started.

OP posts:
lostvoice · 17/01/2019 14:32

Making a bit of an assumption, but is it varifocals you are having issues with?

explodingkitten · 17/01/2019 14:35

But I don't have any injuries in my eye.

You could have a different problem though that the opticien just can't see. I didn't know that I had an injury and my opticien can't see it.

YetAnotherThing · 17/01/2019 14:39

Bump this tonight when an ophthalmologist might have finished work and could perhaps advise.

ShakeYourTailFeathers · 17/01/2019 14:42

A prescription that is fine for a couple of weeks... and then isn't fine makes no sense. It's either right or it's not.

I have a weak optic nerve in one eye. No glasses will ever make it work properly.

Original poster
tectonicplates · 17/01/2019 14:54

A prescription that is fine for a couple of weeks... and then isn't fine makes no sense. It's either right or it's not.

I wish that was true but it's happened to me several times.

OP posts:
Foxyloxy1plus1 · 17/01/2019 14:55

As you get older, your sight changes and deteriorates. And keeps on changing. Even with the correct prescription, the sight in my left eye is compromised because Of a childhood lazy eye- a squint that was never corrected properly.

Could it be that you have been holding your neck at an angle hat isn’t natural for you, in order to try to see better. That could put a strain on your neck.

If you’ve had all the eye health checks, it seems as though it’s going wrong at the part when you try the different lenses and they change them until you can see clearly (or as clearly as possible) reading the chart.

Are the two opticians you’ve been to independent, or part of a chain? Perhaps you could gather up the various prescriptions and take a hem somewhere completely different and ask them to interpret them.

Something is going wrong somewhere, but I think specialit knowledge is needed. I’m not convinced the chain opticians have the equipment or time to examine eyes horoughly, but that just my opinion and I’m sure someone else will say they’ve had excellent service from a chain opticians.

veggiepigsinpastryblankets · 17/01/2019 15:02

Can you go back to the prescription you had for 10 years with no problems, then tweak that?

I've had new glasses that aren't quite right straight away but settle into it, but never the other way round!

How wrong are we talking - a bit iffy, or can't see where you're going type wrong?

Lieinrequired · 17/01/2019 15:03

A behavioural optometrist might be able to help you. They look at how your eyes are working - do they work together correctly or is one eye very dominant etc.

lostvoice · 17/01/2019 15:06

If you look on the general optical council (GOC) website, there is a register of everyone who has qualified and maintained their registration through continuous training.

You can search by individual or practice. If anyones ever unsure check who is the Dispensing Optician there to make sure you are seeing the most experienced member of staff.

The Optometrist is most qualified when it comes to the health and testing of the eyes, the Dispensing optician is the most experienced with lenses and frames.

(assuming you are in the UK)

Nearlyadoctor · 17/01/2019 15:15

I would recommend you see a Consultant Ophthalmologist who will be able to rule out eye conditions such as Kerataconus which is unlikely to be picked up by an optician.
I’m presuming you don’t have any pre existing conditions such as diabetes, amblyopia or a squint which could also be affecting your vision.

Original poster
tectonicplates · 17/01/2019 15:19

But how do I go about getting referred to a specialist? The opticians are refusing to do so.

The first optician was an independent place. The second one was a branch of Boots opticians but they're actually run as franchises so it was the business owner I spoke to.

OP posts:
explodingkitten · 17/01/2019 15:20

Try your GP for a referral.

Original poster
tectonicplates · 17/01/2019 15:21

@Nearlyadoctor How exactly do I go about getting to see a Consultant Ophthalmologist?

OP posts:
lostvoice · 17/01/2019 15:23

Some business owners for franchises aren't always optically trained

Nearlyadoctor · 17/01/2019 15:44

You would need a referral from an optician or your GP for NHS or you could self refer if you went privately. Most consultant ophthalmologist’s are also NHS consultants

Original poster
tectonicplates · 17/01/2019 16:28

How would I find one though? The opticians are refusing to refer me.

OP posts:
SD1978 · 17/01/2019 16:29

@tectonicplates- ask your GP for the referral

CustardCremedeMenthe · 17/01/2019 16:49

Are you diabetic? If you think you are not, it might be worth popping into a (Lloyds) pharmacy to quickly check as diabetes could be the cause of fluctuating vision.

Whats wrong with the spectacles you were given? What can you see, and not see? What sort of spectacles are they? Did the two optometrists get similar or different prescriptions?

Original poster
tectonicplates · 17/01/2019 16:51

Definitely not diabetic. Been tested several times.

I can see but things are a bit blurred in one eye for far away stuff. My eye has been more or less constantly aching for the last few months ever since they started changing things again. I'm sick of it. I'm fine for crossing roads etc but it's a constant irritation.

OP posts: