LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, others make poor glasses, expert finds
Optometrist Robert Rosenberg, of the State University of New York, says that eyeglasses purchased at seven large optical chains failed to meet industry standards for precision and workmanship. Rosenberg helped to write those standards. CBS News had an "undercover shopper" purchase glasses at the seven businesses. The finished spectacles all had flaws, including incorrect astigmatism correction, poor fit of the lenses in the frame, frames that were warped or had a prism effect that can cause double vision. The phony customer also paid $20 at each outlet for UV lens protection, but 3 lenses came back with no protection. "You got worse than nothing," Rosenberg said. "You got the feeling that you had protection, which you don't have." The seven offending opticians were Pearle Vision Express, LensCrafters, Cohen's Fashion Optical, Sterling Optical Corp., Sears, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Costco Wholesale. All seven agreed to fix the faulty eyeglasses free of charge after they were told of their incompetence. Moral of the story: take a major news network with you when you buy glasses and you might have a better chance of getting quality service, but don't count on it. If you are wearing glasses made by one of these companies, maybe it is a good idea to take them back and ask them to prove that you got the UV protection your paid for.
(Reuters, Oct. 29, 1997)
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