Can this be true: DH needs a *second* eye exam to get contacts?

[southern_redhead]

DH wears contacts for the most part. He keeps glasses for times when his eyes start to feel irritated, or just to give his eyes a break from the contacts. His old glasses (OLD, OLD glasses LOL) got lost last fall and he knew he HAD to have some for backup. He was home from work so we went to LensCrafters and he got an exam and bought a pair of glasses ($400 total )

Now, DH is out of contacts. I told him we'd pick some up this weekend and he said "No, it'll be too expensive. I have to get an exam." I asked WHY when he just had one a few months ago. He said because that one was for glasses and the prescriptions for glasses and contacts are different (as in they are different strengths or something? I didn't really understand that part.) I asked why he couldn't go back to LensCrafters and ask them to pull up the exam and write him a prescription for contacts......He said he didn't think they would. I guess I could see where they might not want to give him an Rx to be filled elsewhere but surely they would be able to convert the results of the exams to contacts and we could buy from them? I just think paying a second $100 for an exam (when you have one less than a year old!) is beyond ridiculous! I'm a little ticked at him that he didn't ask for an Rx for contacts when he had it done, but he was flustered about losing the glasses and having to pay so much to replace them, I guess he gets a pass LOL

My question is: Any experience with this? Should we call/go to LensCrafters and ask - what do you think we'll be told?

 

[brekin67]

YES! The contact exam is separate because they measure the eye for the contacts, as each of us have different shapes and sizes. At eyemart express I think we paid about $140 for the contact lens exam about 3 years ago. My kids insurance pays for the eye exam, but not the contacts exam. Really upsets me that we pay that amount for about 10 extra minutes in the chair. If he wears the same contacts, you can use lens.com without getting the annual exam from your eye dr. You send them the prescription from your box then they verify with your eye Dr. Our Dr. does not confirm the prescription because my son has not had an exam in a couple of years. Lens.com then sends an email stating they only have to give the eye Dr. 8 hours to confirm the script then they go ahead and fill it. We did send them an original script about 3 years ago, but not since, and we order contacts about 3 times per year.

 

[Lewisc]

The eye doctor might charge the difference between a regular eye exam and a contact lens exam. More likely if you go back within a few weeks, maybe even a month.

It would have made sense to just asked for an updated contact lens script at the time of the exam.

 

[Luv]

Where I am it's the same exam. When you get contacts they just reduce the prescription. For example my prescription paper says -4.50 but I wear -4.25 contacts. I am in Canada though so maybe it's different?!

 

[MoonFaerie]

Yeah, there are different measurements involved in a regular eye axam and one for contacts.

I'm irritated with myself. I didn't plan my contact ordering very well, and I'm currently wearing my last pair. I went to order more last week, and my prescription is expired. I have my annual exam scheduled for mid-May, after I get done with finals. Now I've got to try to cram an eye exam in the week before finals start.

For back up glasses, have you looked at someplace like Zenni Optical? After I have my eye exam, I'm going to order a couple of cheap pairs, just to have, including a pair of sunglasses. If I had some prescription sunglasses, I'd just wait & keep my exam in 3 weeks instead of going in on Monday, the day before my lab final.

 

[mickeyluvsjess]

I also wear contacts, if he has the number on the last pack of disposables (and his perscription hasn't changed, you don't want to mess up your eyes) the online contact lense companies just ask you for your Docs name and phone number. Most of the time the doctor doesn't answer it and they just send it. I had to do this to make due for another month untill I had the money for a second exam when money was tight once.

 

[ajh88]

Your DH is right for all the reasons PP have mentioned. FWIW, in the future, you can get an eyeglasses Rx from a contact lens exam, but not vice versa.

 

[ilovejack02]

Worked for an eye dr for years . It is indeed two different exams .

 

[Evi]

They are two different prescriptions with different elements covered in the exam. Truthfully he probably could have scheduled to have both prescriptions written at the same exam. This is what I do and my eye doctor only charges me the fee for one exam. But then he does charge me the follow up for the contact lenses its usually one follow up exam a few weeks after I get the contacts to make sure they are fitting correctly. Next time have him tell his eye dr in advance that he would like to get both prescriptions when he books his appointment.

 

[southern_redhead]

Thanks to everyone. I have very limited experience with eyecare. The kids and I get annual eye exams but, thusfar, no one has needed any glasses/contacts (I think I'll hit my knees right now and thank God for almost 33 years of perfect vision LOL) I didn't think of them measuring your eyeball but that makes sense.

Yes, he should have asked to get it all done at once BUT I'll give him a one time pass because: A) He was in a dither over losing the glasses and trying to find a time to get new ones because he travels so much, B) He had plenty of contacts left at the time he had the appt, and (the big one) C) He is MALE...planning ahead just doesn't seem to be in their DNA, at least the ones I'm familiar with

I guess I know what I'm getting him for his birthday now, LOL

 

[KigerKat]

Your DH is right for all the reasons PP have mentioned. FWIW, in the future, you can get an eyeglasses Rx from a contact lens exam, but not vice versa.

Exactly. In my case, I have astigmatism, which is better corrected by glasses than by contacts, so my contact Rx is different from my glasses Rx. If there is any chance anyone might be wearing contacts, then it's best to get the contact exam which will also give you a glasses Rx.

 

[dolfinjuls]

I am a tech @ an eye docs office, as the pp said it is definitely a seperate exam. It usually can be performed on the same day, but it is still two seperate exams. Even if contact lenses have been worn before or for the past 30 years, a new contact lens fitting must be done to ensure there are no changes to the shape of the eye.

 

[Sadie22]

Contacts would also be contraindicated if any sort of infection has developed since the previous exam. Your DH is correct that he would not simply be given contacts without an exam specifically for contacts.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I had an eyeglass exam a couple years ago, then about a month later I went in for a contact exam and had my glasses prescription with me and they gave me a discount on the exam since they only did a couple different things.

 

[erincon23]

At our Costco, basic eye exam is $49, contacts exam is $74 (DS did this Friday).

And to the PP who said they sent in an Rx for contacts 3 years ago and keeps reordering off that Rx -- was that for your kids? You mentioned kids insurance in the same paragraph -- if it was, BAD IDEA! Your kids are growing and their eyes are changing -- maybe just a little bit, maybe a lot -- and they should be examined every year. Once you're an adult it's not such a big deal, but you could be potentially damaging your kids' eyes with contacts that don't fit right or don't correct their vision well enough.

 

[disneywatcher]

I get my eyes examined at Walmart's Vision center and they give me both the script for my contacts and glasses during one visit. I can buy a pair of glasses then and then just go back later to get contacts if I want.

 

[eliza61]

2 seperate exams. my doctor does do it on the same visit though. my insurance will pay for 1 or the other, generally I get the eye exam paid for by the insurance and pick up the contact one oop. I do get reimbursed through my health care spending.