Home › Specialities › Vision correction

Spectacles and contact lenses at our Vision Correction Centre in Vasco

Why get your spectacles at an eye hospital?

Blurred vision is not always a matter of spectacle power. Cataract, diabetes, glaucoma and problems at the back of the eye can all make reading or distance vision worse, and a new pair of glasses will not fix them. At ReNew Vision, the eye test for your spectacles is done inside the eye hospital, and the eye doctor can check the health of your eyes at the same visit. If something other than power is behind the blur, it can be found and treated instead of being covered up with stronger glasses.

The Vision Correction Centre is part of ReNew Vision Eye Hospital, on the 2nd floor of the Pai Hospital building, Vaddem Merces Road, Vaddem, Vasco da Gama. People come to us from across Mormugao taluka, including Dabolim, Chicalim, Sancoale, Cortalim, Zuarinagar, Baina and Mangor Hill, and from other parts of Goa.

What can you get at the Vision Correction Centre?

• Spectacles (chashma): frames and lenses for distance, for reading, for computer work, or for all of these in one pair.
• Contact lenses: fitting by the eye hospital, teaching you how to use them safely, and supply of lenses.
• Sunglasses: plain and power (prescription) sunglasses with UV protection for Goa's sun and sea glare.
• Low-vision aids: magnifiers and other aids for people whose sight stays poor even with the right glasses.
• Children's spectacles: sturdy frames and safe lens materials, made from a proper children's eye check-up.

We do not sell online. Spectacles need accurate measurements of your eyes and face, and contact lenses need a fitting, so the Vision Correction Centre works in person. Read how spectacles are dispensed, not just sold. You are welcome to call or WhatsApp 072489 88039 with questions before you come.

Step 1: an eye test for glasses

A spectacle power test, often called an eye number check, measures how well you see far and near and which lens power gives the clearest, most comfortable vision. It checks for short sight (minus power), long sight (plus power) and astigmatism (cylinder power). After about 40, almost everyone also needs extra power for reading and phone work. Children are often given drops that relax their focusing so that the true power can be measured. Our page on the eye test for glasses explains each step and what your prescription means.

Because the test happens in an eye hospital, it can be combined with a complete eye check-up that includes the eye pressure and a look at the retina. That matters in Goa, where about one adult in four has diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB study, 2023). High or changing blood sugar can change spectacle power for a while, so if your sugar is not steady, the eye doctor may suggest waiting before new lenses are made. The same visit can also cover eye fitness certificates for a driving licence, a job or school.

Choosing frames that suit your face and your day

A good frame holds the lenses in the right place in front of your eyes, sits comfortably on your nose and ears, and lasts through Goa's heat, sweat and salty sea air. Metal frames are light and slim; plastic frames are sturdy and come in more colours; rimless and half-rim styles suit some lens powers better than others. Strong powers and progressive lenses each need particular frame sizes. The guide to spectacle frames covers materials, sizes and fit, and our eyewear guide explains frame shapes, face shapes, eyewear brands and this year's trends.

Which lenses do you need?

The lens does the real work of a pair of spectacles. The main choices are:

• Single vision: one power, for distance or for reading.
• Bifocal: distance power above and reading power below, with a visible line.
• Progressive: distance, middle and near power in one lens with no visible line, which takes some getting used to.
• Office or computer lenses: set for the screen and desk distance, for people over 40 who spend long hours at work stations.

Lens material decides thickness, weight and strength, and coatings add anti-reflection, scratch resistance, UV filtering or darkening in sunlight. Read more on types of spectacle lenses and on progressive or bifocal lenses. If you are asked about blue-cut lenses, our page on blue light glasses sets out what the research does and does not show.

Contact lens fitting

Contact lenses are medical devices that sit on the cornea, the clear front window of the eye. A spectacle prescription is not a contact lens prescription: the lens power, size and curve are chosen at a fitting, where the eye doctor checks that your eyes are healthy enough for lenses, trial lenses are tried, and you are taught to put them in, take them out and clean them. Soft lenses that are replaced daily, every two weeks or monthly, toric lenses for astigmatism and coloured lenses all need this fitting. See contact lenses in Vasco, and glasses or contact lenses if you are still deciding.

The most important safety rules: keep lenses away from tap water, sea water and swimming pools, do not sleep in them unless your eye doctor has said you may, and remove them if your eye becomes red or painful. A red, painful eye in a contact lens wearer needs to be seen the same day; ReNew Vision provides emergency eye care 24 hours a day.

Sunglasses for Goa's sun and sea

Goa's bright sun, the glare off the sea and wet roads, and long hours on a scooter are hard on the eyes. Sunlight's ultraviolet (UV) rays are linked with cataract and with pterygium, a fleshy growth on the white of the eye that is common in coastal areas. Good sunglasses block UV up to 400 nanometres (often labelled UV400); how dark a lens looks says nothing about its UV protection. If you wear spectacles, power sunglasses let you see clearly and stay protected. See power sunglasses in Goa for UV labels, polarised lenses and lens colours.

Low-vision aids

Some people still struggle to read, recognise faces or see the television even with the correct spectacles, often because of macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma or damage to the optic nerve. Low-vision aids help them use the sight they have: stronger reading spectacles, hand and stand magnifiers, better lighting and contrast, and phone settings such as large text and read-aloud. The eye doctor first checks whether any part of the problem can be treated. Read low vision aids in Goa.

Spectacles for children

Children rarely say that they cannot see. A child who sits close to the television, squints, tilts the head, has headaches after school or cannot read the board may need glasses. Children's spectacles need flexible, well-fitting frames and impact-resistant lenses, and a child with short sight usually needs a check every 6 to 12 months, because the power can change as the child grows. Our parents' guide to spectacles for children explains how to choose frames and how to get a child to wear them.

New spectacles after cataract surgery

After cataract surgery, the lens power of the operated eye changes, and your old spectacles will no longer be right for it. Most people need new spectacles once the eye has settled, which is usually a few weeks after the operation; the eye doctor tells you when the eye is ready for a final power test. Many people still need reading glasses after surgery, depending on the lens that was put in. Having the surgery and the spectacles in one place keeps the records together.

Looking after spectacles in Goa's humid weather

Monsoon damp, salt air near the beaches and sweat on hot days are tough on spectacles. Metal parts and screws can rust, nose pads can turn green, lenses fog when you step into an air-conditioned room, and spectacles kept damp in a closed case can get mould spots. Rinse your spectacles in plain water, wash them with a drop of mild soap, dry them with a clean microfibre cloth, and store them dry. The Vision Correction Centre can tighten screws and adjust frames that have loosened. Read our guide to spectacle care in humid weather, which also covers contact lens care in the monsoon.

What does the cost of spectacles depend on?

We do not show prices on this website. The cost of a pair of spectacles depends on the lens type (single vision, bifocal or progressive), the lens material and thickness your power needs, the coatings you choose, and the frame. For contact lenses, it depends on the lens type and how often the lenses are replaced. The Vision Correction Centre explains the cost of each option before you order, so you can choose what suits your eyes, your work and your budget.

When to come and what to bring

Eye tests for glasses are done during the eye OPD: Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to 7 pm. The OPD is closed on Sunday. Emergency eye care is available 24 hours. Please bring:

• your present spectacles, including reading glasses and sunglasses with power;
• any old prescriptions or eye reports;
• your contact lens box or details, if you wear lenses (ask when you call whether to leave them out before the test);
• a list of your medicines, and recent sugar or blood pressure reports if you have diabetes or high BP.

To ask when your spectacles will be ready or about the Vision Correction Centre's timings, call or WhatsApp 072489 88039. Directions are on our visit page.

Guides from the Vision Correction Centre

EMI facility is available for treatment and services above ₹30,000.

Questions patients ask

Do I need an eye test before buying new spectacles?

Yes, if your last test was more than a year or two ago, if your vision has changed, or if you have diabetes. An eye test inside the eye hospital measures your power and lets the eye doctor check for cataract, glaucoma or retina problems that new glasses alone would not fix.

Can I order spectacles online from ReNew Vision?

No. ReNew Vision does not sell spectacles online. Spectacles need measurements of your eyes and face, and contact lenses need a fitting, so please visit the Vision Correction Centre. You can call or WhatsApp 072489 88039 with questions first.

How long does it take to make spectacles?

It depends on the lens. Some single-vision lenses can be fitted quickly, while progressive, high-power or specially coated lenses are made to order and take longer. The Vision Correction Centre tells you the expected date when you order.

Can I put new lenses in my old frame?

Often yes, if the frame is sturdy, fits well and suits the new lens type. Very old, cracked or rusted frames may break during fitting. The Vision Correction Centre checks your frame and tells you whether it is worth reusing.

When can I get new glasses after cataract surgery?

Usually a few weeks after the operation, once the eye has settled. The eye doctor checks the eye at the follow-up visits and tells you when it is ready for the final power test for your new spectacles.

Do you fit contact lenses for first-time users?

Yes. The fitting includes an eye check, trial lenses, and teaching you to put lenses in, take them out and keep them clean. A follow-up visit checks that the lenses suit your eyes before you continue with them.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.