The Eyewear industry has turned into complete Bull

[phucheneh]

I have VSP and it covers a lot more than your silly coupon analogy

Reading: for winners.

there are plans out there, but most

 

[Red Squirrel]

TIL: Walmart has doctors. Though I guess you can also count that machine that test's your heart rate. *flex seal sales guy voice* "It's like a cardiologist in a chair!" :biggrin:

 

[Phokus]

The last time i went to buy glasses in a store several years ago/get my eyes checked, the person who measured my PD accidentally said it out loud, so i basically have everything i need when i get my prescription You can also measure your own PD if you have to

 

[SMOGZINN]

PD is necessary so when they grind the lens the area where your eyes spend the most time is going to dictate the lens shape.

PD is also really easy to do yourself. It is just an approximate measurement of the distance between your pupil and the center of your nose when looking straight ahead, in millimeters.
Take a ruler, put it against the bridge of your nose and have someone read it.
It does not have to be exact, it is just an approximation.

 

[phucheneh]

PD is also really easy to do yourself. It is just an approximate measurement of the distance between your pupil and the center of your nose when looking straight ahead, in millimeters.
Take a ruler, put it against the bridge of your nose and have someone read it.
It does not have to be exact, it is just an approximation.

I may be wrong, but it's also not terribly important on regular lenses, is it? I mean, yeah, you want it in the ballpark. But things seem to REALLY get wonky when it's off for someone with astigmatism (can't remember my lens terminology, but there's a word that type).

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Got glasses last month at Costco. Paid about $400 for an exam, 6 month supply of contacts, a pair of glasses (frames were $120) and the top-of-the-line-all-the-options transitions lenses.

I could easily have gotten in and out for under $200, exam included, if I'd been cheap about it.

My old job had vision included - "free" annual exam, but you'd only get a "discount" if you bought glasses from the HMO's dispensary. There wasn't a single pair of frames under $200.

 

[poofyhairguy]

One of the eye doctors around here quit doing surgery because he made more money selling eyeglasses than doing cataract surgery for medicare patients.

Yup, I also know an opthamologist that has a dispensary. The other few I know are either specialized (just pediatric or retina) or they make their money on elective procedures. The idea of making money on the actual care is quickly leaving the industry, which sucks for those actually sick as they get pushed down the schedule for those who pay cash for LASIK.

those laughing at walmart eye doctor are insane. they are just as well trained.

In my experience the ODs that work at Wal-Mart are either untalented or unmotivated. The go-getters all have a private practice or work with a group of other ODs.

 

[waggy]

I only wear contacts that aren't sold online. Last time I was in he wanted me to wear the lenses for half their rated life span (3 mos vs 6 rated). Total cost was like $700. However I am just going to wear them for 6 months and not go back next year so he actually saved me some money.

I took my daughter to get contacts they gave me a bunch of bullshit. 1st they overcharged me, then double charged me on co-pay on something they messed up on. Then finally they lied to me about the contacts.

also i think they messed with my prescription. i have only had my glasses 6 months and it feels like i need new glasses. so i will be going back to walmart or find someplace else that takes my insurance.

In my experience the ODs that work at Wal-Mart are either untalented or unmotivated. The go-getters all have a private practice or work with a group of other ODs.

my experience is just the opposite. Best one i have had was at walmart. they didn't play any of the BS games that i have had lately.

TIL: Walmart has doctors. Though I guess you can also count that machine that test's your heart rate. *flex seal sales guy voice* "It's like a cardiologist in a chair!" :biggrin:

they also have pharmacist!

 

[SMOGZINN]

But things seem to REALLY get wonky when it's off for someone with astigmatism (can't remember my lens terminology, but there's a word that type).

Not really, astigmatism has a third measurement called sphere which is really important, but that should be a part of the Rx.

 

[herm0016]

ODs tell us we need to get annual exams!! and most eye insurance (VSP) allows for annual replacement. So generally speaking unless you work in an environment of high radioactivity, daily sand storms, rapid temp/humidity fluctuations and handling chemicals. Wall-mart frames will probably last a few years.

true. even my decent frames are all bleached out. they were black, not they are some sort of ugly gray/brown color.

yes i have all those things at my work place. I dont think the radioactivity affects them much though. mostly the sun and sand storms. They are all scrached to hell.

 

[steppinthrax]

PD is also really easy to do yourself. It is just an approximate measurement of the distance between your pupil and the center of your nose when looking straight ahead, in millimeters.
Take a ruler, put it against the bridge of your nose and have someone read it.
It does not have to be exact, it is just an approximation.

I understand this.... But I prefer to have them do this because they do it with very specific equipment and can give you a Dual PD. Each number can be different. My PD OD = 29.5 and my PD OS = 32.

 

[steppinthrax]

Got glasses last month at Costco. Paid about $400 for an exam, 6 month supply of contacts, a pair of glasses (frames were $120) and the top-of-the-line-all-the-options transitions lenses.

I could easily have gotten in and out for under $200, exam included, if I'd been cheap about it.

My old job had vision included - "free" annual exam, but you'd only get a "discount" if you bought glasses from the HMO's dispensary. There wasn't a single pair of frames under $200.

With $400.00 for an eye exam! Did the female OD give you a handjob during the exam!!!!! Wait!!!! A high end DC escort is usually around 400.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

With $400.00 for an eye exam! Did the female OD give you a handjob during the exam!!!!! Wait!!!! A high end DC escort is usually around 400.

Yeah, $400, with every possible upsell and a couple boxes of contacts.

Where do you buy your glasses, Goodwill?

 

[steppinthrax]

And a couple boxes of contacts.

Where do you buy your glasses, Goodwill?

Oh, Exam + contacts + other BS they try to get you with. Hell, if GW started selling glasses, I would be first to try it out.

 

[lxskllr]

Where do you buy your glasses, Goodwill?

I got some birth control safety glasses from the thrift shop once. They were perfect for my eyes, but ugly as hell. I wish I knew what I did with them. They'd make good spares, or to use when safety glasses make sense.

 

[Babbles]

Warby Parker dude.

I used them and these glasses have been great to me for years now. I've rolled over them in my sleep countless times and they are as good as new.

I have a pair of Warby Parker and like them well enough. I paid a bit extra to get thinner lenses so it ended up costing me $125 for a pair. I will say they are not the most comfortable pair of glasses I've ever owned, but as I wear contacts most of the time the value for the price is absolutely amazing.

 

[mikeford]

VSP is owned by the same group that owns Lens Crafters. Most logical guess for the current mess is that some kind of monopoly or cartel exists in the distribution chain to force prices much higher than costs.

I use Zenni, and my eye doctor tells me his cost is much higher than Zenni charges. Every pair I get I take in with me they get checked, mostly from one of the tech guys curiosity, but so far all are fine.

Latest in lens are the retina mapped Rx. The retina is scanned with a laser and it generates a 2D barcode Rx that corrects all the minor anomalies, but only via the scanning companies lens lab. Like $600 for a pair of lenses iirc.

 

[brianmanahan]

zenni is the bomb.com. i just get my prescription from walmart now, and then go online and order glasses from zenni.

 

[mmntech]

I've been wearing the same frames for years because they are so expensive. I found one pair I really liked but got quoted $500 with everything in, since I like the transitions. No bloody way they're worth as much as pro camera lenses. Similar pairs are half that online. So that's where I'll be going next time. Won't be long before the the B&M stores fall prey to showrooming.

Part of the high prices though is because most eye ware is made by the same company, Luxxotica IIRC. They have the monopoly so charge what they want.

 

[Raduque]

When my glasses broke, I got a new prescription, two frames, one set of coated poly (lightweight, thin) lenses and one set of sunglass lenses for ~$200 from Eyemasters. Not a bad deal. My previous pair of glasses was almost 15 years old, as was the prescription so it was time.

 

[Capt Caveman]

My eyes are so messed-up, Zenni and other online places can't even make lenses to my prescription. Thankfully, my sister-in-law's father is an optician and gives me the family discount on Zeiss lenses and Oakley frames(fit my face the best) though I gave Modo frames a try for a while.

 

[pete6032]

I had a similar experience with contact lens prescription. My eye doctor refused outright to give me my contact lens prescription for 3 business days, but she told me I could order through her immediately if I wanted. The lenses were about twice as much through her as they were at vision direct. So I waited 3 days and came back for the prescription and of course got another sales pitch and had to say no. The doctor outright told me she could get me the best deal anywhere. I didn't want to argue with her because she seemed angry that I wouldn't order through her. So I just told her that I would come back and order from her if I couldn't find a better deal. She then wrote me the prescription and I walked out the door and never went back.

 

[who?]

There are two types of customers; cheapskates who want the lowest price and snobs who assume that if they're paying more they must be worth more.

 

[Sonikku]

Glasses won't stay expensive for long. The free market will fix it.

 

[TwiceOver]

The other day my wife cleaned her glasses as usual and this time the Tranistions layer rubbed off. She is at 14 months so they are out of warranty. $450 for a pair of glasses that only lasted a year.

Before the pair of glasses I have now, my last pair of glasses lasted 10 years.