Eye exams... optometrist vs store eye center

[traces7]

I've worn glasses or contacts for years (about 25). I've gone to the same optometrist since then. This year money is tight. The cost of an eye exam at our normal dr's office is $170. I called an eye center at ShopKo (a store similar to Walmart) and an eye exam there is $50. Big difference! Why would there be such a big price difference?

Does anyone have any experience with an eye center at ShopKo, Walmart, etc? Are they just as good? I don't have any special problems. I do have astigmatism in one eye and I think I may need bifocals this year, otherwise nothing else out of the ordinary. Any advice?
Thanks!

 

[JoanneDisFan]

I use to always get my DD's eyes checked at a walmart. But after they closed switched I went to a eye center. The eye center said that my DD didn't really need glasses except to correct for the astigmatism and since it wasn't too bad and causing problems she didn't really need glasses at all. I wish I'd spent the money to go to the eye center earlier.

 

[Marionnette]

I've worn glasses or contacts for years (about 25). I've gone to the same optometrist since then. This year money is tight. The cost of an eye exam at our normal dr's office is $170. I called an eye center at ShopKo (a store similar to Walmart) and an eye exam there is $50. Big difference! Why would there be such a big price difference?

Does anyone have any experience with an eye center at ShopKo, Walmart, etc? Are they just as good? I don't have any special problems. I do have astigmatism in one eye and I think I may need bifocals this year, otherwise nothing else out of the ordinary. Any advice?
Thanks!

I don't know why your optometrist would charge that much for a simple refraction. Do you also wear contacts, which would mean doing a contact lens exam/fitting? Does the charge also include additional screening tests that the Shopko optometrist doesn't perform? Around here, a routine eye exam for an adult costs between $45-$70, depending on the doctor. The chain stores aren't any cheaper.

I would call the doctor's office again. Explain that the cost is more than you can handle but that you would prefer to remain a patient. Ask if they would be willing to match the Shopko price. You might find that they will in order to keep you as a patient.

 

[traces7]

I don't know why your optometrist would charge that much for a simple refraction. Do you also wear contacts, which would mean doing a contact lens exam/fitting? Does the charge also include additional screening tests that the Shopko optometrist doesn't perform? Around here, a routine eye exam for an adult costs between $45-$70, depending on the doctor. The chain stores aren't any cheaper.

No I don't wear contacts. They do several tests with different machines, so I think they are more thorough than the Shopko optometrist, not sure though.
Good idea about asking them to price match.

 

[bucket o' butter]

I've worn glasses or contacts for years (about 25). I've gone to the same optometrist since then. This year money is tight. The cost of an eye exam at our normal dr's office is $170. I called an eye center at ShopKo (a store similar to Walmart) and an eye exam there is $50. Big difference! Why would there be such a big price difference?

Does anyone have any experience with an eye center at ShopKo, Walmart, etc? Are they just as good? I don't have any special problems. I do have astigmatism in one eye and I think I may need bifocals this year, otherwise nothing else out of the ordinary. Any advice?
Thanks!

We recently started going to Walmart because when I called our eye doctor's office to inquire about the cost of an exam, she wouldn't give me a straight answer. She said anywhere between $45 and $170 depending on what the doctor did. Whatever! We decided to check out Walmart and we love them. Very thorough eye exam and friendly staff. And the price is right! I think our exam for glasses was $55 and for contacts it is $79.

 

[jedijill]

When I was a poor soldier in the Army, I went to the Walmart eye doctors for my contacts and always had issues. Once I got out and had vision insurance, I went to a regular optometrist and finally got contacts that fit right and were better for my eyes. I won't ever go back to the Walmart level eye places for my exams again...I just don't think the quality is there.

Jill in CO

 

[scrapquitler]

No I don't wear contacts. They do several tests with different machines, so I think they are more thorough than the Shopko optometrist, not sure though.
Good idea about asking them to price match.

Well I just went to Walmart and had my exam yesterday. I paid $30 because my medical insurance paid the rest of the cost of the visit. I had all the same tests that I used to have done at the pricey optometrist, including a glaucoma test. They didn't dilate my eyes, but they would have if I asked. There is an extra charge for that, something like $20.

 

[jme829]

DD18 goes to Shopko for her contacts. She really likes the dr. there. ANd the prices are reasonable (exam $85, contacts around $35 for the brand she wears).

DH, DD12 and I just went to AMerica's Best. We got 2 regular exams, 1 contact exam, 4 pairs of glasses and my husband joined the eye club ($99 for unlimited contact exams for the next 3 years, plus discount on contacts) and we spent $340 TOTAL ...LoL....they have a special for a free exam and 2 pairs of glasses for $70. They have some pretty decent styles, even at the this cheaper level (you can chose more expensive frames, the price goes up accordingly).

We don't have vision insurance so we try to find the best deal out there. We've always had good luck at Sears as well.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I used to do that... and then I got a corneal ulcer. "Walmart" couldn't even treat me and I didn't have an eye doctor. Luckily a friend got me into one quickly. Had I left it alone as "Walmart" suggested I would have wound up in the ER and possibly had MAJOR long term issues.

Now I go to my MD. who is board certified, and figure the "cost" is better then the alternatives which are not pretty.

 

[kpm76]

Walmart is great for groceries, not for eye exams. Go to a Dr and pay the extra. Some things are priceless, and eyesight is one of them.

 

[swilshire]

I think you'll find that the Walmart optometrists may have the same credentials as your other doctors. I used them the last time and was very satisfied. The only "cheap" company I have used and not liked was Dr Bizers. They got my prescription totally wrong the first time and I had to be re-examined. They did it at no cost, but it was a nuisance.

Sheila

 

[Marionnette]

Well I just went to Walmart and had my exam yesterday. I paid $30 because my medical insurance paid the rest of the cost of the visit. I had all the same tests that I used to have done at the pricey optometrist, including a glaucoma test. They didn't dilate my eyes, but they would have if I asked. There is an extra charge for that, something like $20.

There shouldn't be an extra charge for dilations. It should be included as a part of a comprehensive exam for adults. So you really didn't get the same test done as you would have had at the "pricey optometrist" since there are several checks performed after the pupil is dilated.

BTW, if your "pricey optometrist" accepts your insurance, then they would have had to accept assignment. They are required to charge the same price according to their contract with the insurace company.

 

[tar heel]

Check and see if your health insurance covers your going to an actual eye doctor, an ophthamologist. That's by far the cheapest option for me since I just pay a $15 co-pay. I would choose this route any way, but it's nice that it's also the cheapest.

 

[traces7]

Walmart is great for groceries, not for eye exams. Go to a Dr and pay the extra. Some things are priceless, and eyesight is one of them.

That's kind of what I figured, my eyesight is not something I wan to mess around with!

 

[traces7]

Check and see if your health insurance covers your going to an actual eye doctor, an ophthamologist. That's by far the cheapest option for me since I just pay a $15 co-pay. I would choose this route any way, but it's nice that it's also the cheapest.

Our health insurance no longer covers eye exams, it used to, but not anymore.

 

[dzneelvr]

Our family gets better service, prices, and choices from our local ShopKo than with the VERY expensive optometrists in our area! I had been brought up to doctor with one particular optometrist and so our family continued with him. But when frames hovered in the $2-300 range and it became increasingly slow to get contact lens replacements, we switched to our local ShopKo. Perfect match ShopKo gives us full exams, a fabulous selection of frames, contact lens usually in stock or within a few days if ordered, and flexible service hours. ShopKo even called around for a certain frame DS wanted a few years ago; they found it in another state store and shipped it to IL for himwith both DS and DD in other states now, they can go to any store and have their records at a moment's notice.

 

[Marionnette]

Check and see if your health insurance covers your going to an actual eye doctor, an ophthamologist. That's by far the cheapest option for me since I just pay a $15 co-pay. I would choose this route any way, but it's nice that it's also the cheapest.

An optometrist IS an actual eye doctor. They do not perform surgeries (unless you count foreign object removal and punctal plug insertions). They are considered to be physicians.

And major medical does not cover refractions. You need an eye insurance rider for that.

 

[mrsklamc]

An eye dr. is about like anything else - you can get a bad one at an expensive place and a good one at wal-mart or vice versa. It has to do with the individual, not the price tag.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

An optometrist IS an actual eye doctor. They do not perform surgeries (unless you count foreign object removal and punctal plug insertions). They are considered to be physicians.

And major medical does not cover refractions. You need an eye insurance rider for that.

I don't think that this statement is completely true. From WebMD

Ophthalmologist: Total Eye CareOphthalmologists are physicians -- doctors of medicine (MDs) or doctors of osteopathy (DOs). MDs and DOs complete four or more years of college premedical education, four years of medical school, and one year of internship to get their doctorate degrees.

After they become licensed physicians, they undergo a residency of three or more years. This consists of medical and surgical specialty training specifically in eye care.

Ophthalmologists provide complete eye care services. These include:

Vision services, including eye exams
Medical eye care -- for glaucoma, iritis, chemical burns, orbital cellulites, etc.
Surgical eye care -- for trauma, crossed eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, tumors, etc.
Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions related to other diseases, like diabetes ( diabetic retinopathy), arthritis (iritis), or brain conditions ( multiple sclerosis/optic neuritis)
Eye disease and injury preventive services
Plastic surgery -- some ophthalmologists offer this service for drooping eyelids or skin tumors, or for smoothing wrinkles and improving skin tone around the eyes


Optometrist (OD): Vision Care and Eye Care ServicesOptometrists are trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. They are trained in prescribing eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, low vision aids, and vision therapy.

They are also trained to identify cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal disease, and to use some medications to treat eye disease.

Optometrists do not attend medical school. Most complete an undergraduate degree before beginning four years of training for an optometry (OD) degree.

Some complete a postgraduate one-year clinical residency to gain specialist certification.

The services optometrists provide include:

Vision services such as eye exams, and treatment of conditions such as amblyopia and strabismus
Diagnosing eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and conjunctivitis
Prescribing medications for certain eye conditions (in some states)
Eye disease and injury-prevention services
Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses

 

[tar heel]

An optometrist IS an actual eye doctor. They do not perform surgeries (unless you count foreign object removal and punctal plug insertions). They are considered to be physicians.

And major medical does not cover refractions. You need an eye insurance rider for that.

Nope. An optometrist has not been to medical school nor has he/she completed a residency.

It happens that MY health insurance covers my entire eye exam.