Where to buy eye glasses ?

[mamamary]

Just went to the eye doctor yest. I have officially ordered my first pair of glasses. I went and ordered the glasses right in the doctor's office. Wow. I could not believe how expensive they were. When I got my reading glasses there 1 1/2 years ago I did have different insurance but I remember them being very cheap - maybe because they were just reading glasses? Anyway, I wound up paying close to $400 yesterday

So my dd has an appt. next week at the same office. She already wears glasses so I know already she will need a new pair plus she is thinking of maybe getting contacts too (she is 13). I guess my question is can I take the prescription and go to a cheaper store to buy the glasses and contacts? I have a Visionworks and a Pearle vision in my local mall.

When I was at the doctor's yest. they just automatically brought me over to the section of their office where they sell the glasses. If I knew they were so expensive I would have asked this question there yesterday.

Do you all usually buy at the doctor's office or take your prescription to a cheaper place?

sorry this was so long

 

[mamacatnv]

Yes, ask for your RX - my former Dr's office was always resistant but its your RX to do with what you want.

I find Costco has the best prices for glasses, lenses and contacts but a limited selection.

My last pair I got at Sam's Club, even used their eye Dr. The Dr. gave me my RX without issue. I bought my glasses at Sam's because they have a better selection of the glasses with clip on sunglasses which I love.
Then I took my RX to Costco and ordered contacts.

Non-membership? My Aunt and several friends swear by Wal-Mart for costs and selection.

The costs at my former eye Dr's office was just ridiculous and I refused to pay their prices. Example, Costco offered a scratch coat as part of the lens price but my eye Dr's office charged an extra $80 for the same coating.

 

[Southernmiss]

Just went to the eye doctor yest. I have officially ordered my first pair of glasses. I went and ordered the glasses right in the doctor's office. Wow. I could not believe how expensive they were. When I got my reading glasses there 1 1/2 years ago I did have different insurance but I remember them being very cheap - maybe because they were just reading glasses? Anyway, I wound up paying close to $400 yesterday

So my dd has an appt. next week at the same office. She already wears glasses so I know already she will need a new pair plus she is thinking of maybe getting contacts too (she is 13). I guess my question is can I take the prescription and go to a cheaper store to buy the glasses and contacts? I have a Visionworks and a Pearle vision in my local mall.

When I was at the doctor's yest. they just automatically brought me over to the section of their office where they sell the glasses. If I knew they were so expensive I would have asked this question there yesterday.

Do you all usually buy at the doctor's office or take your prescription to a cheaper place?

sorry this was so long

Glasses I have always bought at the drs. office. They have a rack of "budget" frames and that's what we choose from.

DS needed contacts so I took his prescription to Walmart vision center. The contacts were half the price of the drs. office price. Exact same contacts. And they mailed them to his college p.o. box.

In the future, I believe I will take glasses prescriptions to Walmart, too. I may even use their eye dr.

 

[mamamary]

Didn't even think about WalMart - thanks.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I don't wear glasses (except for driving at night, and the current ones I own have lasted years and are still good), but the rest of my family does. We do order our glasses for everyday wear at the eye doctor even if it costs a bit more. The woman there is very talented with helping us pick frames. She's known us for years. The glasses we get seem to be of a high quality, and we can go in any time for minor repairs.

If we need an extra pair for sports or sunglasses, we'd check out Walmart, BJ's, etc. for the best deal. There are places online you can order glasses at a steep discount, but I don't remember the names of those websites.

 

[anniemae]

We go to a store called For Eyes. They are fantastic and soooooo much less expensive. Like you, I bought my dd first pair at the eye dr. shop. I spend almost $200. The next time, we went to For Eyes and I paid $29 for a pair of glasses, and that included the lenses.

 

[brookmey]

We go to Eyemasters to get our glasses. They sometimes have BOGO free offers, so we got glasses and lenses for DH and then my glasses and lenses were free. We order our contacts online. I didn't think they overinflated their prices and they had a wide selection of budget frames and designer frames.

 

[Snoopymom]

http://www.zennioptical.com/

A consumer budget radio guy here recommended them, and they are super cheap! I get prescription sunglasses for about $20 with shipping. They take about two weeks.

 

[Mandychelle79]

First thing, know your insurance coverage inside out before going to the eye doctor.

When I went I knew how much frame allowance I was given so I made sure the frames I bought were close to the allowance (the pair I got were covered I think the frames were 199, the other pair would have been like 15 dollars out of pocket)

My insurance only covers basic lenses for free, I did up grade to the thinner ( but not the thinnest) lenses and I did not opt for the suggested antiglare.

I have a 15 dollar materials copay on any glasses I buy and I think my glasses ended up being 45 dollars out of pocket.

I paid out of pocket for my contacts because my insurance is for glasses is WAY better then my insurance coverage for glasses.

 

[bjscheel]

DD's appointment was at the end of the day and the shop was ready to close up. We did try on a few frames, but the lady told us to come back when her eyes weren't dilated so she could see herself better. So that got us out of the eye doctor's shop with her prescription. That weekend we went to the city and checked out a few places to at least comparison shop, though I never did know the prices at the doctor's. When we were at Vision 4 Less they were like $59 or so and ready in 1 hour. She picked out two pairs, we went to lunch, and got a text before we were done eating that they were ready.

We were pleased, but then I don't have any experience with the doctor's to compare to. She is the only one of us that needs glasses.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I have bought my last several pair through the eye doctor, but this time I'm giving Costco a try. I checked there a few weeks ago, and they had the same Coach frames as my eye doctor for $200 less.

 

[SaraJayne]

We dropped Pearle Vision about four years ago. When you have to buy 2 pair of glasses and 2 sets of contacts, their prices weren't an option.

Since then, we've gone to our local EyeMart Express, which all of us love. The eye dr there is awesome and their prices are very reasonable.

 

[4nana]

Glasses are expensive, no doubt about it! I get my eyes examined every couple yrs, usually leading to new glasses, so have gone with many companies - cost avg. between $350.- $500 oop. Now as a senior on Medicare and supplimental ins., I have to be a lil more budget conscious . However, some vision centers have allowed AARP discount. Sorry, I can't imagine purchasing bifocals through the internet, perhaps single vision, but just my 2¢, I wouldn't be comfortable as bifocals need a hands on exact measurement.

Recently had my eyes examined and got several estimates. I decided to go with Costco, as actually they had a better variety of semi rimless frames I prefer at a very reasonable price - $59/$79. DH prefers Costco or BJ's and has always had favorable results there.

Quotes for my bifocals, which are: polycarbonate/progressive/tranistional/antiglare & scratch resistant

Costco: $248
Walmart:$250
BJ's $450 - w/coupon aval. till Nov 1 $275.

My DGD learned she needed reading glasses at beginning of school year. Her parents and she found a great stylish selection at BJ's for $39, at one of their specials, she was happy with.

 

[ORMom2Four]

http://www.zennioptical.com/

A consumer budget radio guy here recommended them, and they are super cheap! I get prescription sunglasses for about $20 with shipping. They take about two weeks.

I LOVE Zenni Optical! When we are in the eye Dr office, I feel like stopping people who are about to pay $150+ for their glasses to tell them about the site

We order glasses for DS10 and myself there. Takes only about 2 weeks to get them. We've had the lenses checked for accuracy and they are always correct!

 

[MrsDuck]

We get ours at Costco.

 

[willowsnn3]

OP, check to see if where you got your glasses has a return policy. Some offer 30--60 days return if not satisfied.
I went to LensCrafters the last 2 times. Got my latest pair last month & was around $400. But like another poster, I have the progressive lenses with all the xtras. Our prescription (my dd also) was handed to us by the eye doctor there and we could have just walked out & went somewhere else if we wanted. I might try Sam's next time.

 

[tefrench]

You know, there was just a 60 Minutes segment on why glasses are so expensive - turns out, one company owns most brands, and even the eye insurance most people have. Not really a free market situation.

They said their biggest competitor was Walmart.

I asked for the cheapest glasses my eye doctor had (we don't have eye insurance) , and they were still over $100.

I am really thinking of switching to Walmart.

 

[SmallWorld71]

We've gotten DD's at BJ's for the last 3 years. Great customer service, great warranty on kids' glasses (don't know what it is for adults, but they have fixed hers for free several times) and great price. We go in September when they are having their back to school special and all kids glasses are $40. They often have great adult sales as well.
She wears bi-focals if that makes a difference.

 

[Meriweather]

Another Costco person here.
DH has gotten his there for years.
DD gets her contacts there too.

I only wear readers, so get them at the $1 store

 

[mamamary]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. As a pp said about knowing your coverage - yeah that was my bad not knowing. I don't belong to Costco or BJs or any of those places but I do have a walmart that I might try out. I'm going to call my insurance later today to see what I'm covered for. someone else mentioned returning the glasses but i know I signed tons of paperwork yest and I remember one form said I would be charged 20% for any returns so I'll just stick with what I have but shop elsewhere for my dd next week.

Thanks guys.