Hope Someone can help.

In my country, citizens are entitled to a bi annual Optometric Examination with the presentation of their Medicare card.

What is available for Thai citizens?

Are examinations expensive?

What/where are the best public services available and is this time consuming?

What prices would one be up for for a basic set of frames and entry level lenses for reading?

Many thanks.

The diminishing ability to focus on near objects (Presbyopia) is one of those unfortunate conditions associated with ageing!

If an increasing difficulty with reading is the only symptom then it is absolutely ok to purchase a pair of "reading" glasses which come in various " strengths". Just take a book with you when shopping and test the various "strengths" until you find one that is comfortable.

Most "Optometric Examination" here in Thailand seems to be based on "Auto Refractors" which are operated by shop girls employed in the many optical outlets.

Others here may have more information than me but I suspect that a full Optometric Examination may only be available within a hospital out patient setting .

I do not know if Thai people are entitled to free or subsidised Optometric Examination.

The cost of a pair of glasses with cheap frames ranges from 2000baht up....in a standard eyeglass shop including a ttest by the person there who may or may not be good. (Some are very good)

I recently as a foreigner saw an Eye Doctor at SriPat in Chiangmai and had a full eye examination which cost 500baht using a slit lamp, Total cost of examination, removing calcium deposits and 2 weeks of 3 kinds of eye drops 150 baht.

My reading glasses were purchased from a market stall some 3-4 years ago. --- 150bht if I remember correctly !

The cost of a pair of glasses with cheap frames ranges from 2000baht up....in a standard eyeglass shop including a ttest by the person there who may or may not be good. (Some are very good)

I recently as a foreigner saw an Eye Doctor at SriPat in Chiangmai and had a full eye examination which cost 500baht using a slit lamp, Total cost of examination, removing calcium deposits and 2 weeks of 3 kinds of eye drops 150 baht.

That should have read 1500 baht....maybe I need new glasses

The diminishing ability to focus on near objects (Presbyopia) is one of those unfortunate conditions associated with ageing!

If an increasing difficulty with reading is the only symptom then it is absolutely ok to purchase a pair of "reading" glasses which come in various " strengths". Just take a book with you when shopping and test the various "strengths" until you find one that is comfortable.

Most "Optometric Examination" here in Thailand seems to be based on "Auto Refractors" which are operated by shop girls employed in the many optical outlets.

Others here may have more information than me but I suspect that a full Optometric Examination may only be available within a hospital out patient setting .

I do not know if Thai people are entitled to free or subsidised Optometric Examination.

Thanks all for your responses.

Yes, magnifying glasses may function but are limited to a single focal point.

Prescribed lenses will have a focal range.

With single focal point magnifying glasses, unless you continuously keep to the correct reading distance you may suffer from eye strain and over a long term possible eye damage.

Have a a look here

http://www.aclens.com/Reading-Glasses-Strength-Test-c148.html

Have a a look here

http://www.aclens.com/Reading-Glasses-Strength-Test-c148.html

Thanks J R.

It depends on what type of lens these people are marketing.

If their lens is a straight magnifying glass it will have a single point of focus.

This means that if their focal point is 12 inches then attempting to read closer or further away will be out of focus and cause eye strain and headaches,

When we use reading glasses we are typically focusing on a number items at varying distance simply by moving our eye balls. These may include a laptop screen, the keyboard, a document, or it might include various prices and products on supermarket shelving, all at various distances.

Alternatively a prescription lens will provide a focal depth of field.

Rather than needing to maintain a set distance from the item being focused on, these allow automatic focus over a distance range.

For example, this might range between 8 inches to 16 inches without the need to move your head or the items being viewed.

The other consideration is that many have eyes with a different prescription for each eye ball.

When I work I need to view a number of things all at varying distance from my head.

If I had a fixed focal point (magnifying glasses) I would soon develop considerable eye strain and a headache as my eye muscles strain against the fixed magnification.

Do AC;s lenses have a single point of focus (magnifying glass) or do they have the characteristics of prescription lenses?

All prescription lenses have a " fixed" focal point ! The exception being so called Bi (and rarely Tri) focal lenses which compromise a single fixed focus lens combined with another, also fixed focus lens which is incorporated into the whole.

A depth of field is a function of lens, aperture and focal point combined - usually only of issue in photographic cameras.

Modern day so called varifocus or progressive lens attempt to provide a "single lens" solution by combining a number of lenses with different fixed focal points, commonly aiming to provide for distance vision. middle vision, and near(reading) vision.

In the case you identify it is possible to obtain a progressive lens for office use. Such lenses will be expensive as they are not a commonly sought item and should be prescribed by a competent ophthalmic practitioner as they require a high level of skill/knowledge to fit successfully

Thanks J R.

This thread has been useful.

I've been under a misapprehension regarding focal point.

I guess it comes down to quality of lens.

The off the shelf type you've described appear on many $2 shops and have the range (+1, etc) as you've described.

When I;ve tried them I couldn't get anything comfortable as are my prescriptions.

Perhaps it was either down to quality?

The cheaper frames may not be as comfortable as more expensive items.

I believe it would be very difficult to perceive any noticeable difference between "cheap" or "expensive" reading glass lenses.

My cheap and now quite old reading glasses are still performing well!