Vision care costs?
 

Hi All,

I've negotiated a deal with my London based company that's posting me in Toronto to pay for 'Silver' health and dental care which is pretty comprehensive. Is anyone else on something similar?

I was debating whether to upgrade to Gold (there's Silver, Gold and Platinum) because that covers Vision too including the cost of specs. That's a cost to me of £400 p/year which seems a lot, but then again this might be offset by astronomical optician fees/costs of glasses. I'm a speccy :) and we have three others in our house who are all ok, but may need eye tests each year (esp our 6 and 3 year old).

Any input on Vision care fees would be very handy ... Ta!:thumbsup:

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Annual eyesight test around $60. Spectacles for a very short sighted chap around $400. Could be more if you want designer frames etc. If the GBP 400 (CAD$600) is covering a family, particularly if your childrens prescription changes every year then it might be worth it. Do check out the deductable (e.g. insurance pays 80% and you pay 20) and maximum limits. I think I'm allowed $250 for new specs. every 2 years.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I pay $80 for an eye test and my very short sighted astigmatic varifocal non deisgner specs cost $800.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

As far as I know only strange people refer to health coverage in terms of precious metals in Canada.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

My last ones were about $670, and that was when the guy knocked $50 off the quoted price when he saw how shocked I looked! :rofl:

I just ordered some specs for my son from www.ClearlyContacts.ca as he'd lost his that we bought last August at great expense.
The total price including postage was $117, and they came ridiculously quickly. (I haven't paid for them yet actually ... must do that!)

He chose from a big range of frames between $68 and $85, and paid a little extra for the thinner lenses. They come with all the anti-everything coatings as standard, and sizing instructions, and you can upload a photo to virtually "Try them on". We ordered them Sunday night and they were in my mailbox on Tuesday! He's really pleased with them.

There's a voucher to give to "a friend" for 20% off ... hubby is claiming that for his! (Then I might get some for me.......)

My work benefits now help pay towards mine ... and you can claim back the remainder on your tax don't forget ....

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Rose, thank you for that link. I saw an ad on TV for them and then promptly forgot the name. I would like another pair as the last ones aren't good at all.

I was even thinking of getting my next ones from my last opticians back in London.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

OH uses them for his contacts. They are always super efficient.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I paid $95 for an eye exam a few months ago. I claimed the amount back in full through the extended health provided by my employer.

I just ordered new glasses with good quality, thinner lenses. The total cost will be $600 (the lenses cost more than the frames). I will be able to claim $300 of that back through my extended health (I get $300 every 2 years).

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Stock up before you leave, for a start! I hung out for a trip back to the UK and went to Specsavers.

I booked an eye test the day after I arrived - chose some new glasses, tweaked my contact lens prescription and ordered what I wanted.

The day before flying home I picked up two new pairs of funky glasses (buy one designer pair for 125GBP, get one free), one with the reactolite (or Transitions as they are called in Canada) lenses and one with an anti-glare coating, plus 6 months worth of new lenses.

I think that lot came to only about $600 equivalent.

There are not so many cheaper options for glasses here to be honest, - I am horrified by the thought of $400 to $800 for a pair of glasses which is what friends have paid - but check out Walmart and Costco - seriously!

I'm set now for a couple of years (bar dogs chewing up glasses left lying around) and I get my contact lenses on line.

As a "by the way", children's eye tests are covered by Alberta Health until they are 19 apparently - so that is one bit that is free.

Edit: our insurance only covers new eye wear every two years, so I had maxed out my limits on contact lenses in no time, before I was directed to cheaper online purchasing options!

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I buy mine in Mexico when I'm in AZ. Designer titanium frame, vari-focal lightweight Transition lenses US$179 all in. Not so fancy frames but the same lenses $149 ! A bargain compared with buying them here.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I had an eye test the other day, cost of $120 with the retina photo which I think was $30 extra. With the 40% sale at lensecrafters the glasses would be either $230 or $290 depending on whether the lense has the anti glare coating (this is all in based on "basic" $150 metal frames).

I noticed that the presciption they gave me was only for glasses. Should they have given me one for contact lenses as well or do I have to pay extra for that? They said I would have to come back to try contacts and were trying to sell me a years supply for nearly $400. Any suggestions?

Re: Vision care costs?
 

It seems for contact lenses you need a session where they "fit" the lenses and give you a trial pair. What are reasonable fitting fees? Anyone been to Costco for this and how did they do?

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Just another recommendation for clearlycontacts.ca

Ordered my lenses and they arrived by Fedex (no charge) within a couple of days. Free pair of sunglasses included in the box.

Easy to deal with and after using the discount code that was easily googled, I paid about $215 for a 6 month supply, where I used to pay over $260 in the opticians in NS.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

When ordering from clearly contacts do they ask to see a copy of your precription ?

Re: Vision care costs?
 

After eyeglasses are made it is advisable to have them checked by an optometrist/opthamologist to ensure they are made to correct specifications. There was an TV exposé a couple of years ago which determined that the majority of eyeglass lenses did not conform to the optician's prescription.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I went to Costco to get my first set of contact lenses and since I didn't have a prescription, I had to have an eye exam there which was $65 , the fitting of the lenses took 1 hour and was free.
I decided that I couldn't handle contact lenses after that session .
I did buy glasses/spectacles from them though, which are multi-focal and frameless and anti-glare and they cost me $430 incl. tax . My colleagues said I looked like Sarah Palin now :eek: ... so maybe I should have bought different ones

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I would check with the province that you live.
My SIL kids wear glasses and she doesnt pay for eye exams

In alberta all children under the age of 18yrs get free eye tests, not sure for anywhere else.
But she pays for the glasses, which her policy covers ;)
I know that there is only three places here that do the free eye tests, but its worth looking at

Walker

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Nope. I just entered the prescription value for each eye.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Thanks for that got my eye on a pair of oakleys -pardon the pun :thumbup:

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Are you sure about that? We were charged $20 each for our two recently. Was we robbed?:p

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I just booked my four in and was advised there was no charge.
My SIL has lived here for a few years and i go via what she tells me ;)

I will ask her where she got the information and send it to you

Walker

Re: Vision care costs?
 

You was robbed mate!

Took my youngest to Iris a couple of months ago, fully expecting to be charged - but was told that kids are covered/free. Fine by me. :)

Re: Vision care costs?
 

We use zennioptical.com, very happy with them. I bought my first pair last year, cost me $30 for frame, lenses and clip on sunshades.

My husband just got his first pair from them. They were very helpful in sorting out the frame. Due to his prescription he could not choice any frame, they e-mailed back making suggestion on what would work best, his cost a bit more due to lens type.

I am thinking about getting another pair from them, nothing wrong with the once I got but for the price I may as well have a few pairs, maybe one for every day of the week.

Unfortunately they don't do contact lenses.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Most US online contact lens stores beat the prices of clearlycontacts.ca.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Robbed.

BUt they probabaly flogged you some top-up scan , not covered by ALberta Health.............in which case $20 may have been a bargain, cos I payed $50!!!

Re: Vision care costs?
 

My dad is bigger than your dad...

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Including postage and import duty? I'd be interested in comparing prices if you have any links.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

There was no duty tax and with free shipping I paid $137 for 8 boxes of Acuvue Advance 2 wk disposals (1yr). I ordered from here. There are many other sites. Just google it and it'll bring up the list.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Just got my new pair of Martin und Martins in last week, If I didn't have insurance I wouldn't have even considered them...after all was said and done they came in at 5 bills....Jesus what's wrong with me.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I have absolutely no idea what "Martin und Martin"s are but I'm guessing (as you felt the need to mention them by name) self image issues & inferiority complex... Do I win $5.?...

Just "Googled" them & now see they are the company that supply Dollarama with off the shelf reading glasses...

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I just asked the clever one in my family and she told me that we wasn't robbed, the extra amount was for digital photos of their eyes. I got the amount wrong as well, so standing in the corner with a hat on for me:rofl:

Re: Vision care costs?
 

How about a kick in the groin? :wub:

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I suppose... If that's it.. I live in the middle of nowhere & human contact is human contact after all.. I'd just ask that you wear those hideous plush slippers so beloved of Canadian men, a little nylon velveteen does a man wonders...

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Phew. So I wasn't robbed then?

Re: Vision care costs?
 

I had a big argument with my eye doctor over this fitting fee. He wouldn't give me my contact lens prescription when I told him I'd not purchase my lenses at his store. It's illegal not to issue contact lens prescription in the US and in some provinces like BC in Canada because customer wants to purchase at or order from another store. This guy just gave me an eye glass prescription, which I didn't need. Then he told me I must complete the fitting if I wanted to get my lens prescription, and he asked for additional $50 for that. In the US an eye exam includes fitting, so there's no need to pay extra for that, and I didn't know it's different in Canada.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Why would anyone spend $400 on a year supply of contact lenses when it's just $137 if ordered from an US online store?

Do eye exam at Walmart in the US. It's cheaper, and they have better facilities than most of the eye doctors in Ontario.

Re: Vision care costs?
 

Some reductions at clearly contacts for the rest of the week.

http://dealcetera.com/category/canadian-deals/