“The company said it switched to phone-only cancellations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and suspended emails, like notifications about a customer’s first paid order following a free trial, that were “reminding” people to cancel their subscriptions.”
It seems entirely likely that two things are simultaneously true: Hubble contacts are more likely to have complications than the big manufacturers' lenses, and the big manufacturers engage in anticompetitive behavior.
Sounds like a great arena for some pro-consumer regulation or legislation.
I would have more sympathy for this take if the average optometrist did anything more than prescribe whichever lens is offering the best rebate or whatever.
Like, has anyone had the optometrist try multiple lenses and work to get a fit? In my experience they put you in something and then maybe if it is unpleasant they'll try something else, but it's dependent on you being proactive, much as it would be if you were in Hubble.
Long answer: I have Keratoconus, which means my cornea has uneven thickness across its surface, which causes bubbles in my cornea, creating a very uneven prescription across my eye. The contacts I use are called “scleral” lenses, which use a liquid-filled void to nullify my actual cornea shape, creating a new cornea. They are expensive, require specialized training to adjust, and nailing down a prescription involves doing adjustments with them in, and working backwards to figure out the proper prescription.
My optometrist worked on my prescription for around 6 months solid, going through around 12 pairs of $250 (per lens) contacts on their dime.
So, yeah. A good optometrist is fantastic, and does a ton for you.
> has anyone had the optometrist try multiple lenses and work to get a fit?
Yes. Most good ones do this. Just as there are good and bad doctors, there are good and bad optometrists.
IMO, Hubble is straight up dangerous. Getting glasses online is relatively risk free. But when something is physically touching your eye, precautions need to be taken.
Yes. I tried several different brands till we found the ones that worked the best. Each trial I would get about two weeks worth so I could get a good feel for comfort and fit.
It is a little frustrating though that now I can’t just go somewhere and buy those lenses. The prescription verification isn’t terrible but it’s an annoyance.
Short answer: A lot of optometrists I've been to seem to only carry acuvue and can't imagine anyone wanting to use anything else. My mom used to have a favorite brand that wasn't acuvue and we'd have to argue it out with them every *(@#% time.
There’s nobody to like here. Your eye doctor can make a bunch of money selling you contacts and therefore doctors will say lots of dumb things about how dangerous Hubble is. Were the same doctors also talking about how dangerous contacts were a few years ago when this technology was state of the art? No. They are doing a much better job of looking out for themselves than for patients.
At the same time, it’s probably ALSO true that, if you can afford it, a brand using newer technology may be better. And you should talk to an eye doctor about the decision. I just wish eye doctors were not selling you anything and were in business to be doctors; that would make it a lot easier to trust that you were getting good advice.
PS I have a lot of experience with the price of contact lenses from my job, weirdly. For the best prices, you should buy contacts from either Costco or any online retailer besides 1-800 Contacts (Walmart, etc.). But I would suggest you buy the brand you’ve been prescribed.
In my experience, Optometrists are often not huge fans of contacts generally. Probably because, especially contacts that are worn too long, worn even when an eye gets irritated, etc. can lead to complications that generally don’t exist with glasses.
Also FWIW, my optometrist just passes me to the front desk when he’s done. No one pressures me to buy contacts or glasses from them and, in fact, I mail order my contacts from Walmart.
As someone working in this area, this is an interesting article.
The core issue of compliance is somewhat buried in the text, but worth pointing out. Optometrists' chief complaint is that very few offices seem to be prescribing the Hubble contacts brand specifically and yet, Hubble seem to be selling them to customers. This implies to them that either all prescriptions aren't being verified or are somehow being "passively" verified. Within the current rules set in place by the FTC, they believe it's unlikely quite so many prescriptions are passively verified.
The FTC is actually actively working on developing new rules around prescription verification to address some of these concerns. [1]
> When she was treated at an ophthalmologist’s office, they asked about her lenses. “I said Hubble and they said, ‘Oh, that’s it. You’re not the first,’” she said
I'm no expert, but that doesn't sound like a solid diagnosis. Sounds more like "we don't like those people". My immediate question would be "why are they at fault?" A corneal ulcer has many possible causes, and if I was the patient, I'd really like to know what exactly caused this condition. I mean, if Hubble is selling faulty lenses that causes this condition, at the very least you would be able to hold them responsible.
Hubble uses a contact lens with poor oxygen permeability...which can lead to infection/swelling.
"Hubble contacts are made with an old material called methafilcon A, which has a Dk/t of 18.8. Research shows that a Dk/t of 24 is necessary to maintain cornea integrity and avoid swelling."
This article is really disappointing. There are a few key claims against Hubble but there's one in particular that it just astonishes me they didn't verify. If Hubble are substituting their own lenses when the prescription specifies a different brand it would be trivial to just call an eye doctor and say "Hi, we want to investigate this, we want to get a prescription from you, request contacts from Hubble and then check how their process works" .
Yet, they didn't bother. So all we have is speculation.
Hubble's lenses cost $54 per eye per 90-day supply. The sphere version of the daily lens I wear (Hubble doesn't sell a toric lens) is $52 per 90 lenses where I buy them, potentially less if you shop around. I found several mainstream daily brands online for less than $54, some of which are Si-Hy. Brands made from materials comparable to Hubble are already close in cost to Hubble, you can generally buy them online, and most places offer a subscription already, so I don't really see the appeal here.
One time user of contact lenses here: Most times, complications due contact lenses is because of improper care by the user. You need to clean lenses every time you want to wear or store them. You need to do this even with disposable lenses. It's a big hassle.
You don't have to clean daily disposables (like Hubble).
I mean, I'm sure some people are reusing daily disposables, but the idea is to just use and toss.
I switched to daily disposables a few years ago (out of ~15 years of contacts use) and I kick myself for not doing it sooner. I no longer have to spend like 4-5 minutes a day cleaning the lenses or throwing 2 week disposables 1 week into use due to protein buildup, and they no longer aggravate my allergies either.
[+] [-] cbsks|6 years ago|reply
That’s some scummy behavior.
[+] [-] SheinhardtWigCo|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aaronbrethorst|6 years ago|reply
Sounds like a great arena for some pro-consumer regulation or legislation.
[+] [-] matthewowen|6 years ago|reply
Like, has anyone had the optometrist try multiple lenses and work to get a fit? In my experience they put you in something and then maybe if it is unpleasant they'll try something else, but it's dependent on you being proactive, much as it would be if you were in Hubble.
[+] [-] falcolas|6 years ago|reply
Long answer: I have Keratoconus, which means my cornea has uneven thickness across its surface, which causes bubbles in my cornea, creating a very uneven prescription across my eye. The contacts I use are called “scleral” lenses, which use a liquid-filled void to nullify my actual cornea shape, creating a new cornea. They are expensive, require specialized training to adjust, and nailing down a prescription involves doing adjustments with them in, and working backwards to figure out the proper prescription.
My optometrist worked on my prescription for around 6 months solid, going through around 12 pairs of $250 (per lens) contacts on their dime.
So, yeah. A good optometrist is fantastic, and does a ton for you.
[+] [-] PierceJoy|6 years ago|reply
Yes. Most good ones do this. Just as there are good and bad doctors, there are good and bad optometrists.
IMO, Hubble is straight up dangerous. Getting glasses online is relatively risk free. But when something is physically touching your eye, precautions need to be taken.
[+] [-] zwily|6 years ago|reply
It is a little frustrating though that now I can’t just go somewhere and buy those lenses. The prescription verification isn’t terrible but it’s an annoyance.
[+] [-] WWLink|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] eragone|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] asr|6 years ago|reply
At the same time, it’s probably ALSO true that, if you can afford it, a brand using newer technology may be better. And you should talk to an eye doctor about the decision. I just wish eye doctors were not selling you anything and were in business to be doctors; that would make it a lot easier to trust that you were getting good advice.
PS I have a lot of experience with the price of contact lenses from my job, weirdly. For the best prices, you should buy contacts from either Costco or any online retailer besides 1-800 Contacts (Walmart, etc.). But I would suggest you buy the brand you’ve been prescribed.
[+] [-] ghaff|6 years ago|reply
Also FWIW, my optometrist just passes me to the front desk when he’s done. No one pressures me to buy contacts or glasses from them and, in fact, I mail order my contacts from Walmart.
[+] [-] dpandya|6 years ago|reply
The core issue of compliance is somewhat buried in the text, but worth pointing out. Optometrists' chief complaint is that very few offices seem to be prescribing the Hubble contacts brand specifically and yet, Hubble seem to be selling them to customers. This implies to them that either all prescriptions aren't being verified or are somehow being "passively" verified. Within the current rules set in place by the FTC, they believe it's unlikely quite so many prescriptions are passively verified.
The FTC is actually actively working on developing new rules around prescription verification to address some of these concerns. [1]
[1]: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/05/ftc-s...
[+] [-] mdekkers|6 years ago|reply
I'm no expert, but that doesn't sound like a solid diagnosis. Sounds more like "we don't like those people". My immediate question would be "why are they at fault?" A corneal ulcer has many possible causes, and if I was the patient, I'd really like to know what exactly caused this condition. I mean, if Hubble is selling faulty lenses that causes this condition, at the very least you would be able to hold them responsible.
[+] [-] phonon|6 years ago|reply
"Hubble contacts are made with an old material called methafilcon A, which has a Dk/t of 18.8. Research shows that a Dk/t of 24 is necessary to maintain cornea integrity and avoid swelling."
https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/9o6a0h/ysk_t...
[+] [-] phonon|6 years ago|reply
https://qz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/hubble-contacts-ro...
(From an earlier article on https://qz.com/1154306/hubble-sold-contact-lenses-with-a-fak... )
[+] [-] Traster|6 years ago|reply
Yet, they didn't bother. So all we have is speculation.
[+] [-] phonon|6 years ago|reply
https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/9o6a0h/ysk_t...
listen to their "verification" message
https://cms.qz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/hubble-contact...
[+] [-] joe5150|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] samdung|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] silencio|6 years ago|reply
I mean, I'm sure some people are reusing daily disposables, but the idea is to just use and toss.
I switched to daily disposables a few years ago (out of ~15 years of contacts use) and I kick myself for not doing it sooner. I no longer have to spend like 4-5 minutes a day cleaning the lenses or throwing 2 week disposables 1 week into use due to protein buildup, and they no longer aggravate my allergies either.
[+] [-] pkaye|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|6 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] dr01d|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] droithomme|6 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] notfromhere|6 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pravda|6 years ago|reply
http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
I wonder who hired the PR firm to get this article published? Was it the optometrists? No, they don't have that much money.
I'd guess this article was bought with a grant from Johnson & Johnson, your friendly contact lens giant.
In any case, if you need contacts, skip Hubble. Go direct to Daysoft.
http://www.daysoft.com
[+] [-] starpilot|6 years ago|reply