Not That Again! The Questions You Wish Patients Would Stop Asking

Can I get a trial contact? (Even writing it makes me combustible.) — Rick Rickgauer, Vision Associates, Girard, PA
“No, really, I just need to ask the doctor a quick question. Can you get him/her on the phone right now?” — Jen Heller, Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID
Sadly, they ask if my breasts are real. — Julie Uram, Optical Oasis, Jupiter, FL
How many pairs of glasses do you have? How much did they all cost? — Jenna Gilbertson, McCulley Optix Gallery, Fargo, ND
I can buy these contacts anywhere, right? — Shimul Shah, OD, Marysville Family Vision, Marysville, OH
Aren’t these scratch proof? — Jade Kowalick, Rophie Eye Care, Dunedin, FL
Which frames are covered by my insurance? — Shane Clark, Infinity EyeCare, Rapid City, SD
Does my insurance cover that? — Danielle Jackson, OD, Jackson Eye, Fairburn, GA
Why do I have to pay a contact lens evaluation fee? I’ve never had to pay it anywhere else. — Tammy Hazelett, Wylie Vision Care, Garland, TX
Does this come with a warranty? — Jason Stamper, Eye Care Pavilion, Davenport, IA
How do you compare to [discount optical]? — Ron Catterson, Clear View Optix, The Villages, FL
Why do you cost more than Costco? — Kathy Maren, Comb EyeCare & Eyewear, Western Springs, IL
Do you take my insurance? — Mitchell Kaufman, Marine Park Family Vision, Brooklyn, NY
Do you really need to wear glasses or do you just do so because you work here? — Christine Howard, Attleboro Vision Care, Attleboro, MA
Can you do better on the price? — Dorothy Reynolds, Optical Alternatives, Milford, CT
You let them ask questions?!? Kidding… “Is xxxx normal?” … when it’s obviously not. — T.S. Stephens, OD, Dr. Stephens and Associates, Vienna, WV
Why do you charge for a CL refitting ? — Dave Schultz, OD, Urban Optics, San Luis Obispo, CA
“At your age, do you take Viagra?” Yes, but I take it so I won’t pee on my shoes. — Texas L. Smith, OD, Dr. Texas L. Smith & Associates, Citrus Heights, CA
What is my insurance? — Jeff Grosekemper, Casa De Oro Eyecare, Spring Valley, CA
Do I get that exact frame off the wall? — Bob Schmittou, New Eyes Optical, Wyandotte, MI
Can this be billed to my insurance? — Pauline Buck, OD, Behavioral and Developmental Optometrists, Miami, FL
Can I get more contacts and trials even thought my Rx is expired? — Scott Felten, Fox Valley Family Eye Care, Little Chute, WI
How come these are so expensive, when I can get them online for $20? — Frances Ann Layton, Eye Associates of South GA, Valdosta, GA
Can you write this frame down for me? — Steve Nelson, Eye Candy Optical, Westlake, OH
Why are my glasses not free? I have insurance. — Pablo E Mercado, Mount Vernon Eyecare, Dunwoody, GA
Do you carry Ray-Ban? (Or Oakley) — Caitlin Bruno, Binyon Vision Center, Bellingham, WA
Are you open? — Dave Goodrich, Goodrich Optical, Lansing, MI
Can you fix my Warby Parker’s, Zenni, or any other online glasses? I got them like this! — Jill Sweig, OD, Oyster Bay Optics, Oyster Bay, NY
“That’s the soonest I can get in?” when we say, “Her first opening is XYZ.” — Bridgett Fredrickson, Whelan Eye Care, Bemidji, MN
“Is the doctor available? I have a question….” As if he is not particularly busy, you know, seeing patients all day. — Cassandra Nash, HD Optical Express, Lansing, MI
Why doesn’t my insurance cover that? — Richard Kemerling, Margolis Vision, Lone Tree, CO
Aren’t all frames made by one company? — Paula Hornbeck, Eye Candy, Delafield and Mequon, WI
Why do I have to pay for contact lens evaluation when I already wear contacts? — Monika Marczak, OD, Eye Candy Optical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Will you adjust the glasses I bought online? — Kevin Bushouse, RxOptical, Kalamazoo, MI
What does Costco charge for this? — Allen D. Hoek, OD, Ripon, CA
Why don’t you know what my insurance covers? — James Masser, Rocky Mountain Eye Center, Pueblo, CO
Are your sunglasses prescription only? — Edna Shelby, Macomb Vision Associates, Shelby Township, MI
Can I take my prescription elsewhere? UGH! — Karen Santos McCloud, OD, Hamburg Vision Center, Lexington, KY

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INVISION Staff

Since launching in 2014, INVISION has won 23 international journalism awards for its publication and website. Contact INVISION's editors at editor@invisionmag.com.