To: bovik@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: contact lenses
Date: Fri, 10 May 91 13:37:52 EDT
Message-ID: <23102.673897072@G.GP.CS.CMU.EDU>
From: Thomas.Mathies@G.GP.CS.CMU.EDU

This is what I wrote in Nov, '89:

Until last week, I'd worn soft lenses for over seven years, first
daily wear then extended wear.

I was not satisfied with the sharpness of my vision so I decided
to look into getting gas-permeable lenses.  (Called "rigid" because
they are hard lenses that bend.)

Based upon many recommendations, I went to Dr. Fred Smith, an
optometrist in Squirrel Hill.  I have been most pleased.

He gave me an eye exam that lasted over an hour and included tests
I'd never had before.  The charge for this was only $38!

He recommended the Boston Equalens, the latest in gas-perms.  The
charge for the lenses and all fittings (even new lenses should the
first pair be unsuitable) and followup care is $325.

I got the lenses after three days and they're great.  My vision
with the extended soft lenses was 20/40.  Now it's better than
20/15.  The gas-perms do an excellent job of correcting my astigmatism.
If you don't have astigmatism, soft lenses should work great.  They
are more comfortable.  (Though Dr. Smith says that after three
weeks the gas-perms will be hardly noticeable.)

Soft lenses wear out and will likely need to be replaced after a year
or so.  Dr. Smith predicts the gas-perms will last 5 years.  They
will also keep my prescription from deteriorating during that time.
My last extended wear lenses cost about $130 and lasted a little over
a year.  Paying about $370 for lenses that last five years seems like
a win.

The gas-perm lenses also protect the eyes from ultraviolet light which
can cause retinal damage and blindness.  I'd never heard of this before.

Dr. Smith is superb.  Four days after I got my lenses I went for my
first followup visit.  He put drops in my eyes and examined them
under black light.  He saw how the lens was fitting on my eye and
decided to make an adjustment.  He does his own grinding in order
to give a custom fit.  Discount places never provided this service.
I anticipate seeing him about six more times during the next couple
months.

Dr. Smith has been fitting contact lenses for over 30 years.  He fits
daily wear soft lenses, too, but doesn't like to fit soft extended-wear
lenses as he has found them harmful.  I don't know the price range
for soft lenses.

If you decide to see him, be forewarned that he talks a lot.  He also
talks a lot.

----------

Since then my lenses have held up well.  Once I wore them for nearly
40 straight hours with only slight dryness.

Tom