I paid $500+ for two sets of glasses and I can only use one…read more
This was my first time needing glasses and the doc kept saying how my prescription was "so light". My vision has been 20/15 my whole life and is now 20/30, a very significant difference for me. She said it so many times that I wondered if I was wrong to want glasses.
We discussed that my prescription need was a bifocal due to a stigmatism I did not know I had. I was concerned about having to look down to read, so I opted to try two different pairs, one for reading, one for distance. I asked if I could change my mind later if it wasn't working out, she said absolutely.
The person helping me try on glasses after my appointment said the same, more than once ***but they did not tell me I only had 30 days***.
So now my pupils are dilated and it's hard to see what I am trying on, which left me wondering why I was not offered to try on frames BEFORE the exam since I was clear I was there for my first pair of glasses?? (Always state that you want to try on frames first!! Live and learn.) My insurance only covers glasses if I buy the same day as the exam, so I had no choice. Again, live and learn.
The process of getting pricing on the frames, which is nowhere to be found, was ridiculous. I sat there as she typed I don't know what, for way too long, before I am told that the two frames I chose were more than $200 each, after my insurance!! I asked where the cheaper frames were, they said they didn't know, that they had to look up pricing one at a time!
By then it had been so long I did not have time to choose other frames or patience for another 20 minutes to get a price on each frame, so I just paid it.
I called later to say the distance ones were making me dizzy. They redid the exam, redid the glasses, same problem. By the way; the doc was NOT patient during the second exam and I felt awful, but could not throw away $500+ dollars I had spent. I apologized several times, she was not gracious.
Roughly 45 days later I say; let's try the progressive lenses since the distance ones are still making me dizzy. They said no, I had to notify them within 30 days. I stated I was not told that. I asked them to talk to the manager. Manager said no.
Now I have decent reading glasses and very pretty distance glasses that I cannot wear.
I just went to Empire Vision and had a lovely experience where they tested my eyes and lenses and said the prescription was too strong. I just spent $200 for replacement lenses so my pretty frames don't go to waste. I will go back there for new frames when my insurance will cover another pair which is next year. I noticed the prices on their shelves are clearly marked, which was a huge relief.
I will never go to Whelpley Paul again and I would advise against anyone else going there. These were multiple preventable problems.
One more thing; the first pair I picked up were wrong and did not have transition lens treatment. They made sure the second pair was treated, but it wasn't nearly dark enough, so I couldn't wear them for driving even if I got past the dizziness, which I never did. I waited a full year for my insurance to cover a new exam so I could get a new prescription and pay even more money to be able to use the lenses I bought last year. Such a shame.
