My Eyeglasses

More than any other mechanism, falling asleep while reading is the most effective way for me to get a good night's sleep.  I have had sleep problems all of my life, so I should know. As a pre-teen, our family doctor refused to prescribe "sleeping pills" at my mother's request, and, to her chagrin he just told her to let me stay up late enough until I was ready to go to sleep. He did tell her and me that if my school grades suffered, or I had other problems, we would revisit this plan.  There was never any reason to revisit this plan.

So, I often fall asleep reading, and the problem with this is that it affects my eye glasses. My current pair of eye glasses were obtained in December of 2013.  Several months into my possession of these eye glasses, I fell asleep reading, and bent an ear piece.  I think I could have returned to the provider, to get the eyeglasses adjusted, but I never did.

I have had some vision problems recently, and knew it was time to get another vision exam.  I have been putting that off. For several reasons.  The last optometrist I saw for a vision exam was not one I trusted. I had seen him once before, and did not like him, but forgot that, so when I  went to him again in 2013, I was reminded that I did not like him, his staff or his practice. I had seen another provider before seeing him and I knew I was developing cataracts.  When I saw this other optometrist, he told me I had the beginning of cataracts, which I knew, and he told me I had nerve problems with my left eye.

Because of the nerve problem to my left eye, he had me come back to do another test. I called my primary care provider, and was given an authorization for this other test.  I went to the optometrist for this test, and then discovered he was not authorized by my insurance for this other test. His office told me they did not know this, and were trying to get authorized for this test.  As far as I can tell, this authorization never occurred. 

When I was scheduled for a follow up exam, and the insurance issue had not been resolved, I called to cancel the follow up exam.  I was told I could not cancel the follow up exam.  I told the person on the phone that I could cancel the follow up exam, and why.  A few days later, someone from this optometrist's office called me and told me why they had not resolved the insurance issue from the previous exam, and why it was okay to keep the follow up exam.  Which I did not do.  I have never received notification from my insurance that this follow up exam was ever covered by this provider.

So, recently, I wanted to change providers, because I wanted to establish myself with someone who has my eye health history regarding my cataracts, specifically an ophthalmologist.   I have decided on the Texas Tech Eye Consultants https://www.ttuhsc.edu/som/ophthalmology/clinics/southwest.aspx. They told me that if I just wanted a vision exam, they would set me up with an optometrist This is okay with me, because if I have cataracts, or other eye health issues, the medical records will be at the clinic, and an ophthalmologist will have that information.      

So, I have an appointment pending.  Hopefully, this will help.