kingfisher241049

Well I suppose it had to happen sometime, but I went to the eye doctor today for a check up, and as I feared my eyes are beginning to fail me. My right eye is very weak, is beginning to fog up with the start of cataracts. My Left eye is better, but again cataracts are beginning to form. So I have had to buy some glasses for the first time ever. $200 for the specs, $90 for the doctor fees, and even with Insurance it took a tidy sum out of my bank balance.

I hate getting old!! :scared:

Angry White Pyjamas

It only gets more expensive from here on in. Welcome to the USA and the wonderful world of health scare.

Ozzidoc

This thread can help with cheap spec....
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=377395

TouristTrap

And you happen to have what is probably the best doc in the country re: cataracts right down the road from you.

kingfisher241049

Really? Where? The Eye Doctor said I will be OK for a while, but then I will need to have the cataracts removed, maybe in a couple of years time.

kingfisher241049

Have you tried them?

Ozzidoc

Actually, I haven't - I'm such a tight wad that I've had the same pair of glasses for 8 years... Two people on BE have, and one of my bestest friends bought two pairs.

The site was recommended by my ophthalmolgy (eye doctor) consultant while I was on placement.

I'm planning on buying some soon, some transition glasses....they change depending on the brightness of the light......or maybe some prescription sunnies so that I can drive with sunnies....

Sophia_S

Hurts doesn't it?!I've worn glasses since I was a kid,but after getting preg. with my first my hormones changed and I became allergic to all metal frames,so had to get plastic(scared of contacts until very recently!),came over here and discovered titanium frames!!!!!,a Godsend for me!...slightly expensive though........$275.... after the amount our insurance covered!!!!!...but only a $10 copay for each the exam and the lenses!!....luckily titanium frames have dropped a lot in price since then!!!.....wait til you hit the lined or no-line bi-focals age,there's something to look forward to!!!......Good luck!...Sophia

Bob

then that's pretty cheap

With insurance, I still had to fork out $120 for my lenses last year...insurance covered most of the cost of a frame that I used for shades, and the eye exam which was about $115 I think.

Bob

Those transition lenses are a bit crap...they work with the level of UV, so when your in the car, or indoors, they won't work because the windows will absorb the UV.

Ozzidoc

Ooh ok Bob, thanks for that - proper prescription sunnies it will be then.

Jerseygirl

Hubby has them...complains they don't go dark enough...but he would get them again.

Bob

yeah, and there also slow to react, nothing like the tv ad's, though outdoors, they do work well, but when you need them the most, in a car, they hardly work at all...shame, as I was really considering getting them as well *l*

paddingtongreen

I just use polarized clip-ons for the sun. I used to use dark over-glasses, and I thought it would be worse when my cataracts were fixed. I thought more light would get in, but now the polarized are good enough. My cataracts appear to be the result of using an inhaler for emphysema.

jumping doris

I bought proper prescription sunnies for the first time this year. They are wonderful! One of the best things I've ever bought.