Eye Checkup

[HB85]

1) When time frame is recommended to go for regular eyes checkup? every 12 months? 17 months? 24 months? (The eye doctor wants to schedule me for every 12 months which I think that is way too fast)

2) Which store has the most variety of glasses frame? Is it Optical Hakim? Pacific Mall?

I know there are other threads out there. But I want to create my own thread to get an answer directly.

Thank you

[Nikita]

1) When time frame is recommended to go for regular eyes checkup? every 12 months? 17 months? 24 months? (The eye doctor wants to schedule me for every 12 months which I think that is way too fast)

2) Which store has the most variety of glasses frame? Is it Optical Hakim? Pacific Mall?

I know there are other threads out there. But I want to create my own thread to get an answer directly.

Thank you

There is no written-in-stone time frame, so if your doctor says every 12 months, go every 12 months. Eye tests can detect many non-eye issues, such as diabetes, cholestoral, other things I can't remember but those two should be enough. Far far too many diabetics out there who don't know they have it until they become symptomatic. Same with cholesterol. An eye test can determine the potential for, say diabetes, which would then be followed up with a blood test to make an early diagnosis. Early diagnoses of most any condition is of course best and more easily treatable.

Also, depending on your age, yearly tests become important as you age. Your eyesight can change fairly quickly after age 40 especially, so yearly tests, at the very least will keep you in the right glasses if you require them.

They're not really that expensive anyway, and in fact, if you are diabetic there's no cost to yearly eye tests. Might be the same for other conditions, I only know about diabetes because I am diabetic.

As for which store has the largest variety, personally I like Hakim best, but that's always going to be a matter of personal preference, so I don't know how helpful my personal preference is to you. I also like their service so it all works well for me.

[_Allan_]

OHIP will cover adults every 3 yrs for an exam. (used to be yearly).
IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, go yearly, as your eyes are growing and change fast.

Hakim Optical is a good store, I used then for 20 years and always liked their prices and their options. Choose a larger store though - their store by Finch, on Yonge has a LOT of choices, and the one on Eglinton at Labovic is a "clearance" centre so lower prices, but older frames.

Lens Crafters has a "30 day " guarentee - if you don't like your frames, they will recut your lenses to a new frame. They also have (OAC) "no payments for 3 or 6 months interst free"

[ariell]

OHIP will cover adults every 3 yrs for an exam. (used to be yearly).
IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, go yearly, as your eyes are growing and change fast.

OHIP does NOT cover eye exams for anyone between the ages of 20-64. They stopped doing this about 5 years ago. They will only cover you for eye exams if you have a medical condition such as glaucoma or diabetes. If you are between 20 and 64 and don't have a specific medical condition, you have to pay out of pocket. See details here: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/...are_110104.pdf

[nano]

my doctor suggests i visit once a year because i stare at a computer screen all day.

[MrDisco]

1) When time frame is recommended to go for regular eyes checkup?

How old are you?
How is your vision?
What is your overall health like?

If the doctor recommends every year then I would go every year. Is $60-$100 a year really the place you want to cut back on? I mean this is your vision after all.

[HB85]

There is no written-in-stone time frame, so if your doctor says every 12 months, go every 12 months. Eye tests can detect many non-eye issues, such as diabetes, cholestoral, other things I can't remember but those two should be enough. Far far too many diabetics out there who don't know they have it until they become symptomatic. Same with cholesterol. An eye test can determine the potential for, say diabetes, which would then be followed up with a blood test to make an early diagnosis. Early diagnoses of most any condition is of course best and more easily treatable.

Also, depending on your age, yearly tests become important as you age. Your eyesight can change fairly quickly after age 40 especially, so yearly tests, at the very least will keep you in the right glasses if you require them.

They're not really that expensive anyway, and in fact, if you are diabetic there's no cost to yearly eye tests. Might be the same for other conditions, I only know about diabetes because I am diabetic.

As for which store has the largest variety, personally I like Hakim best, but that's always going to be a matter of personal preference, so I don't know how helpful my personal preference is to you. I also like their service so it all works well for me.

Thanks
I should really book an appointment soon. I haven't been to one since 2007.

OHIP will cover adults every 3 yrs for an exam. (used to be yearly).
IF YOU ARE UNDER 18, go yearly, as your eyes are growing and change fast.

Hakim Optical is a good store, I used then for 20 years and always liked their prices and their options. Choose a larger store though - their store by Finch, on Yonge has a LOT of choices, and the one on Eglinton at Labovic is a "clearance" centre so lower prices, but older frames.

Lens Crafters has a "30 day " guarentee - if you don't like your frames, they will recut your lenses to a new frame. They also have (OAC) "no payments for 3 or 6 months interst free"

Yes I heard Hakim Optical is good.
I guess the trend nowadays is those thick black frames.

How old are you?
How is your vision?
What is your overall health like?

If the doctor recommends every year then I would go every year. Is $60-$100 a year really the place you want to cut back on? I mean this is your vision after all.

Vision is like 325 on the left eye, 300 on the right eye.
Overall health is pretty good
Money isn't a problem. The more you visit an eye doctor, the prescription will always go higher. :S

[MrDisco]

Money isn't a problem. The more you visit an eye doctor, the prescription will always go higher. :S

Not true. I've had times when my prescription went down.

Anyway it sounds like you've already made up your mind so why not go every 2 years.

[ariell]

Not true. I've had times when my prescription went down.

Me too.

[_Allan_]

OHIP does NOT cover eye exams for anyone between the ages of 20-64. They stopped doing this about 5 years ago.

Sorry, ONTARIO WORKS, will only cover exams every 3 yrs for adults 18-64, and every 2 yrs for children under 18, and over 64. Wrong Government program

[D-3vil]

While you're free to fill your prescription anywhere (and you should, as you get the best price this way), I'd recommend that you visit an established optometrist for your checkup. Going to see an optometrist attached to a place selling glasses is not always the best idea, as they will usually just do the minimum required to get you out the door.

A highly recommended optometrist is Eyes on Sheppard (Sheppard and Willowdale), but I'm sure there are others as well.