Amostgotit’s very dim view of optometry
September 23, 2009 By: almostgotit Category: Uncategorized
I lost a contact lense yesterday, and I am *very* blind without it.
I’ve been wearing contact lenses practically since they were invented, and I wear the kind that last forever. I don’t lose them, I know how to take care of them, and my prescription hasn’t changed since the Carter administration.
But do you think I can get a new one? Even if I can’t SEE anything otherwise?
Certainly not.
The Omnipotent Eye Experts of the Universe have decreed that unless I pay to go see the optometrist EVERY YEAR, for which I have to pay out of pocket because even my good insurance company believes every two years to be a sufficient interval for eye exams, the office will not give me my prescription, nor allow it to be re-filled. And, scandalously, I haven’t set foot in an optometrist’s office since May of 2008, if you can even imagine!
Plus also the optometrist is currently out of town. Did I mention that?
Or that it will take at least another week after I can see him before I can get my new lense?
Fortunately, I do have a pair of glasses, dating to the Reagan administration. Usually I reserve them for dressing up as Professor Trelawney at Harry Potter book parties, because they are Rawther Large.
They are so large in fact, and the lenses so thick, that they give me a headache. Which is almost as bad as the headache I get when I take them off and then can’t see anything. Along with the headache I already have because I also have a head cold and seasonal allergies, which is why I was messing with my contact lense to begin with.
I did order a new pair of glasses yesterday. For a mere $384 (out of pocket), I will at least be able to see again in about a week, which is a week earlier than I’ll be able to see with a new contact lense. Which will be one of a SET of contact lenses (also out of pocket) because you can bet I’m ordering extras for both eyes during the one week per decade in which I’m allowed to have a valid prescription, so that I’ll be able to switch them out in a few years without having to pay for yet another identical contact lense fitting.
All of which makes me feel very grumpy. Why is the world such an unreasonable place, is what I want to know?
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
This also infuriated me with Andrew and Peter. Peter started wearing glasses again–in fact he was married in them–but I’m not sure how he’s keeping his vision sharp these days. I was so glad to see him in July at the cottage, I wasn’t really paying attention.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Love the pix; reminds of people in NYC who would hit you with their umbrella if you got in their way while getting on a bus, or came at night to feed multitudes of feral cats who relied on this kind soul to feed them tuna.
As for the omnipotentates, well, first time I’ve that bullshit.
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Meant to say first time I’ve HEARD that bullshit. I’m sorry for the trouble, but it makes a great reality rant.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Out here eye prescriptions expire (by law, I think) after a pretty short period — like 18 months or something. It’s a racket I tell you!
September 24th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I feel your pain! Been there!
September 25th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
you must not have bifocals — my glasses were much more than that as I recall. Allergies forced me to give up contact lenses years ago.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
SEEMS TO ME we have a quorum for a class action suit, here.
No no bifocals YET, Pages! I’m still in the short stage wherein I can pretend on that score!! (and WHERE IS that blog of yours????)
October 7th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
[...] the yard is lovely and I like the whole idea of hanging laundry anyway, I’ve been buying new glasses, weed wrenches and um, desperately needed mums and raspberry bushes instead of a new clothes [...]