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Friday, February 13, 2009

The Cost of Things

Eye-Exam_slide_show

I have terrible vision.  Awful.  I think as far as blindness goes, I’m only about half-blind, but my astigmatism makes it only seem worse.  AND, now that I’m getting on up there in years, my reading vision has been affected.  About 2 years ago, I started complaining of not being able to see up close.  My eye doctor informed me it was from too much smoke in my eyes … from all the candles on my birthday cake.  So, I began the quest for multifocal toric lenses (the multifocal corrects the close up vision; the toric corrects the vision problems from the curvature of the eye). 

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Needless to say, it has NOT been an easy or quick process.  There, also, is no perfect solution, so I have to settle for the best I can get without compromising on vision clarity too much.

I decided to order some new glasses and narrowed down “the best I could get” contacts and ordered them.  I only ordered six months worth because they are EXPENSIVE.  Apparently, people who can wear typical disposable lenses pay around $25-$35 a box.  When I ordered these contacts, for some reason I was led to believe they were going to cost me $240 for 2 boxes (one box of 6 per eye).  I got a phone call this week that they were available to pick up.  I went today and was informed the total was $360!!! For 6 months, people.

I almost swallowed my tongue.

That’s over $700 a year for these babies. I guess I’m high maintenance!

* * * * * *

Tyler came home this evening with his girlfriend and asked what we were going to do tonight.  I had already taken a bath and got into some comfy sweats.  But, we decided to go to the Pizza Hut for supper.  Jodi and Gary joined the four of us.  We had a lot of laughs.

One thing we did notice is that Pizza Hut must be feeling the recession.  David ordered a pasta dish (which he’s ordered several times in the past) and Gary, Jodi and I split a large, thin-crust ham & mushroom pizza.  Dave elbowed me to look at his dish… it was about half of the food they normally serve.  Seriously, you could almost see the bottom of the dish through the food!

And maybe it was just these smoke-damage eyes, but we could barely see any cheese on our pizza, plus there was no sauce or topping for about 1 1/2” from the crust.

We did notice, however,  that the prices did NOT go down with the reduction of food.

dude05_dunkers_400

Thank goodness the conversation (and a few chocolate dunkers) made it all worth it!

13 comments:

His Doorkeeper said...

I have always felt if I could live long enough they would have eye transplants (like heart and kidney transplants) and I would be first in line for new eyes!

Maybe you would be right behind me??

Becky said...

I feel your pain. I'm as blind as a bat. I went from 20/20 to bifocals! YUCK! Plus, I have dry eyes so I can't even wear contacts. Double yuck!!!

Those dunkers sure look good!

Kelley said...

I wear contacts for astigmatism. I just thought mine were pricey. Good grief. That sounds awful.

The economy really is the pits right now.

Lauren said...

Isn't it amazing the way the slump in the economy is effecting everyone and everything?? $360- YIKES!!!! Better have some good eyesight with those babies!!!! :o)

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

Good grief...I probably would have cried while writing the check (or swiping my card). Ouch!

I think we're going to see signs of the recession everywhere. I went by Blockbuster the other day and noticed they had new store hours posted. They're opening two hours later every day and closing two hours earlier. John thinks it is because they need to cut back on employee overhead. He's probably right.

Kyla @ The Simpsons said...

Ohhh my goodness, you and chocolate dunkers? Ha! Yesterday after I wrote my little story from when we were at Denny's, I was going to put a P.S. Jacquie, I ate a piece of strawberry cheesecake, but decided not to... :)

and sorry about your contacts... that was a whole car payment for me. yikes!

Tim said...

Ive noticed that at several other places as well.

Tim

Dorothy said...

Good Morning and Happy Valentine's Day! ♥
I've worn contacts a long, long time, but because of my eye drops (for Glaucoma) I have had to go back to glasses (near-sighted). I needed to have my prescription changed a few notches and when I checked, they said they would cost over $600.00! I can't see how two tiny pieces of glass and two ear pieces could cost that much! Guess it's getting tough all over.

Susie said...

Oh I wish I could wear contacts. I use to but my eyes started complaining too much so for now I wear glasses; bifocals at that. I too am blind as a bat. Sorry about your experience at Pizza hut. I reckon everyone is feeling the pinch.

Leigh Ann said...

I feel you. I can't see anything without my contacts, but I definitely pay a lot less than those prices. What in the world???

MiMi said...

My eyes have also been damaged by all the smoke from my birthday candles! I have tried the bifocal contacts, tried wearing a contact in 1 eye for close-up and a contact in the other eye for far off, and I also tried just wearing a contact in only 1 eye for close-up and NOTHING works! I spent a fortune on contacts and NONE of them were comfortable. I just gave up and wear my glasses now.

I am anxious to hear how these new contacts work for you! If their price is any indication, they ought to be GREAT!

I really don't have a problem with my sight --my ARMS are just too SHORT!!!! (-:

petrii said...

Jacquie,
I hear ya girl!! I wore glasses for so many years, tried contacts 2different times, but always had trouble the whole time I wore them. I had the REALLY thick glasses, and had to spend a fortune on them, and when I did have contacts it was RIDICULOUS!!! I had such bad astigmatisms and myopia. Well, two days before I turned 40 (which was, ahem, 2 and 1/2 years ago . . anyway . . =) I had Intralse surgery on my eyes and I now see 20/25. I know -- crazy!!! I actually have 20/40 in my right eye they couldn't correct it completely, but that's cool. I NEVER remember a time seeing 20/25. Its so great!!

Okay, so longest commenter ever is going to wish you a Blessed evening, =)

Dawn

PS Oh yeah, I do have to wear reading glasses now, but that is so okay with me. Longest commenter ever is done again =)

Anonymous said...

That's so funny that I just found your blog! I have just been switched into the Proclear multifocals as well! I'm too young for that I thought! They are SO expensive compared to my old lenses...Such is life, right!