Veteran waits for glasses from VA that he's already paid for

A local U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient said he’s been waiting almost a month for a new pair of glasses.

He asked Action News Jax for help on what he said should’ve been a simple order.

Army veteran Jerry Mettert proudly wears his Purple Heart pin on his collar.

He served in the Vietnam War and was in the Army for 20 years.

He met his wife while overseas and now lives in Jacksonville.

Overall, he said, his experience with the Department of Veterans Affars has been “fairly decent,” with one exception.

“Eye care is a sad situation,” said Mettert.

Mettert wears his glasses from the time he wakes up until the time he goes to bed.

He needed new ones so he tried to get an eye exam appointment at the Jacksonville VA clinic.

“They said, 'It’ll be eight months before we can get you in to do an eye exam or we can send you outside,'” said Mettert.

He took the second option and went to an outside doctor, got his prescription and took it back to the VA so he could get his glasses.

That’s when the problems started.

“Yesterday was 28 phone calls and I got nowhere.The other day, I spent five hours taking a paper from upstairs to downstairs, 14 steps, upstairs to downstairs,” said Mettert.

He showed Action News Jax the receipt that shows he paid $264.20 for his glasses, which have photochromic lens.

That was in almost a month ago.

“They said, ‘Oh we haven’t ordered them yet. We haven’t gotten the form from Gainesville back to us,' but they have taken the $265 off of my debit card,” said Mettert.

Optometry is likely one of the busiest services at the VA.

Mettert said he understands that the clinic is busy, but that’s no excuse for the long wait times.

“If that is the area that needs the most attention, then direct some of that attention there,” said Mettert.

Action News Jax asked the VA if there is a backlog for orders of eyeglasses.

A spokesperson said she’s looking into our inquiry.

Another veteran called Action News Jax with another complaint regarding the eye care services at the VA.

He said, in the past, he has waited eight weeks for his glasses.

Cox Media Group