# My ophthalmologist explained avoiding bifocals is ok **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 27, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013 "2011-10-27T22:23:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013/21 "2011-10-28T18:05:23Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > Let me chime in on the “don’t get cheap lenses” above. I pay a mint for my progressive lenses. They’re worth it. I have myopia and presbyopia and astigmatism. I got lower priced ones once – ONCE! The focus was never quite right, although I went back for rechecking twice. And the far-distance area was so small I had to tilt my head to drive. I only get the Varilux now. > > My husband’s vision problems are far less severe than mine. He gets his exams and lenses at places like K-Mart and Sears. They are never right the first time and sometimes not the second time, either. Most adults wear a pair of specs for at least two years. Some quite a bit longer. I used to get pretty good discounts – below cost in many cases because suppliers often give personal discounts to employees of providers – but I don’t mind paying full retail now because 1: I know why lenses and frames cost what they do, and I know that the markup isn’t as much as a lot of people think. 2: Considering how long I’ll wear them, they’re actually pretty cheap. I paid just under $700 for the ones I have now. During the time I’ve had them I’ve spent more on Mountain Dew, and I don’t spend as much on that as a lot of other caffeine addicts spend on coffee. ---
**Author:** ![all1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@all1966](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/all1966)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013/22 "2011-10-28T18:49:10Z")
So, for reliable places to get specs, what are thots on places like Lens Crafters, Costco, Pearl Vision, etc.? My last round of glasses was through Pearl Vision about 3 years ago, and I’ve never been totally in love with this set. I’m practically blind without my glasses and have been wearing same since I was 6. Starting to think it may be time to consider bifocals, and suggestions for trusted places to go would be helpful. This is a timely thread. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013/23 "2011-10-28T20:41:38Z")
Thanks for all of the information, Doug. The reason for the wait time on the glasses is his insurance coverage. I guess they outsource the lenses to an off-site shop? Hopefully there won’t be too many problems! (The two-week wait means $200 out of pocket vs. $800.) As for the type of lens he ordered, he discussed it with the doctor, who agreed that these would make the most sense for Tony. I guess we’ll wait and see! [/bad pun] ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013/24 "2011-10-28T21:52:19Z")
With my regular glasses, I can read fine. With my contacts I need reading glasses. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013/25 "2011-10-28T22:43:12Z")
Oh dear, **Doug K**. I got my progressive bifocals at Wal-Mart. Now I’m wondering if that was a smart move after reading what you wrote…perhaps that’s why I am having such a hard time getting used to them. I’m a painting contractor/decorative painter and am up and down ladders at work - I need to see clearly but those glasses were downright scary on the job. I have no vision insurance at all so for my first prescription pair decided to go the cheap route. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting lined bifocals to see if I like them better. Maybe I’ll call the real optician I saw a few years ago… ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013/26 "2011-10-29T03:52:42Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Oh dear, **Doug K**. I got my progressive bifocals at Wal-Mart. Now I’m wondering if that was a smart move after reading what you wrote…perhaps that’s why I am having such a hard time getting used to them. I’m a painting contractor/decorative painter and am up and down ladders at work - I need to see clearly but those glasses were downright scary on the job. > > I have no vision insurance at all so for my first prescription pair decided to go the cheap route. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting lined bifocals to see if I like them better. Maybe I’ll call the real optician I saw a few years ago… Here’s a PDF that shows what’s involved in fitting progressives. [Progressive Lens Dispensing](http://www.opticampus.com/files/progressive_lens_dispensing.pdf) The ABOM after the author’s name means [American Board of Opticianry](http://www.abo-ncle.org/) Master. What makes it hard for consumers is that for an experienced optician, proper fitting doesn’t take any longer than sloppy fitting. Unless you live in a state that licenses opticians, about all you can do is ask if the optician is ABO certified. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013/27 "2011-10-29T05:34:22Z")
I started wearing bifocals when I was about 40. In my late forties I started wearing trifocals, and still do. I didn’t find getting used to bifocals to be any big deal, as the reading lens didn’t take up all that much of my field of vision. Trifocals are another matter, but it’d be hard for to function without them. I only have real problems when I’m somewhere like an art museum, or some shopping situations, where I want to be fairly close to something but find that the entire object won’t fit in the middle-distance lens. Also, I have a pair of bifocals for computer use, with the main part of the lens being the same as the middle-distance part of my trifocals. Without them I’d have a permanent crick in my neck from tilting my head back. I can read without lenses, but I have to put the book a bit closer than is comfortable, so I usually use the lenses. I tried progressives about the time I first got bifocals. I couldn’t stand them. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013/28 "2011-10-30T23:10:21Z")
> [@all1966](#): > > So, for reliable places to get specs, what are thots on places like Lens Crafters, Costco, Pearl Vision, etc.? My last round of glasses was through Pearl Vision about 3 years ago, and I’ve never been totally in love with this set. I’m practically blind without my glasses and have been wearing same since I was 6. Starting to think it may be time to consider bifocals, and suggestions for trusted places to go would be helpful. This is a timely thread. My less-than-ideal experience was with either Lens Crafters or Pearl. I patronize a local opthamologist group practice. It’s the second one I’ve tried; the first was – a little strange. I hope you don’t mean you’ve been wearing the exact same glasses since you were 6. Besides vision correction, one needs to be checked for things such as glaucoma from time to time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ophthalmologist-explained-avoiding-bifocals-is-ok/601013.md?page=1)