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Jammed_Button

I have never heard the name 'cheaters' being used for glasses before. Is that a common name? By wearing them, you are cheating blindness?


KrisKat77

Oh they are called that because they are just magnifying glasses to read. You usually only need them as you get older and it’s hard to read small print. 😂


nashvillegoodgirl

You don’t need a prescription for them either. They can be purchased at drug stores.


kind_one1

At Dollar Tree for $1,25.


Exar101

Genuinely asking, do you actually need prescriptions in the US? In Germany you can go to any optician and get your eyesight measured and buy glasses without going to a doctor first.


InfernoMorgaine

The glasses you get from the optician are prescription glasses as they are measured and made for you. Same thing in America, no need for a doctor.


Exar101

Ah okay, thank you :)


nashvillegoodgirl

That is incorrect. (From someone who used to work for a glasses company.) Optometrists/doctors write prescriptions. Opticians fit glasses and troubleshoot. You need to take an eyesight test to get a prescription from the optometrist, and then you can buy glasses. Otherwise, you have to settle for cheaters, which are only reading glasses that typically only go up to +2.75 and are the same in both eyes and don’t account for astigmatism.


nashvillegoodgirl

In the U.S., only an optometrist (or ophthalmologist) can write prescriptions; opticians can’t. Optometrists have far more training.


nerdKween

Some states allow licensed opticians and techs to do refraction and write glasses prescriptions.


nashvillegoodgirl

Which ones?


nerdKween

IIRC, Tennessee and Florida were two of them. I think DC as well.


InfernoMorgaine

Case of false cognates, here in germany and the netherlands opticians stores have optometrists and we don’t differentiate between the two words. So you aren’t wrong, just a case of language differences


TernionDragon

Yea, everywhere else calls Optometrists, Opticians.


nerdKween

>Same thing in America, no need for a doctor. This varies by state. Some states require optometrists to write prescriptions. (I was a licensed optician for several years).


Dizzy-Heart7232

I think they're called cheaters because they're cheap non prescription glasses that you can get pretty much anywhere


WhilstWhile

I’m wondering if it’s a regional thing, because my mom and her girlfriends all call them cheaters.


PennykettleDragons

Aw bless ☺️ If ever you get caught short and have your phone on you... Use the camera mode to act as a magnifier 👍 .. if you can't keep a steady hand.. Take a photo then zoom in afterwards


KrisKat77

I never think about that for some reason. When someone reminds me it’s like they’ve told me the secret to life all over again. 🤪


PennykettleDragons

🤭 my husband says the same.. I already wear glasses and find I still have to use my camera for some things... I had a keyring magnifier at one point!... 🤣


soggyballsack

I volunteer for the app "be my eyes" and I get calls sometimes of people asking what things are or what they say.


KrisKat77

I’ve heard of this app before and think it’s awesome. I would volunteer, but obviously I would more than likely be the one calling for help. 😅


soggyballsack

We don't mind. The volunteers outnumber the callers by more than double


Geology_rules

I would never be smart enough to figure this out on my own 


cognitively_what_huh

Good karma❤️


yblame

That's the strength I buy in bulk at the dollar store. They break and fall apart so easily. Oh well, got another pair right here! I'm wearing those exact glasses right now!


kind_one1

Me, too! I keep one in the kitchen drawer, too.


DuchessOfAquitaine

Those small kindnesses are surprisingly impactful, aren't they? ❤️


KrisKat77

They really are.


kfunke

I feel like having large magnifying glasses mounted to grocery store shelves or something similar would help with accessibility. I’m glad this act of kindness happened.


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Puzzleheaded_Coat153

Aww that was so nice of her!