Getting my vision tested

My last vision test was in high school (at least four years ago.) I don’t remember what the result was. I think it just said that I should go to a doctor for more testing. I didn’t go because money was a problem and I didn’t have insurance. My eyes weren’t that bad anyway, I just couldn’t make out words from far away. I think they might be getting worse, but I’m not sure. So I want to get them tested. So what is involved?

How do I find a reputable optometrist? (Is that even the right person?)

What is a good store to buy glasses from, if I need them?

How much will everything cost?

How do I find a reputable optometrist? (Is that even the right person?)

  • do NOT go to any vision exam/glasses while you wait places. Ask people you know who they see.

What is a good store to buy glasses from, if I need them?
*again, stay away from the LensCrafters et al. I have NEVER seen a prescription done correctly.
If you have a Pearle Vision or a VisionWorld in your area, they do good work.

How much will everything cost?

  • VERY open question. If you are uninsured, with a decent optometrist, you’re talking at least $150 for the exam. I am including the lovely glaucoma test in that.
    If you need specs, add anywhere from $100-$600 for glasses.
    Contacts: your optician can give you samples of contacts, usually (the optometrist is the non-surgical eye doc, the optician is the specs person)
    Notes: Do not waste your money on antiglare coating. It peels off easily, leading to distorted vision. DO get scratch coating.

Also, figure your lifestyle when selecting a pair of specs. Do you play sports? Then those thin wire frame may not be the right choice.

Thank you. I hope nothing that you told me is a MissTake. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!! You gotta love a bad joke. Anyway…

That’s the info that I’m looking for. I don’t know anyone who wears glasses, so I’m stuck looking in the phonebook.

Does Pearle Vision do tests or do I go to an independent optometrist?

Also, I’m 22 years old, if that’s relevant.

Yes, you can use the phone book.

But ASK people. Just because someone doesn’t wear glasses doesn’t mean they don’t go to the eye doctor. They might wear contacts. They might be involved in something requiring regular vision tests. THEY might know somebody who wears glasses.

That said… if you’re pretty sure your vision is normal or near-normal, if the deparment of motor vechicles doesn’t require you to wear glasses, you can go to a LensCrafters place and, if you do need minor correction, get usuable glasses. But I don’t really recommend them. But I’m biased, since I require a very heavy correction they just can’t do “in about an hour”

Pearle Vision and other chain stores are probably OK, too. The all have optometrists who do vision testing. Just go in and ask, they’ll set up an appointment for you.

About cost - you know, the price quoted earlier seems really high to me. I went to an independent optometrist and was only charge $78 for a really comprehensive and careful exam. Which is a fantastic price. (On the down side - lens cost $385 a pair for me. >sigh<)

DO consider your lifestyle if you need glasses/contacts. Folks heavily into sports frequently prefer contacts, but if you’re around dust and fumes a lot, glasses are better.

And you may not even need them. In which case all you need is an occassional exam to make sure nothing is starting to happen (like glaucoma or diabetes).

My husband likes an optometrist at our local LensCrafters - she’s an O.D. (Doctor of Optometry) and very thorough and careful. I’ve gone to her as well and been very happy with the results.

If you go to an optometrist, you don’t need to buy the glasses from their shop. Ask for a prescription to be written, and any eyeglasses place can “fill” it for you.

There are ophthalmologists too - these are M.D.s, and you don’t need to see them for just checking your vision for a new pair of glasses. I work in an ophthalmology department in a medical center, and typically the ophthalmologists don’t do the vision screening on patients who need an eye checkup as well - an O.D. or a trained technician will do that part of the appointment, and then the ophthalmologist will go in to check for glaucoma and such. O.D.s (optometrists) can screen for that sort of problem too, but if a real eye problem is found, a patient will start seeing an ophthalmologist for that.

I wear progressive trifocals. Got 'em done at LensCrafters - and I’m quite happy with them. My husband got some also and they weren’t quite right, but they made good when they corrected them. We’ve got insurance, so the exams were $43. Can’t remember what the glasses cost, but it wasn’t as much as when he went to an optometrist with his own shop.

In my 40 years of wearing glasses and contacts, I have had successful eye exams from a wide spectrum of practitioners and contexts–MD opthomologists, private practice optometrists, Costco optometrists etc.

All have been fine. Unless your vision is particularly challenging and it sounds like it isn’t, then it is more critical for you to obtain good optician services. Check out the June 2001 issue of Consumer Reports for some good data.