Why I recommend polarized lenses for outdoor wear

In so many of my posts, you’ll hear me reference Polarized sunglass lenses for my outdoor glasses.  I think it’s time I explain WHY I recommend polarized lenses over just a standard tinted lens.

There are three reasons we need additional protection when we are outside, regardless if you need vision correction, meaning you wear prescription glasses, or not.

The first reason is ultraviolet (UV) protection. Any eyewear you wear outside should have 100% UVA and UVB protection. Your sunglasses do not need to be polarized to have this.

The second reason is the brightness of the sun affects our overall vision. Have you ever walked inside after lunch on a really bright, sunny day and you felt like your vision just wasn’t as sharp as it was before lunch? It’s not because you ate too much and you’re tired. It is because your eyes are recovering from the time in the sun. To be non technical….it was once explained to me that your eyes recover after being in the sun much like your hot water tank has to fill back up and heat back up. Your eyes are recovering in the same fashion. Now, for the technical explanation….Sun, or intense sun glare from snow and sand, can cause a sunburn like effect in the eye which requires time to heal. Damage can be done in as little as two minutes. I will put some additional articles at the end of the post if you want to read more on the topic.

The third reason is the blinding polarizing glare caused by the sun. This is where polarized lenses come in and help you. Polarizing glare affects your depth perception. Imagine an animal or child running out in front of you on a street. Being able to see and stop quicker is critical to keeping yourself and others safe.  Polarizing glare can also cause temporary blindness. I know we have all been driving down the street, go around a bend, and all of a sudden you can’t see anything from the blinding glare of the sun. Polarized lenses may not remove all blinding glare 100% but it will help 100% more often than not having it. It is very rare for me to be a victim to the blinding glare when I have a quality pair of polarized lenses on. When you just have tinted lenses (non polarized sunglasses) it just darkens everything, it does not stop the blinding glare from the sun.

You should still put a quality anti reflective coating with UV protection on the back of your polarized lenses. Reflective glare is not the same as polarizing glare. The UV protection in the anti reflective coating is not the same as the UV protection in the actual lens. They serve two different purposes.

OK, so now you understand WHY you should have polarized lenses but remember they are not all the same.

For non prescription, my favorite brand….which will be no surprise if you follow me….is Maui Jim. In my opinion they have perfected the true art of polarized lenses. You can find a location nearest you by clicking here: Maui Jim retail locator If your current budget just doesn’t allow you to splurge on a premium pair of non prescription polarized sunglasses, a brand I like for their quality and price is INVU Eyewear. They have stylish frames, good polarized lenses, at an affordable price. Of course there are many quality brands that offer polarized lenses. Just ask your optician to show you some. Yes, you CAN have an optician work with you even if you do not have a need for a prescription

For prescription polarized sunglasses, of course my first recommendation would be Maui Jim again. Again, their quality is superior. Color is sharp. Optics are clear. They do have some prescription limitations so if you have a higher prescription, try seeking a location which offers both their sunglass and ophthalmic (non sun) collection. You can put a higher prescription Maui Jim polarized lens in one of their ophthalmic frames. I’m not a huge fan of the Maui Jim ophthalmic lenses right now but love having their ophthalmic frame collection to offer more options for sunglasses. If your budget does not allow for Maui Jim sunglasses, work with your optician to see what options they have for prescription polarized sunglass lenses with backside anti-reflective coating with built in UV protection. Many times they offer 2nd pair discounts you can take advantage of. If your optician isn’t sure if they offer a UV filtering backside anti reflective coating make sure they find out before you purchase. Without it, you are just reflecting that uv right into your eyes.

Different color polarized lenses can serve different purposes. I will be discussing different colors and different mirrors in another blog so be sure to follow me to get an alert when that posts.  You can also discuss the different color options with your optician to determine the right color for your needs.

Overall, when you are outside, it is important to have the right eyewear.  Did you know certain types of lenses work better in foggy conditions?  A different pair would work better on a rainy, summer day.  Don’t want to carry a bunch of sunglasses around?  Talk to your optician about a Chemistrie Clip.  They are magnetic clip ons that work with all lens types.



Additional articles to read:

How to properly clean your glasses

One of the questions I get asked a lot as an optician is “why are there so many scratches on my lenses? I clean my glasses with that cloth they gave me?”

There are so many places to start with how to clean your glasses properly, but I’m going to start first with the verbiage I always say to my patients as I am doing a final cleaning of their lenses when I dispense them.

You want to spray your lenses with an eyeglass cleaner approved for all lens types. Wipe them in a back and forth motion, not a circular motion, with the cloth. If the cloth get’s dirty, wash it with a mild soap like Ivory. Never use anti bacterial soap or fabric softener on anything that touches your lenses.

Sounds simple enough, right? Let me break it down a little more for you. Even though we still refer to glasses as….well….glasses, they are, indeed, almost never made from actual glass anymore. Because of this, you want to avoid anything you would normally use to clean actual glass ON your lenses. Avoid Windex or any ammonia product for that matter. Fun Fact……we do not sell anti reflective coating to pig farmers because the ammonia from the pigs will ruin the lenses quickly. Pig farmers automatically need two pairs of glasses. One pair for their day to day work and one for when they are going to be away from the farm.

Ok, back to proper cleaning. Most lenses today have an anti reflective coating on them (we refer to it as AR coating). If it is a premium AR coating, then it will also have an extra durable scratch resistant coating built into the property of it. If it is a cheaper, older style, AR coating, then the scratch resistant coating is placed on the lenses and then the AR coating is applied. As you can imagine, the latter is much easier to scratch in general. Following the tips I am mentioning in this blog will help extend the life of all lenses.

Much of what gets on lenses today is dust as well as oil from your skin. Just like you would not wash an oily pan with just water, you wouldn’t want to clean your lenses without some type of cleaner. Running them under water without anything else will just smear the oil around.

You do not need to have eyeglass cleaner though. You can wash them at your kitchen or bathroom sink with a mild soap and water, then dry them with a clean, 100% cotton or microfiber cloth.

Can’t I use the cloth by itself? Do I need to use a spray?

You can, on occasion, use a light touch and use the cloth to get some dust particles off if you need to, but truthfully, you should try to always have a bottle of spray cleaner with you and a clean cloth or some disposable lens wipes.

Another way to look at it is, if your car’s finish had mud on it, would you take a dry cloth and wipe the mud off or would you go through a car wash and let the soap and water remove it? If you’re wearing lenses to give you the best vision possible, they will have a superior “finish” to them and you want to take care of it.

Why do my lenses always smear or look dirty after I clean them?

Another question I ask my patients when they talk about their lenses always looking dirty after they clean them is; “How often are you washing your cloth?” I usually get blank stares and they respond, I did not know I was supposed to wash them. The cloths get dirty just like everything else. To wash them, you can do one of the following:

  1. Hand wash the cloth with a mild soap. Just make sure it does not have an anti bacterial property to it. If it is a small cloth, I put the soap on my hand, run some water, put the cloth between my hands and act like I am washing my hands. I’ll do this for about 30 – 60 seconds, making sure to get the entire cloth clean. Rinse it well, then lay it over something to air dry.
  2. Throw it in with your towels. OK…another fun fact… should NEVER use fabric softener on towels. Towels are made up of tiny loops of cotton. When you use fabric softener (or dryer sheets, same thing) then you are coating the cotton loops, decreasing the absorbency of the towels by 30%. Wash your towels on hot water, cold water rinse, then dry in the dryer. After about three washes, the fabric softener you used to use will be gone and the towels will absorb more water! I usually throw my lens cleaning cloths in a lingerie bag so they don’t get lost and toss them in with my towels. You can dry them but they dry quicker than the actual towels so you have to pull them out earlier. To save having it remember this step, I usually just take them out and dry them on my sweater drying rack.

Can I use those disposable lens wipes?

Simple answer, YES, you can. More detailed answer, it all depends on which ones and how are you using them. The biggest mistake people make with the disposable lens wipes is over wiping. They contain some alcohol so you want to open them and wipe your glasses in a back and forth motion with them. STOP before the cloth is dry! There should be enough liquid on the cloth for you to clean one more thing, such as your steering wheel, your dash, your cell phone screen, anything really, just don’t wipe your lenses until the cloth is dry. If you do, you are just scratching up your lenses.

Some disposable lens wipes are better than others. I know I have the Zeiss wipes in my picture and you can use those. The key is, when you open the package, the cloth should have quite a bit of moisture in it. If it is dry, throw it away and grab another one. If multiple ones are dry when you open it, stop using the brand you have and go get a different kind.

Why shouldn’t I use anti bacterial soap or fabric softener?

Because I said so! Ok, Ok, the better answer is because they have properties in them which may ruin your lenses depending on what you have on them. They can eat at your scratch resistant coatings / anti reflective coatings. Similar to how I talked about why you should not use shaving cream when your glasses fog up. You can read that blog here.

Overall, the thing to remember is eyeglasses are an investment. If you purchase the right features to give you the best optics and the healthiest eyes, then you will have to take care of them properly. It isn’t as difficult as it sounds if you have the right tools. Your glasses can look as sparkling clear after you clean them as then do when you optician cleans them!

If you have any additional questions about how to properly clean your eyeglass lenses, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me here or on Facebook.

See the world as it was meant to be seen! 🤓

If you liked this article and want to read more, please follow me on Facebook @PaulaTheOptician or subscribe to this blog.  You can find my other writing, not related to eye care or optical on my site:  HaliPawz  Where I enjoy writing reviews, ADA adventures with my mom, as well as just some humorous things that happen to me.

Stuck at home and glasses sliding down? Nerdwax may be a temporary fix

Full disclosure….I did receive the sample Nerdwax free but not from Nerdwax. It was from a distributor who wanted to let me try it to consider selling it in our optical office where I work. The opinions in this post are mine only and were not influenced by me receiving the product free. I honestly did not have high expectations when I started using it.

With so many businesses across the nation changing their protocols and even the world as it is right now, you may find yourself looking for alternative solutions to fix a problem you are having with your eyewear.  Be careful of this because some internet “fixes” will actually damage your glasses / lenses more than help.  I decided to try a product to see if it did, indeed, help with them slipping without doing damage to the lenses.  I have to admit, Nerdwax may be a temporary fix to your glasses slipping down your nose and you’re not able to get in to see your optician to fix it.

Nerdwax uses all natural ingredients. It places a removable gummy/tacky like substance on your frame and helps keep them in place. It does wear off in a day or two, depending on how often you handle them and clean the lenses. The original sample I used to test the product was shaped like a chapstick tube. It made it a little difficult to get into the area easily. Since I have tested it, they have come out with a slimmer, longer, angled tube making it easier to put where you need it

Nerdwax instructions

As the instructions state, you can not use too much but I found it doesn’t take a lot to keep the frames up.

They work on prescription eyewear, over the counter readers, and sunglasses. If you are anything like me and tend to throw your sunglasses up on your head when inside, you will probably see the value in this product because it will help keep them up until you can get back in to see your optician to tighten them up again. I will say the Nerdwax does not get caught in your hair but it does seem to come off quicker. You might want to apply more often

New Nerdwax shape. Photo courtesy of

Overall, if your glasses are sliding down a lot, get an appointment to see your optician and get them adjusted but pick up a tube of Nerdwax to help you in between those visits if you need to!

Contact your optician to see if they sell Nerdwax. You can also find it on the Nerdwax website or on Amazon Nerdwax

If you have tried Nerdwax share your experience in the comments.




HELP! My glasses are fogging up when I wear a mask

In light of everything that is happening globally right now, many people are choosing to wear a face covering of some kind.   While this is a great option for helping to keep us safe, the biggest problem that comes with it is having to deal with glasses that fog up.

Why do they fog up?

This is a simple answer.  We are full of hot air!  OK, seriously though, it’s simple physics, your warm breath is escaping through the top of the mask, going up into your lenses, which are room temperature (cooler than your breath) and turns the water vapor into water molecules.  These water molecules form on the lenses and causes the cloudiness, hence they fog up.

I want to break down a few things for you regarding this as well as share some tips and tricks to try to minimize it WITHOUT ruining your lenses.

Is your mask fitting properly?

The first thing we want to look at is how is your mask fitting you?  When the mask is fitting you properly, then you should not have lenses that fog up because very little air is going to be up and out of the top of the mask hitting your lenses.  Surgical masks have a piece built into them to help form them along the nose and the face.  It is important to start with the nose, and then flatten along the face so it is smooth on your cheeks.  Remember, if the air is escaping through the top and fogging up your glasses, it is easier for air particles to get down through the top and into your respiratory system!

If you are wearing a homemade (sewn) mask, make sure it is one that has a pipe cleaner or some other forming agent to allow you to tighten it against your nose and face.  Always wash your hands before putting your mask on.  Place it on using the straps, then form it along the nose and upper cheek area.  Once you have done that, do not touch your mask again!  This is very important, not for the fogging lenses, but for your safety.

If you have a sewn mask and it does not have something built into it to form to your nose, you can also apply some surgical tape to the top of it.  This will keep your mask tight against your nose and cheeks and minimize the amount of air escaping up through the top of the mask.

Another thing to check is the elastic or ties you are using to keep it on.  Some go over your ears, some around the back of your head.  Either way your mask is held on, it has to be tight enough to keep your mask snug against your face.  The mask shouldn’t hurt, but yes, it probably will be a little uncomfortable until you get used to it.  It will probably leave a slight line along the top of your cheeks and nose….as long as it’s not digging into your skin, the faint line is to be expected.

What else can I do?

OK, so your mask is fitting properly but you’re still getting a little big of fogging up.  It’s better, but still bothersome.  There are a few other things you can do.

Fogged up frame without nosepads
The top mask is sitting lower, causing the lenses to fog up. The bottom mask is placed higher on the bridge with the frame over top of the mask

Wear your mask higher up on your nose and place your glasses OVER the mask, resulting it them sticking out a little more, allowing more air to circulate around them.  Be careful with this option and how far you lift them out if you have a higher prescription as it may alter your prescription / vision slightly.  This is, in my opinion, the BEST option AFTER making sure the mask is fitting properly.  As you can see from the pictures, it works with frames with nose-pads and without.

Frame with nose pads fogged up
Here is a frame with nose pads.  The top mask is placed lower and the lenses are fogging up, the bottom picture shows the mask higher on the bridge with the nose pads placed on the mask.

Another option is to fold a tissue and place it under your mask along the nose.  Remember to wash your hands before folding the tissue or when getting ready to remove it.  The tissue helps fill in any gaps.  Make sure it is folded over quite a few times though to give yourself extra protection and throw away often to prevent it from collecting any germs.  Close your eyes and pull up and away keeping the shape in tact and dispose of immediately.

Can I buy anything to help? 

You can purchase some anti fog cleaner / wipes.  Now there are a lot of options out there so you must make sure you are only buying a product that is safe for ALL LENS TYPES.  Some of the anti fog products available are not designed for lenses with special types of coatings.  It may strip your scratch resistant coatings and / or anti reflective coatings resulting in permanently damaged lenses.  You think your glasses appear “foggy” with a mask, try having them feel like that the whole time you’re wearing them.  It might happen if you use a product not designed for your lenses.  Some of the disadvantages of an anti-fog cleaner is a lot of them have a slight smell.  If you are sensitive to smells, it could bother you.  They don’t work that well and you may have to apply often.  This can get a little annoying.

The other thing to remember is any product you are putting on your lenses results in some type of chemical being close to your eye, which can cause some discomfort or irritation to the eyes.

Long term solution is there are coatings you can order for your lenses which come with special cleaning cloths and reduce fogging.   This option is especially good for those who work in an industry where their lenses fog up a lot.  For example, someone who cooks in a kitchen or someone who goes in and out of a freezer a lot.  It is a little more expensive and you have to use the cleaning supplies provided to you for them, but it is great for those who truly need that feature.  The one I usually recommend to my patients if they have a need for this is the Crizal OptiFog Anti Reflective coating.

Are there any home remedies or products I already have at home to help?

There is one option which I personally don’t think works very well, but some people swear by it so I will include it……because there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.  Apply a fine barrier of bar soap.  Make sure to not use any soap with anti-bacterial properties; it may damage some of your coatings.  Use a mild soap, like Ivory.  Let the soap dry slightly on the lenses and then gently wipe the excess soap away.  I feel like it still fogs up slightly and again, I’m a scent person.  I can smell the soap when I put them back on and I don’t want to smell the soap.

There is some communication saying to use shaving cream to eliminate fogging, PLEASE DO NOT do this.  It is not safe for most lenses and can result in damaging your lenses.

Overall, the best solution is a proper fitting and properly adjusted mask, regardless of the style.  Wearing it high on your bridge and putting your glasses on over the mask will work the best.



I want to give special recognition to K9 Closet in Kansas City.  They made my optical themed face mask and I love it!  They normally do dog collars and my Neapolitan Mastiff, Bella, has the same fabric in her collar!


Product Update:  For those of you who  remember the green frames I’m wearing from my blog about purchasing eye-wear online, I used them for some of the testing I did so I wouldn’t ruin the lenses in my quality eye-wear.  I hardly ever wear them for the reasons I indicated in the blog.  They are kept in a case when I am not wearing them and they still have a lot of tiny scratches on them.



Flu Got you down? Remember your eyes – PaulatheOptician












An article about expensive glasses; truths and myths

I recently read an article about why glasses are so expensive.   While I do agree, at times, glasses can be expensive.  There is a lot more that goes into it and I wanted to clear up some truths vs myths in the article.

Let’s look at the first section I read.

Why are these things so damn expensive?The answer: Because no one is doing anything to prevent a near-monopolistic, $100-billion industry from shamelessly abusing its market power.

As you read further, you will learn the author is referring to Luxottica, or as some know now as EssilorLuxottica.  While EssilorLuxottica is a large player in the optical industry, they do not monopolize the industry.  In addition, Essilor works very hard to keep up with the needs of our eyes, which are changing every day as technology changes.  I’ll talk a little more about that later in the blog.

The true cost of a pair of acetate frames — three pieces of plastic and some bits of metal — is as low as $10, according to some estimates. Check out the prices of Chinese designer knockoffs available online.

Here is another myth.  While there are some frames that may only cost $10 to make, not all plastic or acetate frames fall in the same category.  There is a difference of exactly HOW they are made.  Are they hand-made, where the colors are fused together to give them a unique, quality look?  Did the designer have to design 20 different versions before they found the design that did the proper balance of beauty over optical quality.  Not everyone can design a frame to hold as many different variables of lenses as we ask it to.  It takes design, work, and rework.  Do you pay more for a known celebrity’s name to be on it?  Sometimes yes.  Sometimes no.  Does a brand name up the price?  Again, the answer is no.  Take Ray-Ban frames.  This is a brand known all over the world.  I have had patients come in and say, “Oh, those are Ray-Bans, we can’t afford those” Well Ray-Ban, like so many other brands, have multi level styles of frames.  We have some retailing at $150 and we have some retailing for over $300.  They are all Ray-Bans so why the price difference?  Quality of materials, intricacies of the designs; from the type of hinge to hold everything together to the decals used.  Everything on the frame, even the trim work, the Ray-Ban logo, can affect what price category a particular frame is in.

Lenses require precision work, but they are almost entirely made of plastic and almost all production is automated.

This could be said about almost everything we purchase.  A car is made mostly out of metal and plastic and is automated, why are they expensive?  It amazes me how someone can take something they know NOTHING about and put thoughts like this together to come up with this reasoning.  It doesn’t make sense.

The bottom line: You’re paying a markup on glasses that would make a luxury car dealer blush, with retail costs from start to finish bearing no relation to reality.

This is ABSOLUTELY untrue.  Many optical places put in fair mark ups for products.  While, like every company, you have some who go extravagant and try to make as much money as possible on every little sale there are also those companies who make a fair margin of profit.  Everyone has to make a profit of some kind or they won’t stay in business.  The lights have to stay on.  The 1000 frames you enjoy choosing from in the display all have to be paid for with the hope someone will buy them.  If the buyer makes some bad decisions then the product may be sitting there for a while or might have to be marked down, minimizing the amount of profit the company is making on that frame.  As a consumer, you have every right to go to more than one location to get price quotes, just remember to make sure you are having them price exactly what it is you are getting and you are comparing apples to apples.  For example, I recently quoted a patient a price for Varilux X lenses with Crizal Sapphire 360.  The patient went to a retail establishment and was told their “top of the line” lenses were just as good as the Varilux X.  Their “top of the line” lenses came out for sale back in 2007.  Varilux X lenses came out in 2017.  Tell me how they could POSSIBLY be just as good?  Would you want to go from your brand new, HD television back to watching a television that came out for sale in 2007?  The image will be different.  It comes down to what type of quality you want.

She said soaring eyeglass costs should be a part of the country’s overall healthcare debate in light of the fact that many people simply couldn’t function without corrective lenses.

“At the very least,” Balber said, “there needs to be some transparency about how much things really cost.”

The question I have to this quote is WHY?  Why does there have to be transparency?  Some of the responsibility is on the patient to also educate themselves on what it is they want or need.  I have said all along more money needs to go into the quality of the lenses, not the frame, but so many patients spend more time and money on the frame.  I often ask my patients, what is more important, the pills or the pill bottle?  I do agree  overall healthcare costs are crazy.  When a hospital can bill a patient $6 for a regular bandage with a cost to the hospital of $.10 there is a problem.  In most cases, the optical industry does not have crazy mark-ups like that.   Again, you will find some offices that do.  For example, I worked in a private office that marked frames up 3+ times the cost to them to purchase it.  Did I think it was high?  Yes!  Did I try to discount the frame for the patient?  Yes, I did.  Did I get yelled at for it?  Yes, I did.  How did I get around this problem?  I listened to the owner yell at me, smiled, nodded, and looked for another job.

And because it represents so many different manufacturers and brands, she said, it’s difficult for the association “to make any comments on pricing.”

Of course it is!  Every office has the right to charge what they want.  If you want a small, private office to be in your neighborhood and your average rent for a business space is 10 times greater than going 5 miles in another direction, the cost of the rent has to be paid for somewhere.  Since there is hardly any money made for the optometrists because of how little insurances reimburse them for a comprehensive healthy eye exam, then a lot of private offices have to rely on the profit made with the frames and lenses.  Can a big box retailer sell a single vision pair of glasses cheaper?  Yes, they can because they are buying 1000 sets of lenses a month vs only 100 sets a month or in some cases, 10 sets a month.  Online locations can sell even cheaper yet because they don’t have to pay for an optician, rent, lights, but they also can get away with not worrying about quality because people just assume they may or may not be correct because they were cheap.  I wrote a blog about my experience with an online purchase.

“We often see low-ball retailers promise price savings but fail to deliver the quality patients expect in terms of fit, comfort, durability and, of critical importance, precision in vision, over one or two years of daily wear,” he said.

This is a very good point.  The expectation from patients is to have an amazing pair of glasses at the best price possible.  Sometimes the expectation doesn’t match reality.  I’ve had patients come in expecting to pay $200 for top of the line quality.  Again, not to continue to focus on electronics, but when the phone they are carrying costs $1100 and they only expect to use it 1-3 years, why is there an expectation of GREAT VISION costing only $200.

“Today’s glasses aren’t the glasses of 20 years ago, and the price can reflect these technological advances.”

Fair enough. But with about 126 million American adults wearing prescription glasses, and many replacing those glasses every few years, you have to assume it doesn’t take long for frame and lens makers to recover any R&D costs.

Again, there is some truth to this but just like everything, some of the money you are paying for an item is helping the manufacturers to make an even better product.  When I first started as an optician, the progressive lenses (no line multifocal) were HORRIBLE.  They were a hard design meaning the minute you moved one way or another outside of the correction, you wouldn’t be able to see anything.  The amount of intermediate vision was very minimal.  As computers and tablets became an everyday thing, the demand for more digital friendly lenses increased.  Even with some of the best we have now, patients still want something better.  The something better is coming from the design and testing being done all over the world in order to make an even better progressive lens.  Every time a quality progressive lens is purchased, I can guarantee a fraction of the cost for the optical location to purchase those lenses is going towards the men and women working behind the scenes to make them even better than what we already have.

It won’t. And the more than 1,000% markup for most vision products proves that.

If there is a 1000% mark-up, I can guarantee is isn’t at most of the optical places you are visiting.  I don’t think it is right to throw a number out like it is a fact when there are no basis of truth to it.  Where did the author get that number?  I prefer to deal with facts and this author does not have his facts straight.

Why do glasses cost so damn much?

Because this industry has been getting away with fleecing people for decades.

Again, an opinion of one person with no merit to base it on.

Now, I want to share some true, behind the scenes scenarios we face each and every day in this industry.

Patient A comes in for an eye exam.  Feels it isn’t necessary to fill out all of the medical questions on the form because it’s “just an eye exam”.  The optometrist does a thorough eye exam, writes the prescription.  The patient takes it to a quality optician who fills it correctly.  Patient picks up the glasses and a week or so later, comes back and says, “I can’t see out of these”  The optician double checks to make sure he or she didn’t make a mistake.  Does some other checks and everything is coming out exactly as it should.  They schedule an appointment with the optometrist and learns the patient is on a new medication known to affect vision.  They had only been on it for a week when they came in for the eye exam but now, a month later, has an entirely new prescription.  The patient expects the optical office to remake them at no charge since it’s a new prescription.  The optical shop re-orders the lenses.  The lab makes the new lenses at no charge.  Who should really have to pay for those lenses?  The patient because he or she couldn’t be bothered to indicate all of the medication they are taking?  No, the lab has to eat the cost of those lenses even though they did nothing wrong.  I know you want to say, well that doesn’t happen very often, but it does.  It happens more than you think it would.  So now, not only does the lab have to have enough of a markup to absorb their cost of doing business but also those occasions where they will have to remake lenses at no charge for the office.

Patient B comes in for a pair of eyeglasses with a prescription over 6 months old.  The prescription was written by an outside doctor.  The optician recommends a new eye exam but since it is still technically not expired, they fill it documenting they had recommended a new eye exam since it had been more than 6 months.  (Yes, your eyes can change in 6 months, while rare, it can happen)  The patient picks up the glasses and then three months later they go in for their annual comprehensive eye examination.  The prescription is slightly different because it had been over a year.  They bring the new prescription back to the optical office they purchased from and demand they remake the lenses because “they made them wrong” when, in fact, they did not make them wrong.  The patient’s eye changed.  So the optical department has two choices.  Make a patient mad and refuse to remake them (which they would have the right to do) or remake them for the patient at no charge to keep the patient happy.  Some offices may opt to remake them.  Now, just because they aren’t charging the patient doesn’t mean they aren’t being charged for the lenses from the lab.  They still have to pay the lab for the new lenses.  Again, you would think these are rare incidences, but they are not.  Everyday optical locations have to make a decision between trying to keep a patient happy vs not losing money on a remake.

This is why some locations have such strict remake, refund policies.  Eyeglasses are custom-made to the individual as well as to the frame selected.  Every change done, every prescription change, every measurement change often results in a cost to someone other than the patient.

Insurances do not help the fact.  Here is another example.  Patient has VSP.  They purchase a frame covered in full by their insurance and purchase just the basic lens covered by their insurance.  They have a co-pay of $25.  In reality, even though the frame allowance on VSP is $150, the location may not even make enough to pay for the cost of the frame plus shipping….or make JUST that amount.  VSP isn’t paying the location $150.  They are paying a very small portion of that.  Now, the lenses…….since they are covered in full by the insurance, you would assume the location was receiving the amount the optical location charged for the lenses, right?  WRONG.  They are receiving exactly $25.  VSP will pay the lab for the lenses.  So the office made maybe $35 if they made a $10 profit on the frame, and that is very unlikely.  So $35 for the optician to take the time to help them select a frame, within a certain price range, and do all of the measurements necessary as well as go over any options the patient should consider to help them see better. A good optician won’t compromise quality of care just because the office isn’t making as much money on the sale.  All of this can take up to 30 – 45 minutes depending on the patient.  If every patient was like this, how could an office afford to stay in business.  I’m not picking on VSP, I just want to break down some real truths behind it.  I actually like VSP insurance.  It helps our patients afford the items they want and need to have the best optics available.  I just want everyone to understand your insurance may not pay for everything you need for the best visual outcome.  Sometimes you still have to pay some additional money for a great pair of eyeglasses.

All of this affects the markup of lenses and frames at both the optical shop level as well as the lab level.

Another truth, I work at a location where we don’t focus on heavy markups.  We like to try to keep the products our patients need at an affordable price.  With that being said, there are some product where, if you were to go to locations around us and price out the exact same items, you would find we were cheaper, but we still have patients asking us for a discount.  Our society has become so ingrained in getting discounts where, even when the discounted amount is more than it would cost from some place else, we can’t see the value.

So, David Lazarus….the next time you want to bash an industry without trying to get your facts straight, please leave optical alone.

If you would like to read the original article written in the LA Times by David Lazarus, please click the link below




Ultimate Lens Package Promotion Ending January 31, 2019

I try to be brand neutral for the most part on my site.  I may tell you what brands I like and why, but I also respect there are a lot of different options and what is good for one optician or patient may not be as good for another patient.  I started to share this information just on my Facebook page but decided to put something on here as well.

If you are needing new glasses and can get to a location over the next week to take advantage of this, I highly recommend you do.

The Ultimate Lens Package promotion is ending January 31st. This promotion has been really good for us in the sense that it has helped a lot of our patients be able to purchase two pairs of glasses for an affordable price. It hasn’t been great from a business perspective, which may be why some locations didn’t really like it. It created more work for the opticians, as well as more time spent with the patient without a real fiscal gain. I loved it though because it truly benefited the patient.
Here’s how it worked……if you bought the qualifying items in your first set of glasses, you would get the second set of lenses completely free, you just had to pay for the frame. To help our patients out, we would still give them the second pair discount and give them 20% off their frame. 
There is a single vision option; Eyezen as well as a progressive (no line multifocal) option; Varilux X. It can be combined with insurance. Our VSP patients often took advantage of the promotion.
You do have to get Transitions lenses in the first pair. If you haven’t been a fan of transitions in the past, I would highly recommend the Graphite Green color.  Another option for single vision lens wearer is to go with a fun new color like Sapphire, just pick one that matches your frame colors. If you give the transitions a whirl for 30 days and determine you just don’t like them, because the promotion is sponsored by Essilor, you can have them remade in a clear pair as long as you let the office know in a reasonable amount of time. We generally said between 30-60 days to let us know.
The second pair can be another regular everyday pair with or without transitions, it can be an occupational pair, or a great sunglass complete with polarized lenses, including fun colors like Xperio UV lenses.  Occupational lenses, for those who don’t know, are designed for someone who spends a lot of time focused on the intermediate portion such as reading music or sitting at a desktop computer for long periods of time.  If you are doing that, make sure your optician does a modified version of the Varilux x for your occupational lens, not just do a single vision or even the Essilor computer.  We have the modified Varilux X is more comfortable, especially for those patients who sit and use multiple monitors at work.
It is ending soon so if you’re in the Kansas City Area you can come see me.  You’re also welcome to go see any essilor provider.  To locate an office near you, feel free to use the location finder to find a location this next week to help you.
Please note, while this may seem like an Essilor advertisement, it is not.  I am not getting any compensation for posting this post.  I’m doing it because I feel like it was a great promotion and it’s ending in a week so I wanted to make sure it was known it was ending.   If you are reading this AFTER the promotion ended, I know they have another promotion starting February 1st but it isn’t as great of a deal for the patient.  Always remember to ask your optician if there are any promotions you can take advantage of, especially if you are purchasing multiple pairs.
If you want to stay up on different optical solutions for the consumer / patient, follow me here or like my Facebook page:  @PaulaTheOptician


Purchasing glasses online, missing a key ingredient





The frame I chose was by Geek Eyewear

Geek Rad 09 Lime Green
Geek Rad 09 Lime Green Photo courtesy of Geek Rad Eyewear







Daniel Walters Online Purchase
Everything I received with my Daniel Walters order


Daniel Walters Eyewear marked up with optical centers located
Daniel Walters Eyewear marked up with optical centers located



Glasses not cut evenly


Center of my pupil in comparison to optical centers Online purchase


Center of my pupil in comparison to actual optical center marked up
Center of my pupil in comparison to actual optical center marked up


bad online eyeglass purchase with mark ups





Bad online glasses
Patient’s online purchase indicating his pupil and optical center of lens.





After Cataract Surgery; You have choices and benefits – PaulaTheOptician

Has your optometrist said you need to see an ophthalmologist for a cataract consult? I want to take a minute to break down your options as well Your eyeglass benefits.

Let’s start with the referral   Many times an optometrist refers you to a particular surgeon (Opthalmologist) for a reason, but it’s not always the best reason

Here are a few of the reasons….

1. They are friends with the surgeon.  While it’s not uncommon to recommend people to friends or family in many businesses, sometimes the friend isn’t the best option or might not be a great surgeon in general.  I know an optometrist who referred all of their cataract and lasik candidates to a friend who, in my opinion, had a lot of unhappy patients.

2.  The optometrist is getting a “kickback” from the surgeon for their referrals.  Again, doesn’t mean the surgeon is bad or the optometrist is just out to make extra money.  It’s a concern only if it’s the ONLY reason they are referring to the surgeon.

3.  The optometrist has looked at your individual situation and, after considering the many surgeons they refer to, feel there is one in particular best for you.  This is obviously the best reason a particular surgeon is recommended.

At the end of the day, I still suggest doing some homework on your end as well.  Ask your friends who have already had cataract surgery.  Look at the reviews (if there are any) online.  Understanding you have a choice in the ophthalmologist you see for any surgical needs, not just cataract surgery, is the first step to finding the right one for you.

About a month after your cataract surgery, either your ophthalmologist (or your optometrists) will do a final refraction to determine if you need any eyeglass correction or not.  There are a variety of options when you have cataract surgery now and depending on the options you choose, you may, or may not, need eyeglasses.  If you have Medicare, they will cover the cost of one pair of glasses following cataract surgery.

Here is how that breaks down.  They will cover $65 towards a frame.  Any optical location who bills Medicare for post cataract surgery glasses have to have some frames priced to be covered in full.  This doesn’t mean you will like the selection and you have the right to choose any frame you want, just be aware you will be responsible for any cost of the frame over $65.00.  Medicare will also cover the cost of single vision or lined bi-focal / tri-focal lenses.  Anything above and beyond the basic lens is at your cost.

Post cataract surgery will almost always leave you a little more sensitive to glare and sun so make sure you talk to your optician about a good quality anti reflective coating (no glare) and either a second pair of polarized sunglasses or a custom clip on so you have proper protection. They will cost you a little out of your pocket but your eyes will thank you.

Not everyone will bill Medicare for glasses after cataract surgery. Some places will only bill Medicare if they are your prescribing optometrist or the surgeon who performed the cataract surgery. If your optometrist does NOT bill Medicare for your eyeglass benefit, you are welcome to ask other optical locations. You do not have to fill your prescription at your optometrists office. You can even ask other private offices if they will accept your insurance. There are a lot of reasons offices won’t bill Medicare so don’t feel frustrated. If your surgeon’s office has an optical attached to it, ask them if they bill.

One thing to know is Medicare does not allow for any discounting of any additional items not covered by them. The office isn’t trying to charge you more. This is 100% a Medicare thing. You are always welcome to see if the office offers discounts and would you save more money using their discounts instead of billing Medicare. I know I’m always willing to calculate it both ways for a patient.

The most important thing to remember is you have options. Don’t be afraid to ask!




What’s more important? The pills or the pill bottle? Spending your eyeglass dollars correctly – PaulaTheOptician

Selecting the right frame for someone is fun for the most part. There are so many factors I take into consideration, including cost if the patient has expressed a concern about their budget. As an optician, it is my responsibility to make sure the patient can see out of their glasses first and foremost. Sometimes it appears the patient confuses cost of the frame with the quality of their lenses. All too often I have someone come in to see me saying they can’t see and they spent a fortune on their glasses. “The frames alone were $800!” If the frames alone were $800 and you only spent $1000 on your glasses, you probably didn’t get a great pair of glasses. You purchased a beautiful pill bottle.

What is more important? The pills or the pill bottle?

I use this example often with my patients so they can understand the importance of filling their eyeglass prescription with a quality set of lenses first and then, if they don’t have a budget and can spend what they want on the frame, great. If they have a budget then let me help them find a frame within their budget which will also look great and fit well.

Sadly, from experience, I can tell you, not every optician feels this way. Some opticians are not really opticians, they are sales people. They sell you a more expensive frame, tell you you’re getting the best lenses, and then put a progressive lens from 2003 in your frame. You might have trouble seeing but you’ll look amazing!

Imagine going to a pharmacy and the pharmacist saying, I’ll fill your prescription but let’s take a look at these amazing pill bottles you can choose. They range from free to $1000+. I know this is a little over the top because pills only last 30-90 days but I’m trying to stress the importance of focusing Your budgeted dollars in the right direction when cost is a factor.

Don’t get me wrong, anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE finding the perfect frame and how much I love the unique and whimsical frames. Unique and whimsical in a lower cost isn’t always as easy to find but as the frame buyer at my office, I do try to find them so I can offer them to the patients wanting unique on a budget.

Frames costs range from low to high for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s the difference in material, sometimes it is where the parts used in it come from; for example, if a frame has hinges made in Germany vs hinges made in China, the cost may be slightly higher, where the frame is designed, as well as where or how the frame is manufactured. I am not saying NOT to purchase a nice frame. I just want to stress the importance of making sure you are putting the right lenses and features into the frame you selected.

If you have vision benefits such as VSP (Vision Service Plan) or Eyemed, it is important you utilize your benefits as fiscally wise as you can. If you wear contact lenses as well, have the optician price out both ways. It is almost always better to use your benefits for eyeglasses and pay for the contacts.

For progressive lenses, make sure your optician is selecting a lens suited for how you are going to use them. If you are someone who ALWAYS takes their glasses off to drive or watch TV, then talk about an occupational pair of glasses instead of a normal progressive. If you are on a laptop a lot, make sure the progressive lens has a wide intermediate area as well as some type of blue light protection.

It is important to have confidence in your optician. He or she is a crucial part of you seeing the world as clear as possible!

Have a great frame you love? Share a picture of yourself wearing them! I’d love to see them.




Photo courtesy of Gabriel

If you like the pill bottles in the picture, please visit the site I found them in by clicking here