Low Vision cannot get me the filter glasses that ophthalmologist told me I need for my dry md.

I can't find a board for this particular condition - sorry it is long.

I was referred to low vision over two years ago for distorted vision in my dominant eye. Told LV that I suffered from glare and light sensitivity on my 6 monthly LV appointments, when I tell the optician how I am getting on with the filter glasses he has sent me. He has now sent me four pairs of filter glasses and I have told him that they didn't help with glare, as I was getting a lot of reflections and could see the reflection of my eye in the glasses and I couldn't wear them. I told him I always had to have an anti-reflective coating on my glasses which eliminates reflections from the front and back surface of the lenses and that I had tried wrap-around glasses and anti-glare glasses but I still could see the reflection of my eye in the lenses and I was worried that the glare might be harming my eyes when I wore them. LV said that before filters, people, with the condition I have, had to wear a hat indoors and that I should wear a hat indoors. (I remember when the then MP Edwina Currie said that OAPs should wear hats indoors to keep them warm in the winter and caused an outrage). LV finally agreed that I needed to have an a\r coating and would send me a pair. Subsequently sent me another pair of filters with no a/r coating.

When I had my eyes monitored last time I told the ophthalmologist about the the problems I am having with glare both indoors and outdoors and he said I must always wear glasses with an a/r coating.

I don't understand in the past have been able to get a pair of filter glasses made up with an a/r coating, which wasn't easy but they have a very dark filter not suitable in low light) and if I can get from a high street optician a comfort (fixed) tint with an a/r coating why can't LV. All high street and on-line opticians offer a/rt coating as standard. I really feel like discharging myself from LV as I would have thought that LV could source filters for my and other with the same condition, needs

Does anyone who has the same problem as me been able to get filters with an a/r coating please.

[ColWi]

I am so sorry that you are having suh a hard time finding what would help. I just went to the lovision specialist and he wants one of the lenses frosted. I went to walmart because I was cheaper. Well they said they were no sure they could do that. Oh and if they did it was going to me extra money. I feel your pain.

[Hidden in reply to ColWi]

Thanks ColWi, I wonder how many others found it very difficult to source the kind of lens that they need.

[Retired130]

There should be some commercial places (Wal-mart, Lens Craters, Americas Best, etc. that would take your glasses & send them to the lab for an AR coating to be applied. Sure it will cost extra, but at least you would get what you need. Just get out the phone book & shop by phone until you find a place that wll do it. If LV won't do it, then you have no option but to pay another place to do it. Sadly, sometimes there is no other option than to pay the extra money.

[Hidden in reply to Retired130]

Hello Retired 130, it isn't that I have a problem paying for what I want, rather than getting it on the NHS, it is actually sourcing where I can et filters with a/r coating. I have tried many different opticians, in the high street and on-line and could only found one that could get what I wanted, but it wasn't an easy task. I get comfort (fixed) tint lens with an a/r coating from another optician. I would have thought that if, it is because of cost, that LV can't get me the filter glasses with a coating that they have agreed that I need, wouldn't they be able to tell me where I could?

[Hidden]

I have just Googled this. According to a Carl Zeiss employee a/r coatings cannot be applied after the glasses have been used however, a few years ago the coating failed on my prescription specs and they were recoated by Specsavers without any issue.

Difficult to know what to suggest except to visit an optician, buy their cheapest NHS specs and pay for the coating.

I fully understand your problem having once tried specs without a coating, terribly distracting.

[Hidden]

Hello Rennatk, LV told me that one of the filter glasses they sent me, Essilor SRX, now had an a/r coating and he told me he would send me a pair, but sent me another filter without. I understand, from Vision Express that the a/c coating is not applied onto the lens but is part of the lens, if that makes sense. I did manage to get a pair of filter glasses with an a/r coating sometime ago but getting them wasn't without problems and it was a very lengthy process and the optician himself said it should have only taken a week.

[Catseyes235]

Have you tried polarised lenses? I got some non prescription ones in Boots two weeks ago and they had some that went over other glasses plus an extension on the top rim to cut out light from above. Not sure if this helps but do ask opticians what is available (without them trying to sell you expensive new glasses!)

[Hidden in reply to Catseyes235]

Sorry, but my post isn't about polarised lens - I wear polarised sunglasses with an a/r coating outside. I am trying to find out if anyone had been able to get filter glasses (for reading or distance) with an a/r coating.

[Rosalyn-helpline Partner]

Dear candiedate,

I have copied a link to our booklet on Protecting your eyes:

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

We have a list of UK suppliers. Please contact us directly if this may be of some assistance.

You can contact us via:

[e-mail]

Kind regards,

[Hidden]

Hello Rosalyn,

Thanks for your link, I picked up a copy from the hospital. I noted from your booklet ......"and getting anti-reflection coated lenses for your driving spectacles". I think people, with my condition, need to have an anti reflection coat on all their glasses. Even though an ophthalmologist advised me I needed to always have an a/coating, trying to source filter glasses with a/r is a problem either on the high street, on-line optician or LV, who is wiling to put an a/r coating on a filter lens. There does not seem to be any specialists\medical opticians.

[Qashqai-2015_ in reply to Hidden]

Just a reply as I have dry AMD since diagnosis 12mths ago and SpecSavers do put the A/R coating on when I ordered mine.

Another option is on EBay there’s heaps of anti blue light and anti reflection frames with lenses in.

I was told there’s also clip ons that I am going to buy ( range from $7-$44) and they’re fair dinkum.

Big help with driving and watching tv even.

Just put

Anti reflective glasses and OR clip on lenses and it’s the same as wearing safety lenses but nice style not old fashioned...

Hope I’ve helped....

Healing hugs coming your way.... it’s certainly a shithouse walk with this damn disease . I wish u luck 😘🤗🤗🤗

[Hidden]

Qashqai-2015 - "Healing hugs coming your way.... it’s certainly a shithouse walk with this damn disease . I wish u luck " - like it - thanks.

As I said in a previous post it seems like standard practice for opticians on the high street and on-line to use a/r coatings. But if, like me, you need filter glasses with an a/r coating none of them are willing to do it, and if they do it is not an easy transaction . I don't know the difference between tinted and filtered lens but if a high street optician can do a/r coatings on tinted lens why can't they do it with filtered. Very confusing. I'll have a look on Ebay - thanks.