Not sure how it works in other countries, but here at least the optometrists are independents who are leasing space from the eyeglass retailer.
When you buy an eye exam you are paying the optometrist (who in turn is paying the store for their space, etc).
Not to say that the store won’t try and encourage you to buy from them – in some cases the exam fee is waived if the glasses are bought at the same store (at the same time)… but here the price difference is so large that I cannot understand why anyone buys their glasses locally anymore.
The last time I got my eyes checked and got new glasses I paid NZ$60 for the exam and then got the glasses online from Clearly Contacts (who also make glasses).
Comparative local cost for rimless, progressives, with anti-glare, etc… over NZ$600. Cost from Clearly Contacts would have been about NZ$150 but I had a coupon that brought the price to under NZ$100, delivered.
My wife just got a (non-progressive) pair the same way also in rimless frames, NZ$71 delivered instead of 500-odd.
Update: I’ve decided to go with the WalMart option. I contacted the optical center at a specific WalMart recommended by a Doper in my area.
I was very impressed with the professionalism and knowledge of the lady who answered the phone. I was actually able to discuss options and prices with her.
Looks like the exam will be $55.
Looks like the lenses will be around $300. That’s just the lenses, she thinks it will be feasible to install them in my current frames. Of course, that’s an estimate, the final cost may be a bit different, but it’s based on my prescription strength, hi-index lenses, and bifocals.
Now I just have to figure out how to scrape together the money for them.
I am curious as to why so many vision places are really pushing, pushing, pushing contact lenses. (No, I am not getting contact lenses. I have reasons, but I don’t really want to get into them at this time)
Costco has very cheap glasses - I have a very strong prescription and progressive lenses with all the coatings - under $200. I think they may be cheaper than Walmart. Check them out before you commit. You might not have to belong to use their optical dept, as I know they have to allow the public to use their pharmacy.
Not to harp on this, since this isn’t the way you want to go, but is this all the places, or just one of them? And aren’t you about to get a different prescription? I did see online places that will use your own frames, too.
I just checked my last Costco eyeglasses receipt - $189 – $59 for the frames, the rest for progressive (trifocal) lenses, anti-glare, and high-index. So $130 for the glasses with no frames. They will use your old frames.
A pair of eyeglasses you can buy once and wear until you get ticketed for not being able to see street signs (because the prescription is so out of date). Since almost all contact lenses these days are disposable, you eventually run out of them and have to buy more. To buy more, you need a new prescription, which means a new exam. Optometrist and optics company win.
They are a heck of a lot more comfortable than eyeglasses, though.
Sattua, you can buy contact lenses online, and several places don’t even verify that your prescription is current. I’m thinking that lots of people don’t know you can buy contacts online (at a literal 50% discount from your average optical shop). I’m thinking they make tons of money off the contact lens eye exam, which, without insurance, runs about $150.
I have looked into all the on-line sites listed in this thread. So far, that is true of all of them. I am happy to keep looking, but so far I have not found what I’m looking for.
Because I keep seeing a pattern over and over - someone tells me they got glasses for $30, and when I go look and price out my prescription it’s $112 (and it’s only approximately my prescription). Or they say $89 and I price out at $200. Yes, my prescription, is, apparently, that peculiar or strong or odd r whatever it is.
On top of that, I’d have to join Costco, wouldn’t I? That’s another $50, right? So that would put me up to $180 right there, assuming I don’t get charged more for my prescription which, so far, has NOT been the case.
I appreciate it and all, but maybe you can see how aggravating this is for me. I keep getting leads on great deals only to wind up back in the $300-400 price range for new lenses that actually match my prescription.
The exam for the prescription is separate, of course, and it sounds like you found a bargain for that at Walmart. I just called Costco and you do have to belong to get glasses there. High-strength are no added cost, high-index is $30), your own frames are an $18 surcharge.
The total for the lenses for hi-index is $100 for single vision or $160 for progressives. Anti-reflective coating = $30 more (get it). So 160 + 30 + 18, + 50 to join = $258, a little better than Walmart. If you can use the membership for other things, it’s an even better deal. I save more than that there on toilet paper and laundry detergent alone.
Did you call Visionworks, recommended upthread, $40 eye exam? Check out their prices if you haven’t. There’s one in NW Indiana at Westfield Southlake Mall, 1908 South lake Mall, Merrillville, IN 46410, (219) 791-0951. If they are a lot cheaper, it’d be worth the drive if it’s a distance.[URL=“http://www.visionworkseyewear.com/store-locations/results.php?lid=442”]
You think that the chick who endorses ZenniOptical doesn’t know that you can buy discount contact lenses online? I know that, but you still use them up, and probably much sooner than you’d replace a pair of glasses.
I have not found a place that doesn’t verify your prescription, though.
Yep, I called them. Visonworks may be cheap on the exams but not on anything else.
Called CostCo, too. So far, CostCo wins by about $20 on price, but I have no earthly use for their membership (I know this because I’ve gone to their store and I’ve helped people shop there - it really is not useful to me because there’s not much I’m buying at all these days, and what I am buying I can find for a comparable price elsewhere, closer to home) and they won’t take any of our credit cards so I’ll have to bring it all in cash. Not that I’m keen on doing this on credit, but it could take me a couple months to accumulate $250 or $300 in cash whereas the credit card lets me get glasses NOW and pay them off over 4-5 months.
WalMart doesn’t require me to join a club and they take the one credit card we still have. It’s also closer to home, and the particular one I checked out has been recommended to me by fellow Dopers who have been there. So I think WalMart winds.
You don’t have to have your exam at the same place where you buy the glasses. If Visionworks has a cheaper exam, then use it. I’ve never bought glasses from the place where I have my exam, in 47 years.
Broomstick, have you tried the clinics for the IU School of Optometry? I don’t know if there’s one close to you, but maybe they can recommend someone in your area.
I went for my eye exam today at WalMart. Just want to say that they are every bit as professional and thorough as any other eye exam I’ve had, and better than some. Given that some of my hobbies involve close-up work, and my job requires me to make accurate measures and such, the doctor said bifocals would make sense for me even though they cost more, and discussed the two pairs glasses (one near, one far), line bifocal, and progressive bifocal options. She also suggested, since my distance vision has changed almost not at all, that I keep my current distance glasses as an emergency backup. The doctor made sure I had a copy of my prescription before I left.
As soon as I said cost was a concern they were very good about that, very clear about choices, trade-offs and costs but I experienced no upselling or high pressure sales tactics. The lady doing the ordering/fitting did a very fine job of asking me what I’ve done in the past, what I liked, what I did not like, and again, laying out choices and being sensitive to costs. They were able to reuse one of my old frames. I am getting progressive bifocals with hi-index lenses and anti-scratch coating. They cost $250, which was $50 less than the estimate. In addition, they come with a full year guarantee against major damage or defect.
I should be about to pick them up next Thursday or Friday.
I want to publicly thank everyone who helped me pay for these, your generosity is very much appreciated, and thank those who recommended this particular WalMart location.
One possible option is to talk to the optomologist/ optometrist.
They can probably help you or perhaps can point you to organizations that can help you.
I have terrible vision too. I hear about cool online places, but they never end up being a good option for me.