[JASonic]

OK, Im trying to get out of the stone ages. My glasses just arent safe to wear playing soccer. I went and looked at a pair of "goggles" and they seriously limit visibility and have too many blind spots. Contacts seem like theyve gotten alot cheaper over the years.

I have to go get a prescription for the contacts. I know I can get a box of contacts pretty cheap. However, can anyone suggest a cheap place to go for the exam? I wish I could just measure my own damn eye or whatever and order some but thats not real smart.


Any suggestions, coupons, websites????

[03SonicBoom]

Wal-Mart here has cheap eye exams. My dad is friends w/ the eye doctor and he's just a retired doctor so he knows what he's doing.

[ReverendDexter]

Most Costco's seem to have an optometrist on site, and I don't believe you need to be a member to go to them (nor if you're buying alchohol, IIRC).

[nuStang]

^ +1, Thats where my family goes... I think getting a Rx with an eye exam is like $90...

[Cricket]

if you have vision insurance find a place that your insurance covers and pay the co-pay I think I paid like $50-$85 it was around there but that was the eye exam and about 6 boxes of contacts that have 3 pairs of contacts each in them.

[JASonic]

I dont have any insurance right now which sucks. Thats why Im looking for the cheapest place.

I'll call Walmart, Costco and Sams tomorrow. I heard a radio add last week that said they had a special for a box of contact and exam for $99. I didnt catch the name of the place but that seemed cheap I though.

You think about $100 is what I should shoot for or can I do better?

[Cricket]

Also gotta think man...these are your eyes. You don't want to be buying like a buy one get one free deal on this.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by Cricket Also gotta think man...these are your eyes. You don't want to be buying like a buy one get one free deal on this.

I was going to bring this point up as well. I certainly wouldn't cheap out on anything I was going to be putting in my eyes.

[JASonic]

Originally Posted by Cricket Also gotta think man...these are your eyes. You don't want to be buying like a buy one get one free deal on this.

True...but Im not too worried. I mean, I just need the exam part. There's alot of reviews on different contacts online. I'll just stick with the Johnson and Johnson stuff or whatever as far as the lenses go.
But ya, I wouldnt get the no name box thats already been opened from the back room or anything.

I would assume the exam is just like a regular eye exam. I actually have a copy of the prescription for my glasses. I was under the impression they had to measure your eye or something weird like that though. Do they do that?

[ReverendDexter]

Yeah, contact exam is more invasive. Plus, they'll make you put in a pair at the office, just to make sure you can.

[zinc02GT]

You don't have an astigmatism do you? If so, be prepared to pay dude

I have an astigmatism and it just flat out sucks. I have contacts but don't wear them because even though they are designed for astigmatisms they still slide and go out of focus real bad...

[graystang01]

20/20 vision ftmfw

[Safi]

Dont go for the cheap stuff on your eyes like the others said.

Now since you like to play soccer i know you will be running around and what not. Your eyes will get extremely dried out quick. I used to play soccer and have contacts and they would always bother me during games.

I switched over to these other contacts by Acuvue called "Oasys with hydraclear plus."
Would highly recommend getting them. I get them through 1-800-contacts and they are about $70 for 6 months worth i believe

[Notcho]

I started wearing glasses in the fourth grade, and I have been wearing contacts since I was 14.. (I am 21 now) I bought a pair of glasses to wear if my contacts got messed up, but I have been wearing contacts for so long that I can't get used to glasses anymore. Even after repeated trips to the eye doctor, wearing glasses still makes me sick.

The only brand of contacts I have ever worn is Johnson and Johnson. My first set of contacts were prescribed by a Wal-Mart eye doctor, and they were Acuvue 2, but I have been wearing Acuvue Advance w/hydroclear for several years now. I get them at Sams and they are around $18 a box. They cost more at Wal-Mart.

The only thing that sucks is I am always outside doing something that irritates them some.. working under cars (falling dirt/grease) mowing lawns (lots of dust) spray painting (overspray) riding ATV's/dirt bikes (lots of dust) so I wear safety glasses a lot. When I did the 2.3 to 5.0 swap I ended up wearing grinding goggles because I would still get dirt in my contacts while wearing safety glasses. It is surprising how quick overspray messes up my contacts.

Contacts can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but I can't get used to glasses anymore, and I would end up killing someone if I tried to drive without some form of corrective lens.

[cowgirl]

I'm an Optometric Tech. I wouldn't mess with my eyes. When you wear contacts and you seriously think about it, you're putting pieces of "plastic" in your eyes. Make sure you have a great optometrist who knows what they're doing. I wish everyone could go to the guy I have. He's awesome. I have worn contacts for years and instruct people when they first get them. Best of luck with everything! Fitting and perameters makes all the difference just like everything else.

[~C~]

It's not about the cheap stuff or the expensive stuff. You can try different brands as different brands will fit and feel different. I have worn the acuvue, j&j, and bosch & Lomb. I usually would buy the acuvue cause they felt the best and worked fine. $100 is a decent price. The doctor just needs to fit you properly for the contacts. That is the most important part.