A few months ago, after several strain headaches after work, I decided to look into getting my eyes checked. The last time I remember getting my eyes "checked" was when we did it in the gym while I was still in school. You know, you stand in line with kids from your class, parent volunteers administering the lines, cover your eye and read this chart from this line, here...here's a lollipop, go back to class. I don't ever recall doing it at a legit clinic or office because I've always had pretty good eyes and vision.
As I have gotten older, have had lots more screen time due to cell phones, computers and spending a lot of time in front of work computers over the past six years, I figured it was about time to go get my eyes checked. There were times after work I didn't feel like doing anything because the amount of time I spent on the computer every day. Not every day but most days I would have that pesky eye strain headache.
I asked Mom where she and Dad went to do their exams and where they got their glasses at and she said the vision clinic inside of Fred Meyers. One day while we were in there, we stopped by and asked the lady a few questions. She said that they don't do the exams anymore because they can't keep doctors around due to Covid. They've been sending people over to America's Best in Hawks Prairie. We thanked her for the information and looked it up at home when I had the chance.
One evening I got onto the website and filled out some stuff. I spend a while trying to figure out their online appointment system and eventually figured it out. There wasn't an option for I don't wear glasses and I need an exam; so I went with glasses and I need an exam. I will just let them know during my appointment I don't wear glasses. I set up my exam for April 30th at 1ish. That meant I could just take the rest of the day off that Friday.
April 30th finally came, I got my work done and logged off. I ate a quick lunch and headed over to Hawks Prairie. I told Erika I could come over afterwards and help her start packing. We were going to help move her and Zach tomorrow. She said see me whenever I got there. I told her I had no idea but I would text her when I was done. I pulled up, parked, grabbed my mask and went inside. It was busy so I waited for my turn.
When it was my turn finally, they checked my temperature, I signed a few things and they had me sit in the waiting area for the eye tech to do pre tests. I probably sat there for about 15 minutes and then a guy came out to do the tests. I went into the exam room with him and did the stand on the line, cover my eye and recite the different lines and letters to him. Then I sat at a machine. He did some depth perception, peripheral vision and took pictures of the back of my eyes. It was weird having the back of my eyes photographed. He told me to go sit in the waiting room again and the doctor would be with me shortly.
She called me in and I sat in a chair with a phoropter which measures the refractive error to determine an individual's spectacle lens prescription during an eye examination. I have never been evaluated by one of these before so it was interesting to me. She flipped through several of the lenses and I had to tell her the lines and letters on a chart as well as tell her which one was more clear. It was quicker than I thought it would be. She showed me the pictures of the back of my eye and told me that I had astigmatism in both eyes and a freckle (nevi) in my right eye. She told me that it was small and shouldn't cause any problems. I get to wear a weak prescription for when I am at my work and personal computer, the television and phone because I strain my eyes without realizing it. She told me the next step was to pick out some frames and that I should come in every two years to be seen again. I thanked her and went to go pick out frames.
I have never done this before so I wasn't sure what to do. I stood there for a while and then asked for help. The lady told me that I needed to call my VSP to find out what it covered and what it didn't cover. It covered most of it so that was good. I picked out the frames and waited my turn to see the frame and lens techs. I sat there with a tech and we went over what I wanted and the lens I needed. I got the anti reflection, scratch resistant and ultra violet protection. They cost me $165 with insurance and I paid with my medical card. I would get my glasses in about 14 business days. I texted Erika and went over to the apartment to help her pack up.
I got a phone call on May 12 letting me know that my glasses were ready but it was so late in the day I wasn't able to go get them until May 13. After work, I logged off and headed directly to the eye glass place. I went inside with my mask and let them know I was there to pick up. The tech cleaned my glasses, adjusted them and gave them to me in a ugly brown eye glass case. I told him thank you and I made my way home. It was going to be weird getting used to wearing glasses since I never had to before. My first day wearing them for a long length of time was going to be the next day while I worked.
Here's to less eye strain and eye headaches after work!
Next Adventure: Nisqually Wildlife Refuge and Our First Adventure Cache
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