Are Contacts Really Expensive?

I have been wearing contacts for about 18 years, I converted my husband to them too. I love them, glasses always gave me headaches! For me, it's worth the extra expense. Colored contacts do run a little more. Many doctors will give you a free trial pair of colored contacts to see if you like them. I did colors for I while, but I like my eyecolor, so I just stick with clear now.

I just got contacts less than a month ago, and I love them! I never got them before because I couldn't imagine trying to put them in and out, but it is really easy, just takes some practice. I got the new kind you can wear for 30 days at a stretch, which are probably more expensive than a lot of them, and it was $149 for 6 months. Insurance paid for some of that. How much they cost you will depend on what kind you get and how much of that your insurance will cover. Good luck!

I've worn soft and gas permeable contacts over 20 years and neither has cost that much. I wore glasses until I started with soft contacts at 12, then developed allergies to them, so I switched to gas perm. Dr. could never quite get them to fit right, but I wore them for 10 years. Now I'm back to soft contacts to help my corneas heal. I see much better in gas perm, but they were damaging my corneas by pinching and wearing it thin. I'm not a great candidate for surgery yet(my eyes are too bad), but I'm hoping technology will catch up. I have had different insurance companies throughout my life. VSP is good. You will need to set up a different appointment for contacts and then go back for fittings, maybe several times, it could cost more in the very beginning, but the contacts themselves don't cost that much. I've never had colored ones, so I'm not sure how much they cost. I like Dr. John Bowen in Flower Mound ###-###-####. He's the one who told me I needed to switch back to soft. Call him up and find out how much it would cost. Good Luck.

It really depends on how near/far sighted you are and whether or not you have astigmatism. It also depends on your vision benefits so you'll want to talk to your insurance company. Obviously, the more they need to correct, the more it may run -- it all depends. I am extremely near sighted and have pretty bad astigmatism. This means I have to have toric lenses or gas permeable (hard-type) contacts. Contacts are actually cheaper for me than glasses where the lenses alone are over $200 and then frames are about as much. Again, give your insurance company a call and see if you can go to a reputable optomotrist for a consultation. They should be able to help you.

I work for an OD doing all the insurance and VSP is good! You will have a copay of $5-$20 for the comprehensive exam. The contact lense exam is separtate. They usually run $84-$250. Vsp covers $105-$175 depending on your plan for the contact lense exam and contacts. The overage is out of pocket. For most people the contact exam is $84-$105. And most people get disposable lenses anyway. Chances are you could get all exams and 6month supply of contacts for less then $100. I hope this helped. If you have any questions or would like me to look up your plan or even make an appt you can call Plano Eye Associates ###-###-####.

Depends on the type of lens, the strength of prescription and what your insurance covers. The exam is around $100. Even with contacts, you'll want a "back-up" set of glasses. Doesn't hurt to try! Honestly, the need for vision correction is a permanent part of your life. Might as well be happy and comfortable with it. This is my justification for being blind (well, mostly blind) to price tags when I pick new frames. They have to be sitting on my face for 2 years. I'm going to like the look of them! (I tried contacts and loved them, but it turns out I'm allergic to every type of solution available for soft lenses. I didn't want to try hard lenses)

I've worn both - contacts (colored and regular) as well as glasses for many years. I never have paid more very much for the whole kit-n-kaboodle as insurance picks up most of it with the exception of the frames and the difference between regular and colored contacts. The expense is more in the daily care products you need for the contacts as solutions and such can run from $5-$15 depending on what you are using.

Call your insurance company and see what they say about your part - it may be less than you think.

I do agree with the other poster though...you will need a back-up pair of glasses even with contacts.

C.

A great place to get contacts that really lowers your overall cost is Sam's Club. I go to my regular optometrist, but then take my perscription to Sam's. It is amazing how much I have saved, the contacts usually run 1/2 the cost as they do in the doctor's office, plus they do take insurance. I have never tried this, but they also have optometrists that will do free eye exams there. Hope that helps.

Hi D.,

could you share some more details..like the type of contacts you got, whether colored or plain, where did you get them from. I have the same predicament. Have been wearing glasses since 9th grade and have experimented with contacts in between..but have always come back to glasses..so really want good advice.

TIA

I love the type of contacts that I have! They are called Night & Day Breathable Soft Contact Lenses. I don't have your type of insurance so I can't tell you how much they would cost you. I can say that they help save a little money b/c you wear them for 30 days all day and all night. Then at the end of the month take them out and put a fresh pair in. I keep one small bottle of solution on hand to rinse them out if I get something in my eye or if they feel dry (like on a very windy day outside). Otherwise there is no maintenance, cleaning, soaking, etc. Just put them in once a month and then swap them out. Having these with a newborn was a lifesaver (no fumbling for glasses at night to run and feed him, just get up and then go back to bed!) I have heard of people that don't replace them often enough having problems, but I that is true of any contact lens. Of course your doctor would have to tell you if you qualify to wear them just like any other style. Good luck!

OMGOSH!! With VSP you have it made in the shade sister. Go to the eye dr tomorrow. I have VSP, for a case of contacts for one year I think I paid $75 last year, and I have astigmatism (sp?) really bad so my contacts are more expensive. With VSP you have great insurance, get contacts, you life will change!!