[Azadel]

Having your eyes tested in a store based optometrist and then they don't give you your prescription, so you have to buy glasses in that store - harsh, or fair enough?

[Tooties]

Harsh - my optometrist always gives me my script. I didn't think they were allowed to refuse. You're not obligated to buy your glasses from the same place as tests your eyes.

[ChickenRose]

Dodgy. Medicare is paying them a fee, they don't test you out of the kindness of their hearts!

[jessie123]

I thought they had to give you your script.

I would refuse to buy from there if they did that.

[Harmonica]

Harsh - you should always be able to access your script. I always take my script with me if I travel in case something happens to my glasses.

[Jemstar]

I find that most retail optometrists will not offer you the script, but if you ask for it they have to provide you with a copy. So if you asked and they didn't give it to you then yes that is harsh and I would complain very loudly!

[ekbaby]

[quote]Dodgy. Medicare is paying them a fee, they don't test you out of the kindness of their hearts![/quote

I agree, unless this condition was made upfront before the testing.

I think some place I have been to may have charged a fee that was higher than the medicare fee (so you had to pay a gap fee), but offered a rebate on this if you purchased your glasses from the store?

[PatG]

Yep, I believe they have to give you the script if you ask for it. I buy my glasses online as my lenses are quite expensive in store (I was quoted $420 in store last time for just the lenses). I bought a full set (same spec lenses) with frames online for $80.

They tend not to include you pupillary distance (distance between pupils) when they give you your script as it is not officially part of your prescription.

[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

I'm pretty sure they're required to give you the script. As PPs have said, it's a medicare covered service. It'd be the same as a doctor refusing to forward your records if you changed doctors.

[asdf89]

Did you ask for a copy of the script?


Once before I asked for my script, not even from my optometrist but one from the same chain (as I was in a different town, and all their records are stored on the one system), and I got it. No appointment, no money changing hands. I then used that script to go to all the different optometrists in town to find the best price on a pair of prescription sunnies.

If they refused you, I'm pretty sure that's illegal.