You’re Getting Ripped off If You Buy Contacts and Glasses from the Eye Doctor
It was that time of the year for me today, I had to leave work early (sad) to visit the eye doctor to order another years worth of contacts. Like most people, I have to see the eye doctor to get a checkup before he will prescribe me with lenses. I don’t mind the process, I understand my eyes are important and a routine checkup is a good thing. Having said that, I hate going to the eye doctor because everything is overpriced and it feels like there is no other option. Just because you’re insurance is involved, doesn’t mean you you’re getting the best deal—you’re likely paying close to 100% extra on your contact lenses and frames by purchasing them through your local eye doctor.
I want to support my local eye doctor like the next guy, but if he can’t compete and I have to pay way more than the item is worth, then what’s the point? Most people don’t even consider buying their contacts or glasses anywhere but where their prescription is prescribed. This is probably because it’s so easy to make it your one-stop-shop. However, the convenience is costing you and the products are not worth the extra dollar.
I stopped going to an eye doctor in downtown DC when I found out he was overcharging exactly 100% over the amount my contacts were worth and exactly 100% over the amount my insurance paid—coincidence, I doubt it. Having moved to the suburbs of DC in Maryland, I decided to try a doctor close to where I live. I shouldn’t be surprised, but again, the prices were marked up just like in the city. This time however, I planned to also get a new pair of frames because I’m embarrassingly still using frames that are about three prescriptions behind. I typically only wear glasses on weekend morning when I’m lounging around the house.
After trying on a few pairs of frames while my wife was going getting her routine exam, I found a pair that I liked a lot. I decided I should just get them, mostly because I was there and it was easy. When it came time to check out, I was told the bill was over $500. Keep in mind, my insurance pays for over $100 in frames each year and these were not fancy shmansy frames. I stopped there and asked for my prescription and the model of the frames, thinking I could probably find them cheaper somewhere else. The nice man selling me the glasses said that I would never find them cheaper.
Not willing to pay over $500 in glasses, I came home and did a search for the exact frames with the lenses I needed and immediately found them on framesdirect.com for $99 plus $45 for the lenses plus free shipping! Can you believe that markup! The $500 I was quoted did not even involve the contacts I needed for the year, which he quoted me for around $300 (not counting my insurance). Again, I looked online and found the same contacts for $135 for a year supply at 1800contacts.com.
Maybe there is something to convenience, but I’m not willing to pay a 100% markup on something I have to have. In this situation, I would have actually been better off not using my insurance and shopping online. Had I purchased the glasses and contacts from the eye doctor, with my insurance, I would have been practically paying a mortgage payment. My lesson learned is to not automatically think your only option is what is in front of you when you’re visiting the eye doctor. Take your prescription and shop around. Use your insurance money wisely and purchase your glasses/contacts like you would anything else—on the internet. $
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Comments
Your lesson, “not automatically think your only option is what is in front of you” is generally true for most transactions, not just the eye doctor.
Somewhere out there, there is always someone selling the item you want at a cheaper price. It’s just how much time and money you are willing to “waste” finding that person. For example: Text books – New +$100 at bookstore. New international edtions… $10 – $50, but try finding a source of international text books.
I had no idea you could buy glasses online. I was aware of the contacts, but not frames. I had taken up shopping at Sam’s Club for my eye-modification needs. Now I’ll have to check the online retailers before I commit to purchasing at Sam’s. Worst comes to worst, I can always crawl back to Sam’s and order them there.
After seeing the prices of glasses, we bought ours from LensCrafters. I am not going to say they are the cheapest place out there, because I am sure you can get cheaper online. But, if you don’t have eye insurance, and get their discount frames its actually not that expensive. Plus they make the glasses on site (which is important if you can’t drive or read or do your job without glasses). Next time my husband gets an eye exam (I am blessed with perfect vision) we will look into buying a pair online.
[...] Milk Your Money tells us you could be getting ripped off buying glasses and contacts from a doctor. [...]
I agree with your blog post. I’ve been buying contacts online for more than 7 years and would never go back !
I got my glasses at http://www.zennioptical.com for really less than the eye doctor.
Sure, you can’t try them… but when you go get an eye exam, get to try LOTS of glasses and see what type fits you best. Than browse the website for similar model, color, shape…
My eye doctor wanted to sell me a pair of glasses at around 300$ (180$ for the frame, 120$ for the lens). With that, I don’t even get a second pair, nor sunshades.
I went online and got myself 4 pairs (I know, I went CRAZY)! One everyday pair that looks like the look I had before witch still suits me, one a bit more fancy that I wear at special events, one that turns out to look funny, so I wear them when i do sports like canoeing and might lose them in the river, and one pair of sunglasses! With that I ordered a clip-on sunshade. Total: 100$, for 4 glasses and a clip-on!! What a saving!
Sure they might be more fragile & cheap, but at 20$ for a frame & prescription lens, no worries you can forget them, lose them, brake them… It’s not like losing a 300$ pair!
For years, I have been using Zenni Optical – http://zennioptical.com for glasses. The price for a pair of single vision eyeglasses starts at $8.00 + $4.95 per order (no matter how many glasses you order).
I have bought an $8.00, a $45.95 (pure titanium) and a $23.95 (memory titanium) and I have been extremely happy with every pair of glasses.
All eyeglasses are guaranteed and include free:
Thin and Light 1.57 index lens
Anti Scratch Coating
Full UV Protection
Lens edge polishing and beveling
Plastic Eyeglass case
Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth