My Son Needs Glasses - need info.!

[ColoradoMom!!]

I am totally clueless about glasses! Neither my hubby nor I wear them. I took my almost 10 year old to Kaiser (HMO) for an eye exam as he was complaining he couldn't see far away. As I was waiting for the Dr. to confirm, "Nope, he's just fine . . .” I heard him say, "Your son is definitely nearsighted and needs glasses." From there, everything is a bit fuzzy meaning I was in such shock, trying to ask all the questions, but failing. He was nice, but we were out of there fast, and off to the Optical department. So how I am supposed to know if the glasses we ordered were a good deal?? Those of you who use those places that advertise such great deals - do you use their Dr.'s?? I just have to wonder if we went somewhere else, would that Dr. write the same prescription?

I have no reason to doubt this Dr. - but holy cow - my son is going to be looking through these things - do you all get a second opinion? I am just so blown away. Also, it isn't a money thing about the actual glasses - I am just used to being able to Google and research such big decisions before I have to make them. Let me tell you what we got and the price so you can tell me if that sounds reasonable. They are bendable kid's frames (X Games Ollie is the name)$150 Poly lenses with transition (from getting darker outside like sunglasses) and the non-glare coating $83.50 each lense, and $50 each lense for a Teflon AR coat?? so it was $337. They gave us around $75 off for a kids' promo, and our insurance was $100 off. Total was $237.74.

AND - my son plays on this very competitive baseball team, so I am worried about that too.

SO - dear friends - tell me everything - I need help!

 

[Olaf]

I wouldn't bother with a second opinion. It sounds as if your son needs glasses. His vision will most likely get worse until he reaches adulthood, then it tends to stablize a bit, until he hits middle age.

When he's an adult, he could look into surgery if it really bothers him.

I've found Costco to be best on prices.

 

[mickeyboat]

Did your eye doctor schedule a follow-up appointment to see how he is doing in a few weeks? I am pretty sure ours did. He also said to try to have DD wear them all the time to get used to them, even though she was near-sighted. Does the optician give some sort of break on kids' glasses? - ours does lens changes for free.

Denae

 

[kejoda]

We've been using glasses for years. With kids we found the best thing to do is go with a national chain that is open 7 days a week. Last year we bought glasses from Vision World when they had the 2 for 99 sale. They have so far been great. We've taken them in many times to straighten my 10 year old sons glasses and to get the nose pad replaced. Only once we have run into an idiot.

Get your son prescription goggles for baseball.

 

[Tazicket]

I don't know if I can help much, but I'll tell you what I know.

I went to see the eye doctor in high school and they decided I needed glasses (I really did - I'm nearsighted and was getting headaches from copying stuff off the board). I went to a Pearl Vision eye doctor because that was the guy my Mom went to. They told us what glasses were covered under our insurance plan, and I picked from those.

I have not been back to an eye doctor since then ( ) but I have an appointment in a couple of weeks to see the guy DH has been going to since he was little. I'm pretty darn sure I'm going to need a new glasses prescription since I get dizzy and headachy when I stare at a computer a lot (which I'll be doing again in my new job!!).

As far as the baseball team thing goes.... would your son be able to wear contacts? Or, you may want to check back with the place you got the glasses from and ask them what they think.

 

[mickeyboat]

I didn't answer the baseball question. DD is not incredibly athletic, but she has played soccer, t-ball, karate and gymnastics, all while wearing her glasses. They fit her so well that they never fall off.

She has had some trouble sliding and ice skating - she has lost a couple of lenses this winter after spills.

Denae

 

[My2Cinderellas]

glasses are like so many things, they come in different price points, and my optometrist has a few cheap frames, but most for kids are in the $120-150 range, adult ones can get even pricier. Every add on, like transition and anti-glare and scratch coating are all extra. You absolutely have the right to take a copy of your prescription from the optometrist to any optical shop you want to use, you don't have to use the one attached to your optometrist's office. I personally use the optical shop at my optometrists, I like the services they provide and have never once had a problem with my glasses. To me, this is worth the extra expense over going to a national chain, where I've had problems in the past.

I keep waiting for my kids to need glasses, DH and I both needed glasses as kids, so I know we're going to end up there. Part of the choice with kids is durability and warranty. is your child one who is a klutz and will end up sitting on/stepping on/whatever can go wrong will? get the warranty.

 

[KikiFan]

My daughter also needs glasses right now. I can't buy them till tomorrow so I've been shopping around. She picked a pair of Titanium frames (bendable and lightweight) $106 plus the lens $65 if we wanted the transition lens it was an extra $50. That was at Walmart.

I'm also going to check tonight at Lenscrafters. My sister told me the AAA discount they offered was better then their insurance deductable.

 

[romymichelle21]

I have been wearing glasses full-time (except for sleeping and showering/swimming of course) since I was 3! Yep - three.

And there have never been issues or major concerns! I do, however, have astigmatism - which makes everything incredibly fuzzy. I only see general shapes. So, while I cannot take my glasses off for some activities that I would like to, that doesn't mean your son can't! (Sports). If he trusts his judgement to see 'enough' for whatever activity, he can take them off for it.

I've never broken or bent my lenses or frames - even as a young rambunctious child!

Unfortunately, I am not a candidate for laser surgery, as one of my eyes has weak muscles and turns itself inward. (That would require much more complex surgery).

But eyes get better as children grow, using the proper glasses

Don't worry about it! It's not a nuisance, really

 

[kejoda]

Vision World is having a sale http://www.visionworld.com/

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I'm also going to check tonight at Lenscrafters. My sister told me the AAA discount they offered was better then their insurance deductable.

We had that happen a few years ago w/ DH's glasses. Often, the coupons, and specials, at chain stores are better deals than insurance. Just depends on the insurance.

We have almost never purchased glasses from the optomitrist's office. Poor selection, and more expensive.

We all currently have glasses from Target. So far so good. They are right around the corner, and open on Sundays, which has come in handy, more than once

I will suggest scratch guard on any kids glasses. And sometimes replacement insurance if its a complex prescription. I didn't get the insurance however, because both my kids are in single vision lenses. I can get their glasses replaced for cheaper than the deductable. I remember my brother having very difficult prescriptions, that could not be replaced cheaply. The insurance was a good deal for him.

 

[Olaf]

I'm telling you, go price the same thing at Costco. I'm a recent convert after years of buying my glasses at Lenscrafters. Consumer Reports rates as best for price, service and quality. Just bought a pair for DS, paid $80 for them. I didn't go with the bendy frames or coating this time, as it's the second pair he's lost in the last two years. But, even if I had gone with those extras, I wouldn't have paid as much as you did for your son's glasses.

PM me with your e-mail addy and I can send you an article from consumer reports.org on buying eyeglasses.

 

[Plantlady]

I have always found that going to a store other than the doctor's shop is cheaper.. that being said, I bought my last pair of glasses from the doctor directly.

a friend of mine was able to purchase insurance on her son's glasses, and they would replace them free of charge, if he broke them.

I have worn glasses since I was four. i've broken many pairs. I tried contacts briefly in college, but went right back to glasses, much easier. Your son will adapt fine. I played sports in my glasses (I'm not athletic though), swam in my glasses (I do that now, or I can't keep an eye on my kids). I'm blind as can be without them. I would never get the surgery, because my eyesight is not worth the risk of something going wrong. Glasses are just a part of who I am.. I do not remember life without them.

 

[lilyv]

I used to coupon/national chain/best deal my glasses. I thought the Dr's office was a bad "deal". After many problems, poorly made frames, terrible placement of lenses, I finally realized a good, reputable optician with a good reputable eye doctor was the best for me. The mall eye guys don't use high quality materials (even though they'd like us to think they do)..at least in our neck of the woods. I finally learned this is one purchase where it doesn't pay to cut corners.

I much prefer paying a little more and getting well made, good fitting, better lasting glasses. They really take time with me, both on ordering, and on delivery. They really want to make sure I'm seeing well. And on fitting a child or young person? I would especially want to make sure they were getting the best fit and accurate prescription.



One other thing-maybe you've thought of this, but don't make it a big deal with your 10 yo about the glasses. Just make it part of life. DON'T use windex on them, use a regular lens cleaner. You can buy it at walgreens, or the place where you get his glasses. I re-read about the lenses-, you got a good deal on his lenses. He needs the type you chose. Ask about how to care for the glasses when they deliver them. I never use paper towels or kleenex on mine. Paper scratches! I rinse them with water each day, spray with lens cleaner, and then wipe dry with a 100% cotton towel (or wash cloth).

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS has had just one pair of glasses. I'm not sure how he messed up those frames, but he tried to straighten them out himself and had fun in the process. Now at 14 he's switched to contacts, and that was just last week. Our vision plan at work is the greatest! Took him to National Optometry in the mall. Had an eye exam, they taught him how to take care of the lenses, put them in, take them out, gave him his first pair right there. And they ordered a 6 month supply for him which was in in no time. Total cost? $10!

I wear glasses. I've spent a small fortune on them. Two hundred some odd doesn't seem too bad. I've paid that myself. I see an ophthalmologist as opposed to an optician. And I order the glasses right in their office.

I would hope that your son's glasses would be okay for sports if they fit properly. Just be sure to have them adjusted when needed.

 

[AtlantaSue]

I took my 2 girls to a chain, "Total Vision," and they adore their glasses. I can't remember an exact price, but I think it was just under $300 for both of them.

An interesting thing just happened this week -DD10's glasses were run over in the school parking lot and all we could locate was 1 lens and 1 arm of the frame. The store said just to bring those items in and they will replace them free of charge -I was shocked!! But she said they were still under warrenty, and that they'd be covered. Yay!

 

[golfgal]

We usually get our kids' glasses at the eye doctor. We usually spend about $200 on them without any insurance helping with that cost. We don't get the transition lenses though (our kids don't like them--they aren't cool).

You might want to look into contacts for sports. Those were the BEST thing we ever did for our kids. They were 9 almost 10 when they got their contacts and haven't had any problems in the 3 years since they started wearing them.

 

[Mkrop]

I worked at an optician's office in HS so I always lean to going to a private place vs a chain. I love the customer service they give us.

DS10 has glasses and he does need the adjusted frequently so try to find some place nearby that you can pop in and get them adjusted. Getting them adjusted is very important.

If you are worried about cost, I would shop around for a cheap spare pair, nothing stinks more than the glasses breaking at 6 pm on a Sunday night after playing basketball with his friends

Ds10 plays all the sports, just finished basketball, and now onto baseball. The baseball helmet has misaligned the glasses sometimes. We are looking into probably finally getting him sports glasses this time around.

 

[nephthys43]

ok, i work for an optical lab. he kinda ripped you off. anti-glare is the exact same thing as teflon AR (anti-reflective). and i don't even want to tell you what those frames actually cost them.

all poly lenses already have scratch coat on them. xgames frames are really good at staying on during sports. poly lenses do not break as easily as plastic or hi-index (what i wear cause i'm blind).

if you do choose to get your son sports goggles, go with the ones made by liberty. mx-20 and the like, they are very very good.

i agree with getting a second cheap pair. though i have 4 spare pairs

 

[jsmith]

lens crafters and pearl vision give me nightmares-the last time i went to one of them (in a mall near you colorado mom) it took 4 tries to get a simple perscription correct. I finally started going to the optician on post-they are great-and cheap.
for sports-if you think he can handle them contacts are the way to go-they give you better peripheral vision and you dont worry about getting hit and breaking them