flaws in eyeglasses - testing for? Best quality mfgr for Eyeglass optics?

Does anyone know of a way to detect and document optical flaws in eye
glasses?

I am NOT referring to a mis-made lens that doesn't match the
prescription. Rather, I am trying to document flaws in the base
material or imperfections in the surfacing - much like you see in
cheap plastic toy magnifying lenses that have wavey, fuzzy, or
distorted patches.

Please pardon the long post, but this is not simple to explain.

Background:
I have a strong eyeglass prescription - and have for 30+ years.
-8.00 -1.25 x 40
-7.50 -2.25 x 83
with a +2.5 magnifier for presbiopia. (being over 40 has its
challenges!)

In the past, the new lenses I've received have always been fine - I
could see clearly from side to side, and up/down within the limits of
the lens and the progressive lens distance design.

However, with my most recent attempts I cannot get a pair in which
both lenses are of good optical quality. The first pair delivered were
badly flawed in both eyes. The optician said they "tested fine" on
their equipment, but agreed to remake the lenses because she had
experienced a similar failure herself.

The next pair the left eye is fine, but the right eye still has
wavey/fuzzy zones that limit me to small areas of clarity. If I turn
my head or move my eye slightly, and look through a different portion
of the lens, I cannot read print -on paper or on the computer screen.
Clarity is disrupted by several diagonal stripes of fuzzyness across
the field of view from upper left to lower right.

Since the clear spot on the right eye does not match the head position
for best vision on the left, I'm getting headaches from eye strain
when doing any close work.

Since the next optician generally only offers one free "remake," for
user preceived errors, they are delaying remaking the lens again.
(I've checked with other shops in the area, and this appears to be
standard policy).

Therefore, I am trying to construct a system for projecting light
through the lens and recording the resulting difraction/projection
pattern in hopes that this illustrate the imperfections and thus
substantiate my claims of a flawed lens. (Visually its obvious to me,
but I'm told by the optician that their testing tools showed no error
on either set of lenses.)

I have access to good photography equipment (digital), strobes, and a
laser pointer. I have thought it might be possible "paint" a time
lapse image of the laser light being passed through the lens onto
graph paper to detect any areas that are unevenly lit, (much as the
old science class wave tables showed the wave patterns on the paper
below.) However I lack the knowledge to figure out how to position and
move the laser to accurately map the lens.

Any suggestions are welcome!

PS - I've used this optical shop for years, the lenses are coming from
the lab they routinely use with good results.
In case anyone is familiar with lens manufacturers, these are
supposedly from Definity Progressive Lenses. www.definity.com

If I decide to bite the bullet and pay the $350+ remake fee myself, is
there another manufacturer anyone knows to be better/more reliable?

Thank you for your patience - this is making my life quite difficult
right now, and any help or thoughts are greatly appreciated.

.

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