Lenscrafters vs Opthalmologist

I will be getting my eyes checked soon. I'm curious about the differences between places like Lenscrafters or Visionworks compared to an actual ophthalmologist. Anything I should be aware of or careful to avoid?

Funny you should post this. My latest pair of glasses was made by an ophthalmologist, and after leaving them in the car last night I tried to read with 2 different prior pairs that came from LensCrafters and Target respectively. I wear progressives, and my prescription has changed very little over the three pairs, but the doc-made ones are night-and-day better.

Like I said, though, the quality difference was in the glasses themselves, and probably because proper measurement/fit is so important with progressives. The prescriptions themselves have been super close.

Margie

Best pair of glasses I ever owned were from my ophthalmologist. They were three times the price of a pair from Costco or a vision center. Worth it? Hard to say, but I've never gotten another pair from him.

My prescription has not changed in forever. I gave up on all of those scam artists and order from www.glassesusa.com. Same quality, same prescription, more options, better selection and about 1/8 the price. Still have to go to the mall to get my eyes checked every two years, which is ANOTHER huge scam. They force you to go the the doctor so they can make money. If eye exams were tied to your driver's license, then I'd see it like a state inspection: required to keep driving. But I could go blind and my license would still say I don't even need glasses. Sure it also is a good idea for your health, but so is a prostate exam but that's not mandatory!

I figured most lenses came from the same sweat shops.

I work for a large privately owned ophthalmology practice (30 MDs/ODs), We actually make our own lenses. It's quite the process. My office is actually out with the Lab guys. Different materials, quality etc. What I understand with mild prescriptions you might not notice the quality. Really bad eyes? you want good lenses.

Frames don't matter.

keep in mind ... Ophthalmologist are MD's ... the other places are not ... Optometrists while good (it's where I go) are not MD's ... if there is a serious medical problem, they would have to refer you to an Ophthalmologist

pinchvalve wrote: My prescription has not changed in forever. I gave up on all of those scam artists and order from www.glassesusa.com. Same quality, same prescription, more options, better selection and about 1/8 the price. Still have to go to the mall to get my eyes checked every two years, which is ANOTHER huge scam. They force you to go the the doctor so they can make money. If eye exams were tied to your driver's license, then I'd see it like a state inspection: required to keep driving. But I could go blind and my license would still say I don't even need glasses. Sure it also is a good idea for your health, but so is a prostate exam but that's not mandatory!

FWIW here in NC ... there is an eye test to get your drivers license ... if you fail that you have to go to an eye doc, get checked, get glasses ... come back and pass test ... now your drivers license notes your need of glasses .... and if you're ever stopped and you're not wearing your glasses (or contacts) you can and will be ticketed ...

Glasses for 10 years now, twice through Walmart vision, now I use america's best. Of course I have a mild rx and can pass the NY DMV vision test without correction.

I had my eyes checked at a department store and got a prescription for the first time ever. A couple of years later, I had them rechecked, and the prescription was wrong, Dept store set me up with a correction, #2 doc said I didn't need a correction, just an astigmatism. I don't think my eyes changed. Doc #2 was a doc.

Tunakid #2 is seeing a doc for his eye problems. It's very helpful since it's more therapy than glasses.

You have to have an eye exam to get and renew your drivers license in Arkansas. That's how I discovered I needed glasses, failed eye exam for my learner's permit at age 14.

I've used Lens Crafters, Pearle Vision, Walmart, and Sears over the years, and always just gone to whomever was the "eye doctor," associated with them. I just recently went to an a local practice, that came highly recommended, and got an appointment to see a specific doctor based on several recommendations. The guy I saw is an O.D. (Doctor of Optometry) and has now got me in the best glasses I've ever had, also the most expensive, but has my prescription spot on.

I had issues with the first pair, I've always had plastic lenses before, but went to Trivex lenses for my new glasses. I could not adjust, I lasted almost 48 hours before putting my old glasses back on, my new lenses are now plastic. Second set, they sold me on the idea of clip on sunglasses, that used little magnets inserted into the lenses near the edge. If you get a chance to do that, pass, I was told I'd get used to the magnets in the lenses and not see them/think about them anymore, that may be true, but after 6 days I had all I could stand. I'm now on my 3rd set of lenses in my new frames, they only charged me for the first pair, and refunded the cost of the sunglass clips. It was inconvenient to have to go through the issues, but most of the issues were from me trying new things that just didn't work, they finally got it right, and their customer service has been pretty good.

I'll definitely use the same Dr. again, I may take my prescription elsewhere though. These are the best glasses I've had, but even with vision insurance, they cost more out of pocket than any glasses I've ever had.

Apparently the price of glasses has gone up a bit. The last pair I got with insurance was the same as the first pair without.

You don't have to buy glasses/contacts where you get your eye exam. I get a good exam, order contacts online - probably should get a backup pair of goggles. A coworker was very happy with zenni

The high-index polycarbonate lenses on my Zennis have some sort of clear coating on the inside surface. It's coming off at the top corners of the lenses after maybe a year. Never had that happen with the other cheap glasses I've gotten. Back to 39 dollar glasses dot com.

Used my eye dr for years until Costco came to town. Glasses and contacts were cheaper through them vs eye dr. Here's the shocking part. The eye doctor at Costco is my eye doctor from before. He just works there on the side since he has retired but kept his practice open with a younger eye dr running the place.

I got upsold at Lenscrafters recently so I’m annoyed and won’t be going back.

Basically, I was in one of their stores minding my own business trying on frames and I was about to pull the trigger on some nondescript stuff.

A sales lady walks into my movie and starts in with the whole “you’re far too youthful and fashionable for those…we need to get you into these stylish new Ray Bans”. No mention of the cost difference was made and the prices weren’t posted anywhere so I only found out how much they were when I was being rung up.

Obviously, I could have asked for the frames I originally intended to buy but, as was carefully orchestrated, an awkward, cheap bastard moment would have resulted so I just let them jack me for the extra $120.

The sales lady was right though, even though I’m 51 and could lose a few pounds, chicks have been hitting on me like crazy since I got these Ray Bans.

I get mine at Visionworks because that's what my insurance covers and I have a very mild prescription, a slight astigmatism in my left eye and nothing in my right. The Wife has to go through an eye doctor because her Coke bottles never come out right at a discount store.

pinchvalve said:

Still have to go to the mall to get my eyes checked every two years, which is ANOTHER huge scam. They force you to go the the doctor so they can make money.

I realize this is a zombie thread, but WOW.

That's like saying that they force you to get your blood pressure checked so they can make money.

Going to the ophthalmologist regularly is important maintenance.  Do you think checking your oil regularly is a scam?

I don't know about you but my vision is kinda important to me and I'd like to make sure it keeps working.

I've always gone to my ophthalmologist to get my eyes checked and get a written copy of the prescription.  You won't hurt his feelings if you do this.  Then take said prescription to your choice of purveyor of lenses.  For me, that's thirtyninedollarglasses, since I tear mine up so often dragging my eyeballs across sharp rusty metal.

I've worn glasses quite literally for as long as I can remember. There was a period of time up until about a year ago I did not, but that was due to my own idiocy. I should have had them. 

I've been through every manner of eye doc, from lenscrafters in the mall to specialist opthalmologist types that only see kids.  My last experience was probably the most telling. 

I went to lens whatever to get my exam because I couldn't get in with the opthalmologist swmbo uses. I like her opthalmologist. Went to lenscrafters, found out mild astigmatism, and my sight sucks. Nothing real weird there. The eye doc at lenscrafters however, was actively displaying his own easy listening cd for sale in his office and playing it on the radio. Come on dude, my eyes may be boring but don't sell me john tesh rip offs. 

The part that killed me was the frames. I wanted a very specific pair of frames. They were expensive, with a nice profit margin. (oakley deadbolt satin gold 52s if you want to know). They didn't have any in stock. I asked if they could order them. They said no. I asked if they could take xxx pair off the shelf that were not the right color and make them into glasses. They said no, because the pair on the shelf were sunglasses. The part that kills me about that is somehow lenscrafters is oon for DISNEY. 

About that time I got a text back from swmbo saying she had called her doc and they said if I could get there before...5 I think, and bring my script, they could do the job. Alrighty then. 

Got to eye doc, very nice lady who knew I was coming sets me up. They did not have the frames in stock in any way shape or form. They were in fact, backordered. Ok, now we're making progress. She then decided to do some digging and found a pair that were the wrong color, and a slightly smaller size (that someone else had already paid for no less) and used them to fit me up. Said it might take a while to get my frame. Ok, that's fine, I'm blind anyhow. About half way through my projected wait time, they called me to let me know they were done. Busted my ass down there, got them on, pretty much fitted on the screws at first try. AND they were in network so I got to use Disney's money to pay for them. 

Bottom line, my script may be the same. The guy at lenscrafters may have gotten it all correct. But the utter lack of personal touches and the total glasses farm feel of the thing really turned me off. I don't expect hand holding or anything ridiculous, but if I'm trying to spend a bunch of money in your store, at least do me the decency of TRYING for half a second, and not just telling me no and trying to stick me in a pair of some E36 M3 I don't want. Lemme get that small practice with the opthalmologist all day over the lens farm. 

If you have really bad vision its not just a matter of ophthalmologist vs optometrist.    My optometrist is very good, has all the latest examination machines, has a master's degree, very professional, much more than a lens dispenser at Walmart, but at my last visit she saw cataracts and sent me to a surgeon for lens implants. 

  The quality of the lens blanks are important.  As any camera guy knows all lenses are not all the same.    Glass quality and coatings are important. 

The difference between cheap sunglasses vs Costa's may mean the difference between sight casting success and catching no fish, all because of glass and coating quality.

Then the person grinding/polishing the lens and fitting them into the frames is also important.  If  you have an astigmatism the axis of the lens inserted into the frames is very important.

If its off a few degrees the astigmatism correction is off a few degrees as well.  I have had that happen with cheap dispensers and was very unhappy about it considering the money it cost and the fact that I didn't know why until I went to another place and they checked the lens on one of their quality control machines.

I've been in glasses and contacts for 35+ years. More often than not, I've just bought them from the optometrists, but lately my move has been to buy contacts there (with the requisite mail-in rebate hassles) and then buy glasses somewhere cheaper. Glasses are mostly a backup for me, I wear contacts most of the time. I've gone through both Zenni (acceptable) and Costco (better) and never had a problem with prescriptions or quality. I will say that actually going to a place and getting fitted is better, my first couple pairs of Zenni glasses were a bit small. From now on it's Costco for me.

Funny thing about asking for a script, my son just went to our optometrist last month, and when he didn't buy glasses but asked for the script, they put the full-court press on him and tried to guilt him into buying glasses there. It kind of turned me off, to be honest. I'm half-tempted to just go to Costco for the whole thing from now on.

I go to the ophthalmologist because she specifically doesn't try to sell me glasses. I pay for her time, she gives me my prescription and says "If you'd like to buy glasses from me you can, but honestly you can probably do better online". 

Also, the act of measuring your needed correction is very simple. My feeling is that is like the taking your vitals at an annual physical. Sure, it's part of the process, but the REAL part I'm paying the doctor for is to help look out for problems and trends - there is more to eye health than correction factor. I can check my height, weight, pulse, and BP at home if I needed to. 

See also, going to the dentist - the cleaning is good and helpful, but you really want the doctor for monitoring your oral health, not cleaning your teeth. 

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:

Funny thing about asking for a script, my son just went to our optometrist last month, and when he didn't buy glasses but asked for the script, they put the full-court press on him and tried to guilt him into buying glasses there. It kind of turned me off, to be honest. I'm half-tempted to just go to Costco for the whole thing from now on.

In general, I really dislike business models where the "time" is "free" if you just buy the products. I understand why it works but it isn't very fair to customers. 

I'm still going to the same Dr. I mentioned above 4 years ago.  I don't have a choice any longer (well I do, but I like seeing) I have to have exams every 6 months.  I've been told at every optometrist I've seen that my pressure was high, and to "keep an eye on it."  Grandpa on my mom's side had and my aunt (his daughter) has glaucoma, guess who else does?  Yea genetics...  So instead of annual exams I'm biannual, and to top it off, since all of my exams are now glaucoma related, my vision insurance no longer covers the exam, it has to go through my medical insurance.  Vision insurance still helps with frames and lenses, though with what I pay for the insurance, and what I pay for frames and lenses, I don't think Vision insurance is saving me much.

It's all a damn racket.

I still like the Dr., however, his staff has ticked me off a few times, but I haven't quit him, yet.