Has anyone else had trouble getting new glasses with their AMD?
I had an eye test and got my glasses but they didn't work. sent them back, still no joy. Redone eye test and they came back a bit better but I still can't see through them properly. I'm hoping it's the opticians getting it wrong and not me not being able to find the right prescription.
I've had the same problem. About eighteen months ago I took mine back (I'd had them about eight months) as I'd had problems with them almost since the start. They had several scratches on them and I couldn't understand why as I'd paid to have scratch resistent coatings on them and I really looked after them. When the girl looked at them, she commented that it was a bit strange as the scratches were in different place to what they normally see - I have always kept mine in the case when not in use. She sent them back and had them redone for me and they were OK for about four or five days and I started getting the same problem. I'd had my eyes checked when I took them back too and nothing had changed regarding my sight. I have sometimes wondered if the coating that was on them breaks down and affects the quality of the lenses.
did you go to vision express? that's where I went. She tried to tell me it was the 'cheap' coating trying to get more money from me. I'm going for a refund and trying specsavers. are you OK now?
I'm still using the same reading glasses - the distance ones are fine which is really odd. I have wet AMD and in January had retinal detachment surgery and had a small cataract in that eye which has since become bigger (I think it's quite common after retinal detachment). They want to give me long enough for it all to settle before removing the cataract so I am waiting to see how it is after that. I really think it's something to do with the coating but I have three years guarantee with mine so will see what happens. Good luck with yours. xx
I had a big deal low vision exam from some specialist; got his script done..it was horrible. Finally I went to a mass-market vision place just as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I did NOT tell the optician that I have AMD in my eyes. Only after he started on the bad eye (wet AMD) did I tell him I have MD..he sat back and "man-splaned" to me what AMD is. I let him get that off his 26 year old chest. Sigh. Got that one filled and it was they best it could be..really it is FAR better.
I got that one filled and it was so good I ordered a pair with polarized lenses and another with just the bifocal part that I added yellow tint for computer screens.
I order from got all three pairs for UNDER $200 USD. I order online from zenni optical..used them for 10-15 years.
From 60 years of wearing glasses, I can tell you & any totally honest person at the place that sells & makes the glasses will also tell you that it is the coatings & they scratch easily, be it the anti-reflective or the so-called anti-scratch.I have had fine results with plastic lenses & no coatings, but I do get darkening transition lenses.. You just need to be cautious when cleaning them. No paper towels for sure. No dry facial tissues.
I usually wash the plastic lenses by running them under water with a drop or two of mild dish detergent like Dawn or Ivory. I then dry them with a clean quality microfiber cloth. When I am in a hurry I will soak a quality facial tissue with rubbing alcohol to clean off the smudges/oils/grease & then dry them with a microfiber cloth. Tip: when you wash the microfiber cloth, do not use fabric softener. I have had very good success with plastic lenses with no coatings getting years of service from them.
Many thanks for that, I was convinced it was the coating. I have been washing mine with a drop of washing up liquid (I believe it's what you call dish soap) and warm water lately and I have also been looking online for the microfiber cloths. I will be complaining about my glasses again soon and will mention it when I do. Thanks again. x
Thanks, I will get no coating ones next.
I agree with Tallyho, I have been told by opticians there isn't much more they can do for me, so I'm looking into the low vision clinic route, good luck x...p.s. I have always used Specsavers so tried a different optician just to see what they say and told the same x
Good luck. xx
Gettinga new glasses prescription is always a problem when having regular eye injections (Lucentis every 10 weeks) for AMD as each injection changes vision (& prescription). I had this problem & discussed it with the opthalmologist at the NHS eye clinic I attend. As the medication injected is still active for a few weeks after injection he suggested I get an eye test at the opticians half-way between injections to get the best results. I now get a test & new prescription every 12 months. I get distance & reading glasses which can be expensive; however, I go to a high street leading opticians (Ss) who have a good range of budget frames & offers. Their opticians & standards of tests are excellent & after each test they email a copy of my new prescription to eye clinic for my records. I have been doing this now for 4 years & it's worked for me. This may not be the solution for everyone but hope some of the information is helpful. Kind regards.
Have you got a Low Vision clinic in your area? You need a dr's referral to get items free. I had magnifiers for reading also specs for TV subtitles etc Boots opticians can also get special specs for reading, they are made in Germany. They look very peculiar but ok for at home.
Ok so my understanding is that with any retinal disease the problem is at the back of the eye not the front so new glasses are not gonna help because refraction only helps if there is a problem with the front of the eye. Do they know you have AMD? If so surely they should have said that what they can do will only help to an extent and the damage AMD does to sight won’t be helped by glasses.
I would not wear glasses\sunglasses without an a/r coating. It was an optometrist that advised me to have an a/r coating nearly 20 years ago when I told him I was getting bounce back glare in the back of the lens. I was advised by an ophthalmologist a few years ago to always have an a/r coating - I have never had any problems with an a/r coating.
The fact is I needed the new glasses as my eyesight in general had got worse but they just don't work. This is the third time I've sent them back, so it must be the opticians fault then. I'm off to get a refund and a second opinion. Thanks everyone
I had a similar problem with my reading glasses which I have had for about a year. I have regular OCT scans to check my AMD and my optician confirmed that there was no change in prescription needed . However it appeared that lenses were scratched causing the coating to deteriorate which in turn caused some distortion.
Also, previously I tried varifocal lenses but had similar problems to you and ended up with two pairs - reading and distance.
I hope the above helps.
Hello Mabs6464,
Whilst sight is relatively good, then individuals can generally manage with varifocals or bifocals if preferred. However, if there becomes any noticeable impact to sight, then generally single vision lenses are preferable; separate for close up and distance vision. It is then generally also advisable to avoid transition style lenses and opt for anti-glare spectacles instead:
macular-2020071509040861370...
Please contact us if you would like a list of suppliers details.
It can get to a stage where the opticians cannot prescribe any stronger spectacles and where magnifiers are needed in addition. In the UK, these can be obtained via a low vision clinic. They prescribe magnifiers for long term loan on the NHS. It is the best first port of call for magnifiers as getting magnifiers is very much like getting spectacles prescribed, in the sense that it is important to get the correct magnification in relation to the eye condition.
The Macular Society Advice and Information Service is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 0300 3030 111.
Alternately, you can contact us via:
help@macularsociety.org
Kind regards,
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