I knew I needed glasses for a long time before I finally did anything about it. I just kept putting it off and putting it off. I don't like going to doctors, I could still see well enough to function, and I simply didn't want to deal with it.
About three years ago, I finally broke down and got my first eye exam. I think the exam cost around $129 because I didn't have vision insurance—or optical insurance, or whatever we're supposed to call it. I took the prescription to another brick-and-mortar eyeglass store in town and spent another $400 or $500 on two pairs of frames and lenses.
The glasses were great. Being able to see clearly was fantastic. The bill was not.
Since then, I have learned two very important things.
First, the quality of the person examining your eyes matters—a lot.
Second, you do not necessarily need to buy your glasses from the same place that examines your eyes. In fact, based on my recent experience, I may never buy prescription glasses from a traditional brick-and-mortar eyeglass store again.
Fast and Available Isn't Always Better
About a month ago, I needed another eye exam. I called around, but the places with the best reputations couldn't see me for nearly a month. Another eye center could get me in almost immediately, so I went there.
I'm not going to name the place because I'm not trying to trash anybody's business. I'm simply going to explain what happened.
The entire process felt like I was being herded through as quickly as possible.
Get in here. Look at this. Blink. Look over there. Tell me what you see. Move to the next machine. Now go into this room.
Several of the people running me through the tests didn't appear to be optometrists or medical assistants. They seemed to be regular front-desk employees who had been trained to operate the equipment. Then, during the final part of the exam, the optometrist wasn't physically in the room. The optometrist appeared on a television screen and remotely controlled the machine while asking, "Which is better—one or two? Two or three? Three or four?"
I don't have a problem with technology. I make my living with technology. I also don't believe that a remote optometrist automatically means you're receiving bad care.
The problem was that everything felt rushed.
If I hesitated because I wasn't sure which lens looked clearer, I felt like I was holding up the assembly line. There was no time to slow down, look again and be certain. They seemed far more interested in getting me through the process than getting to know me or making sure the prescription was right.
They gave me trial contact lenses, and almost immediately I thought, "These things don't work."
At first, I wondered whether I simply needed time to adjust. I had never worn contacts before, so maybe they were supposed to feel strange. Maybe my eyes needed a week or two to get used to them.
After trying them for a couple of weeks, I knew that wasn't the problem. The prescription was wrong.
The Difference a Good Eye Doctor Makes
I started asking people whom they trusted with their eyes, and several people recommended Clemson Eye. I had to wait about a month for an appointment, but after going through the experience, I understood why they were booked so far in advance.
Holy smokes, what a difference.
From the moment I walked in, it felt like a genuinely professional, full-service medical practice. The office was beautiful, the furniture was nice, the televisions were nice and every person I dealt with was friendly and professional. It reminded me of staying at a high-end hotel where people smoothly move you from one part of the experience to the next—and actually care whether you're comfortable.
More importantly, they didn't rush me.
I explained what had happened at the first place and told them I didn't believe my prescription was correct. During the exam, if I wasn't sure which lens was better, they gave me time.
"Let me see the first one again."
No problem.
"Now show me the other one."
No problem.
"Go back to the first one."
Still no problem.
Nobody acted aggravated. Nobody made me feel like I was slowing them down. They wanted to get it right.
As it turns out, the first place had gotten my prescription wrong. Clemson Eye took the time to figure it out and got it right.
That experience taught me not to choose an eye doctor simply because that office can see me today. If all the highly recommended doctors are booked for several weeks and one place has appointments immediately available, there may be a reason.
That doesn't mean every readily available office is bad, of course. It just means your eyesight is probably worth waiting a few weeks for someone who will take the time to do the job correctly.
Then Came the $1,200 Quote
Let's go back to the first eye center for a minute.
After my exam, I planned to have new prescription lenses installed in two nice frames I already owned. I wasn't buying frames. I only needed lenses.
When we reached the checkout desk, the person told me they had an amazing promotion going on. There was a discount—20% off, if I remember correctly—and they could put new lenses in both of my existing frames for the bargain price of approximately $1,200.
That was my "stop the buggy" moment.
Pump the brakes. We are not going any further.
I told them to give me my prescription and that I would figure out the rest myself.
By the way, you are entitled to receive your eyeglass prescription after completing an eye exam without being forced to buy glasses from that office. That isn't a favor. It is required by the Federal Trade Commission's Eyeglass Rule. Contact-lens prescriptions must also be provided after the contact-lens fitting is completed under the FTC's Contact Lens Rule.
Take your prescription. It belongs to you.
Check the Price of Vision Insurance
The first time I bought glasses, I didn't have vision insurance. I didn't realize how inexpensive it could be or how much it might save me.
My current plan takes $150 off the price of frames and covers the lenses, including some upgraded lens options. The exact benefits will obviously depend on your plan, so look at the annual cost, what it covers, which retailers accept it and whether you are limited to one frame allowance per year.
Don't blindly buy insurance because I said it saved me money. Do the math based on your own plan. In my case, however, the savings were substantial.
Clemson Eye has an optical shop inside its facility, although it is operated by another company. Unfortunately, that optical provider didn't accept my particular vision insurance. That sent me online to see what other options were available.
I'm glad it did.
Buying Prescription Glasses Online
I went to GlassesUSA and ordered a pair of Ray-Ban prescription glasses. After my insurance benefit, I saved nearly $300. That included upgraded lenses, UV protection, scratch protection, taxes and expedited shipping.
My final price was approximately $170—out the door.
Compare that with the $1,200 I had just been quoted to put lenses in two frames I already owned.
I also learned that you don't have to buy a famous name-brand frame. Several online companies design and sell their own frames. The Framery, for example, offers its own selection of glasses with prescription lenses included. I also found BXL Eyewear, which specializes in wider frames—something particularly helpful for somebody like me with a larger head.
I ordered a complete pair from BXL for approximately $110 without using insurance because I had already used my annual benefit. They may be the coolest-looking glasses I've found for my face.
Between GlassesUSA and BXL, I bought two completely new pairs of prescription glasses for less than $400 combined. One pair had name-brand Ray-Ban frames and upgraded lenses. The other pair was purchased without any insurance whatsoever.
Meanwhile, the first store wanted $1,200 just to install lenses in frames I already owned.
Make that make sense.
What You Need Before Ordering Online
Buying online is easy, but you need to pay attention to a few things.
Make sure your prescription is correct before ordering anything. If the prescription feels wrong, don't spend hundreds of dollars hoping your eyes will eventually adjust. Call the doctor and have it checked.
You will also need your pupillary distance, usually called your PD. That is the distance between your pupils, and it helps the company position the optical center of each lens correctly.
Pay attention to the measurements printed inside a pair of glasses that already fits you well. Those numbers usually tell you the lens width, bridge width and temple length. Online stores often provide virtual try-on tools, but actual measurements are more reliable than guessing from a picture.
Finally, check the return, exchange and prescription-remake policies before ordering. Glasses can look great on a website and fit differently once they arrive. A good return policy matters—especially the first time you order online.
If you have a particularly complicated prescription or need specialized lenses, you may still benefit from working directly with an experienced optician. I'm not claiming that every physical eyeglass store is a rip-off or that buying online is perfect for every person.
I'm saying you should compare your options before automatically handing over your credit card.
The Real Lesson
Spend your money on getting the eye exam right.
Find a reputable optometrist who listens to you, gives you time to compare the lenses and cares whether you can actually see. If the best doctor requires you to wait a month, wait a month. Your eyes are too important to choose a provider based entirely on who has an opening this afternoon.
Once you have an accurate prescription, shop around.
Check your vision-insurance benefits. Compare the in-house optical shop with reputable online retailers. Know your frame measurements. Understand what lens upgrades you actually need. Look at the complete price after insurance, taxes and shipping.
Most importantly, remember that the person who examines your eyes and the company that sells you glasses do not have to be the same business.
I learned that lesson the expensive way the first time. Fortunately, I hit the brakes before learning it again with a $1,200 bill.
If you have questions about how I bought mine or need help figuring out where to start, you know how to reach me. Reach out, and I'll connect you.
