Glasses

[Barmaid]

I've been telling Mr BM for ages that he needs to get his eyes tested. He's OK at distances, but can't read stuff close up (eg at a carol concert on Sunday in candlelight, he was having real difficulty reading the words). I also noticed earlier he was struggling to read some small print on some instructions.

I know you can just buy glasses, but what sort do I need for reading? Is it long sight or short sight?

He WILL get his eyes tested, but as a short term fix what glasses can I buy him?

[factor-fiction]

If he buys reading glasses at the supermarket he just needs to try different prescriptions - probably between 1 and 1.5.

[Barmaid]

Thank you Factor. I didn't realise they did different ones. I was going to get them for Christmas (together with a hearing aid and a zimmer frame), but I guess I will have to suffer the inconvenience of dragging him round a supermarket now!

[Eve]

You can get ones with different light prescriptions in Superdrug too. If they do them then Boots probably do them too and they are likely to be near the opticians (if your Boots has one) so you could try and collar him in for an eye test there - always best to get tested properly in case there are issues like astigmatism. I only went to enquire and got an appointment almost right away when I last went to a Boots one.

[Eve]

Ps...Boots do hearing aids too ;)

[chrissa1]

I just found out today that Dolland & Aitcheson are now part of Boots. That was a surprise. I'm having an eye test tomorrow and found out I hadn't had one since 2007!! Where does the time go?

[Barmaid]

thank you.

Tell me about the time thing, Chrissa!

Right, I shall take him shopping. He's not going to be impressed. He definitely won't go for a hearing aid though (I think he quite likes the excuse of not hearing 90% of what I say to him!)

[ethandron]

Go to any and all of the £ shops, including wilkinsons. They have huge ranges of specs for £1 and all they are, are magnifying lenses. Start off with the weakest ones and trade up. I have two prescription pairs of readers, and two prescription pairs of distance for driving and tv, the rest...about 10 pairs...are all cheapo poundlandish ones.

[daffy654]

He may as well get an eye test and prescription reading glasses if you are dragging him out shopping BM. :)

[Barmaid]

Daffy, that will be the easiest option from my point of view. shopping + Mr BM = Row.

[Psybbo]

It's called Selective Hearing, Barmaid!

[Ellipsis]

Take him for some glasses like in your avatar afterwards, poor lamb ...

[Barmaid]

Ellipsis - he's on a diet so he can't drink. Our cross trainer came today. Poor thing.

Sibton, I know - it's called "clever deaf". ie if I say "can you put the rubbish out" he doesn't hear. If I say "would you like a nice fat juicy steak and a glass of red wine followed by a night of unbridled passion", amazingly his hearing comes back. It's a miracle I tell thee......

(PS - for the hard of thinking a "cross trainer" is a piece of exercise equipment and not a very angry gym member)

[tonyav]

What did you say, sibo.

[237SJ]

I get mine from Tesco`s but the best ones were a one-off batch that they had in Aldi. He`s long-sighted and needs a + lens (+1.5 etc). In most places, you can test which strength you need by holding the instructions at reading arm`s length. Personally, unless I had something else going on such as astigmatism, I wouldn`t even bother with the opticians. My optician (I`m short-sighted as well) said that the glasses I got from the supermarket (£4) are fine.

[Barmaid]

He does have a lazy eye 237, but sees OK out of that.

Btw, thanks for your recommendation for Avanti insurance - they were very helpful and called me back today. Unfortunately, they are too expensive, but they were one of the most helpful companies I spoke to.

Anyway, I am now going to go and seethe quietly, Tuesday night is piano night, but someone has failed to remove the additional section from the dining room table (I can't do it on my own) and so I can't get to the sodding piano.

[237SJ]

It was worth a try I suppose. No travel insurance that covers medical conditions is cheap these days. You used to be able to get cover and exclude conditions but I don`t think you can now.

[janzman]

Those shop bought specs are fine so long as your eyesight condition is the same in both eyes.That is short sighted or long sighted to the same degree in both eyes.For example I am long sighted in my left eye but I have a stigmatism in my right eye.Yes it will cost a lot more than a couple of pounds from Wilkos or wherever but only a professional eye test will establish what is the correct prescrition for you.Peace of mind with your eyesight must be worth it.

[Barmaid]

I was kind of hoping that I could just get him some glasses to help short term, whilst I have the battle about the opticians Janzman.

237 - it has become a serious headache. We only really want cancellation insurance in case one of them pegs it before we go (and then none of us will want to go, since this is only for Gramps), or insurance to cover Nanna incase she has another heart attack. Some of the quotes are laughable - more than the holiday!

[237SJ]

I have heard that Columbus insures older people but don`t have any experience of them. On some flights that link up with cruises, some of the passengers are so elderly and infirm that I swear some of them won`t last until the end of the flight! They all seem to get insurance from somewhere. I guess they just pay a fortune or risk not having any.

[lankeela]

I am wearing Poundland ones at present, got a prescription pair for proper reading but left them at work. These are actually better than the real ones!