Glasses frame shopping in a mask?

Staysfit

I went to the Optometrist today because my vision has become blurry....

He wore a hazmat suit!

I wore my homemade mask.

I need some adjustments to my prescription, and am getting some new glasses made specifically for reading and computer use.

The optician wore an N95 mask. I wore my homemade mask.

I tried on frames while wearing my mask. I chose new frames while wearing my mask, They look great with the mask, but will they look good without?

I will find out in a few weeks. It’s a bit of a mystery until then!

Has anyone else been glasses frame shopping in a mask?

4 years ago

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

kkards

Veteran

i haven't tried on glasses, but i will say that i hate wearing glasses with my mask, they always slip off (my glasses not the mask)
but your trip to the optician makes me really nervous about my trip to the dentist in Oct

4 years ago

Anonymous

I tried a few months ago - and couldn't stay the course. I was hot, annoyed, and frustrated, and decided I couldn't make a good decision about frames when I couldn't see my entire face. The hovering of the sales person didn't help either. I'm staying with what I have for the foreseeable future despite the benefit an updated prescription/new glasses would bring .

4 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good for you, Staysfit! I hope they work out. It's very tricky

I need a new eyewear prescription too, but have not ventured out for that. I hope I can manage till next year.

4 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

No but I have a small prescription update is the reading part of me continuous bifocal and have been avoiding frame/ shopping. I don’t want to use my existing frames.
I have a small face and need to avoid frames with too large “ eyes” that sit on my cheeks —- don’t know how to do that in mask without fiddling with my mask.
Such a deal!

4 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Kkards, I have been to the dentist. I felt safer there than the Optometrist.

4 years ago

Anonymous

I've been to the dentist and the hygienist and the dentist wore two layers of mask, goggles and a shield with a light. I felt safe.

I haven't been to the optometrist but I've had two eye appointments with exams in hospitals. I wore the mask they gave me, there were hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere, very spaced waiting rooms with very few people, and I felt completely safe. If I needed new glasses I would feel more comfortable in that environment than a private office.

4 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

So far have navigated dentist and body work folk (physio and massage) feeling safe. Also haircut and aesthetics. We live in a tiny, insulated community where there is an abundance of caution taken. Numbers in our province have started to increase in the past week (from below 100
positives Per 20-25 thousand tests to over 100, with a record 235 today. Hotspots are the two bigger cities (Toronto and Ottawa) and related to weddings, funerals, and house parties (for the most part). Schools opened this week, so the province of Ontario is on tenterhooks. For reference, the population of Ontario is approximately 14.57 million and our biggest cities are Toronto (pop. Just under 3 mil.) and Ottawa (1 mil.) We are in stage 3 and rather than roll back liberties, we are on ‘hold’ for the next 4 weeks. We are a long way, still, from ‘back to normal.’

4 years ago

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I haven’t been glasses shopping yet but it’s time for me to go and update my prescription. I can’t imagine trying on new frames when I can’t see my whole face. I would get very frustrated!

4 years ago

NancyW

Veteran

Dentist and optometrist offices were well organized and followed all the rules they published on their websites. I tried to choose new glasses, but it was just overwhelming. I did quickly choose reading glasses because I am less sensitive to how they look than to how much I enjoy having dedicated readers. I chose these from the ‘bargain wall’. The price included the simple lenses. Once you move into transition lenses the price goes way up and I did not want to make an expensive error. Limping along with outdated lenses for now.

4 years ago

anchie

Veteran

It is going to be a big reveal when they arrive. Hopefully nice surprise.
My insurance provide new lenses/glasses every two years, and I am due next year, but it will not be soon enough because I feel that my vision got worst recently. Even if not for insurance, I would not go now, it doesn’t feel safe. We have cases on the rise, arround 300 par day in city of 2 milion, but masks are not required in shops, except in grocery stores and almost no one wears them.

4 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That sounds challenging. I have a hard enough time shopping for frames under normal circumstances, so I can only imagine. I got new frames and an update in prescription to progressive lenses a year ago and I’m glad I did it then! They’re working well for me, so no need for change. I hope you like what you ordered!

I felt pretty safe at my first periodontist appointment in over 6 months the other day. I think they take the precautions super seriously since their patients tend to be in a high-risk age group. Now I need to schedule that overdue mammogram and gyn checkup.

4 years ago

Gail

Veteran

I got a new prescription at the beginning of March right before everything shut down. I really don't want to try on frames with my mask but am getting desperate for new glasses and the reading part of the pair I have is no longer strong enough. I was thinking of trying Warby Parker so I can try on at home.
My dentist is in a full hazmat suit!

4 years ago

nemosmom

Veteran

Oh that sounds really stressful! I keep putting off appointments... we are all due for wellness checks and dentist visits, but man, I am too scared to go...

4 years ago

Classically Casual

Veteran

Thanks for the heads up Staysfit...I have an eye exam soon, and I know my prescription will be changed. I hadn't thought about the mask issue during frame selection.

I've been to the dentist twice, and all was well from a patient's point of view. I feel sorry for the staff in all their layers, but they seem cheerful.

I tried to make an annual PE appointment, but they're not doing them, though mammograms are happening. Some years I only visit the dr. once per year, like this one. I'm 73...it seems to be a long time to go without any bloodwork, etc. Fortunately I feel good.

4 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Runcarla, Your stats are interesting. Our community is also small. Our stats have been low, most recently only 9 positives for the entire county of about 500,000. The numbers had been much higher. We are worried because colleges have opened, and school is started. A couple local high schools have had some students gathering in parks for unsanctioned group senior photos without masks.

4 years ago

Mainelady

Veteran

Good for you! I hope your choices look just as fab without your mask.
i went shopping for new reading glasses and sunglasses this summer. Everyone was masked. Sanitizer use was frequent. I stuck to frame shapes that have worked for me in the past. I have been really happy with my choices.
The county I live in has had 52 cases of covid. The county where the glasses were purchased (closest one to where I live) has had 126 cases. When I went in July the numbers were much lower. I have been for my annual physical and I have taken my MIL to a few medical appointments. Now that I am back teaching, I will not be taking my MIL to appointments. My chances of exposure multiply as soon as children start coming through the door.

4 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I think my level of anxiety going to appointments is related to the local infection stats. Our infection rate is below 1%. The numbers published in today’s paper state that the rate of positive tests is 0.67% if counting permanent residents. When college students get added to the mix, the local numbers go down to 0.33%. The local colleges have done a good job so far of testing regularly and isolating positive students. We are already in the fourth week of classes, and so far our numbers remain lower than they were back in March.

I have two medical procedures scheduled this week. I am trying to get my annual medical care completed while our stats remain low. As Mainelady says, with school starting, the risk of spread seems as though it will increase.

4 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I think it’s a good idea to shop with the mask on, because that’s how you’ll wear the frames, at least at first. Did you check which fogged up more, which less?

4 years ago

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