Holy Budget, Batman! CONTACTS?! Expensive!

[SDSorority]

Hi all. So I got quoted that contacts for my horrible eyes will be $400 after insurance!!! AGH!! (I have rreeeeaaalllly bad eyes) Has anyone used that 1-800-Contacts place or other contacts places instead of their eye doc to save money??

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

I hardly ever buy contacts from my eye doctor. I order them online and have ordered from 1800contacts, lens.com and also Visiondirect.com. Compare all their prices and see what rebates are available as well. I think it is almost always cheaper buying online.

 

[TaraPA]

Contacts are definitely cheaper online, and I've been ordering them that way for 10 years. I shop around - I've ordered from Coastal Contacts, Vision Direct & a few others. They change their prices per box often, so it pays to look at a few sites to compare prices. My eye doctor wanted to charge me $70 a box - found them online for $29.99 a box. Go figure.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I buy my contacts at Costco, much cheaper there.

 

[tinker&belle]

Hi all. So I got quoted that contacts for my horrible eyes will be $400 after insurance!!! AGH!! (I have rreeeeaaalllly bad eyes) Has anyone used that 1-800-Contacts place or other contacts places instead of their eye doc to save money??

Is that for a year's supply of boxes or for non-disposibles?

 

[SDSorority]

NICE. See that's what I suspected...I figured I could get them myself! They're the same that you would order from the doc, right?

 

[SDSorority]

Is that for a year's supply of boxes or for non-disposibles?

Sorry, it's a year's supply of 4 contacts per eye, changed out (disposed) every 3 months. Preference Toric is the kind I need.

 

[cole6179]

Yes, I wear daily torics. I found them a lot cheaper online after my eye dr quoted me. Usually I can find a code and get them from Walgreens.

You just enter your script (I got mine off the side of my sample box) and you have to enter your Dr. info b/c they do call and verify with them. I had no problem doing that at mine.

 

[njsweetP]

I just ordered DD's contacts from Costco. Also check the manufacturer's website for rebates.

 

[dawson5]

if you know your prescription, size and brand, price them out.

For my sons, I could get a year supply for $100. If I bought them at the eye doctor, it would have been over $200. Our insurance doesn't help with that at all. I think with the coupon codes out there and first time buyer, I could get it under $100 at vision direct. They all change.

 

[tar heel]

Just call around. My son's contacts are slightly less than 1/2 as much as his opthamologist charges at a local optometrist office. It's a few dollars less than 1-800-contacts. One of the things I found out when I was calling around was that Sears said it would meet any price I could find.

We used to get his at BJ's, but the doc changed kinds and BJ's no longer offered them.

 

[CinRell]

I use coastalcontacts.com

If you do a search for coupon codes you can get a great deal! I just refilled my order. In 3 days I had my contacts!

 

[CowboyCO]

Have you looked into Lasik? I was tired of kicking out $300+ every 6-12 months for glasses and I got Lasik done for less than $1,000 for both eyes. If you have a flex plan, you can just sign up for the extra to be taken out over time, but then get it done all at once.

Just a thought.

 

[rbork]

Another pref toric lens person here. Yep, a years worth is about 400$ here too. I don't have eye insurance so it's oop. I wear glasses for work, gives me better than 20/20 with actual glasses. But when I vacation and want to be active AND seeI shell out money for a couple boxes. I get the 30 day contact and then change them. I NEVER sleep in them. To much dry eye. I am considering lasik for my 40th birthday.

 

[RitaE]

we usually use VisionDirect.com or if I forget to order in time we'll get them from WalMart. I haven't bought contacts from an eye doctor in over a decade now - too expensive.

 

[SDSorority]

Another pref toric lens person here. Yep, a years worth is about 400$ here too. I don't have eye insurance so it's oop. I wear glasses for work, gives me better than 20/20 with actual glasses. But when I vacation and want to be active AND seeI shell out money for a couple boxes. I get the 30 day contact and then change them. I NEVER sleep in them. To much dry eye. I am considering lasik for my 40th birthday.

Same here, minus the lasik part . Although DBIL had it done and I know numerous others that are like DO IT DO IT!!! It's the best thing they've ever done, they say.

Not for meeeee... too scared

 

[pixiewings71]

My eye dr told me to get mine from Costco. I lost my job so I lost my ins. and when I told him he said "get the first 2 boxes from us, it's covered, and then get the rest from Costco, they are cheaper and better then that 1800 website" LOL So when I run out I will go to Costco.

 

[disneyfans95]

Sam's Club is really cheap for contacts. I wear Acctaview (spelling?) so a decent brand.

I pay about $21 a box and normally they will drop the price if you are buying say 6 months worth.

 

[CowboyCO]

Same here, minus the lasik part . Although DBIL had it done and I know numerous others that are like DO IT DO IT!!! It's the best thing they've ever done, they say.

Not for meeeee... too scared

I was too... -- But in all honesty it was a piece of cake. No pain, just a little pressure and it's over in seconds -- like 10 seconds.

Afterwards my eyes were a little itchy for 48 hours or so. Aftercare is important to protect the eye (about two weeks for me).

I had it done 6 years ago and I have one eye that has regressed a little. I plan to have it re-done next year. Its awesome to have the freedom of no glasses or contacts. I get up in the morning and just roll.

I buy cheap sunglasses and love it!

 

[NiftyJ88]

I went through vision direct for dh and my contacts this year. It saved at least 50% over what the eye dr was charging. Plus, I went through ebates and will be getting back $17 just for my contact lense order. I'll never by from my eye dr. again. My lenses arrived at my door in less than a week, DH has torics so they took about 2 weeks.