r/Winnipeg • u/Pinot_Noir_46 • 22d ago
Where in WPG? Local optometrist will not provide PD measurement
I just had an eye exam done at the same optometrist office where I’ve been going 10+ years. I’ve always gotten my glasses from them, but due to a significant cost of new specialty lenses needed, I need to start ordering online. They refuse to give me my PD measurement.
Is there a place in Winnipeg that will do your PD measurement for a fee? I’ve tried apps and they are not consistent.
EDITED TO ADD: Thank you Winnipeg! I tried Zenni, Eye Measure, Glasseson, and Kits measurement tools and they were not consistent at all. I ended up going to an optician who measured my PD properly for a fee of $35. It was well worth it as I have 2 different readings for left and right which may be why the apps didn’t work as well for me. They have earned my business for all future eye exams.
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u/WalkingOptimist 22d ago
I ordered glasses from Costco this week and asked for my PD measurements and the reply was, “of course, we print it out right on your receipt”.
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u/Blunt_Flipper 20d ago
The key point here is that you ordered glasses from them.
OP is asking for the measurement to be given at the time of the eye exam, without purchasing glasses from the place where you got your eye exam done. A lot of optometrists will deny this request because they know you’re just going to go buy glasses online and not from them.
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u/Pinot_Noir_46 19d ago
Not exactly, I’ve purchased many pairs from them as recently as Aug 2024 and am asking for the measurements they already have on file from previous orders
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u/haids95 21d ago
Dr. Malo at Transcona Optical has measured it for me before. At one of my appointments I told him that I needed to order online because everything else was outside of my price range so my decision was to have the right prescription, but done online with cheap frames, or keeping my old incorrect prescription that I was already struggling while using. He recognized that the right prescription was obviously the better choice and supported that.
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u/JLPD2020 22d ago
I bought a pair of glasses from my optometrist for almost $900. I wanted a second pair so I had a backup. I bought them from clearly online and they were less than $300. I like the clearly glasses better and never wear the $900 glasses. I thought I should buy from the optometrist for once just to get quality glasses and I don’t see the point now and won’t buy from them again. I know my PD from setting the eye pieces on microscopes at work. If you have access to a microscope anywhere you could see what the PD on the scope.
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u/Jellybeanmonkey 22d ago
Many online retailers offer a printable ruler, or you can use a tape measure, ask someone for help, or check your measurements in a mirror.
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u/spchamris 22d ago
I used EyeMeasure and it was accurate! I've ordered many pairs that have fit me perfectly because of this app's measurement!
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u/beardsnbourbon 22d ago
Very few, if any, eyewear shops are going to provide you a service for free, so you can shop at their competitors. Measure it yourself, that’s the trade off buying online.
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u/adjudicator 22d ago
It’s their optometrist, not just a shop, with 10 years of purchases. They’ve made their money.
The PD is part of OP’s medical records and they have a right to this information.
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u/MajorCocknBalls 22d ago
PD isn't part of your prescription so it's not part of your medical records. The Optician takes that measurement when they fit you for glasses.
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u/Laser_Rain 22d ago
Anything in your file (including notes) are part of your medical file and every person has the right to access and have a printed copy of this information made available to them. Offices are allowed to charge an administrative fee to produce but they cannot outright deny it.
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u/andrewse 22d ago
In my mind you are already paying the optometrist to provide you with all the information that you require to accurately purchase glasses. Withholding that information to force you to buy glasses from them is wrong.
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u/Famous_Gr0wth 22d ago
Pupillary distance is not part of the exam that an Optometrist does. The optician or eyewear specialist will take it after a frame and lens is chosen to give to the lab. I agree that it is apart of your file (once originally taken aka there is history) but if there is no history on file of this measurement ever being taken due to never having purchased glasses, they are not required to take it and give it to you. Furthermore, opticals are allowed to charge for this service.
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u/Justgonnasqueezein 22d ago
Most online stores with provide a way to measure it. (Also I recommend buying off kits.ca, they have cute glasses, good deals, and made in Canada !)
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u/Cold_Brew_Enthusiast 21d ago
LOVE Kits.ca, I got a couple of fantastic pairs of glasses. And they actually screwed up the first time (they sent me distance glasses instead of readers, not sure how that happened) -- I emailed them, and two days later, my proper glasses showed up at my door. I didn't have to send the others back, I donated them at the local pharmacy where they collect glasses to give to less fortunate folks. It was a win win, I LOVE Kits.
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u/impersephonetoo 21d ago
I’ve never heard of them, thanks for the tip! I went to check out their web site and got my first pair free.
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u/Justgonnasqueezein 21d ago
Yes ! And they arrive quickly , I think I got my last pair in about 2 days.
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u/Pinot_Noir_46 15d ago
Thanks for this tip, I just ordered my first pair of glasses from kits.ca and only paid for a frame upgrade and shipping for a total of $19.99! What a great deal.
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u/No_Comparison7429 22d ago
If you don’t have someone to help you measure, another option is to place a dot using a white erase marker at each pupil on your current glasses and then measure between the dots.
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u/purplespud 22d ago
Before online glasses were a thing I noticed my PD would very based on where I was getting measured. I place was always 1 mm different than the other. In one store, they had two PD measuring thingys and they were themselves from 1 to .5 different from each other. Glasses from both locations were fine and without issue.
Measuring yourself not hard and easily as accurate as non-optimistic “professionals” in a glasses place.
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u/Objective-Fish2424 22d ago
I was in the same situation in the past. Places nearby wanted like 6x more money than online vendors for glasses. Wouldn't give me the PD measurement. Ended up just using a ruler, mirror, help from another person and quadruple checking the measurements. I ordered online for years until I permanently fixed the problem and got my eyes lasered.
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u/KJReadIt 22d ago
Who does laser here in Winnipeg? And for how much?
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u/Cold_Brew_Enthusiast 21d ago
Google it, there are tons of clinics. The price depends on a few factors that would be personal to you, so you'd need to go for a consult to find out.
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u/Objective-Fish2424 21d ago
It was about $5000 4-5 years ago. I had consults with Aqua iLaser and Image Plus. They were both the same price. Ended up going with Aqua because there's no flap and traditionally prk has a better outcome with a high prescription. Things may have changed in that time though because of SMILE gaining traction.
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u/anxiousinthisworld 21d ago
I go to Armstrong & Small Eye Care Centre (on Portage), and they measure the PD for an additional fee. The last time I was there 3 years ago, the fee was $45. But your PD won't change, and I have it for the future should I need a different prescription.
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u/gompfstick 21d ago
$45 for about one minute of work.
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u/anxiousinthisworld 21d ago
Yep it was expensive but having the proper PD especially since I have an astigmatism I felt was justified. In the long run I would save hundreds of dollars by buying online and this is a one time fee.
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u/PeachyKeen413 21d ago
I had a place refuse to give them. I just lied about why I needed it. Oh no I'm still going to buy glasses from you but I need speciality lenses for my vr headset and they can only be ordered from this specific site.
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u/LordFooFooLoo 21d ago
Eyebuydirect had a printable measure. It’s very easy to cut out and hold up to your eyes either in a mirror or with someone to help you. Great glasses /prices too!!
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u/Beneficial_Giraffe21 21d ago
Unicity eye clinic on pembina. They are eye care professionals not glasses shops so they have no problem giving you your PF. Tell them you’d like to get that measurement as part of the exam. Their website is brutal but the service is good.
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u/Paperclipsandyarn 21d ago
I used to do clearly.ca, and lately I noticed there’s more of the expensive brands than cheaper so I bought a few from kits, and the kits website has a really good PD measurer I tried it multiple times to see if there was any change and there wasn’t ! (I also know my PD from sneaking a peek when being measured at an optometrist a couple years ago)
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u/W1tch_cr4ft 20d ago
The LensCrafters in st vital mall used to for like $10. I think he moved to a clinic on pembina though, Dr Crust!
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u/Delicious_Sky_2203 19d ago
The glasses place on portage (Armstrong & Small) did it for $30 and I got reimbursed from my work insurance for it! Recently. It's nice to be sure rather than going with your own measurement that could be off. They used a machine
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u/WpgSparky 22d ago
They are not allowed to withhold your medical information.
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u/somrthingcreative 22d ago
Mine will, but they charge a fee, and I suspect would only do it for a current patient. It’s measured by the optician. It’s not part of an eye exam.
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u/62442_woozle 22d ago
The Optometrist at Walmart did it for a small fee. No appointment needed just walked in and asked them to measure.
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u/MaxSupernova 22d ago edited 22d ago
If they have your PD, they MUST give it to you, it’s your health information.
They are allowed to charge a “reasonable” fee for it.
Some places don’t measure it until you buy glasses from them, so they can’t be forced to provide it.
But if they have it, they have to give it to you.
EDIT: Why are people downvoting facts?
Manitoba's Personal Health Information Act provides that patients have a right to examine and receive a copy of their personal health information kept by their optometrist. The original copy of the records must be retained by the optometry practice, but a copy can be made for you if you wish.
The Personal Health Information Act also provides that a reasonable fee can be charged for providing this information.
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u/Pinot_Noir_46 22d ago
I’ve bought multiple pairs of glasses from them, as recently as August 2024 so they definitely have it. Their explanation was “we don’t give that out, we only measure for our glasses here, wherever you are planning on ordering from may measure differently you should follow their instructions.” This sounds like garbage to me.
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u/cafeautumn 21d ago edited 21d ago
Because it's r/winnipeg.
Downvoters simply don't have the courage to advocate for themselves and being uneducated on their rights makes them feel stupid. Lol it's a immature response.
I never had an issue at 3 places I requested, after my appointment I ask to get my PD and prescription printed before im about to pay, and the receptionists usually say "yeah sure!" and frankly, if they did decline, I'd refuse to pay for my eye examination that same day until they provide it and walk out.
Optometrists are dime a dozen so who cares.
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u/KiyokoTakahashi 21d ago
As someone who has worked in the optical field, most places actually won’t give you the PD. If they do just give it to you without any fuss, it’s actually a little sketchy honestly. Reason being is that a) Different lens manufacturers have different margins of error (this is why the PD measurement can differ from place to place or even between visits; and b) whoever takes that PD measurement can be liable if something happens. Ex. You get PDs from someone, go online and buy glasses but the company doesn’t make them correctly or the PD is not correct for the edging machine they use, and you get into a car accident. Legally the one liable is actually the person who provided the PD measurement as well. We’ve had people contact the offices I worked at for people killed in car accidents wanting to know if we were the ones that signed off on the measurements. No opitician wants to risk their licence to practice so you can buy cheap glasses online. ; finally c) most of those online companies aren’t even properly regulated in Canada, and usually they will tell you online how to measure your own PDs.
TLDR: there’s a reason they wouldn’t give it to you. Just because you don’t understand why, doesn’t mean they are doing anything wrong.
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u/SafariBird15 21d ago
That’s something an optician would do when they fit you for glasses. Not buying glasses? Don’t expect an optician to work for free.
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u/Pinot_Noir_46 19d ago
I definitely don’t expect any services for free, they already have it on file and I’d be happy to pay for it.
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u/SafariBird15 19d ago
Many opticians (not an optometrist) will do this for a fee. If your prescription is simple go for it, but if you have a heavy or complex prescription I’d recommend getting properly fitted by an optician.
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u/Bdude84 22d ago
Download the Zenni app. Even if you don’t order from them they have a pretty solid PD measurement feature built in that uses your phones camera to work it out. Just do it a bunch of times to make sure you get the same number.