Changes for the worse in optometry. [View all]

[Cold War Spook]

For those who have not been to the optometrist in the last few months, there has been a change for the worse. I live 75 miles away from Wilmington NC so I use a non-VA optometrist. I am 76 years old and 100% service-connected disabled and have double vision. Until this week, I would go to a non-VA optometrist near me once a year. I would take my prescription to Wilmington where I would be fitted with glasses and they would be mailed to me in about 10 days. This week I went to my non-VA optometrist and then went to the Wilmington VA. I was told that my prescription had to be sent to Fayetteville to be checked to make sure there was enough difference between my old prescription and the new one. If there isn't, you have to wait another year because the VA is now only allowing veterans one pair of glasses every two years unless someone, I don't even know if it is an optometrist, in prosthetics says you really need new glasses. Also since I was already in Wilmington I asked if I could pick out my frames so I would not have to come back if it was approved and was told no. When I was approved, if I was approved I would have to make another 150 mile round trip just to pick out my frames. The first trip is not covered by travel but the second trip is covered by travel. Even if this does not affect you, please contact your local DAV, VFW and American Legion and tell your primary care doctor. The VA keeps says they are making changes for the better. This is not for the better.