Bummer and Bonus

I got off work early Thursday and was so happy coming home on the train. I was going to get home during nap time. I could either a) nap on the couch, or b) watch episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Then when Hester woke up, we could go do something fun together. I noticed my glasses were more wonkey than usual. They have not been quite right since Hester yanked them off my face and threw them across the room a few months ago. Well, I was adjusting the arm back and suddenly, it came off in my hand. I could not believe they were broken. Things are a bit tight this month and we have other expenses we need to focus on. New glasses are not cheep, especially for my f'd up eyes.

Clementine was fantastic and reassured me. We talked about our budget and how we could afford new glasses. She reminded me of my FSA account and we called to get the balance on it. So I taped them up and off I went to Pearl Vision.


While I was there, I remembered I have vision insurance through work. I called the HR person and she told me the name of the plan and looked up my level of coverage which was really good. I was so happy, I almost started crying. Pearl vision did not take my insurance so I left.

Through the insurance website, I found a eye doctor not even a block from my work and made an appointment for Friday. They were all super nice and the eye doctor did all the usual tests. She dilated my eyes and gave me these lovely "sunglasses" to wear. Hot! Especially with the taped glasses. I had to wear them even inside for almost three hours after the appointment. Lights were that bright. My coworkers got a huge laugh at my sexy new look.


Anyway, my eyes are healthy. She checked my prescription and saw it needed a bit of a change. When she demonstrated the change, I could have kissed her. Distance has been wicked blurry for me for the past few years. Even with my last prescription, it was blurry. I had given up having clear distance vision, thinking my eyes were just too far gone. But no, when she put the additional lenses up to my glasses to demonstrate the new prescription, I could see ALL of the letters, even the wee little ones. God, it was great.

I also talked to her about having trouble with my reading lenses. She told me that for bifocals, they make them so reading distance is about 18 inches from your face. However, with my astigmatism, I probably read about 4-6 inches from my face, without my glasses which is exactly true. By moving the page further away, I could then read perfectly with my reading lenses. Again, I was so thrilled.

Let me just say, picking out frames is wicked hard when your eyes are all dilated and you are wincing at the slightest light and you cannot focus properly. The lady assisting me picked out these big chunky black and red Christian Dior frames. Ummm, no. I chose some cool new frames that are more sturdy than the last, which means no thin wire frames. I think you all will approve of the new look which Clara the dog will be debuting in 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. Remember the last debut?

It was a bummer that my glasses broke and that my afternoon plans were changed, but it was a huge bonus that my glasses total with cool new frames (originally 229 but under 90 with the insurance discount), lenses (20 plus 51 for anti-reflection and something more for super thin cause my eyes are that bad), and the $20 eye check-up, was $249. If you wear glasses, you know that is a KICK ASS price for non-hideous, non-80's, non-taupe glasses frames. I am thrilled!