TotallyOz Posted August 13, 2010 Posted August 13, 2010 I am getting old and my eye doctor recommended I get progressive bifocal lenses. I went yesterday to the eye store close to Villa Market and they tried to get me to buy "individualized" lenses. The cost is over 30,000 baht. I know that is not what I would pay in the USA. I should have bought there before I left but now, I am in LOS. Any suggestions on places to get some eyeglasses? Also, is the "individualized" lenses a rip off of the same lenses for cheaper? Quote
Bob Posted August 13, 2010 Posted August 13, 2010 I am getting old and my eye doctor recommended I get progressive bifocal lenses. I went yesterday to the eye store close to Villa Market and they tried to get me to buy "individualized" lenses. The cost is over 30,000 baht. I know that is not what I would pay in the USA. I should have bought there before I left but now, I am in LOS. Any suggestions on places to get some eyeglasses? Also, is the "individualized" lenses a rip off of the same lenses for cheaper? I don't have a clue what you mean by "individualized" lenses. I've purchased progressive bifocals (progressive bifocals with my prescription which is different for each eye) from Top Charoen (Chiangmai branch) but they were a hell of a lot cheaper than what you note (but, if you get all the bells and whistles (polarized lenses, sunglasses, etc.), they can be around 20,000 baht for a pair). In my experience, the progressive bifocals are the way to go but you have to be careful that they don't start the "bifocal" part too high up (i.e., you don't want any of that when you are looking straight ahead). Quote
Guest travelerjim Posted August 13, 2010 Posted August 13, 2010 GT... Be very careful... The eyeglass shops in Pattaya are full of sales people.. not Optometrists nor Ophthalmologists which we trust and are familiar with back home in the USA. I suggest you ask your Ophthalmologist doctor who examined your eyes here in Thailand for a recommendation of reputable eyeglass vendor. Local eyeglass shops have been known to substitute whatever they wish in getting your glasses made...not necessarily to the prescription from your doctor. I think it might be wise for you to get your prescription filled when you are next in USA for the Marathon in a few months. By doing that you will have better chances for followup - corrective services - if your new glasses are in need of adjustment or any correction after you walk out the door of the shop. Also, here in Pattaya, they saw big $$$ signs... when you walked in the door... Good Luck! tj Quote
Guest voldemar Posted August 13, 2010 Posted August 13, 2010 I am getting old and my eye doctor recommended I get progressive bifocal lenses. I went yesterday to the eye store close to Villa Market and they tried to get me to buy "individualized" lenses. The cost is over 30,000 baht. I know that is not what I would pay in the USA. I should have bought there before I left but now, I am in LOS. Any suggestions on places to get some eyeglasses? Also, is the "individualized" lenses a rip off of the same lenses for cheaper? The best prescription glasses I ever had were made in Singapore. I would never docomplicated prescription glasses in Thailand. The technology in Singapore is much better than in US. Still my glasses were about twice cheaper than in US. Just fly to Singapore for several days (especially if you need a visa run). The optometrist shops can be found in pharmacies (or, more precisely, near pharmacies) which are in turn usually located in big shopping malls. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 I went yesterday to the eye store close to Villa Market and they tried to get me to buy "individualized" lenses. The cost is over 30,000 baht. I have worn spectacles since I was 8 and also have zero idea what 'individualised' lenses are, but they are completely unnecessary. I have bought two pairs of progressive lenses here in Bangkok. One from an upmarket optical shop across from Emporium when I was charged around Bt. 8,000. More recently, I got a pair from Rutnin Eye Hospital for around Bt. 5,800. To be frank, I am not 100% happy with the new ones, but that may just because I am still getting used to them. I can't recall your age - and will not ask! - but I did not bother with progressive lenses till I was well over 50. I just got two pairs of spectacles - one for distance and one reading. If you work a lot on computers, reading lenses - or a pair tailored to the slightly longer distance to a computer compared to a book - are far easier on the eyes than progressives IMHO. Quote
ceejay Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 Hi GT I think the shop are trying to oversell you. A bifocal lens has two sections, one for reading and one for another distance. The traditional version was actually in two sections, and it was very obvious. A progressive bifocal is a single lens with a transition from one prescription to another about halfway down. A fully progressive lens has at least 3 transitions and prescriptions for near, middle and far distance. There are some limitations to these - some image jump as your eyes move from section to section of the lens, and blurred vision in the peripheral field which means you need to move your head, not your eyes, to focus on something at the edge of your field of vision. Individualised progressives (which I've never used) use your prescription and detailed measurements of the shape of your head to calculate a formulation for the lens that is supposed to overcome these issues. 30,000 baht does not sound unreasonable, especially as I doubt they would be made in Thailand. I guess they would need to be imported. If all you need is a bifocal, then fully progressives are a waste of money. They also take a lot of getting used to and require highly trained staff to prescribe and fit. Me, I have three sets of glasses. A pair of bifocal progressives, set to my screen reading and writing distances, for work, where I need to be able to read a computer and make notes. Cost me the equivalent of about 7000 baht A pair of fully progressives used mostly for meetings, where I need to focus on people across the table, a whiteboard across the room, and make notes. Also use them when I am out shopping - so I can read a notice at the other end of the store, or a price tag, without having to take my glasses off. Cost me the equivalent of about 17,500 baht. A pair of reading glasses, with about the right reading distance for a screen (I don't make notes at home), which cost me about baht 200. I'm using them now. So, there's no ideal pair of glasses. You need to decide what you want to do with them. Quote
Guest gwm4sian Posted August 15, 2010 Posted August 15, 2010 i can absolutely recommend St Peter Optical in Siam Centre Bangkok for progressive lenses. I have been using them for over 10 years, and have recommended them to various friends and family members. Make an apointment with Penny - she is very very switched on. Had a pair made just recently, cost under 20,000 baht. pm me if you want more details Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted August 15, 2010 Posted August 15, 2010 Had a pair made just recently, cost under 20,000 baht. That's way above what I paid in Bangkok. As I mentioned, I paid a major optical shop just over Bt. 8,000 for the lenses (but not the frames), and Rutnin Eye Hospital on Asoke around Bt. 5,800. These are progressive lenses tailored to each eye. Quote
Guest TOQ Posted August 15, 2010 Posted August 15, 2010 That's way above what I paid in Bangkok. As I mentioned, I paid a major optical shop just over Bt. 8,000 for the lenses (but not the frames), and Rutnin Eye Hospital on Asoke around Bt. 5,800. These are progressive lenses tailored to each eye. That is more in line with what I paid for progressive trifocal. 6000B for lenses and I chose frames that were 2200B if I recall right. Eye exam was done at BPH and he refered me to a doctor on Pattaya Klang across from Carrfour. As it turns out she is one of the doctors at another hospital. I have been very pleased. I am headed back home tomorrow morning. I believe I still her office information there. If you want it let me know Quote
TotallyOz Posted April 27, 2011 Author Posted April 27, 2011 I went to a place in USA today and the cost was going to be less than 200 dollars. I was thrilled. I pulled out 6 pair of glasses and they looked at them and said they would not do them as they are all designer frames. I asked why that mattered and they said the doctor would not take responsibility for them. I suggested that I would waive this and they still refused to do them. I was quite shocked at this. I have an appointment tomorrow with another doctor but I have never had someone turn down work on glasses. Quote
Bob Posted April 27, 2011 Posted April 27, 2011 I have an appointment tomorrow with another doctor but I have never had someone turn down work on glasses. Presuming you have your prescription and don't need an eye exam, why not just go to one of the chain optical/optician joints? Probably one or more in a local mall near you. You'll probably find somebody who'll be happy to take your money. Quote
TotallyOz Posted April 27, 2011 Author Posted April 27, 2011 Presuming you have your prescription and don't need an eye exam, why not just go to one of the chain optical/optician joints? Probably one or more in a local mall near you. You'll probably find somebody who'll be happy to take your money. That is what I went to. It was a low cost place. They refused. I thought I'd just make an appointment with a doc with his own store and they will do it. Quote
