My husband went to a new eyedoctor to get a new eyeglass prescription. When he got the glasses he found he can't see well out of them. We had them checked to make sure the lab didn't make a mistake, so it's definitely the eyedoctor. My husband wants to go to a different Dr., but this Dr's receptionist says we can't get our money refunded because the eye exam is a service, and my husband can come in to be re-evaluated but no refund. Well, dh (dear husband) does not want to go back--he says the dr was a nice guy but very unprofessional in his behavior--dh said the guy was very old and seemed senile. Tried to use some machine on dh's eyes and kept saying "hmmm?" and finally figured out he didn't have it turned on. A bunch of things like that. Dh is ready to just count that money lost but I don't want to give up so easily. Maybe it's a service but dh can't use the lenses (took them back). Does anyone know if we have any rights?

-- Elizabeth in e tx (kimprice@peoplescom.net), October 07, 2001

Answers

IMHO this eye doctor needs to be reported to your state's examination/certification board for their profession ASAP.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 07, 2001.

may not get a rrefund, but should be able to be re examined for no charge. If they prescription was wrong,, the DR should buy the correct ones

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 08, 2001.

This is a not a patients' rights issue. Its a better business, malpractice issue.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), October 08, 2001.

Does this optometric practice have more than one optometrist? If it does, maybe your hubby could see someone else in the same practice. If that's not the case it seems like he ought to at least go back and see the guy one more time. It's not impossible the guy had a bad day (we all do, on occasion) and this can be resolved quickly.

I had a somewhat similar experience years ago with my optometrist. My vision was actually much worse with the new contacts in so he checked them and they were fine (as ordered). He then did a re- examination and it resulted in a dramatically different prescription. New contacts were ordered and they were fine.

As with all things medical, it's more of an art than a true science. I'm not even convinced the problem was anything he did so much as a situation where my eyes were seeing differently the day of the first exam due to any of thousands of reasons. I still use the same optometrist and recommend him to others.

If you do go back to him and still have a problem you've done two things. You've been fair and given them the opportunity to correct a problem. If they do, then you're happy. If they don't, then you have a better argument for a refund. I wouldn't make my case for that to the receptionist, however. I'd see the optometrist himself. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 08, 2001.