What do you pay for an eye exam? And where do you go?

[azgal81]

I go to nationwide vision I have insurance so I just pay a 10 dollar co pay. I have been happy with them and my eye doctor is excellent!

 

[NHWX]

Thank you Disboard folks! I was just noodling along here and saw this post. Our eye doctor - an eye surgeon - is wonderful and a family friend. But the exam is something like $135, usually covered by insurance. And the contact lens teaching fee is something like $200.

My son now needs contacts and he doesn't have anything weird with his eyes so he really doesn't need the specialty service. I called Costco - exam, teaching portion and a trial pair total $85. Plus we're able to come in on Columbus Day so we won't have to deal with an after school rush to the eye doctors.

Wooo Hooo! You saved me a bundle!

NHWX

 

[disneyeyes]

Lisaross, call the state board of licensing for optometrist in the state where you live. Ask them if it is legal for the doctor to refuse to give you your glasses prescription. I believe patients at least have the right to obtain copies of all medical records fron their doctor. In Okla. all patients must be given their prescription.

 

[lisaross]

Thanks for getting back to me - i just think its wrong! I cannot seem to find the #, but i'll keep trying and i'll also ask around the area - i might call my vision insurance (Davis Vision) i think maybe they will know!

thanks again

ps - i'm in NYC

Lisaross, call the state board of licensing for optometrist in the state where you live. Ask them if it is legal for the doctor to refuse to give you your glasses prescription. I believe patients at least have the right to obtain copies of all medical records fron their doctor. In Okla. all patients must be given their prescription.

 

[mamalle]

I go every year. My copay is $20 and if I want the special retinal exam with the machine its a extra $29. I do it every other year to compare. I do not have diabetes, HTN or any other reason for concern right now so the doctor and I agreed on every other. I also have a allowance for glasses or contacts. I just did the one year of lenses for accuvue. my insurance pays $220 a year and I got the $30 rebate so it cost me $10 for a full year of contacts..

 

[powellrj]

I am a Doctor of Optometry. I have worked in ophthalmology offices, mall/retail offices and am currently in private practice. Here are some general observations on the different types of offices:

1) Ophthalmologist specialize in surgery and disease treatment. In many of the offices I have been in, the ophthalmologist will spend very little time with routine vision patients. In many of these offices a technician who has been hired and trained on the job is doing most of the exam including the measurements for the glasses prescription called a refraction. Optometrist spend four years learning these skills and I believe you will get the best refraction and glasses prescription if you visit an office where the optometrist or ophthalmologist personally does your refraction.

2) Many of the retail type optometry offices who advertise low priced exams do not include the cost of a dilation in the exam. Since ophthalmologist concentrate on eye health issues, they will include dilation in almost all of their exams. If you go to a doctor who adverises low prices ask if they charge extra for the dilation or other necessary test. This is an important part of a complete health check.

3)Beware of low priced ads for glasses. Particularly in offices that run low priced glasses advertising, the sales people are trained heavily in "sales". I have known patients to be told that they needed such and such option added to their glasses when indeed this was not true. Also as the previous poster said the low priced items offered are many times not the most appealing styles. The ads get you in the door and the salesman may try to give you many extras. Some extras are beneficial and valid reccomendations, but like the previous poster said, your best bet is to develop a relationship with a doctor and ask his/her recommendations.

4)Remember, you do not have to buy glasses at the time of your exam. If you want to shop around take your prescription and compare what you are told by different glasses salesman.

I hope this gives you some insight from someone "on the inside". Please don't assume that the problems above happen everywhere. I just want people to be aware of what to look for.

Thank you for this post. I once went to an ophthalmologist thinking I would get a better exam than I was getting at the optical places. I went on a tuesday and was given a clean bill and a new prescription for glasses. The glasses were really expense and didn't last very long, but thats another story. On thursday of that week, I went to a different doctor to prepare for a sleep study. He looked into my eyes and asked how long I had high blood pressure and what was I doing to treat it. He said I was already showing eye damage from it. I had no idea and the ophthalmologist didn't mention it when I was there 2 days before.

 

[lisaross]

Yes, in NYS they are required to give out the prescription! So i' am going to go back to the office and get this information - its just that my son is 7 and i am entitled to a 2nd option i think!!

lisa

thanks again

Thanks for getting back to me - i just think its wrong! I cannot seem to find the #, but i'll keep trying and i'll also ask around the area - i might call my vision insurance (Davis Vision) i think maybe they will know!

thanks again

ps - i'm in NYC

 

[mcgrawfan]

I am an optician. Something else you may see more of when going to a private optometrist office (not Walmart or Cosco) is more care and follow through if you do have problems with your glasses. When you go to chains sometimes it is out of their hands if you have trouble and they don't help you. Belive me, I have heard many patients complain of other places and end up coming to see us. We have a 2 year unconditional warranty on our glasses. We also use the best quatlity products for lenses and frames. There are MANY different lens products out there especially when it comes to progressive lenses (no line bifocals) and anti reflective lenses. We also guarantee the accuracy of the rx and basically that you like your frame. From my experience you are not as likely to find this at a "chain".

Optometrists can care for patients with eye disease. We have many patients we care for with glaucoma and macular degeneration. Once in a while these patients may need to be referred on to see an opthamologist.

For your annual eye exam you should feel comfortable seeing an optometrist. Our optometrists do dialated exams on all new and older patients and those that they think need it. They have found diabetes in patients, found tumors and many other things. That is why an eye exam is more that just checking if you can see. They are also checking the health of your eyes and body.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Our eye doctor (independent office, he's the only doc there) charges $55 for an exam. We have a $10 copay.

We went to Lens Crafters to get our glasses once when our insurance changed, and I won't do it again. The frames were cheaply made and the lenses weren't right. After they changed the lenses 3 times, I could see well enough, so I lived with them for a year until our insurance changed again. I only wore them for driving.

 

[bumbershoot]

both my husband and i do not wear glasses, but my son who is 7 failed his eye exam at school, so i took him to an optomitrist which is covered in full through my vision insurance - they said he needs glasses all the time - think his vision was 20/25 and 20/40 - anyway i now want to take him to an Optomologist (dr.) for a thorough exam. Now how does it work w/getting the lenses for the glasses, do you need to get the presecription from the dr. - the 1st place my son went the optomitrist said we could only get the lenses from them they will not give us the prescription - is this the way it works? what if i want to buy the glasses elsewhere ?

thanx for any help

lisa

also - do you recommend i get to pair of glasses incase he looses or breaks them? what about sports? do i need to get him prescription goggle type?

Glasses all the time for 20/25 and 20/40? That level of good vision would have been vision not requiring glasses, after I had Lasik done...

For me, that level of vision could have just been a sleepy day...

I personally woudln't trust that eye doc...

 

[mamalle]

I agree about seeing a an optometrist. I have been going to the same one since the early 1990's. Its a private practice and I always have had a complete exam. Unless this was concern from my exam or from the scan- I shouldnt need to see a Ophthamologist. Now I have sent my husband to one after he scratches his cornea- thats a whole different ball game and covered under medical insurance.