Eye exams... optometrist vs store eye center

[disneyfreakk]

If you do go to the cheaper place, take your new glasses to your reg optometrist office and have them check the Rx. They should do this for free.

 

[mrsklamc]

An optometrist in the US has an OD degree- the D stands for Dr. and they are referred to as such.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

An optometrist in the US has an OD degree- the D stands for Dr. and they are referred to as such.

However, there are SIGNIFICANT differences in what they can do.

My history professor uncle is referred to as "Dr." also.

Being referred to as "Dr" does not mean you are an Medical Doctor.

In my state they optometrist cannot prescribe the drugs I need to basically 'save' my corena. To me that's a big gap I won't risk again.

 

[mrsklamc]

However, there are SIGNIFICANT differences in what they can do.

My history professor uncle is referred to as "Dr." also.

Being referred to as "Dr" does not mean you are an Medical Doctor.

In my state they optometrist cannot prescribe the drugs I need to basically 'save' my corena. To me that's a big gap I won't risk again.

That's one bad optometrist, though, that should have referred you to an ophthalmologist who could take care of your specific situation. That doesn't mean all optometrists are incompetent, just that one. An optometrist is fine for an eye exam.

 

[jackie101]

Walmart optometrists may have the same credentials as your other doctors.

 

[mpls_mm]

I went to Wal-mart for years and was happy. I wear contacts and my eyes used to get "tired" of them sometimes and I would go and they would tell me to take them out and rest them or I would toss the disposables and switch to a new pair. I always blamed myself for working too long. I moved somewhere that the Wal-Mart center was too far so I went to regular optometrist, it happened I went when my eyes were "tired." He diagnosed me with something complicated and said I had tons of scar tissue from previous lesions. I am not a person who should sleep in contacts ever, because of the shape of my eye and my sensitivity. In 10 years all wal-mart did was change me to longer wearing brands. I had to go without contacts for 2 weeks to let all the damage heal and now I take them out at night to let my eyes rest and I have no more troubles. He was very competitive pricewise, there is a very expensive dr in town and he is much cheaper. I don't think I will risk it again, I could have lost my eyesight or been unable to wear contacts and with my coke bottle glasses, that would be a tragedy. He also taught me that I was taking improper care of my contacts, and I have been wearing contacts since they came out! I was allowing more bacteria to enter the way I clean and store them.

 

[Marionnette]

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.

True, they do not attend medical school. They attend 4 years of optometry school. And depending on the school, they will also do a year or more of residency.

The many states, including the state of PA, recognize them as physicians. They can prescribe medications. They can perform minor surgeries like the insertion of punctal plugs and the removal of foreign bodies. They do not perform cataract surgery but often take care of the follow up care for the opthamologist that does. If you get a routine eye exam done at a group opthamologist practice, you will most likely see an optometrist.

They are not MDs but that does not mean that they are not "real" eye doctors.

And I think that it is wonderful that your health insurance covers you eye exam but I can assure you that it is not submitted under major medical.

O.C.COmmuter, would you really expect a website that is run by MD's to describe an O.D. in a positive light? I perhaps a link to the American Optimetric Association for a definative description of an O.D. would be more appropriate.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Walmart optometrists may have the same credentials as your other doctors.

More accurately, Walmart (and other retail) optometrists must - not just may - have the same credentials as all other optometrists. Opening your own office is riskier and more expensive than working for an existing company. The degree requires eight years of post-high school education: an undergraduate degree, and a four year degree in optometry. Consumers should expect and receive the same quality of care no matter where the optometrist is employed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

O.C.COmmuter, would you really expect a website that is run by MD's to describe an O.D. in a positive light? I perhaps a link to the American Optimetric Association for a definative description of an O.D. would be more appropriate.

Conversely, would such a website be any less biased in the opposite direction? As noted above, a doctoral degree doesn't make one a physician.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think that the reason a free-standing optometrist is more expensive is they have to maintain their office, pay rent, employees, etc. Those at a store are either employees or independent contractors and do not have all of the administrative overhead they would otherwise have.

 

[luvmy3]

More accurately, Walmart (and other retail) optometrists must - not just may - have the same credentials as all other optometrists. Opening your own office is riskier and more expensive than working for an existing company. The degree requires eight years of post-high school education: an undergraduate degree, and a four year degree in optometry. Consumers should expect and receive the same quality of care no matter where the optometrist is employed.

 

[tlbwriter]

Why would there be such a big price difference?

For the same reason there's a price difference between Fantastic Sam's or Smart Style inside Walmart and a stylist who owns a salon. Both the stylist and the optometrist have to meet the same basic qualifications, no matter whose roof they work under.

 

[JandJ]

OP - does your insurance consider an Ophthalmologist a specialist? Can you see a specialist without a referral? What is your specialist co-pay?

I ask because we don't have vision insurance so DH and I were shopping around for the cheapest place to get an eye exam and couldn't get it under $100 for glasses and contacts fitting. We have to have dilation because I have corneal neovascularization and macular degeneration runs in my family and DH's family, so we get a thorough eye exam every year. I found out that seeing an Ophthalmologist is considered a "specialist" visit under our insurance and it's covered with the specialist co-pay ($40) so that's where we go now. Worth checking with your insurance if you can see a specialist for a low co-pay. Just a thought . . .

 

[mrsklamc]

For the same reason there's a price difference between Fantastic Sam's or Smart Style inside Walmart and a stylist who owns a salon. Both the stylist and the optometrist have to meet the same basic qualifications, no matter whose roof they work under.

Thank you- I was trying to think of this example over the weekend. You can have an excellent cut at a Great Clips or a bad one at an expensive salon, or vice versa. It doesn't matter what you pay, it matters what individual you get.

 

[Mommee]

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.

True, they do not attend medical school. They attend 4 years of optometry school. And depending on the school, they will also do a year or more of residency.

The many states, including the state of PA, recognize them as physicians. They can prescribe medications. They can perform minor surgeries like the insertion of punctal plugs and the removal of foreign bodies. They do not perform cataract surgery but often take care of the follow up care for the opthamologist that does. If you get a routine eye exam done at a group opthamologist practice, you will most likely see an optometrist.

They are not MDs but that does not mean that they are not "real" eye doctors.

And I think that it is wonderful that your health insurance covers you eye exam but I can assure you that it is not submitted under major medical.

O.C.COmmuter, would you really expect a website that is run by MD's to describe an O.D. in a positive light? I perhaps a link to the American Optimetric Association for a definative description of an O.D. would be more appropriate.

I can assure you that we have one exam per year at the eye doctor covered under our health insurance. It began two years ago, and our only issue is people insisting that we're wrong without checking to see if they're right. It is part of our coverage through BCBS. Of course, this is through our health insurance, not major medical. By definition isn't major medical for major bills? I don't think eye exams qualify.

OP - does your insurance consider an Ophthalmologist a specialist? Can you see a specialist without a referral? What is your specialist co-pay?

I ask because we don't have vision insurance so DH and I were shopping around for the cheapest place to get an eye exam and couldn't get it under $100 for glasses and contacts fitting. We have to have dilation because I have corneal neovascularization and macular degeneration runs in my family and DH's family, so we get a thorough eye exam every year. I found out that seeing an Ophthalmologist is considered a "specialist" visit under our insurance and it's covered with the specialist co-pay ($40) so that's where we go now. Worth checking with your insurance if you can see a specialist for a low co-pay. Just a thought . . .

Our health insurance will cover an opthalmologist ONLY if there is a medical need for one. This is in addition to the one eye exam per year that is covered.

 

[tlbwriter]

And I think that it is wonderful that your health insurance covers you eye exam but I can assure you that it is not submitted under major medical.

When I see my ophthalmologist , it's covered under major medical. I see him for issues other than a routine vision exam, but I get the vision exam at the same visit and it's covered.

 

[tar heel]

Like Mommee, my eye exams are covered by BCBS as part of my health insurance. It's part of the preventative care included with my health insurance, just like my mammogram and pap smear, and my insurance company calls it a "routine eye exam." I can go to an opthamologist or an optometrist that is in my network, and I choose to go to the former.

 

[traces7]

OP - does your insurance consider an Ophthalmologist a specialist? Can you see a specialist without a referral? What is your specialist co-pay?

I ask because we don't have vision insurance so DH and I were shopping around for the cheapest place to get an eye exam and couldn't get it under $100 for glasses and contacts fitting. We have to have dilation because I have corneal neovascularization and macular degeneration runs in my family and DH's family, so we get a thorough eye exam every year. I found out that seeing an Ophthalmologist is considered a "specialist" visit under our insurance and it's covered with the specialist co-pay ($40) so that's where we go now. Worth checking with your insurance if you can see a specialist for a low co-pay. Just a thought . . .

Yes an opthamologist would be a specialist and I would need a referral to go, which I couldn't get, because I don't have any special conditions that warrant a referral. $50 copay for specialists, same cost as Shopko eye dr.

 

[vacamomma]

The reason for the different prices for an eye exam is all because of Insurance. Most people with insurance will go to A private practice office were the highest billable amount for a routine refraction and eye health check is about $120. That's about how much your insurance will allow a doctor to charge. Cash price is completely different. Most people without insurance cannot afford to pay that so in steps Walmart, Shopko ect..so they have a cash price most charge about $50 or so. All optometrists have he same amount of schooling whether in their own practice or in a Walmart. Opthamologists have more schooling and perform more specialty work and cost more. If you are in need for just a routine exam or contact fitting any optometrist will do. Ask your friends/family for referals. Specialty stuff go to an opthamologist because an optometrist will refer you over to them anyway. Walmart,shopko and others really have cheapend the industry making people think real doctors don't work there but not true. a basic visit to your regular doctor costs more than $50. eye doctors should never have allowed the low cash prices to be part of their culture to begin with. Thats why you will never see a dentists office in any of those places they saw what happend to the eye doctors.