Vision Care

[taralumia]

I've recently started ordering lenses from Contact Lens King and AC lens. US law classifies contacts as medical devices, and as such one must have a current valid prescription to order. Some people are surprised to find that even for simple color lenses (planos) you must have a prescription. Of course there are always people willing to disregard the law in order to make a buck. My twelve year old son (at the time) bought himself some very cool red contacts at an Anime convention. When he got home and showed them to me, I immediately confiscated them and gave my dh what for. What was he thinking? So as usual, I get to be the fun-sucker, and break the news that even though he had bought the lenses with his own money, he had to take them back. That was a year and a half ago.

Last week, we found out my son has a huge astigmatism that he didn't have last year. I have no idea what those contacts could have done to his eyes, and I am so glad we never had to find out. I think he has finally forgiven me, though.

I started this thread thinking about mail order contacts, but I'm interested in the topic of vision care in general. First of all, why is it so expensive? How many people don't have the money or insurance to afford annual visits to an eye specialist? I know I "cheat" a little by stocking up on lenses so I can delay my exams by a year or two. The doctor always slaps me on the wrist. But who can really do this $400/year on eyes thing?

[peacefulfeeling]

I'll admit I've bought contacts online for years w/o an rx. I know it's probably not the best thing but as long as my vision seem properly corrected with my last rx and I do not have difficulties, I'm comfortable with it. I've used the same place for years- they are great.

[taralumia]

The places I named require Rx, but if you order on a weekend or holiday, it makes it hard for them to contact your doctor. There is like an eight-hour time frame, and if the doctors office hasn't responded, they can go through with the order anyway. It's some kind of Fairness to Consumers policy. Maybe someone else can explain it a bit better.

[peacefulfeeling]

@taralumia that is good information to know! the place i use doesn't require an rx but they are across the pond. they've been around for years. they carry a wide range of brands. optical institute

[Hanaan]

In my experience, any specialist costs stupendous amounts of money. Part of me thinks it has *something* to do with the expensive technology specialists employ, as well as their perceived increased risk of screwing up a special procedure (insurance). The other part thinks insurance companies that back the consumer see specialists as exclusive health care. In other words, they charge next to nothing for primary care; the doctor that just checks pulses, issues cough syrup, and distrubutes bandaids. That's the only kind of care they feel patients are entitled to. They see specialists, including eye doctors as non-mandatory, as extras, as a perk, as something people can live without ...as exclusive. They charge accordingly. It's a sick system.

I have bad eye sight but I manage. I don't do annual, bi-annual, tri-annual or even every 4 years. I do it when I have the money. I find vision insurance to be a bigger rip off than all the others.

[itis]

400 bucks a year! shite I might try to get insured. Ive got RP and the prognosis aint looking to good but thats cheaper than my cheapo car insurance. Be happy your eyes will stay with you @taralumia mine are certainly looking like their on the way out. Ive had alot of time to think about how much I enjoy seeing things, not all people can, take care of what you got. cheers

[billyboy1965]

I have an excellent vision plan. I'm limited to the optometrists I can use, but my coverage includes an annual eye exam and an annual pair of glasses, including prescription sunglasses. I wear bifocal contacts; it does not pay for the cost of those. I order them off the net and they confirm the script with the optometrist.

The optometrist recommends ordering them over the net.

The annual cost of my insurance is less than the cost of the exam and the cost of the glasses.

[Board]

I have an excellent vision plan. I'm limited to the optometrists I can use, but my coverage includes an annual eye exam and an annual pair of glasses, including prescription sunglasses. I wear bifocal contacts; it does not pay for the cost of those. I order them off the net and they confirm the script with the optometrist.

The optometrist recommends ordering them over the net.

The annual cost of my insurance is less than the cost of the exam and the cost of the glasses.

Do you have VSP? It sounds like the old plan I used to have with them. I miss it! Though I personally am not a big fan of going to optometrists. Scheduling with them just seems to be a bigger hassle than going to For Eyes, for instance.

[billyboy1965]

Do you have VSP?

Davis Vision.