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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to order emergency glasses w/o prescription?

34 replies

SlinkyBat · 08/09/2021 20:06

I wouldn't usually even think of this. I KNOW, it's my eyes etc.

But I've got to be away at short notice, my contact lenses are making my eyes very sore by the end of the day due to a couple of factors and I need an alternative as I'll need to carry on working.

I've tried to get an optician's appt but can't get one until after I get back, but I HAVE found an online place that can send out some glasses if I give them my prescription.

So, MN. Can I use my contact lens prescription to cobble together a pair of emergency glasses? Please reply bearing in mind:

I won't be driving or operating anything more complex than a garlic press

I'll only be wearing them for the duration of my work trip, for a couple of hours per day to give my eyes a break

I'm too short sighted to go without entirely - I've tried and I get a really bad headache pretty quickly.

I want to try it - it's a VERY short term fix that will make this important trip that bit less stressful. Any advice on how to convert the prescription?

OP posts:
ThreeLittleDots · 08/09/2021 20:15

Don't know, but can't you try on a few pairs in the supermarket?

Original poster
SlinkyBat · 08/09/2021 20:20

Thanks - I had a quick look and they only have reading style glasses. I'm short sighted, and my near sight is okay.

OP posts:
Blueeilidh · 08/09/2021 20:21

I'm not 100% sure but I thought you had to provide proof such as a scan of a prescription dated in past two years to order online.

CliffordMystery · 08/09/2021 20:24

All I can say is that it is not legal for someone to sell you distance glasses without seeing an actual prescription for glasses. So no, it is not a good idea. The contact lens prescription does not contain the required information to make a pair of glasses.

Also, this is why opticians always advise contact lens wearers to have glasses as a back up.

MaskingForIt · 08/09/2021 20:25

I don’t think anywhere legit will sell you glasses without a current prescription.

Fuzzywuzzyface · 08/09/2021 20:28

You cant use a contact lens prescription for glasses - it will be different. Do you have a previous eye test report - it will have your glasses prescription on it.

Bargebill19 · 08/09/2021 20:28

No. A contact lens prescription is different to a spectacles lens prescription.
Ask your optician, they may/should have a record of your glasses prescription, which you can have. However, the prescription needs to be less than a year old for online glasses - if I remember correctly. They usually say on their website what they will accept timewise

Original poster
SlinkyBat · 08/09/2021 20:28

Thanks all - the place I found online DOES need a prescription, but I only have my lens one. I wanted to know if there's some kind of conversion between lenses and specs that I could utilise as a short term fix.

OP posts:
MrsTulipTattsyrup · 08/09/2021 20:29

I wear lenses for very short sight, but always have a pair of up to date specs for this reason. But the prescription in each is different to give me the best all round vision in lenses. Your optician is bound to have given you a copy of your prescription (for specs) at your last eye test (I think they have to by law). You need to look for where you’ve filed that.

Bargebill19 · 08/09/2021 20:29

No there isn’t a conversion you can do. (Like inches to cms equation). It needs to be an optician prescription.

Original poster
SlinkyBat · 08/09/2021 20:30

Do you have a previous eye test report - it will have your glasses prescription on it

Oh good thinking. I could ring my optician and get that at least.

OP posts:
NewPapaGuinea · 08/09/2021 20:30

What do you normally do when you aren’t wearing contacts?

Original poster
SlinkyBat · 08/09/2021 20:31

You need to look for where you’ve filed that

I've definitely got it, but recently moved and there's about 14 boxes that I haven't tackled yet. It will be in the last one, probably.

OP posts:
CliffordMystery · 08/09/2021 20:32

@SlinkyBat

Thanks all - the place I found online DOES need a prescription, but I only have my lens one. I wanted to know if there's some kind of conversion between lenses and specs that I could utilise as a short term fix.
No, there isn’t. I mean, a qualified optometrist could have a good guess, but even then it wouldn’t be guaranteed to be that close… and I would hope that as a qualified professional it’s not something any of them (us) would do.
Original poster
SlinkyBat · 08/09/2021 20:32

What do you normally do when you aren’t wearing contacts?

Go without. I'm not usually working when I do so.

OP posts:
Coogee · 08/09/2021 20:34

l don’t think anywhere legit will sell you glasses without a current prescription.

They will with a disclaimer.

CliffordMystery · 08/09/2021 20:37

@Coogee

l don’t think anywhere legit will sell you glasses without a current prescription.

They will with a disclaimer.

If they will, they are by definition not “legit.”
MagnoliaXYZ · 08/09/2021 20:37

I've ordered emergency glasses online before now, rarely wear glasses but like you, my contacts had been making my eyes sore and I'd lost my glasses. I just used my contact lenses prescription, I think there is about 0.25 diopter between my glasses and contact lenses on other prescriptions I'd had so, for just pottering around the house, I was happy to accept that difference. I just had to tick to say I had a valid prescription and that it was less than two years old.

Original poster
SlinkyBat · 08/09/2021 20:40

Thanks all. It's not a surprise, I just nurtured a narrow hope that someone would say "yep, if you're -2.75 then you just add six and divide by 7" or something Grin

I'll wear my lenses and switch in a new pair (dailies) as the day wears on, which is my back up idea.

OP posts:
Waspsarearseholes · 08/09/2021 20:41

I've been buying my glasses online for years. Managed to get one pair for £8 including three day delivery. You just enter your prescription and I think you maybe tick a box to say the prescription is under two years old. Nobody checks if that's true or not, they just take the payment and send you the glasses. My opticians wouldn't tell me my prescription over the phone as I "could be anyone" so you'll likely have to go in and they will write it on a card/print it for you.

Original poster
SlinkyBat · 08/09/2021 20:41

XPost Magnolia...I've just got a bit of hope back Grin

OP posts:
Ozanj · 08/09/2021 20:44

There are legit Taiwanese opticians who will figure out your eye glass prescription from your contact lens one (and give you multiple variations to try), but they all have a delivery window of at least 8-12 weeks. What you are going for is probably not legitimate in any way shape or form.

Wandafishcake · 08/09/2021 20:45

I think it’s fine to try, for emergency glasses, just don’t pay too much for them.

I got a pair of swimming goggles for £17.99 at my glasses prescription (give or take) online! I use them to find my glasses on the rare occasions I find them!

They problem I forsee though is that you might strain your eyes even more? Will drops for your contacts / dry eyes not help?

Wandafishcake · 08/09/2021 20:46

*on the rare occasion I lose them!!

Wandafishcake · 08/09/2021 20:46

Try warm compresses to soothe your eyes as well x

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