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!

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.

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

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

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!

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 ....

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.

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

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).

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!

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.

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?

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?

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.

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

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.