Budget Buster- Eyeglasses

[angeleigh]

My dh made himself an eye appt last friday because he needed new glasses. Lost a lens out of his 2 years ago and hasn't worn them since. I decided that I should get my eyes checked as well since I haven't had an eye exam in 20 years. I didn't think my vision was bad but thought since I was getting older I would. Well seems as if not only does dh need glasses so do I. With eye exam and glasses we shelled out $726.00. At Walmart! I just think this is crazy. Is this the average cost for two eye exams and 2 pair of glasses. My exam was $70 and his was $50. My glasses were $254. His glasses were $352. They also wrote me a referal to have a glaucoma work up because I have something called physiological cupping. Not exactly sure what that is. I didn't realize just how expensive eyeglasses were. I certainly hope when I get them I see a difference because I seriously don't think that I am having any trouble without them.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you have a Costco anywhere near your their service for eyeglasses is very highly rated (by Consumer Reports). It is worth the membership fee if not a member.

I just had two pair of eyeglasses for $206. These are both bifocals, one had a special anti-reflection coating and the other was polarized lens eyeglasses. The only "joker" in the pack was I used my old frams and they charged me an $18 fee each (included in total price) since I did not buy frames from them, but if I had bought frames those were $29 and up.

 

[vsimeone]

YIKES!!! I have an eye doctor appointment tomorrow! First time in years. I had AK surgery about 15 years ago so I haven't worn glasses since but no I can't see a thing. I know I'm going to need some sort of "corrective lenses!"

 

[angeleigh]

Unfortunately we don't have a Costco in around here. I will shop around the next time we need glasses that is for sure. I just hope I actually see some difference in my vision. I am still shocked that I actually need them.

 

[ajh88]

Wow!

We just got DD some glasses at Wal-Mart for $69. That seems super expensive, although I guess some of the frames I saw were upwards of $150 (not including lenses).

I guess the upside is that they'll last for awhile (hopefully!).

I don't think that cost seems "average" - the eye exam fees sound reasonable ($50 to $70). The glasses price seems high to me - but if you picked out a more expensive frame - or if you had to get bifocals or you added additional "features" or upgraded the lenses (so they were more than $50), I guess it doesn't sound that off-base. I know we went to one of those "America's Best" stores (you know, an eye exam and 2 pair for $99) - well, with my high prescription (and the need for uber-expensive high-index lenses), my $99 2-pair would have turned out to be $350. We ended up paying $140 for my DH's 2 pair plus my eye exam and I have yet to get my new pair (since DD just had to get some herself and I wear contacts the majority of the time).

 

[natenapril]

Wow!

We just got DD some glasses at Wal-Mart for $69. That seems super expensive, although I guess some of the frames I saw were upwards of $150 (not including lenses).

I guess the upside is that they'll last for awhile (hopefully!).

My DD7 also recently (last week) picked out her glasses at walmart and they were only $89 after then lens. I was pretty happy with that price since I was expecting 200-300.

 

[Sandi]

Many places, Walmart and Target for example, charge a much lower price for children's glasses, plus some will offer replacements for damaged glasses due to being a kid. That might be why the PP saw what she considered a reasonable price for her DD. DD15 and I got glasses at Target last month to use up some of our medical reimbursement account. Her glasses were half what I paid and they were basically the same.

 

[robinb]

Holy cow! That's expensive! For future reference you can ask for your prescription and buy your glasses anywhere. I guess what's done is done.

My DD and I just had our eye exams and it was $70 for both of us. Both of us only need glasses for reading but I prefer a trifocal lens so I can see my computer screen easily. IF I bought them at the optometrist's her glasses would have been about $150. Mine would be $259. Instead we are going to a place called Eyemart Express where they have a special for two pairs. A pair of glasses with a single vision lens is about $125 and a pair of trifocals is about $170-$200.

My DH has insurance that covers his eye exam and glasses. His vision is much worse on multiple levels than my vision. Last year his glasses would have been almost $400 if he had to pay for them.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

OP: Don't feel bad, Wal-Mart does have about the best prices I have found around here. The price you paid does not sound totally unreasonable to me.

The type of lenses you require can make a huge difference as far as cost. I require a more expensive lens due to my prescription strength. My eyeglasses were $249 at Sam's Club last summer, but my DH and DD were able to get glasses at Wal-Mart for under $60 a pair this year ... but neither of them need any specialty type lenses and they aren't too picky about their frames.

 

[jennsuko]

For us an exam is $60 at a private practice. I actually found them to also be cheaper for glasses than walmart or a lenscrafters type place. They offer a discount if you don't have insurance. You may want to call around next time to see if you can find a better deal.

 

[WDWAurora]

Well, I refused to pay that much (my vision insurance wasn't going to help much) this time, so I'm trying www.zennioptical.com. I posted about it a few days ago. My order hasn't arrived yet, but I'd say about 80% or more of the reviews I've read online have been extremely positive. Most of the negatives haven't been horrible. I spent $40 and will get 3 pair of glasses (not reading glasses-I'm nearsighted). I will be reviewing after they arrive, so time will tell. I'm expecting them in about a week and a half.

 

[IDoDis]

I got 2 pair of glasses & frames at Eyemasters in the mall for $100 for both. DH's glasses are a very strong & expensive prescription and normally run about $350 with an inexpensive pair of frames. This last time we ordered his glasses from zennioptical.com and the price was $138.00!! The glasses are just as nice, but we had to wait several weeks to get them. No biggie considering the savings.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

My husband and I both have terrible eyesight and have worn glasses since we were 5. Pity my poor child...

Anyway, you aren't alone in this being a budget buster. We typically pay around $700 per pair of glasses (not including the $100 exam). We do often choose frames that are pricey (we have to wear them every day, after all), but our lenses with the requisite coatings/indexing/polishing are over half the total. We utilize our health savings account and just plan the expense every year. This year we were given vision coverage (KaChing!) and were able to pay around $250 per pair of glasses.

DH is looking into zennioptical for a pair of mountain biking sport glasses/goggles. They will still be around $80 for him, but that is so much better than what we normally pay it's worth a shot!

I don't know that I would buy glasses online without being able to try on the frames. I am quite particular about fit and look.

 

[puffkin]

We have been very happy with Zenni optical. DH's usually cost us about $30. My mom has a progressive bifocal prescription that the eyedoctor was going to charge her $500 for glasses.....Walmart was $380. This was for basic frames, not designer. She decided to try Zenni (was very skeptical) and got them for $60 and loved them so much she ordered a second pair for work (since she always leaves her glasses at home accidentally or vice versa). So we are big Zenni fans!

 

[ontariomonkey]

Yowza! I had my eyes checked recently and it turns out that I need reading glasses. The doctor's assistant was very kind in helping me pick out a pair of frames and assured me that their lenses are top quality. And the total for the glasses only came to $688!!! I almost passed out. Then I said "uh, no thank you".

So I deceded to buy some on a website clearlycontacts.ca (sorry, this one is just for us Canucks I think). You can get designer frames, lenses included for under $100. They start at $38. Not bad.

 

[kfeuer]

Another vote for zennioptical. I have truly terrible vision, my prescription is very strong and the cheapest glasses I ever had (prior to trying zenni) were around $150 from Costco.

As luck would have it, the arm snapped off my glasses the day after my husband got laid off in September I decided to try Zenni and I'm very happy with my glasses and the service I received. They let me know that the first pair of frames I picked out wouldn't look good with my prescription because my lenses are so thick, and gave me alternate suggestions. My final price was around $45, and that was with an upgraded frame and the surcharge because of the strength of my prescription. I'm very happy with my glasses and I'm glad I tried them.

 

[prncess674]

Next time go to an Opthamologist vs a Wal-Mart optomestrist. An Opthamologist will dialate your eyes which relaxes the muscles and does a much more accurate reading of your prescription along with a glaucoma test. You basically wasted your money on the optomestrist since you still need a glaucoma test. Opthamologist are board certified and can test for many more issues and many times are covered under a typical insurance plan.

 

[If U Had Wings]

My last eye exam I had done at an office right near where I work in NYC. Most of the time I wear contacts, but I needed to upgrade my glasses as well this time. The prices were ridiculous for the frames at my doctors office so I took my prescription and had found a fantastic pair of glasses at my local Costco. Since their prices were so good I went all out. I got the frames, light weight lenses with the special edges and anti-reflective coating. I think I spent about $220 total, and got a good portion of that reimbursed from my insurance.

I also bought an $8 pair of glasses from Zenni optical for when I'm just hanging around the house at the end of the night. I love them. No problems at all with them. My niece tells me she actually likes them more. Sure it's not as convient not being able to try on the frames, but I tried enough on in stores to have an idea over what shapes and colors looked best on me before I ordered. I wear the Zenni ones much more often, and can't tell any difference between the vision in them and the more expensive ones.

 

[deerhart]

yes $250-$350 for a pair of glasses that you get at a physical store is about right. You can sometimes get promos at places for cheaper, but you have to remember that you get what you pay for! (I know lots of people who have had problems with some of the places like Lenscrafter and similiar type stores and the glasses not being right)

Kids glasses are MUCH cheaper and you can't compare them to adult glasses.

My last pair I paid $200, but my frames were originally almost $400, but insurance knocks down the price. At the same store, kids frames run $25-$100. yes its a hefty price for something that I rarely wear, but I only get them like once every 5-10 years now I've had 4 pairs of glasses since I started wearing contact 17 years ago, put 1 set was broken by the kids and another was ruined by mag sulfate in my first pregnancy)

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

DD6 got her first pair of glasses in December. The doctor strongly recommended polycarbonate lenses, thinner lenses and to cut down on the "coke bottle" effect. Just the lenses were $140 per pair of glasses. So with frames, I ended up paying about $440 for two pair. I figured she'd need a pair and a spare! I was shocked by the polycarbonate lens price, but I didn't go for the cheapest frames either. I wanted the frames to be good quality that would stand up to the abuse of a 6 year old.