OT...feel duped by the eye doctor

[Marionnette]

Really? I just joined Costco. Do you get your prescription elsewhere and take the prescription to Costco? I'm sure my eye doctor would be highly offended and argue with me if I did that. He is always angry when I buy my contact lenses online.

Your eye doctor is required by law to give your prescription to you. But like any other prescription, it has an expiration date. So, if you have not had a contact lens exam in 2 years, you no longer have a valid prescription. The same goes for eyeglasses. If your eye doctor gets offended when you ask for your script, you need to find another one who will treat you with respect.

BTW - Those of you who buy cheap glasses online and go to the eye doctor every month or so to have them adjusted may find that there will be charges for that in the future. Most eye doctors are barely covering their overhead with the way that insurance reimburses for exams. They need to make a living somehow. When you come in for an adjustment or repair on a cheap frame, someone (the staff optician or the doctor himself) has to take time away from other patients to take care of you. They're not going to be able to do that for free much longer.

 

[clm10308]

My DS, who also seems to think that eyeglasses are disposable, seems to always need his glasses fixed/replaced. The best (ie cheapest) place I have found to get him multiple pairs of glasses is Eyemasters. Now, their customer service sucks and we have never gotten a pair of glasses in one hour as advertised, but I was able to get 2 pairs for my DS for about $50 each by purchasing frames that are on clearance. Also, they did not try to hard sell when I was very clear about what I wanted (frames and basic lenses only) .

My DSs ears are not in the level, so his glasses alway have to be adjusted or he looks crooked.

right now, we live in a very rural area, so I am going to try Walmart for a cheep, extra pair.

 

[kamik86]

I have done some stupid things with the glasses -- such as rolling a tire over them last winter when changing a flat.

When that happens, I go to the most reputable "glasses store" in town and they have always fixed, adjusted said glasses for no charge, even though I did not buy them there, and even when I insisted I give them something -- In my experience of some 40 years of wearing glasses, most reputable places will do this for the goodwill.

I agree. There is a small fee at my place when something has to be replaced (DH tends to lose the nose pieces) but its very small so not a problem at all. the adjustments I need are always done free.

 

[Ranger111]

BTW - Those of you who buy cheap glasses online and go to the eye doctor every month or so to have them adjusted may find that there will be charges for that in the future....

Every month or so...???

In the past three years, I think I went twice ... one of those times actually to have a pair of sunglasses that I bought from that shop years ago adjusted.

I would have no trouble paying for them to fix something. The most time it has ever taken is about 5-10 minutes. If they charged me $50 I would still be ahead.

But, seriously, how often do most folks ever go back?

 

[Fire14]

Really? I just joined Costco. Do you get your prescription elsewhere and take the prescription to Costco? I'm sure my eye doctor would be highly offended and argue with me if I did that. He is always angry when I buy my contact lenses online.

I get my glasses from Costco. I do use onsite Eye doc. but I like him ( disney fan), he takes our insurance and has hours that work with my crazy life/work schedule and he hands rx right over at end of appt. I used walmart Doc in past but didn't really care for her chair side manner, get more for less at costco and feel I get better exam at costco. I also personally find I get better quality name brand frames at costco and I feel like human there vs techs at walmart who won't give me 5 min of their time and try to upsell every freaken time.
It may just be DH and I but we've found lenses bought at walmart optical scratched quicker, needed more repairs and frames didn't hold up as well.

I can't vouch for Sam's club but I've seen reasonable prices there also.

 

[Fire14]

Every month or so...???

In the past three years, I think I went twice ... one of those times actually to have a pair of sunglasses that I bought from that shop years ago adjusted.

I would have no trouble paying for them to fix something. The most time it has ever taken is about 5-10 minutes. If they charged me $50 I would still be ahead.

But, seriously, how often do most folks ever go back?

mine are from costco but I think I've been there maybe 2 times in 6 yrs. Once for loose screw on frame arm, once for adjustment of new glasses I didn't feel sat right on my face.

 

[Marionnette]

Every month or so...???

In the past three years, I think I went twice ... one of those times actually to have a pair of sunglasses that I bought from that shop years ago adjusted.

I would have no trouble paying for them to fix something. The most time it has ever taken is about 5-10 minutes. If they charged me $50 I would still be ahead.

But, seriously, how often do most folks ever go back?

Sorry, I didn't mean to appear to be pointing a finger at you, personally. I know people who go back every month because their cheap frames can't hold their shape. Most eye care professionals do it for free as a courtesy to their patients. But like everyone else in healthcare, they are also feeling the pinch from insurance companies that have not increased reimbursement for exams in over 5 years and patients who are trying to keep their eyewear costs within a reasonable range.

 

[Leajess99]

So, my ten year old managed to lose his glasses, and, after giving them a few days to surface, we went last night to get an exam and glasses. For the glasses, it was a better deal to go out of network with Vision Works (2 for $99). I knew my son had a prescription that would bump the price higher. Apparently, he is kinda off the charts, and I was told they had to special order his lenses.

My options were given as waiting two weeks, or upgrading to the mega ultra premium anti glare lenses they had in the back. I elected to upgrade one pair, and wait for the back up pair, and paid $50 extra... to the tune of $252.

So, went to pick them up today, and - low and behold!! - BOTH pairs were ready!! I was furious. I had been told yesterday that the regular lenses were ok for back up, and a slight (not the mega ultra premium) upgrade was sufficient.

I complained, and, of course, I left there feeling like the worst mother for not wanting him to have the mega ultra premium lenses. I feel duped. If the slight upgrade was ok, I am not happy that they bullied me out of $50.

Should I complain?

We have Dr Bizers Vision World here which is part of the same group as Vision Works and I will NEVER step foot in there again. My middle daughter had glasses done by them and th glasses did not even last a month with the lenses constantly falling out. The anti glare actually peeled off a friend's pair of glasses from there and she has to have the thinner lenses as does her son.

We actually now shop at Walmart as they are cheaper and have a much better warranty when it comes to the kids' glasses. My friend's son had his glasses replaced 4 times because they ended up broken (sports child and they did finally get sports glasses for him). Walmart was great about it. This was from taking a ball to the face in various sports.

I do pay for the better lenses with the anti glare for my girls. The place we had their eye exams done this time wanted to charge $75 for the anti glare so I just got the pair of glasses under insurance and went to Walmart to buy the school pair. The girls are happiest with their glasses from Walmart and no issues with them.

We have not had a problem with glasses falling apart or scratching easily from there either. My youngest first wore glasses in Kindergarten and now is back in them in 4th grade. She only needs them for reading, schoolwork, computers, etc so they are on and off a lot. She does know not to use paper towels and such on her glasses as the paper can cause scratches.

 

[DisneygirlTeacher]

Another "never go to Vision Works again" customer here. My daughter needed glasses in 3rd grade and we went there. Then, she never really had problems with them, but once we had to go back because her lens had a crack in it. We returned and I thought the girl was going to snap them in two while looking at the crack. Found out they are not really trained...just hired and given a quick review of what to do as far as adjusting glasses. Then, the other clerk actually argued with me that they weren't cracked. Huh???? They definitely were, and we didn't even know how it happened. After "reviewing" his comment, he finally admitted they were broke, but not before saying they had a "slight line in them, they weren't cracked." Oh please.....we got them fixed and never went back. Even the eye doctor left soon after because there were so many problems there. We have gone to the same eye doctor ever since at his own practice! Live and learn...

 

[ghmaster]

I watched the eyeglass frame and sunglass show on 60 Minutes and realized that I had always been ripped off by those optical stores. WM, Costco’s, and online glasses sound good to me. I have recently ordered very inexpensive glasses online at zennioptical.com and they are not bad at all. Considering the prices, I believe I will order more.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

OP here...thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to order a couple back up pairs from one of the mentioned labs.

One thing I forgot to mention, and the lady KNEW, is that DS has severe ADHD. The chances of these glasses lasting a year are less than the odds of me winning the lotto. So, while he has these great lenses, it is highly doubtful he will have them long enough to take advantage.

And, btw, for those wondering what the upgrade is, I could not tell you. She never told me. All they said when I picked up was that they were needed, and I was too mad to figure why.