wanting to get contact lenses... how much for contact eye "fitting"?

Question

first off, isnt contact and glasses prescription the same? I had my eye checked 2 years ago, I really should get them checked but i dont want to pay. I just want contact lenses... so when they fit you how much do you pay? Do they give you a new prescription for the lenses?

Answer 1

First of all, because of the placement of the lenses (on your eye versus away from your eye) its normal for the doctor to do a different exam for contact lenses. Most doctors will require a new exam every 1 to 2 years. This is especially important with contact lenses to prevent infections and disease.

To cut down on costs, I suggest watching for the "free exam with purchase" specials. Exam costs can vary a great deal between doctors, but in my area the average cost is $50. The contact lenses will have various costs depending on the type of lenses you need and how large of a supply you buy (one month, six months, a year).

In addition to the cost of the lenses is your cleansers and other accessories. You need to keep your contact lenses clean and sterile to make them comfortable to wear and prevent eye damage.

Despite the hassles, I personally love having contact lenses.

Answer 2

Hi,

First, prescriptions for contact lenses and eyeglasses are NOT the same! Only the power of correction (usually called sphere power and expressed in 'diopters' - for example -2.50) may be the same, but once that power reaches + or - 4.00 diopters, even that will vary, basically due to the fact that contacts sit right on the eye, while with glasses, the lens sits about 12 millimeters off the eye. And since the contacts sit on the eye, other factors like curvature and diameter of the lens come into play, and astigmatic correction is handled differently as well.

If you have not worn contacts before, the initial exam & fitting is extremely important, as they first must determine if you are a good candidate to wear contacts (most people are), then they have to determine which type of contacts you need (Spherical, Toric for astigmatism, Multifocal, etc.), and then find the specific brand that will work best for you, as well as teach you how to insert and remove them. You can certainly price the cost of this procedure at different places, but it would be a good idea to get a few recommendations, to make sure that you visit a competent doctor. Most likely, they will prescribe a type of multiple package lenses for you, meaning that they are replaced at certain intervals. These intervals could be daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly, and that will determine the ultimate cost of the lenses; the more frequently they are changed, the more they will cost over a year's time. Colored lenses are available in certain brands, so should you have any preferences like that, mention it to the doctor, which may affect which lens they choose for you.

You should buy the first small initial quantity from the doctor, to make sure there are no problems during the first few weeks, and later you can buy the replacements from among the many lower priced choices available. I have dealt with one place that is competitively priced and offers very knowledgeable assistance (phone number 800-779-2654), but they can't help you until you've had your exam and fitting, and you have a valid prescription, which by law, the doctor's office must give you. I hope this is helpful to you!

Answer 3

An eye glass prescription and contact prescription are very different. The glasses are for near and far vision, astigmatism-that's how fuzzy thing look because your corneas may not be perfectly round and axis-the turn of the bended to be centered for the glasses.

Contacts have all of that but also has to work in the diameter of the eye and proper placement. Contacts come in different curves because not every eye has the same amount of curve. Many time the doctor will try on 2 or 3 different pairs until they find the right base curve that will lay properly on the eye.

An improper fitting can cause pain, loss of contacts, and in extreme cases, conjunctivitis or cornea scratching.

So check out places like Walmart And America's Best Vision.
Chain stores seem to have the best prices.

Also, don't forget to ask for a copy of your contact prescription, by law in many states, they have to give it if you request it.
Then you can get on line and check out like 1-800-eyes or other reputable sites and maybe get you lenses cheaper.

Always go for your 2 year check up. Lots can change and damage can be done that you don't even feel and it usually can be corrected easily if caught early.

Answer 4

I would need to know the "K" readings and your prescription in order to suggest a contact lens for you to try. The optician who has been seeing you appears to be doing a good job. You may be restricting yourself by saying you want dailies. Monthly lenses come in a much wider range of sizes than dailies, have you tried them? Some people do naturally have flat corneas (the part of the eye that the contact lens sits on)- this is nothing to worry about! If a contact lens does not fit your eye properly it can cause health problems to your eyes. For example if it moves too much it can rub the eye, damaging the very sensitive surface lining. It could also come out if you blinked hard or rubbed your eye. If the lens does not move enough it does not let enough oxygen through which causes problems long term, your comfortable wear time may be reduced. Think how much contact lenses cost. A lens that you replace 6 or 12 monthly does cost more upfront but spread over a year generally works out roughly the same price. Don't go to an ophthalmology department- ophthalmologists are doctors and deal with disease- they do not fit contact lenses (you can get contact lenses fitted at the hospital but only for people with health or prescription problems)

Answer 5

Since Contacts and Glasses are a different distance from your eye they bend the light differently so in that way no... the perscription is not the same... second, do not get hard lenses they are expensive and hurt.

My Contacts did not need to be fit in fact the Acuvue Brand should just fit your eye. I pay $60 for a 3 month supply as they are thrown out every 2 weeks.

Answer 6

Contact lens prescriptions and glasses prescriptions are usually different. I charge different prices for contact lens fittings depending on what the prescription is and how difficult the fit is going to be. A examination is required since you have not been seen in a while and then I am sure your doctor would discuss the cost of contacts with you.

Answer 7

yeah you get a new prescription for lenses. Plus in two years your vision might have gotten worse. I just got lenses and the fitting was about 100, and ordering a one year supply was an extra 200, but it was WELL worth it. I highly recommend contacts!

Answer 8

i had to get a prescription for my contacts and in have astignatism in both eyes, meaning i need a seperate prescription. my doctor charged 60.00 for the fitting appointment and that included going in to learn how to use them once the contacts came in, getting a starter kit and starter contacts, and going in afterward every time i ran into troubles like putting them on inside out, getting them reversed, and getting pink eye. but that was my doctor. everyones different

Answer 9

Well when I got contacts, they just asked me a couple questions like are my eyes diseased, and then they gave me a pair of soft contacts that were close to my perscription to try for two weeks. They didn't have to fit me for them, but maybe that's because I have soft contacts or something.

Answer 10

Go to Wal-Mart its the best and cheapest route...