Coo-Coo for Contact Lenses!

[Camry178]

This happened about a week and a half ago. The lady wasn't really sucky, just crazy as hell!

CL- Crazy Lady (this lady looked crazy when she came in...you know how sometimes you can just spot them?)
Me-

Ok, so CL comes in and first speaks to my co-worker "C". Turns out she lost her contact lenses and wants us to give her trials (sample contact lenses). CL isn't a patient at any of our locations and doesn't have a prescription. C asks if I can take care of her.

Me: Hi, now what is it that you wanted?
CL: Yeah, I lost my contact lenses and need trials.
Me: Ok, do you have your prescription with you?
CL: No, but I know what I need....I'm a -6.25 and-
Me: Ma'am, I'm sorry. But without a written prescription I cannot dispense anything to you. It's just like going to the pharmacy, you need a prescription.
CL: Well, I really just need one set of trials. My cat knocked my lenses off the sink and I couldn't find them.
Me: I'm sorry ma'am, but don't you have glasses?
CL: No, I need contacts.
Me: Well, I'm sorry ma'am, but like I said, we need a prescription.

At this point she's starting to unravel. Have you ever seen a cartoon where there's a string that's being pulled and it starts to break apart strand by strand?

CL: Well, LensQuest (or something like that) has my prescription. Can you call them and get it?
Me: No, but I can give you our business card and you can call them and have them fax it over to us. Then if we have your lenses in stock, we can sell you a couple of boxes.

So I go over to the counter, get a business card and hand it to her. She looks at the business card and just LOSES IT!! The cheese has just slid off her cracker.

CL starts crying, yells something about how she hates not being able to see. Then she starts PUNCHING HERSELF ON HER HEAD, HAAARD like five times on each side of her head. She jumps up and down as she's headed towards the door while pulling at her hair. As she's pushing the first door open, she proceeds to bite her arm. And when she gets to the front step of the entrance, she jumps off the step and lands in a heap on the floor still crying!!

The other customers in the store just stared in disbelief. All I was thinking was "Now somebody is gonna walk by and think we did something to her".

After she was gone, my associates asked me why I just didn't offer her the option of getting her eyes examined with us. To which I answered:

Me: Hell No!! Trust me, you do not want any parts of that crazyness as a customer!

When I told the rest of the staff and the regular OD what happened, they laughed and said they couldn't believe it. I told them to go look at the video tape if they doubted me.

I just can't believe how people get over freakin' contact lenses. One of my coworkers said it best: "It's like crack to them".

[Anakah]

Just wow.... She had some kind of serious mental disease... I hope she wasn't driving.

[OfficeSlug]

I'm beginning to think that more and more people are physically growing up - NOT mentally.


*sigh*

[Camry178]

Just wow.... She had some kind of serious mental disease... I hope she wasn't driving.

LOL...Luckily this is in the city. Nobody really drives, they just take taxis.

[sbandliz]

-6.25 means she can only read if the paper is about 10cm from her eyes!
(I should know - my eyes are that bad too)
For her to leave her apartment without her glasses is just mind boggling.

[tropicsgoddess]

I'm beginning to think that more and more people are physically growing up - NOT mentally.


*sigh*

Unfortunately you're right on target with that.

[TheSHAD0W]

I think they can now sell eyeglasses without a prescription, and they're available at Walmart, Walgreens and a few other places. That'd be enough to tide her over until she can get her prescription for contacts.

[Camry178]

I think they can now sell eyeglasses without a prescription, and they're available at Walmart, Walgreens and a few other places. That'd be enough to tide her over until she can get her prescription for contacts.

Against the law as far as I know. The only things that can be sold without a doctor's prescription are the over-the-counter magnifiers (readers).

[KorporateKitty]

I think they can now sell eyeglasses without a prescription, and they're available at Walmart, Walgreens and a few other places. That'd be enough to tide her over until she can get her prescription for contacts.

How, though? I thought you either had to get an exam or use an existing prescription...as long as it's not more than a year old. That was my experience w/WalMart and everywhere else.

[Nohbody]

How, though? I thought you either had to get an exam or use an existing prescription...as long as it's not more than a year old. That was my experience w/WalMart and everywhere else.

At the WM here, they didn't bother asking about the age of my prescription, when getting prescription sun glasses done off of my regular glasses prescription, just that the prescription was still good.

(Personal project. I didn't get a $10 pair of clip-on shades to put on my regular glasses for a reason.)

[Broomjockey]

Against the law as far as I know.

They sell reading glasses, to the best of my knowledge, and usually just mild prescriptions. I've seen them, little racks. I doubt they'd have anything to help this lady. I'm sure the reason they're allowed is because it's so mild. Like buying Tylenol.

[NateTheChops]

I would probably pay good money to see that video though...

[smileyeagle1021]

This is one of hte reasons I just stick with glasses... so many problems with contacts and how they become like crack (that and without VSP contacts are way too expensive... hell glasses are way too expensive but not as bad).

[Kullervo]

reminds me that I am way overdue for my exam.
I need to find a decent eye doctor in my area.

[Pagan]

I just can't believe how people get over freakin' contact lenses. One of my coworkers said it best: "It's like crack to them".

Weird. I just got them again after 5 years, mainly because I want the option depending on how I feel that day, but I can take them or leave them.

I think they can now sell eyeglasses without a prescription, and they're available at Walmart, Walgreens and a few other places. That'd be enough to tide her over until she can get her prescription for contacts.

Against the law as far as I know. The only things that can be sold without a doctor's prescription are the over-the-counter magnifiers (readers).

I know for a fact that Wally World doesn't sell anything OTC but readers. Besides, without the prescription telling them what strength the lenses need to be, there's no way to make the glasses.