I can just hear everyone in my family who reads this blog saying “well, it’s about time!”. My glasses have been broken since July 4th when Sariah broke them. I guess I can’t really be harsh on her because I bought cheap glasses online and even walmart wouldn’t adjust them for me because they said that they would break.
I went for an eye exam this morning at Excel Eye Center the people there were so friendly and their service was so much better than Walmart’s optical. When I went to walmart I felt like they getting me in and out as quick as possible. At Excel they gave my kids pretzels and had a little play area for them to play in and the optician did a very thorough job even though I hated every moment of it :) I just hate going to doctors, dentits and any other medical personel. I especially hated the dialation, it was actually the first time I had ever had that done. They put drops in my eyes to dialate them which meant I could hardly see anything close to me (distance vision was okay). It’s a good thing JJ had his reading break today and came along or else I might have picked out $300 glasses. JJ of course had to call me Elton John the entire time I had the dark glasses they gave me to put behind my glasses and read things out really loud to me.
The glasses were still a lot more than I expected. Because “those with prescription such as mine” have to pay a lot for their lenses (I love how opticians say that so they don’t hurt your feelings by saying your lenses are expensive because your almost blind). All together we have to pay $419 ouch!!! They let us pay half today. I’m not sure when we will have to pay the rest of it. I would have to say it is worth it over buying cheap glasses online. I learned that my glasses did have an anti reflective coating but the reason why I had a hard time seeing at night is because my pupilary distance was not placed on the lenses properly. So I’m not buying cheap glasses online anymore!
I am hoping to get my glasses before next friday when we leave for Alabama. The optical center called the headquarters in Salt Lake and asked if they could get working on my prescription and they are going to try and get them to me before the 19th.
My eyes are still sore from all the tests they did so I’m going to nap while the kids are napping!
December 12th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Oh my word. Poor Melissa. How are you now? Lindsay and I had our eyes dilated last month at our annual eye dr appt. I couldn’t see focus to save my life and, afterwards, Lindsay said she couldn’t take her math test that afternoon because of the same thing.
You and Adam must be the same. His contacts cost us over $250, and his insurance company paid the office visit, contact fitting, and 280.00. The $250 was HIS portion. We’re getting him glasses soon, so we’ll see how that goes. His insurance company is great, but his eyes are so bad.
I can’t believe you’ll be here next week!!
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December 12th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Oh and thank you for updating your blog.
I look forward to it. It’s the only thing I do since I broke my elbows…read.
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December 12th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Melissa! I am so glad to see you have new glasses and I am excitied to see them! Maybe I shouldn’t mention this but I could have sold you a nice pair for about $364 ($200 for 1.6 high index lenses, about $99 for a good quality frame and &65 for all the coatings)plus 1/2 price would be $182 CDN. However, with that price I am sure they are a good quality pair of glasses and yes, if the PD is wrong it can make a big difference.
Esme, your prescription usually doesn’t effect the price you pay for contacts unless you have toric lenses for a high astigmitasim, in which case you’ll probably pay more. My contacts are $35 a box and I get $200 in optical benefits so my contacts get paid for and I get my glasses free.
I should be getting my new pair soon too!
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Melissa Reply:
December 13th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Thankyou for making me depressed. Haha it’s ok, if I buy them local it will be easier to deal with the company if something is not right with the glasses. My lenses are going to be 1.7 high index. What is the difference?
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SJ Reply:
December 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
the 1.74 lenses are $150 more than the 1.67 … its fairly new and even thinner. I have 1.67 lenses but I requested 1.74 on my new pair but I am not sure if I will get them because the employee order form only had up to 1.67. Overall you prpbably got a good deal because I am sure they are a lot better that the ones you have now. Make sure to send me some pictures when you get them.
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Melissa Reply:
December 15th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
That makes me feel better about the price now
I’ll have to do a before and after picture when I get the new glasses. I really hope I get them this week.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
You’re right SJ. Adam’s lenes are toric lenses. My glasses were $135, but I didn’t have to pay for them since I didn’t go over the max the insurance pays. I’m always afraid of having a middle-of-the-night emergency because we’ll have to wait until Adam can put his contacts in.
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Melissa Reply:
December 13th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Sounds like you have great insurance!
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December 13th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I too just got new glasses, and they cost about as much as yours. I’ve toyed with going to ‘cheap’ places or ‘chain stores’, but my optometrist has treated me very well over the years, and so what extra I might pay I count as the price of service.
I have discovered sometimes it’s well worth the money you pay to get decent service.
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December 15th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I just got new glasses for the first time in over 7 years! It was so strange that the first time I saw myself in the mirror at my house I couldn’t figure out why I looked so strange LOL. (It was a big change from big clunky black frames to frameless). They cost about $381.
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Melissa Reply:
December 15th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I hope my new glasses last several years. My optometrist told me to stay away from frameless because my lenses would be too thick for those.
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December 15th, 2008 at 10:36 am
oh girl! tell me about the dilation man! I disliked that too! that stingy feeling when they first drop that eye-drop…. then after minutes, you start to feel groggy and alittle disorientated…. *eyes rolled*
$419 that’s pretty pricey girl…. mine was only $189 and I’m already complaining…. hmmm… I really wonder why they need to charge so high?
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SJ Reply:
December 15th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
theres no law stating how much eyewear can be marked up so places can charge whatever they want. The optical place I work for is owned by a large grocery chain so they can afford to give cheaper prices.
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December 17th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
can’t wait to see those new glasses. a clearer vision is worth more than a hundred bucks!
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