scrubbedexpat133

I had the same experience - nearly fell off the seat when they wanted $600 ish for one pair!!! Im minus 2 and minus 2.25 so not that bad.

My insurance covers my eye test and about 2 months of daily contact lenses which last me forever as I wear glasses most of the time.

Specsavers in Southampton buy one get one free so normal pair and sunglasses for £125 plus couple quid extra for scratch resistance (worth every penny in my clumsy case )

Almost Canadian

Are you sure about that? Mine are charged $10 per test

justkidding

I don't pay anything for my son's eye test. It's all covered by Alberta Health Care. Maybe your ophthalmologist is extra billing. Can they do that?

ann m

I'm pretty sure. Well, we weren't charged, put it that way.

Flossie and Jim

We weren't charged for the kids tests either.

Almost Canadian

IIRC they charged $15 per child. Neither of mine require glasses, it was simply part of the yearly tests they have here.

If you weren't charged but we were, I could understand if you have better benefit than we do, but I don't understand if it is covered by Alberta Health.

Some investigation is required, me thinks

scootb

How do you find wearing glasses in the Canadian winters?

The only thing I hate about winter is walking in from the cold and the fogging of the old lenses.

sandylns

Eye tests in Nova Scotia are not covered by MSI, only if you are a senior over 65. Both Walmart and Costco have decent prices for both lens and frames. Some of the larger chains such as Vogue and Hakim, are starting to match prices.
Private insurance plans usually will cover some of the cost of both the exam and the glasses. Depends on the plan. Some provinces pay for exams some don't.
Wearing glasses in winter here is not really an issue. Apart from the initial bit of fog, wearing them outside has never produced a problem.
You can pay as little as $29 at Walmart for frames. Don't ask about the quality though. If you want really fancy frames there are lots of opticians who will oblige you with fancy prices. The price of lens varies depending on what you need. I have tri focal and only paid $150 at Costco for a complete set of glasses. Having both astigmatism and glaucoma and having worn glasses since I was 18 months old, at 75 I'll be B***** if I pay through the nose for specs.

Steve_P

A simple Google search turned up this from AHS

Source: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/595.asp

However note, it says optometrist, if you took your children to an opthamologist perhaps he chooses to extra bill.

For others wondering what the coverage is in their province here is a link to a PDF put together by The Canadian Association of Optometrists.

bats

It's a dry cold....

Almost Canadian

Thanks Steve. I am just too lazy

shunter1977

Our kids have Oculocutaneous Albinism and require eye tests and usually glasses every 6 months. Alberta Health just paid for the first test and the second will be covered on our insurance (1 per year from both). Before we arrived we checked with Steve's Manager that glasses were included on the health insurance but as it turns out they are not. We looked at topping up the insurance to include eyewear but I believe you cannot claim on that portion for the first 2 years and then it's only $250 towards them per 2 years. I just paid $219 for Lewis' specs and that was at Costco which seemed the cheapest and Elisha' only changed by 0.5 for the better so I haven't bothered with hers. Unfortunately they also have to have sunnies to stop the pain from the sun on their eyes so I shall look forward to the purchase of those next month also

I know people with kids had it easy in the UK for health care (Prescriptions, free glasses and dental) but it's been a shocker to see how much it's going to cost every 6 months for ours to have what they need. I might string out the sunnies and get them at specsavers in 3 weeks since someone just mentioned that

Quaks

Buy them online from the UK I paid £90 for two pairs last year and about £20 in shipping.

shunter1977

How do you get the fit right though?? They don't size the glasses at a test and they always need loads of adjustment before they fit properly

Simon Legree

I buy mine in Mexico. Have done for years. Perfect every time and very inexpensive. I just pop over the border and they have them ready in an hour.