Sender: mdwheel@h6.ius.cs.cmu.edu
Message-ID: <31B74E77.41C67EA6@cs.cmu.edu>
Date: Thu, 06 Jun 1996 17:32:39 -0400
From: Mark Wheeler <mdwheel+@cs.cmu.edu>
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: bovik@cs.cmu.edu
Subject: Optometrist Recommendation: contacts and glasses
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For eyecare, I have used Dr. Fred Smith, Squirrell Hill (Murray Ave)
521-6622, for 7 years now.  I'm very happy with his service over these
years and glad I chose him. 
I decided to try him after reading Bovik's files.
Like the previous rec's say.
He is careful, conscientious and very good (also as others noted, he'll
talk your ear off).
I had been using glasses up until recently when he fit 
me with soft astigmatic lenses.

His package is great for lens newbies:
$220 for exam and lessons and 6 months worths of daily wear disposables.
If you already know your prescription, lenses are cheaper 
from lens warehouses, but for someone starting out with lenses I'd
recommend Dr. Smith.
I had trouble learning to put in and take out the lenses and
took 3 30minute training sessions to get it.  They're VERY patient
(said one poor fellow took 1 session a week for 6 months to get it
right).
Also, he gave me several exams to get the exact prescription, put the
lenses in in the morning and have you back in the afternoon after you've 
adjusted to them to check the power.

Also, the astigmatic soft lenses are great (after a minute or 2 you
wouldn't know you had em in).  I had gas perm hard lenses
before and they were terribly uncomfortable (several weeks to adjust and
even then they were bothersome).

As for eyeglasses, Dr. Smiths prices are very reasonable too.
Give him a try, and be prepared to converse for the duration of
your appointments.
cheers,
Mark