SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES!

Kitchen Trials

Finding the perfect pair at Pearle Vision

By 154 Comments

You know those mornings where you wake up and *BAM* you feel older. Mine happened when I woke up, went to check the weather on the tablet, and had to close my right eye to stop it from looking blurry.

This was not a good sign.

Like any 30ish women would do though – I ignored it, my eyes were TOTALLY fine. I only needed them (mild ones at that) because I was on the computer for 8 hours a day when I was working as a graphic designer… that would make anyone’s eyes tired (apparently I’m still trying to make excuses). They didn’t really get any worse over time, but they didn’t get any better either. I was having to close that darn right eye whenever I was reading something at night.

It was time to give in, admit defeat (which I hate having to do). It was time to see an eye doctor and get some glasses.

Priority number one for me was a one-stop shop so that it could all be done quickly – there are three kids and a hungry husband at home every night, so wasting hours on multiple stops isn’t ideal. So, I made an appointment (online! how easy!), and two days later I was at the Pearle Vision Newmarket in the Upper Canada Mall getting taken care of.
My first stop was the optometrist’s office, where Doctor Tony Choi took care of me. He was absolutely fantastic! He explained everything that he was going to do and why he was going to do it before he started. Once he had finished running a set of tests, he explained the results to me. Round one was spent reading all the little letters on the cards. Shocker – my right eye is a lot weaker than my left, and not just with reading. It turns out that the muscles in it are also lagging a bit – probably because I’ve been favouring it for so long. Lesson to everyone else: don’t wait like I did, it will not get better.
Next up, it was time to get some drops put in my eyes to dilate them for further exam. After giving them five minutes to work their magic, he used these special goggles to check the health of my eyes. Turns out I also have a couple of “scratches” in my right eye (they aren’t actual scratches, more like two lines that run down the inside of my eye and I could have been born with them). The important thing to know about this is that they’re the precursor to early cataracts. I know, I said I felt old before – hearing the word “cataracts” thrown around when you’re 33 is not fun, but it is important.

If I had just kept putting this off, I wouldn’t have known. Doctor Choi took the time to explain to me that it’s nothing to currently worry about, there’s no sign of cataracts now, but there is a higher probability that I start develop them earlier than most. Now a yearly check-up is a lot more important to me, to make sure I maintain eye health, and don’t have any surprises as I age.

After I finished up with Doctor Choi (which only took about 20 minutes), I stepped through a glass door into Pearle Vision Upper Canada Mall and was instantly greeted by the super happy and bubbly Geneviev Poirier – and two giant walls full of frames to choose from. I walked around for a couple of minutes, trying on a dozen or so pairs, but ended up narrowing it down to the same two pairs of glasses that caught my eye as soon as I walked through the door.

pearle vision-2
pearle vision-3

Next, I sat down at the desk with an optometry student that was working there, answered a few questions, and had a specific type of lens recommended to me. It was a quick and painless 30 minutes in the store, where Geneviev and the other associates offered their opinions on the fit and style for me too (I was completely lost and which one to pick)

I’m heading out to pick up my glasses today, and I’ll be sure to update with a picture later! UPDATE: here they are! And Anna has conceded, they are not “old lady glasses”.

I’ve got to say, I really enjoyed my time here. The associates within Pearle Vision Upper Canada Mall were extremely friendly, helpful, and easy to talk to. Despite the fact that my four year-old daughter kept telling me I was going to come home looking like an old lady with glasses, I never felt like that in the store with Geneviev and Co. I recommend them to anyone looking for a new pair of glasses, because the service was beyond amazing and far surpassed anything I had expected.

The same is to be said of my eye exam with Doctor Choi as well. He made the whole experience so comfortable for me, and he did such a great job explaining all of the results to me in a way that I could understand. Anyone that can keep a 33 year-old women from freaking out after hearing the word “cataracts” knows what they’re doing. I’ve already booked my exam next year with him.

Tell us:  Do you wear eyeglasses? How do you care for your eyes? Comment below for your chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to residents of Canada (other than Quebec) who are eighteen (18) years of age or older and located in Canada (other than Quebec). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/21/2016 – 4/17/2016

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Scott MacMillan

    I am just getting ready for an eye exam and wondering where to have it done.I may give Pearle Vision

    Reply

  5. Michelle W

    I’ve worn glasses for about 21 yrs! I try not to be in front of a computer or Tv too much during the day! Sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Regular visits to the eye doctor are a must!

    Reply

  8. Will G

    I wear glasses. I care for them by using actual cleaner whenever possible to clean my glasses.

    Reply

  10. Candice

    Never tried Pearle Vision before but I am due for glasses as mine are literally falling apart. I have heard great things about their sales. Thanks for the contest 🙂

    Reply

  11. Judy Cowan

    Yes I do wear glasses. I take vitamins that are good for eyes because there is a family history of macular degeneration.

    Reply

  13. margo b

    I’ve been wearing glasses for 48 years, I need to invest in a good pair of glasses so that I don’t have to keep buying them

    Reply

  15. Suzie M

    I have worn glasses for most of my life, I take frequent breaks from the computer & make sure my eyes are not dry

    Reply

  16. Karry Knisley

    I do not wear glasses but my daughter does and we are due to get her eyes tested again.

    Reply

  19. Melissa Greco

    I wear perscription glasses. I take care of them by lowering the brightness on all of my technology near bed time

    Reply

  21. Brenda Penton

    I’ve worn glasses now for around 26 years. I care for my eyes by getting regular checkups.

    Reply

  22. Kim K

    I’m not currently wearing glasses but will need readers soon. My spouse has worn glasses his whole life. I make sure I wear sunglasses when outdoors and I try not to over strain my eyes to keep them healthy.

    Reply

  24. Kellie Underhill

    I don’t wear glasses, but I have noticed my eyesight failing a bit and sometimes I get a headache now when I read, so I think it’s time I looked into giving my eyesight some TLC.

    Reply

  26. heather

    I only wear reading glasses at the moment. I care for my eyes by eating right, getting the proper amount of sleep and wearing sunglasses year round when I am outside.

    Reply

  27. Joanne Frank

    i am saving my money now because i have needed glasses for a very long time and dont have medical plan .. so im using dollar store glasses for now 🙁

    Reply

  28. Nicole B

    I am due for a new exam. It’s been a long time since my last and I was on the cusp of needing glasses last time!

    Reply

  32. Kathy Thorn

    I’ve worn glasses since I was 13…I won’t say how many years that is now. But putting on/taking off my glasses is the first/last thing I do during the day. I make regular visits to my optometrist since my eyesight changes very quickly.

    Reply

  33. Kristine Bauman

    I’ve just started wearing glasses in the last year. I don’t have to wear them all the them, but they really help when I’m checking my work. I see an optometrist every year.

    Reply

  34. Mark V

    I do where glasses, I have since grade 8 and I take care of my eyes with regulare checkups and making sure I take breaks to rest them during prolonged screen times.

    Reply

  37. Jay Nelson

    Kids eye exams are free under age 6 (and I believe the glasses are too). I made certain all my kids had their eyes checked – and for the one who needed glasses we had fun finding the perfect frames.

    Reply

  41. Krista M

    No I don’t wear glasses. My vision is good but truthfully I don’t take time to care for my eyes the way I really should (I think my last vision test was a decade ago, yikes). However I have been very good at caring for my children’s eyes. One of them has glasses & regular check-ups, & the other required eye surgery & sees an ophthalmologist regularly.

    Reply

  43. Rena

    I love my eyes! I don’t wear glasses or contacts but I make sure to eat food with Vitamin A, eta carotene and lutein to support my eye health.

    Reply

  44. zahra p

    I have been wearing glasses since I was 18. I take care of my eyes by wearing my glasses from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed at night so they don’t strain and also get regular check-ups

    Reply

  46. Kristen

    I do wear contacts/glasses. I take care of my eyes by keeping my lenses clean and getting checkups.

    Reply

  54. Tracy D

    I wear glasses, but I don’t really need them all the time. They get lost often. I do checkups every 2 years.

    Reply

  56. Theresa C.

    I’ve worn glasses for forty years, and have just gotten my first pair of prescription sunglasses – what a difference that makes when I’m driving! 😉

    Reply

  59. Sandra S

    I haven’t had an eye exam for a few years, it is well overdue, because my eyes have gotten bad and I think I need glasses.

    Reply

  63. Rachael Bhardwaj

    i wear glasses but i need to go for another exam because i think my prescription has changed as my eyes seem worse.

    Reply

  65. Marlene V

    I don’t wear glasses but still go for eye exams regularly. All other members of my family wear glasses.

    Reply

  67. Ron Friesen

    I do wear eyeglasses, and I care for my eyes with healthy food and going to optometrist regularly!

    Reply

  70. MPaula

    I wore glasses all the time for more than 40 years until an eye doctor told me that most people with my prescription did not wear glasses at all. So I stopped. Now I have bifocals for reading and computer use but I can get by without if I have to. Because I am diabetic I am allowed to have an eye test every year but my eye doctor is so pleased with my eye and general health, he says every two years is good enough.

    Reply

  71. leanne r

    Yes I wear glasses and i care for my eyes by going to the optometrist every two years and i wear sunglasses as well

    Reply

  74. linda paley

    Have worn glasses all my life – like wearing them actually. Clean with hot water and liquid soap – dry with cotton towel. Get eyes checked on regular basis

    Reply

  75. Glogirl

    I do wear glasses but only for driving. I should wear them all the time as I’m near sighted but I just haven’t gotten use to doing that. I should care more for my eyes by getting my eyes tested regularly. I’m way overdue for a visit!

    Reply

  77. Margo B

    I do wear glasses since I was 4 years old, I’ve tried contacts but their not for me, just could’t get them on so I stick with glasses. I get my eyes check every year

    Reply

  78. Anastasia Falling

    I’m legally blind, so I DO wear glasses! For a long time, they didn’t help. Then I found a great eye doctor and my glasses work so much better! I see an eye doctor once a year and try to keep my eyes away from bright lights 🙂

    Reply

  85. Amy Tong

    I do wear contact lenses and eye glasses. To take care of my eyes, I make sure to have eye exams every year and keep my lenses clean.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

    Reply

  89. Josh S

    I had a bit of a lazy eye growing up so I need glasses. Thanks to them my eye helped correct itself so I no longer need glasses at the moment. My wife needs them however.

    Reply

  94. Pam

    I currently do not wear eyeglasses but I am finding it more difficult to read at night so I will be making an appointment for a check up.

    Reply

  97. Elizabeth pergande

    I do wear glasses and I love to get a new pair. thanks. truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  100. Kerry

    I wore glasses for about 20 years and then I had lasik surgery…so I don’t need them anymore! Yippeeee! I still ge my eyes checked every few years though.

    Reply

  102. Judy Cowan

    Yes I do wear glasses. I get my eyes checked regularly & also take Vitamins that have lutein in them since we have a family history of macular degeneration.

    Reply

  105. Marina Bird

    I do wear glasses for reading and close work. I take PreserVision vitamin for my eyes and have an eye exam yearly.

    Reply

  106. Heidi Pawluk

    I wear glasses for distance & reading so basically wear them all day.
    Since there is macular degeneration in our family I find I need to have an eye exam every year to check for my risk of this disorder.
    I am also aware of any changes in my eye sight so always on guard for this as well.
    When I am outside I always wear sunglasses to protect my eyes from harmful UV light.
    I eat a healthy balanced diet as have read that antioxidants can help reduce cataracts.
    I also advise my hubby & sons to wear safety glasses when working with tools, nothing like eye safety to prevent serious accidents.
    Eyes are so important so I need to take care of them with a bit of knowledge for health in the long run ♥♥♥

    Reply

  107. Shaf

    I wear glasses when I am reading at night or driving. I get my eyes checked on a regular schedule.

    Reply

  108. Jennifer I

    I only wear glasses when reading or using iPad to ease fatigue. I get yearly examinations.

    Reply

  110. lynne m

    I’ve been wearing glasses for reading for about 5 years. I care for my eyes by looking up from my computer screen or book every 20 minutes a,nd I get my eyes examined every 2nd year.

    Reply

  111. Angel Jacklyn

    I got lucky I suppose… never no need for glasses, my eyes are in pristine condition besides always being dry 😀

    Reply

  113. Patrick Boudreau

    I wear both eyeglasses & contact lenses in unison. Although wearing my glasses seems to be healthier for my poor eyesight, I wear my contact lenses for at least twice the recommended daily wearing time of the lenses.
    I am seriously considering laser eye suregery despite the high costs.

    Reply

  122. Lori Sexton

    I started wearing glasses at the age of 40. I take car of my eyes by having them checked regularily

    Reply

  123. Tabathia B

    I have always worn glasses. I haven’t had an eye exam in about three years so I haven’t been taking care of my eyes.

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  125. Starla B

    Oh my goodness- such a cute pair of Coach glasses- I love them! I only use glasses for night driving- I get myself so worked up so I finally went and got something for when I drive at night. I keep my eye health great constantly by getting routine checks and by protecting them with sunglasses starla.batesATyahooDOTcom

    Reply

  128. Irene

    I wear glasses and I try to keep my eyes healthy by taking breaks when I am on the computer and not putting the screen too close to my eyes. I also go to my eye doctor every year.

    Reply

  129. christina

    I keep my eye glasses clean and go regularly to the eye doctor for check ups. Can’t be too careful.

    Reply

  130. Carol M.

    I do wear glasses and go for regular eye exams. I also eat healthy hoping that my eyes will stay healthy.

    Reply

  132. Megan McGuire

    I have glasses, turning 20 and I’ve had 20/20 vision up until university when the classrooms were larger and I started getting headaches from trying to read the lecture notes at the front. I told my mom then I needed to go to the optometrist and went right away!

    Reply

  134. Vicky

    I go to the optometrist yearly and I wear sunglasses to pritect my eyes from the sun. I wear glasses whenever I’m not wearing contacts.

    Reply

  136. Keith

    I do wear eyeglasses, and the way I care for my eyes is to follow the 30-30-30 rule when working at my desk: every 30 minutes I take a 30 second break to look at something (at least) 30 feet away. This helps to relax the eyes to prevent eyestrain.

    Reply

  137. Nicole

    I wear contact lenses and glasses. I try to give my eyes a ‘breather’ by wearing my glasses a few days a month and taking out my contacts when I’m home in the evening.

    Reply

  138. Ashley Demontigny

    I don’t wear eyeglasses. I visit my eye doctor ever year and I use eye drops when my eyes get dry or irritated.

    Reply

  139. Laurie W.

    I do wear eyeglasses and have since elementary school. I care for my eyes by trying to have an eye exam every year.

    Reply

  140. Elishia

    I have to wear glasses (or contacts) every day or I am completely unable to function. It’s frustrating, but I’ve lived with this since I was about 10 and my vision has only gotten worse over the years. I do my best to take care of my eyes though by staying on top of my regular check-ups, never sleeping in my contacts, and doing my best to reduce eye strain. I’m not a candidate for laser eye surgery, but advances in ocular science still leave me hopeful that one day I won’t ever have to worry about finding my glasses (after someone moves them on me!) in the morning ever again.

    Reply

  141. Diane T

    I don’t wear glasses but I do care for my eyes. My mom always used to tell me to eat a lot of carrots to improve my eye sight. I also go for an exam every 1-2 years.

    Reply

  143. Hilary Redrup

    As a student athlete, I go for yearly eye check ups to makes sure that I’m playing with the best eyes possible!

    Reply

  144. Daryl

    I do wear glasses and take pretty good care of my eyes. I could probably go get them checked more often though.

    Reply

  149. barb bombardir

    I have worn glasses since I was 10 yrs old. Love them, add so much to your look. Changes with the season and fashion as well. I care for my eyes with daily moisturizing eyedrops.

    Reply

  152. martisha

    unfortunately, i don’t get my eyes checked regularly (every 2 years), and working in front of a screen all day does take a toll. i’ve decided to be more diligent about focusing on my eye care! so long are the days that i would wipe my glasses clean with a shirt! i now make sure to always have a Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth on hand. The difference is like night and day!!!

    Reply

  153. Nicole s

    I wear sunglasses, I don’t remember the last time I got my eyes checked. It’s now on my list of things to do.

    Reply

  154. jamesfreese1

    It’s true – it’s true, you have to take care of your eyes. I sit at the computer for 12 hours a day, too, and I’ve noticed that I don’t blink. It makes my eye dry out and it burns. My ophthalmologist prescribed artificial tears, but they treat the symptom, not the root cause. If I had chosen a profession for myself not as a writer for this site https://phdessay.com/free-essays-on/community-service/ and did not sit over writing papers, then perhaps everything would be much better with my eyesight. Although who knows. I’m writing an essay about community service right now, if you’re interested, stop by to read it.

    Reply

Let me know below!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.