Job Discussion Forums

[Sadken]

Hello,

I am currently giving full consideration to coming to Japan, however, there are a few things that bother me a great deal. One is the fact that I have to use high prescription contact lenses and I am worried about continuing the prescription when in Japan. Anyone had this problem or similar and how did you overcome it?

Do tell.

Ta.

[ruggedtoast]

You're kidding, Its a joke right? Let me guess, you're also worried about standing out because you have bad teeth.

[Sadken]

Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean that Japan is stuck in a timewarp where people all get about from farm to farm by rickshaw and use swords to settle their blood feuds. I was asking how easy it is to arrange or communicate with opticians etc when I don't speak any Japanese.

I don't want to get over there and then be stuck with no eyes.

[fromCanada]

I also have really bad eyes and wear contacts and glasses. I would just bring a year's supply of contacts with you (I wear monthly disposables). If you need more, you can always have a relative fill your prescription at home and have him/her mail it to you. That's what I plan on doing.

[Celeste]

You should be able to deal with an English speaking optometrist in the big cities, but bring enough of a supply of contact lenses and your prescription to get you through a couple of months until you find out where those optometrists are.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Make sure you have a half-way decent pair of glasses in you in case you have any issues with CL in Japan (but glasses in Japan are really good, so getting them here shouldn't be a problem either).

[TokyoLiz]

I have very strong astigmatism and I'm far sighted. The combination is rare in Japan, but I was relieved to learn that Japanese opticians can fill my prescription with corrective lenses.

I brought the prescription paper from home and the optician had no trouble reading it.

I don't know about the other way - if I have my eyes examined here, is the notation the same as in N. America? Anybody know?

Ruggedtoast, I don't get why you wrote that. Eyesight is a big deal.

[lajzar]

Fromwhat Ive seen, Japan3ese opticians are state of the art. however, I dont understand why you need contacts, as opposed to normal glasses. The mind boggles.

[Sadken]

[kiracle]

If you you make sure you have your doctor's phone number and name written down somewhere handy and you have a recent persription on file with him, you can easily order contacts online. That what I did. Very easy.

[Hondo 2.0]

I have the feeling that if two Japanese were trying to settle a blood feud, a sword would likely be involved. Pistols at dawn is just not the way it's done in Nippon.