Spectacles

[ThaiPauly]

I once knew an Optician but sadly he fell into his lens grinder and made a spectacle of himself.

[Dustoff]

I have also heard many recommendations for the Vision Center and wish I had used them before I went to Top Cheroen Optical (I think that is the spelling) in the Central Dept store complex on Huai Kaeo.

They hit me for 6800 Baht and presented me with lenses so badly cut I cannot wear them even in our home. When I returned them I was told they have no guarantee and the only way they would replace them was if I paid for them all over again minus a very gracious 10% discount. Knowing they are a big chain, I tried for two months to find their home offices but met with dead ends at every turn.

[FolkGuitar]

I have also heard many recommendations for the Vision Center and wish I had used them before I went to Top Cheroen Optical (I think that is the spelling) in the Central Dept store complex on Huai Kaeo.

They hit me for 6800 Baht and presented me with lenses so badly cut I cannot wear them even in our home. When I returned them I was told they have no guarantee and the only way they would replace them was if I paid for them all over again minus a very gracious 10% discount. Knowing they are a big chain, I tried for two months to find their home offices but met with dead ends at every turn.

They were the first that I went to when I came to Thailand (but not the Central branch.) The axis on the lens made for my left eye was so far off that I had to tip the glasses 45 degrees to get a clear sight picture. The tech agreed that this 'might' not be suitable. Instead of re-making the lens, they tried to grind the first one. Did get better. I only had to tip the glasses about 20 degrees off horizontal... The did recheck my eyes with their super computer, but it told them that the 45 degree tilt was required. So they tried to convince me that my eyes were wrong. After all, how could a computer be wrong. They insisted they were correct. I suggested that we call the police. They said they would remake the glasses, which they did. At a 45 degree mistake for the left eye, but now a 15 degree in the opposite direction for the right eye. I suggested that they give me my money back. The suggested that they remake the glasses. I suggested that I write a feature article for some of the local tourist magazines, complete with photos about their poor service. They suggested that they refund my money... I thought was was a good idea and agreed.

[my friend I]

Best to avoid Top Charoen & Beautiful. There r some good places in Central at Huai Kaeo

[SwaziBird]

Best to avoid Top Charoen & Beautiful. There r some good places in Central at Huai Kaeo

Now here's something that may be of value to the vision-impaired.

Right on the corner of Huay Kaew Road & Ratchaphruek is a rather specialised optical shop.

For bearings, we're talking about across the road from and right opposite the Shell filling station. Ratchaphruek is the road leading to Nakornping Condo. The corner I'm talking about is a few hundred metres from Kad Suan Kaew - driving away from the moat - and on the other side of the road.

Anyway, you will find what appears to be a normal opticians shop - but check it out !

The lady who runs it is fluent in English - is evidently, very knowledgeable about frames too but, she is often away from the shop with a note left on the door "At hospital - back at.."

On enquiry I found she wasn't sick at all merely - goes to various hospitals to test persons for specs.

Now, whether that is a good recommendation or not, I cannot say. But she must have some pretty good qualification to allow this entre.

All I do know is that she ordered a somewhat complicated set of multi-focal sun-glasses ( made up to a prescription written in Australia ) for my wife and they worked perfectly well from day 1.

The lab she uses ( in BKK) seemed to cut them right first off - but she at least indicated that if there was any difficulty to return them for correction and, furthermore there was a 12 month guarantee - ( on what, I'm uncertain, since the frames were provided by ourselves ).

That's been our experience. Positive.

Cheers

[PeaceBlondie]

Please, friends, do not think that an OPTICIAN is an eye expert. In the USA, that only means the guy who grinds the lenses. An OPTOMETRIST is almost a doctor, having taken advanced years of training in eye measurement. Only a medical doctor who specializes in eye surgery, an OPHTHALMOLOGIST, can really look inside your eye and see if you have a detached retina, cancer, or other serious diseases. Your eyes are worth a million baht. At least every two years, you need a full-scale ophthalmological exam, even if you cannot spell it. A physician, an eye surgeon. Then take that doctor's prescription to the optical shop. God only gave you two eyes, and you will need at least one of them for the rest of your life.

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but when you've spent the last 43 years with vision in only one eye, these things matter.

[Dustoff]

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but when you've spent the last 43 years with vision in only one eye, these things matter.

As a recovering Republican, I totally agree!

Seriously tho, as a commercial pilot I always went with Opthalmologists for my eye exams and, as I posted above, foolishly chose to go with an establishment with something-for-sale and regretted my mistake.

(How appropriate is it that Top Charoen Optical is advertising below?)

As ole One-Eyed PB says, you get what you pay for and there is no excuse for cutting corners when it comes to your vision.

Edited May 24, 2008 by Dustoff

[PeaceBlondie]

Hey Dustoff, now that you mention it, my vision improved so much after I lost that one eye, that an Australian pediatrician helped me vote Democratic ever since! My theory is that one-eyed people can see into the heart. Long live the monocular people.

PS: Some deteriorations and diseases of the eye are already taking their toll before you notice it. Trust your vision to a specialist with four years of medical school and a several-year residency.

[Mapguy]

Please, friends, do not think that an OPTICIAN is an eye expert. In the USA, that only means the guy who grinds the lenses. An OPTOMETRIST is almost a doctor, having taken advanced years of training in eye measurement. Only a medical doctor who specializes in eye surgery, an OPHTHALMOLOGIST, can really look inside your eye and see if you have a detached retina, cancer, or other serious diseases. Your eyes are worth a million baht. At least every two years, you need a full-scale ophthalmological exam, even if you cannot spell it. A physician, an eye surgeon. Then take that doctor's prescription to the optical shop. God only gave you two eyes, and you will need at least one of them for the rest of your life.

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but when you've spent the last 43 years with vision in only one eye, these things matter.

Agree entirely. Except for frame adjustments (tightening and so forth) or replacement of broken glasses (in case you happen to slip on a particular nightclub step late in the evening) an opothalmologist should be consulted periodically. It isn't expensive to get a decent exam. Try Dr. Rachada at Chiang Mai Ram I. Her colleague then determines the prescription. Her colleague clearly has long experience at it. And the doctor's recommendation might indeed be to simply advise you to get a pair of 150 baht reading glasses available off the rack throughout the city.

For opticians, I have never heard anything good about the large chains. You might try Eye Design at AIrport Plaza. I think they are in Store G-173. They might be expensive when compared to others. It depends on what you are getting, as well.

[Nienke]

or replacement of broken glasses (in case you happen to slip on a particular nightclub step late in the evening)

How do you know? You were there ... ?

[PeaceBlondie]

Yes, Dr. Rashada is excellent. She may also be the only person in northern Thailand who can fashion a prosthesis.

[wrbc]

Yes, Dr. Rashada is excellent. She may also be the only person in northern Thailand who can fashion a prosthesis.

last week i got a pair of glasses from the vision center. boy, what a difference from last year, when i got (three pairs) at top chaeron! the person who i dealt with here was very professional, and was amazingly thorough . and unlike with top chaeron, i was very satisfied with my glasses. and when i went back, unlike with top chaeron, he did not pressure me to buy more, in fact said i did not need another pair. i feel completely satisfied and confident in his abilities.

[john b good]

just got back from vision center. slightly pricey. but extensive check up of the eye. thing is that after the glasses was done within 30 minutes as promised, the left side seemed a little blur. checked it again and asked me if i want to increase it by another +0.5. i said ok, he had no problems changing the lens for the left eye. I would imagine the krung thai optical place in big-c that i frequent would have come with half a million excuses why they cant change the lens. that too after waiting for a week for the lens to arrive. this was done in an additional 30 minutes which i wisely spent on a cool chilled tiger beer at UN Irish .

Vision Center. thanks for the recommendation guys.

There seems to be a lot of positive posts about this place....

I must have odd eyes as I always seem to get better results from places that use the old fashioned 'drop-in' test lenses, especially with respect to axis. I wonder why that is?

It's about time for me to update my eyes, so I'll give The Vision Center a try. But ######... there used to be two young women in an shop just inside Robinsons on the second floor that ALWAYS got my glasses correct on the first try. Then they moved 'somewhere' and I've never been able to find them again. They used the old method. I wanted to purchase the 'try' model but they wouldn't sell it to me. I thought that made a nifty frame. Certainly better than the Ray-Bans that I usually use.

"old fashioned 'drop-in' test lenses"

I have had several pair of specs from the place close to the Irish Pub.

Each time the optometrist used both the computer and the "drop in" test lenses.

I recommend him.

Strange though he doesn't have the ability to test for glaucoma, and I had to go to Ram. He said that it was not worth the cost of investing in such testing facilities as Thai's are generally not concerned about glaucoma.

They use Hoya lenses. For some reason he does not sell ESSILOR lenses which is a pity because the come with a wide range of options. ESSILOR are top class lenses.

On cost, I have paid over Baht 10,000.00 but then mine are plastic graduated lens with "photochromatic" (sic) and they change their tint very quickly which is good here in the tropics. Also fitted in top quality frames.

[swain]

Ouch! Most of the pricing I have heard so far is a bit over the top if you ask me. San Patong market has very low end to moderately priced frames. The prices start at ready made prescription glasses, (if you know your prescription) 35 baht, yes yes 35 baht! Small vendor with a strolling bin full of glasses. They come out of China, though I have had no problem with them at all, I can not speak to the quality. I buy my reading glasses out of this bin and have not been disappointed yet. In another part of the market they have a mobile optician with all the testing equipment that you would expect to see at one of the stores where your minimum purchase when on sale will be 700 baht or more. Here you can get tested pick out the frames and have them mounted all in about 30 minutes prices starting at 100 baht going on up to 500 baht for some of the more fancy frames.

I used to shell out 2500 baht minimum and for all you cheap charlies (yes I am one) this is the place to go!

[sassienie]

TP

    There's one about 50 yards moatside from UN Irish pub. State of Art eye-testing gear and knowlegable English-speaking  optician. I've used them for years; plus while waiting for adjustments etc can slip next door to Sandy's for a beer or two!

                            Fosa

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Vision Center, 18/2 Rajwithi Road, Muang Chiang Mai, tel 053 418336, 214916.

My wife just collected her new specs from there so I grabbed the bag for those details for you.

Several expats recommended this place to me a while back, the kit is absolutely state of the art, the optician is fluent in English, they are probably not the cheapest but they are very good. Due to an overactive baby daughter (!) I am now on my third pair of specs from this place and very happy with them.

They have an off-road car park behind the shop and as Fosa said Sandy's place is very handy to wait for the work to be completed!

JxP

Yes, absolutely.

Have been a customer in there for the last 10 years.

As far as I`m concerned, Vision Centre is the only optician in Chiang Mai.