FRA's (Frequently Responded Answers) Part 1

It's so overdone to do another column of FAQ's, so this will be my very first FRA's blog. I"ll give you the answers to

questions which I repeatedly get from all of you on a regular basis (is that redundant?) You figure out the questions.

NO people, there is really NO actual way in this dimension to remove scratches from your prescription lenses- no buffing machines, no futuristic space age technologies, and no Keebler -like elves capable of erasing scratches to make them new again.

It's like asking if there is a simple way to remove wrinkles from your face. There are, of course, but they are non superficial and costly.For you who really need to eliminate the scratches which have come about from normal usage (I assume) there is only one solution. You just simply buy a new pair of lenses for your glasses. If its been less than a year since you purchased them than they are covered by our one year scratch warranty. If you were wise enough to buy the new hi-tech anti-glare coatings available

now than you have an unconditional two year warranty against scratching. Other than just living with the scratches, that is your only viable option.For you non-believers I suppose you could chance it on that entertaining informercial plugging the miracle product that instantly removes scratches from eyeglass lenses-- "making those worn lenses like new again". It's all bull of course, but at $9.99 a pop those guys make a bundle on people who'd rather risk losing only $10.00 than hand over a new Benjamin to replace old ones iwth new ones. Now, that gunk they sell on the informercial, in fact, really does conceal the scratches in your lenses- unfortunetly, its that same gunk that destroys the visual acuity you actually require to see. It's like covering your optical lenses with a thinner kind of vaseline. It's great news if all you need is to make the scratches invisible- not great news if you actually need to see. This is a simple answer here, people-- either just put up with the flawed lenses or buy new ones. Those are your two options. 

  Once and for all, all eyeglass frames are not created equal. And NO, they do not all cost mere pennies to make. Frames, for the most part ,actually cost us much more than you think ,and in spite of some places in the DC area charging up to 6 times markups, most of us are squeaking out a 1 or 2 markup because the frames have become so costly to us. Maybe frames cost $2.00 to make in 1980, but in 2012 most of the frames we bring in to sell to you are costing us between $90.00 and $200.00...(YES, that is WHOLESALE!) We select the frames we do at Eyecentral because we believe they will set you apart and make you look fabulous, suit your lifestyles well, and hold up through all the many abuses you hurl at them. If we were trying to make serious buckage off of you we would be charging anywhere from $450-900 for the frames we sell. Instead we hope that you'll appreciate the fair price and continue to do your optical business with us. I would hope that you would all stop thinking that $200 is too much money for a superior styled frame. It is, in fact, something you're seen in and judged by everyday--plus, along with the lenses you need them to see! I am continually amazed by how many people will quickly drop $200 or more for hair or clothing but complain and bitch about that amount  when it comes to their glasses- which, in fact, last you several years and are worn by you everyday you decide to use your eyes.

  Wearing progressive lenses is a great alternative for aging eyes in order to access every range of vision with only one pair of optical lenses. You get your distance, your intermediate (computer/dashboard/grocery shopping), and your near/reading ranges effectively with one pair of eyeglass lenses. Since they were invented over 30 years ago the technology and comfort of progressive lenses has improved to the point, where ,in 2012, if you can not wear one, there is really only one valid explanation.You are, most lilkely lazy. Actually there are two explanations and the second one has to do with inner ear damage from childhood, but in my 20 years of dispensing over 120,000 progressive lenses, I have only encountered this phenomenon twice. No, my friends, the reason Mr. Wilson down the street couldn't adapt to his progressive lenses is because he is just too lazy and inflexible to do so. Or, it is possible he is too cheap- but we'll come to that next. 

First of all, there is not just ONE progressive lens that the entire world wears when they buy a pair. There are ,in fact, over 800 progressive lens styles produced by over 100 companies world wide. Each design , like snowflakes, is slightly different , and thus, produce different results when wearing them. When you stand around at a party comparing who does or does not like their progressive lenses you are, most likely, comparing apples and oranges. If you purchased a pair at a national chain or discount store you probably took longer to adapt and have never really loved the vision you settled in at. That's because those entities tend to purchase millions of units of lesser quality and lower priced brands with world wide failure rates up to 70%. If you purchased your lenses at a smaller local chain or independent optical company your chances are that you adapted much faster and wound up actually enjoying the corrective vision you obtained through them. That's because those of us at independent concerns generally promote the highest quality progressive lenses in the world with failure rates of under 5%. Our McLean Eyecentral office relies heavily on the German ZEISS lenses to fill most of our progressive needs and with over 3000 units sold yearly, I never have over 5 people who cant adapt. And YES, that's a cheesy plug for both independent opticians and ZEISS , but I"m not getting any remuneration for saying it so I guess I actually believe it. (I've been doing this for over 20 years now, which I"m sure I"ve mentioned numerous times in my other blogs) 

  So, when you and your friends are standing around at a party chatting casually about your various progressive lens experiences, remember two primary things. FIRST- each of you is probably wearing different lens styles/brands with various abilities and degrees of quality. That translates to the layman into how wide and accessible your areas of vision and range are in the lenses you're wearing (some are very narrow- some quite wide) so your individual experiences are not necessarily valid as a comparison with a group; and, SECOND- you quite clearly attend incredibly boring parties and I feel bad for you. Built up marriage resentment and ungrateful children work much better as party topics.

  I am amazed and a little horrified that I have recently worked with teenage children whose parents do NOT insist that they wear their glasses. These kids, three that I"m specifically referring to, are all legally blind, do not wear contact lenses for whatever reasons, and dont wish to be seen wearing glasses although required, but are given no direction to do so by the people who are in charge of their upbringing. Let's forget for a moment how incredibly dangerous it is for these kids to be wandering around amongst us unable to clearly see. Let's forget that, in a perfect visual  world of 20/20 these kids range from 20/600 to 20/1000, which, in essence, allows them to see less than half of their world- and none of it out beyond 12 feet. Let's instead examine for a second what your misguided judgment and pandering to childhood wishes does to them as maturing humans . Each one of these kids exhibited signs of extreme introvertedness and passivity. None made eye contact-  with anyone. Each of the teens shoulders were slumped forward and down as were their head positions. This is all a direct result of them not being able to see what's going on around them over a long period of time- at school, at home, or outside. And why wouldnt they display all these symptons and physical similarities???THEY CAN"T SEE!!. They cant make out facial features or expressions, they can't see subtle nuances in the world around them, and they stay closed up because they're always in defensive mode-- making sure they walk slowly and move cautiously as not to hurt themselves. The oldest of the three teens is driving!!?? He told me that he agreed to wear his glasses when he drives (..agreed??? it's not a negotiation parents- its a LAW!) but he only wears them in the car and only for that function. His parents ridiculously allow this. This is entitlement at its most insipid and dangerous..All because the kids dont want to me made fun of for wearing glasses...wow...  

  This is total craziness. Each of these children have glasses that most kids in America would kill for-- cool, great looking, designer.But in the real world it is NOT an option for these kids not to wearing their glasses. It's almost parental abuse in my opinion.When one of these kids wind up falling down a stairwell or walking in front of a moving vehicle maybe the parents will realize how shortsighted their choices were. These kids should be made to wear their glasses- or get contacts- with discipline following should they ignore the ruling. Even if these kids make it intact into adulthood, their body language, their inability to make eye contact, and their overall passivity will take years to get over and ultimately make the possibility of being made fun of in high school seem pretty dumb in retrospect.

  Glasses or contacts are prescribed to correct eyesight so that every person affected can carry on a normal healthy life and do everything a person with perfect vision can do. If, as a parent, you decide it's OK to overlook the necessity of utilizing corrective options, than you're setting your child up to fail- if not forever, than at least for the immediate future. I want your kids to succeed so I don't care if they feel funny right now about wearing glasses, and you shouldn't either. You should be demanding that they wear them all the time, if necessary, even if it means the little prince or princess throws a hissy fit. Vision is NOT an elective part of your life if you're not already blind- it is an absolute requirement and should be treated as the gift it is. Your child should not be allowed to make a decision for themselves because of something so superficial and silly for something so vitally important to the overall quality of their life.

  And with that I end my first installment of FRA's and all the major lecturing contained within. Enjoy what's left of your summer and,as always, thanks for your continued support and loyalty. We appreciate all of you.