I need glasses... and advice

[Tiki Bar]

Another sign of growing older (but not up! )

I had an eye doctor appt yesterday, and for the first time in my 42 years with one blind eye, I need bifocals for the good one.

Where can I get those nifty Harry Potter's like Jimmy's??







Just kidding...

I didn't have time after the appt to meet with the glasses lady, but I do have a written prescription. Should I go back to the doctor's office to pick them out? Or somewhere like Lenscrafters? Or WalMart or Sam's Club? I have no idea... and I have no idea what my insurance pays, but I'd guess not much.

Thank ye!

[shakerofsalt]

Most of the place like Lenscrafters run specials like buy one get one free. Around here, they are much cheaper than getting them from the Dr.'s office. I get mine from the Dr.'s office (once every 10 years or so), but Mr.I gets them from Lenscrafters since he seems to lose and break them on a regular basis.

[buffettbride]

All of my favorite glasses I've purchased I've actually picked up at Sears Optical.

[Hockey Mon]

Should I go back to the doctor's office to pick them out? Or somewhere like Lenscrafters? Or WalMart or Sam's Club? I have no idea...

You can probably get them cheapest at WalMart, Sam or Costco. A doctor's office will probably mark up the prices significantly. A Lenscrafters or For Eyes store will probably fall in between.

I always get my contacts and glasses at Costco.

and I have no idea what my insurance pays, but I'd guess not much.

I have no idea what your insurance pays either. If you have a vision plan, it will probably pay for some of the cost of glasses. If you have a Flexible Spending plan, you can use that money to pay for whatever the visio plan doesn't cover.

Or, if you see someone will cool glasses, you can take them off their face and run away real fast. Odds are they won't be able to run after you because they can't see.

[Tiki Bar]

Should I go back to the doctor's office to pick them out? Or somewhere like Lenscrafters? Or WalMart or Sam's Club? I have no idea...

You can probably get them cheapest at WalMart, Sam or Costco. A doctor's office will probably mark up the prices significantly. A Lenscrafters or For Eyes store will probably fall in between.

I always get my contacts and glasses at Costco.

and I have no idea what my insurance pays, but I'd guess not much.

I have no idea what your insurance pays either. If you have a vision plan, it will probably pay for some of the cost of glasses. If you have a Flexible Spending plan, you can use that money to pay for whatever the visio plan doesn't cover.

Or, if you see someone will cool glasses, you can take them off their face and run away real fast. Odds are they won't be able to run after you because they can't see.

me? That's funny!

I looked up my insurance, and it doesn't include vision, so that answers that! Maybe I'll check out Sam's Club tonight...

[Frank4]

Most places do carry them. I looked at them when I got glasses for my 30th birthday.

[SMLCHNG]

I've gotten mine at a optical store like Lenscrafters, Sears, and my doctors office. I've had good luck with all of them, but have stuck to the doctors office lately, because of my insurance. They pay for a portion of the lenses AND frames. And yes, I do have progressive bifocals.

[phjrsaunt]

Tiki, do have vision coverage with your benefits at work?

[SuperTrooper]

If you are a AAA member the Lenscrafters discount is pretty good, I think 20% off.

[popcornjack]

If you are a AAA member the Lenscrafters discount is pretty good, I think 20% off.

That's good to know. My prescription is 4 years old, and my benefits have no vision.

[Tiki Bar]

Tiki, do have vision coverage with your benefits at work?

No... I don't actually have benefits at work. My insurance is temporary for 3 years thru my ex's employer, but does not include vision.

[phjrsaunt]

Tiki, do have vision coverage with your benefits at work?

No... I don't actually have benefits at work. My insurance is temporary for 3 years thru my ex's employer, but does not include vision.

Oh. Ummm.... I got nuthin' then. Sowwy.

[Tiki Bar]

2 for 1 good to know...

Sears - good to know...

20% off good to know... and made me think of other things I'm a member of that probably offer discounts. Will look into those too.

[Desdamona]

Wherever you do get them, be certain to return to the doc's office to have
them checked out. They can tell you if the lenses have been ground properly.
(And don't be embarrassed that you didn't buy from them. They understand.)

Are these just so you can see close up? Do you really need the upper portion
for distance? I'm only asking because it doesn't sound like you've been buying
eyewear before.

[Tiki Bar]

Tiki, do have vision coverage with your benefits at work?

No... I don't actually have benefits at work. My insurance is temporary for 3 years thru my ex's employer, but does not include vision.

Oh. Ummm.... I got nuthin' then. Sowwy.

S'ok - I still luv ya! Thanks for trying!

[Tiki Bar]

Wherever you do get them, be certain to return to the doc's office to have
them checked out. They can tell you if the lenses have been ground properly.
(And don't be embarrassed that you didn't buy from them. They understand.)

Are these just so you can see close up? Do you really need the upper portion
for distance? I'm only asking because it doesn't sound like you've been buying
eyewear before.

Last visit was 3 years ago, when I noticed I was having difficulties focusing on the puter, and reading. They just had me pick up reading glasses then.

Now, having difficulties with the reader's up close, and difficulty reading road signs, which is no biggie around town, but cumbersome when I don't know where I'm going. After the exam, she determined I should get a bifocal lens.

[Tiki Bar]

Most places do carry them. I looked at them when I got glasses for my 30th birthday.

Assuming you mean Harry Potters... I was kidding about that part, not that there's anything wrong with that!

[KeetAtHeart]

The cheapest glasses I've found were at ZenniOptical.com - $67 for progressive bifocals and a decent frame. The big disadvantage is that you can't try on the frames before you buy, so you have to guess at the size & shape that works for your face. I ordered one pair that was way wrong, but used those measurements to make a better choice on the second pair. I figured that $134 for one good pair of glasses was still OK - I paid over $1000 at the optometrist's office!!

You need to know your pupillary distance, and though they tell you how to measure it at the website, I did a poor job of it on my own. However, I called the optometrist's office and they had the measurement on file.

Good luck!

[Desdamona]

Are these just so you can see close up? Do you really need the upper portion
for distance? I'm only asking because it doesn't sound like you've been buying
eyewear before.

Last visit was 3 years ago, when I noticed I was having difficulties focusing on the puter, and reading. They just had me pick up reading glasses then.

Now, having difficulties with the reader's up close, and difficulty reading road signs, which is no biggie around town, but cumbersome when I don't know where I'm going. After the exam, she determined I should get a bifocal lens.

Gotcha! I was just wondering why reading glasses wouldn't suffice. I had
bifocals for a while when I was in school in my late 30s. Hard to take notes
without both near & far vision. Later I went the "monovision" way, but with
one bad eye, that's not an option here.

But please be sure to have the new lenses checked by your doc. Hubby has
had to have his reground more than once. Wrong lenses are worse than none.

[ejr]

Also, if you get blended bifocals---often they give you two weeks grace period since some people cannot adjust to them.

When I got mine, I went to look in the mirror and the world started spinning-fortunately it stopped quickly but I know people who cannot wear them.