BOTTOM LINE:
What should have happened: "Why don't we order one box of your current contact lens brand now, so you do not run out waiting to try this other brand we want you to try out?"
Question for audience: Are contact lens prescriptions restricted specific to only one brand?
If you want to try another brand, do you need to repeat the whole exam with your Dr (if within a reasonable time frame)?
6/26/17, I went for exam for prescriptions for glasses and contacts. Ended up spending a whole lot more but that's been covered in other reviews. (377$ vs quote of 150$).
I stressed that I only had a month maximum worth of contacts left, and I am fine with what I have been wearing for years. A different brand was suggested, and I am willing to try the new brand (more expensive), but I didn't want to get stuck with no contacts.
Dr wanted me to try another brand. Reasonable, ok...but I cannot run out of contacts.
Dr. stressed to staff at appt...please, we do not want this person to run out of contacts to wear. I appreciated that and felt like all would be well.
Well, it took until 7/15 to get in the trial pair, and although I have repeatedly explained the situation, the techs will not give me info/scrip so I could get some of my regular old brand of contacts in time for a trip 7/25.
Their price for my old brand is very good! So this was not a matter of trying to keep me from buying elsewhere...this was simply not helping me not to run out of contact lenses.
I have been assured a prescription for my old brand of contacts will be printed and ready for pick up at my appt 7/21 to try trial brand, AND a second trial pair would be made available so that I have coverage while out of town, Will update this after that...
Update: 7/21
No scrip ready, and person had heard nothing about a second trial pair promised. Read on.... Trial pair "A" was weak for one eye, a failure, I could not see! I have been wearing contacts since 1971. I have very poor vision. In contacts I have worn -9.5/-9.5 (both eyes), same brand, for at least 5 years. No issues, simply needed an updated scrip to purchase more.
Trial pair was -9.0/9.5. Couldn't see! So that pair was thrown away at the office.
I left with yet another brand trial pair "B" , -9.5 both eyes...so, I still have the problem that I only have this trial pair and one old pair and am leaving for trip 7/25. Should I be thankful they even pair "B" available?
Person had not heard of promise made yesterday for a second trial pair in addition to original pair. However, supplied trial pair "B" because I could not see with trial pair "A". I was even told they could not legally let me leave and drive in trial pair "A". !
Also found out, even though at least 3 brands of contacts can work for me, I HAVE to pick one because...The "Policy" is to only write a prescription for one brand. I am not thrilled with the policy, but at least now I know it is "The Policy". Although...allowing me to buy a small supply of my old brand seems a reasonable request...Policy prohibited doing that AND trying new kind, apparently?
If one of the numerous people I spoke with in the office had told me "The Policy" in the multiple calls/inquiries over the past 2 weeks that would have saved lots of frustration, and does not seem to be a difficult policy to communicate to employees so they in turn can inform patients. Armed with knowledge of "The Policy", I could make decisions within the given parameters. .
Also, I got different answers, promises, quotes and so on from different people, and no-one agrees with what another said, and then would get defensive about it all.
Sigh.
I hope the trial pair works well, since I am stuck for now, but I suspect in the end I will be going with the same brand I had originally (Which is also least expensive of the three brands). Unless there is an improvement of some area with trial pair, why change? but, so far ...no improvement notable.
Next...glasses...however now I a bit wary of the prescriptions, since the "trial pair" of contacts was written at a strength level in one eye that I could not see in.... It would be awful to have the same thing happen with glasses as has happened with contact lenses.
Will update when I return and I hope the 2 pairs of contacts I have (One pair already used, and the trial pair I am currently wearing) last until I can get more.
It would have been comforting to have a back-up, as originally promised!!! Since 1971...I have never without backup pair(s) contacts...until now, the contact lens merry-go-round. read more