Eyeglasses for kids

[sharbear]

Everyone in my family wears glasses. My H and I have terrible eyes but the kids are just a little near sighted.

We have always gone to an independent optometrist. Ask neighbors or your ped and ask for a recommendation. My health insurance pays for an exam every two years, we did not have vision insurance until very recently and would just pay our co pay. For your child and his first exam, I would go back in a year just to see how his eyes are doing. I have one kid who eyes have not changed in years but mine still are changing which is not suppose to happen at my age! The last time my D and I got our eyes checked we were 1 year 11 months from our last exam and my health insurance wouldn't pay. The dr. agreed to give us a discount since we didn't have insurance. I would ask but the exam was only around $50 with $25 for dialating our eyes and something additional for the contact lens exam which you won't have. It was not that expensive. I would not buy vision insurance for one kid who has glasses, it usually won't pay for itself.

I hardly ever buy my glasses from the optometrist. My D's last glasses came from Walmart, they were $28 and they did a great job. Her glasses are not very strong and we have been happy with walmart. Just buy a pair from someplace that you won't care if they get destroyed. Boys are hard on glasses and who cares if they break a $30 pair. I am certain you will have to get them adjusted also, boys are wrestling and doing god knows what and they will be manhandled. I've had good luck with Walmart and Target, have not been so happy with Lenscrafters or Pearle, they are usually expensive and lets leave it at I've just not been happy.

I was going to get my S's last glasses at Costco and I remember being happy with them but they were going to take two weeks to come in and he was leaving for school before that so we couldn't. I took him to the place that I usually go to (I am very near sighted and it's very important for me to get my glasses sized right) and my S got the Cadillac of glasses, I think I paid $500 for them. They are very nice and he wears them all the time and is in college. I'm hoping that he's not wrestling with his anymore but there is no way I would think about spending that much when he was younger and harder on stuff.

Boy this is long, what am I thinking lol!

 

[blana]

Don't worry yet. My DS failed a school screening test and when we took him to the opthalmologist he said it was testing error- no glasses needed. He was also nice enough to bill it so it was covered under our medical insurance so it was covered.

We had a similar experience with DS due to ped testing. They gave us the # for a ped opthamologist & we were seen. No problems, and they billed it in such a way that our health insurance covered most of it. Even without vision.

As for where to get your glasses, I've always had good luck with Sears & BJ's for myself.

 

[Marionnette]

Pediatric Opth. are usually covered under health insurance not vision.

Not for routine refractions which is what the op will be bringing her son in for. I recommend seeing an optometrist in private practice for continuity of care. You may not get the same practitioner every time you go to walmart or sears.

 

[Marionnette]

Just wanted to add that even if you dont have vision insurance you might have a discount plan as a part of your medical insurance. I have aetna hmo and they offer a discount on the exam, frames and lenses at doctors who participate in the program. Check with your insurance.

 

[3boymthr]

Here's a thought as to the vision insurance. If you call today to make an appointment with an opthamalogist, especially an ped opthamalogist there's a good chance it won't be until January. I know I make our appointments several months in advance.

Also call your health carrier. Many, many carriers offer a vision exam once every year or two years. It's usually a standard part of the plan that your company has to opt out of and most don't even if they offer vision insurance. They don't usually cover the glasses, but something is better than nothing.

Finally, if you have AAA some glasses retailers offer a discount - lenscrafters, pearl and a few others around here do. It's usually an either or thing, but I've found that sometimes the AAA discount is better than the discount thru my insurance so definitely ask.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We found our supplemental vision to be not worth it. 3 of us wears glasses.

I added up the premiums and the co pays and we were spending hundreds of $$ more with the insurance. Plus the Dr's that accepted the insurance jacked up the prices of the materials and added extras to the eye exams.

I dropped the insurance, and pay oop for exams and glasses/contacts at Walmart/SAMs club

Last June we were at WDW and Ds broke his glasses. We went to WM on I-drive and they replaced the frame on the spot! I did not have any paperwork , but it was all on their system. I paid $39 a pair for glasses for my sons

 

[StephMK]

Definitely check your health ins. Ours covers a vision exam once a year under the regular health ins - BCBS. DD failed the school test two years in a row but both times I took her to the eye dr, she passed. The third year, she failed again & needed glasses. We got hers at Shopko & she loves them.

Still holding up well 1 yr later but she just told me she thinks she needs a stronger prescription now. We might get vision ins this year but with all of the restrictions & co-pays, I'm not sure it's worth it. I need to run the figures.

 

[ShelliRenee]

Take your son to a pediatric opthamologist. They will give him a thorough eye exam and determine what his needs are. Your health insurance plan probably has a list of providers. Then, if they prescribe glasses, take him to a local reputable optical shop. Ask friends and neighbors for references for both docs and optical shops. Your school nurse might be able to offer suggestions as well.

I have worn glasses since I was in Kindergarten and my daughter has worn them since 1st grade, so I have lots of experience in this! Feel free to PM me if you like!

I agree totally with you. I used to work in the industry, and kids need special doctors because kids have different eye problems then adults ( and many of the eye problems can be reversed.) Also, many insurances will help with glasses costs as well. One word of warning, with kids make sure to get a poly carbonate lens. Kids need extra protection from their eyes that this kind of lens gives.

 

[marcemc]

I agree totally with you. I used to work in the industry, and kids need special doctors because kids have different eye problems then adults ( and many of the eye problems can be reversed.) Also, many insurances will help with glasses costs as well. One word of warning, with kids make sure to get a poly carbonate lens. Kids need extra protection from their eyes that this kind of lens gives.

I totally agree with this. Have your DS see his pediatrician, it's a good start and he/she would be able to guide you as in what is the next step and what is best according to your health plan.

Regarding the glasses, I would recommend Costco. I think they have a good selection for kids priced reasonably.

 

[LisaRay]

Well thanks again to everyone for all the info.

Here's where I'm at today... My DH asked his coworkers where to go for the eye exam and I called late this morning to schedule an appt. They only have certain Dr.'s that see children and so it limits when they can get him in. We are looking at an appt. on Dec. 3rd. So I have decided to go ahead and wait until the begining of Jan. When our vision ins. will start.

I feel a little bad about it but he will be off for Xmas break for two and a half weeks in Dec. so no school then and he says his only problem is seeing the board. (distance) He currently sits in the back row at school but I have an already scheduled parent teacher conference tomorrow so I am just tell the teacher whats going on and have him moved up front.
I went ahead and made the eye appt. for Jan. 4th.

I've also found out what our vision ins. covers:
$10 exam co-payment
$100 frame allowence and 20% of balance over $100
$10 lense co-pay
It also says low co-pays for add-ons.
I don't know if any of that is good or not since I've never bought glasses before but at least it's something.

 

[Marionnette]

Well thanks again to everyone for all the info.

Here's where I'm at today... My DH asked his coworkers where to go for the eye exam and I called late this morning to schedule an appt. They only have certain Dr.'s that see children and so it limits when they can get him in. We are looking at an appt. on Dec. 3rd. So I have decided to go ahead and wait until the begining of Jan. When our vision ins. will start.

I feel a little bad about it but he will be off for Xmas break for two and a half weeks in Dec. so no school then and he says his only problem is seeing the board. (distance) He currently sits in the back row at school but I have an already scheduled parent teacher conference tomorrow so I am just tell the teacher whats going on and have him moved up front.
I went ahead and made the eye appt. for Jan. 4th.

I've also found out what our vision ins. covers:
$10 exam co-payment
$100 frame allowence and 20% of balance over $100
$10 lense co-pay
It also says low co-pays for add-ons.
I don't know if any of that is good or not since I've never bought glasses before but at least it's something.

Its not a bad plan at all. Frames can be a large range of prices. Unless your son picks designer frames made of an expensive material you shouldnt have to pay too much out of pocket. But you might want to also purchase a cheap backup pair for sports or in case the good pair gets lost or broken. I have really poor vision and grew up with only one pair of glasses at a time. When they would break I would spend a week or longer waiting for the replacement pair. It really impacted my school work.

 

[DisneyNutMic]

I will 2nd, 3rd, 4th whatever number the pediatric opthamologist. My son failed that little eye exam at the pedi's office before school started. He was legally blind and we had NO CLUE. Talk about feeling like a bad mom. He is now 8 almost 9 and does great with his glasses (vision is still correctable at this point but not for long at 20/1200 and 20/1400). We get his glasses at Lenscrafters and have never had an issue that wasn't corrected above and beyond our expectations.

 

[lori123]

My daughter has worn glasses since the age of 22 months (she now wears contacts). We have no insurance coverage for glasses. We have always gotten her glasses at costco - great prices and they will fix them anytime.

 

[Ceila]

Not for routine refractions which is what the op will be bringing her son in for.

While that may be true of your health insurance, it isn't the case for everyone. Our medical plan covers the entire visit minus the co-pay.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Of course " your actual mileage may vary". My last eye exam cost 180.00 and they did not dilate my eyes this time. My medical insurance covers yearly exams but they only covered $79.00 of it.

I went to Walmart for the glasses and I re-used the frames that I already owned. Cheapest glass lenses, lined bifocals with anti glare coating cost me 100.00 with tax.

 

[angwill]

In Illinois we have America's best website twopair.com it is like $90 for two pairs of glasses and the exam. It is nice for kids because they get polycarbonate lenses for no extra cost till age 12. The frames are nice but last years styles. We have had good luck with them and really liked the optomotrist. I was most worried the dr would be no good and if I had not been happy would have paid another doctor to do the testing. Just looked it is 2 pairs for $70 there.

 

[angwill]

Well thanks again to everyone for all the info.

Here's where I'm at today... My DH asked his coworkers where to go for the eye exam and I called late this morning to schedule an appt. They only have certain Dr.'s that see children and so it limits when they can get him in. We are looking at an appt. on Dec. 3rd. So I have decided to go ahead and wait until the begining of Jan. When our vision ins. will start.

I feel a little bad about it but he will be off for Xmas break for two and a half weeks in Dec. so no school then and he says his only problem is seeing the board. (distance) He currently sits in the back row at school but I have an already scheduled parent teacher conference tomorrow so I am just tell the teacher whats going on and have him moved up front.
I went ahead and made the eye appt. for Jan. 4th.

I've also found out what our vision ins. covers:
$10 exam co-payment
$100 frame allowence and 20% of balance over $100
$10 lense co-pay
It also says low co-pays for add-ons.
I don't know if any of that is good or not since I've never bought glasses before but at least it's something.

I just saw this post and the insurance sounds great. There should be no problem finding a frame around $100 so you might just get the exam and glasses for $20 maybe a bit more if he likes a more expensive frame. The add ons are usually anti-glare, transitions or a sun tint.

 

[Soarin_04]

Not sure if it's the same in your area, but -- and this isn't a widely know thing either -- Pearl Vision Centers will assist you with the cost of glasses for your child depending on your income level. Just got free glasses for one of my students through them.

Can't hurt to call and ask, right?

 

[Iott Family]

Do you have vision insurance? You might want to check which places your insurance covers. When I was growing up we went to Walmart to get our glasses. The prices were great and they had a great warranty.
One thing to remember is that you don't have to get your glasses at the same place you get your exam. The prices at some places can get pretty crazy! They should give you a copy of your prescription and you can take it anywhere.

My oldest son has had vision problems since he was 3. We are not strangers to the ins and outs of where and what! When DS was younger and we took him to an opthamalagist (sp) that specializes in children. It took him about 6 years of appointments every 6 months before his vision stabilized, actually improved and we always took our vision prescription to walmart because kids are rough on glasses and even with their excellent warranty program we would run into issues that required a complete replacement. Now DS is 13 and we have been using walmart not only for eye wear purchases but also for his regular yearly exams. We are very satisfied with their services and the product they offer. Also, if you travel and have any issues/need a repair, etc they have a national data base from store to store.

One last suggestion, rec specs are a must. Our son plays sports both on a team and with friends. These will save his glasses from being destroyed and protect his eyes from injury. They are great for gym class, too!

 

[SweetMommy]

I just found out that my son had an eye test at school today and he didn't do well on it so we need to schedule something for him. There are so many eye places I just don't know where to go.

Any advice on this it's my our 1st time dealing with this. No one else in the immediate family wears glasses.

Can I just say the same thing happened to my son last year and when I took him for an eye appt they told me he had 20/20 vision! They gave him reading glasses that he never wears. Thankfully our health insurance allots a pair of glasses a year so they were free. One piece of advice I can give you, go w/ titanium rims. Bend them any which way you want and they won't break! Perfect for young boys.