Back in the days when I had really good health insurance that included vision coverage, I started going to the DOC in Brighton. Sexy specs and all that, they took my insurance and the doctor was a real sweetheart and I fell a little in love with him because he was just a great guy and a good doctor.
DOC without insurance, though, is hellishly expensive. I ended up at the Wal*Mart Vision Center this year after some comparison shopping. The last time I had a contact lens exam and bought glasses at DOC, I spent close to $400. At the Wal*Mart Vision Center, I spent $240 for the exam and a pair of glasses. A cute pair of glasses I will probably wear in public from time to time, with the thin lenses, since otherwise I look like I'm wearing coke bottles. My contacts, which are a different kind from the ones I used to wear, even though they are more expensive than the ones I used to wear, at Wal*Mart they are still less than what I paid at DOC.
The doctor was perfectly nice, about my age. The down side is that they don't stock my blind as a bat prescription for contacts and they will have to order them if I decide to stick with these. My glasses will also take seven to 10 working days to come in, which seems like a really long time.
I still hate Wal*Mart, but how can you not love a bargain like that? While I was doing the eye exam, Martin and Mia were shopping and scored two movies on DVD for $11. Can't beat that, either.
Glad to hear a positive story about Wal*Mart. Betcha those glasses wont take as long as predicted.
I'd go there, but my mom works for Henry Ford Optimeyes and I get a better discount there.
Posted by: Holly | August 07, 2005 at 08:44 PM
Yet again I am fortunate to have my Chippewa Heritage... Our Tribe will order us glasses at a huge discount, But I get my exams done at "Shopko" which is sort of like a wal-mart type store ( I've went there for exams since I was a kid ) I just ordered glasses for Ryan and I both -Him just a basic pair with some funky black frames and me a cute frame, thin lenses and transitions and the total for both was just under $200.00 It's nice because my glasses have always run super expensive around $300.00 and the only "extra" I would get is thinner leses because like you I would have coke bottles otherwise - I have the WORST eyes ever !!! The only drawback with getting them through the tribe is that there aren't the vast number of frames to choose from -I usually can find something I like since I am not too picky ... Post a pic of your new sexxay specs.
Posted by: Lana | August 08, 2005 at 01:52 PM
I have good insurance(BCBS) but it only covers $35 of my exam. My DH has BCBS, too, and it doesn't cover anything for vision.
I've been going to the same guy for 27 yrs. (I started out with his dad when I was 8 and eventually the son took over.) People call me crazy but I will drive from where ever I am at to go to this guy. He knows me, knows my eyes and my eyes' history. I just went last friday and for exam and tinted soft contacts I walked out of there for $167, and that's the most I've ever owed them.
BTW, 7-10 days is what it always takes my contacts to come in, sometimes a little less.
Posted by: Amy | August 08, 2005 at 04:09 PM
Maybe it would be cheaper just to get a new pair of eyes? Ha.
Posted by: Michelle | August 08, 2005 at 04:49 PM