# Optometrist or Ophthalmologist?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optometrist-or-ophthalmologist/926362>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 24, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optometrist-or-ophthalmologist/926362 "2020-11-24T17:35:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optometrist-or-ophthalmologist/926362/61 "2020-11-30T14:41:07Z")

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For the record my optometrist - who is based at an opticians - does full eye health testing, including retinal photographs, the glaucoma “air puff” test, and general other “looking around inside the eye”. It takes maybe 10-15 minutes at most (not counting the separate vision test, which takes longer).

And it costs me all of £25 (not including the glasses, of course).

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optometrist-or-ophthalmologist/926362/62 "2020-12-28T19:43:58Z")

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Follow up on the OP, I finally went to the optometrist last week. She was very nice and did take a scan of the eyes, and said they looked fine. She recommended bi-focals, but the ones without lines. I asked if I could just order the glasses online (like Warby Parker or something) and she said I should never order glasses online (but gave no reason). I remembered from this thread that part of an optometrist’s business is the selling of frames, so I didn’t question this too much.

I went back in today to select the frames. The ones I picked were $888, but got them for $350 through my insurance. Seemed expensive, regardless. But I did ask for the prescription as well, and it shows -075/-075 and +200. I joked that maybe this was what was holding back my golf game, and she said that these glasses wouldn’t be good for golf. For golf and tv watching, I’ll need different glasses.

So next question: are folks that wear glasses comfortable ordering cheaper ones online? I really don’t want to spend another $350.

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**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optometrist-or-ophthalmologist/926362/63 "2020-12-29T02:17:22Z")

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^^^ Your bifocal Rx is for two distances – reading and infinity. You’ve been told, correctly, that you need a third refraction for middle distance – Tee and TV, a couple of meters. To order online, you’ll need your optometrist to determine that diopter number. A phone should be all thats needed, she can calculate it from what she already knows, and you have already paid the examination fee.

My experience (and wife’s) with online is that the lasting quality of the frames maa be a bit dodgy, but the optical Rx is right on, every time.

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**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optometrist-or-ophthalmologist/926362/64 "2020-12-29T18:19:37Z")

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> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#):
>
> So next question: are folks that wear glasses comfortable ordering cheaper ones online? I really don’t want to spend another $350.

Discussion of that here:

> [@How can glasses from Internet vendors be so cheap? How about quality?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-glasses-from-internet-vendors-be-so-cheap-how-about-quality/927106):
>
> I got an eye exam and a new prescription. They priced out a pair for me at about $150, which is net after insurance. The frames were $200, insurance covers $160. Lenses were 120, insurance covers 100. Add $23 for polycarbonate. Add $61 for anti-reflective and UV coating. Add $25 for co-pay, just to add some more money. Total $148.20 out of pocket. I thanked them and left with my prescription and pupillary measurements. I checked out Zenni and ordered a pair for $30, without insurance. How can…

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/optometrist-or-ophthalmologist/926362/65 "2020-12-29T18:21:30Z")

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Thanks so much. 👍

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