Toric Lenses??

[Ailerongirl]

I went for an eye exam today, and was told by the Doc that I had a slight astigmatism in my right eye, and a pronounced one in my left eye. He said that he wanted to try an asymmetical lens in my right eye (I'd never heard of this type), and a toric lens in my left. It seemed a little wierd since my last eye exam was only a year ago, and I was told that I had only a very slight astigmatism in my left eye that didn't need correction. (I didn't question it because I know that I sleep in my contacts more often than I should and that probably made the astigmatisms worse.) My insurance pays for the exam (less a co-pay) and $200/yr for contacts or glasses, so I really wasn't worried too much about it....until he told me that to order the contacts would cost him $359(!!!!) I was hestitant, but I gave in after feeling pressured by the 'these are your only eyes' line. So I wrote him a check for $179 ($159 + $20 copay) and left with a wierd feeling in my stomach.

Although I realise that these are my only eyes, I've had a feeling all evening that the Doc just made a bunch of money of both me, and my insurance, especially when I looked online and saw toric lenses for approx $60/box.

I want to go back to the office in the am and ask him to just give me my prescription, and let me order the contacts myself, and cancel my check.

Do any of you wear toric lenses? Have any of you had an experiance like this? Do you think I'd be in the right by going back there tomorrow morning??

 

[chqflyer]

I wear Torics and dont pay anywhere nearly that much. Depending on which state you had your eye exam in, the doctor may be REQUIRED to give you your written prescription so you can get a better deal elsewhere. It's a federal law that they have to supply you with a written prescription for glasses so you don't have to pay there outrageous mark ups. For some reason, that does not apply to contacts. So in many states, the Doc has the legal right to force you to buy from him before he will release the prescription. I had to deal with that B.S. for years before a state law passed which pretty much forces them to release the prescription.

I think he put the big time hard sell on ya. I'd check to see if you can get the Rx and just buy them online. 1800contacts.com has really good prices.

 

[Ailerongirl]

So in many states, the Doc has the legal right to force you to buy from him before he will release the prescription. I had to deal with that B.S. for years before a state law passed which pretty much forces them to release the prescription.

Anyone know what the law is in PA about that?? I never had an issue getting my 'script in TN or TX.

 

[TonyC]

I went for an eye exam today ... he told me that to order the contacts would cost him $359(!!!!)


Although I realise that these are my only eyes, I've had a feeling all evening that the Doc just made a bunch of money ...

Do any of you wear toric lenses? Have any of you had an experiance like this? Do you think I'd be in the right by going back there tomorrow morning??

My wife wears toric lenses, and this is her opinion:

Find out what brand of contacts you want to purchase - - try 1(800)CONTACTS, try online... she uses Sam's. Have your doctor write the prescription for THAT brand for your eyes. The brand of contacts makes a difference when it comes to filling CONTACT prescriptions.

It's likely that your doctor "prefers" a certain brand because their company rep has paid a visit or two and provided "free" samples. The brand her doctor recommended most recently was expensive even online. She found the cheaper brand and had the doctor re-write the prescription for the brand she could get at Sams.

She advises to never leave the doctor's office without a prescription, and always politely decline the doctor's offer to get the contacts for you; they're always more expensive.

She wears a toric lens, and I have 2 daughters that are into this whole glasses/contacts thing. I'm SOooo glad I don't need glasses. Yet.

 

[JCJ]

Federal Law (P.L. 108-104, originally H.R. 3140 of the 108th Congress) went into effect on 6 Feb, 2004. This law requires the practitioner to provide you with your contact lens prescription and provides other protections for contact lens wearers

see this link

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib...airness_to_contact_lens_consumers_act0304.pdf


Although the link is to the Pennsylvaina State Board of Optometry, the law applies to any prescriber of contact lenses (Optometrist or Ophthamologist)

Although most might not do so, a prescriber is probably within their perogative to insist on prescribing a specific brand of lens and declining to prescribe a substitute. As previously mentioned this decision might be heavily influenced by the relationship of the prescriber to industry.

For more information contact the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine (if the practitioner is an ophthamologist; i.e. has a M.D. degree) or the Pennsylvania State Board of Optometry (if the practitioner is an optometrist; i.e. has a O.D. degree) or the FTC

 

[EagleRJ]

I only bought eyewear from the eye doctor once, and that time I paid nearly twice what I've paid any other time.

I second getting your Rx on paper and buying online.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Definately get your PX and buy online. I use www.lensmart.com and all I need to do is give them my eye doctor's name and they will call to verify a valid perscription is on file.

I usually pay half as much as what the doctor wants for lenses.

 

[Swaayze]

Yeah, I've had good experiences with Vision Direct online.

I used to wear torics for a while due to astigmatism. I guess that condition is quite fluid, 'cause now I supposedly have virtually no astigmatism remaining and I wear regular soft contacts (the 2 week kind but I NEVER sleep in them and sometimes get up to a month's wear).

I'd guess your high cost is probably due to the "asymetrical" lens. I've never heard of that but it sounds like something that would need to be custom made to your eye. Sound right? I'd definitely call back and voice your concerns.

 

[Flying Dog Doc]

Re: Toric Lenses

Ailerongirl,

While I second filling your prescription elsewhere, I would be very cautious about ordering a bunch of lenses up front and might even consider having a different optometrist look at your eyes. None of the optometrists I have seen (3 in the last 5 years) just wrote me a prescription and sent me out the door. They have always given me a free trial pair to wear for a week. I then have a follow up appointment, and they decide if that's the brand to order or not. The last time I went in, the optometrist had to order 3 brands before we found a pair that was comfortable enough and corrected my vision appropriately.

Good luck!
Dog Doc

P.S. My astigmastism (both eyes) is very pronounced, so it may be a different situation if the changes are very mild.

 

[Ailerongirl]

Flying Dog Doc

That's what I assumed that this guy would do, but he said he didn't have any of the type he needed in his office. If the toric lens for my left eye doesn't work, it seems as though I'll be SOL and have to buy new ones. The whole thing just seems wierd.

I called my insurance and they won't pay for more than one routines eye exam per yer, so if I need a second opinion, I'll have to pay for it myself.

I'm going to call up there when they open in a hour or so, and ask for the exact brand and type of contacts that he orderd for me, and then do some price researching before I go up there and tell him I'm cx the check. The only thing I think he can hold me with is the fact that he may have already ordered the contacts and therefore can't cx the order.....

 

[chperplt]

They have always given me a free trial pair to wear for a week. I then have a follow up appointment, and they decide if that's the brand to order or not.

I second that!! I've been wearing torics for a couple years now.

My wife had an exam recently and because her astigmatism is so bad, her contact prescription will cost about $75 a box. The doctor ordered her the lenses he wanted to try and gave them to her for a two week trial. Eye docs get trial lenses for free so it behooves you to try them for a week or two. Not all contacts are made alike.

 

[TonyC]

I second that!! I've been wearing torics for a couple years now.

My wife had an exam recently and because her astigmatism is so bad, her contact prescription will cost about $75 a box. The doctor ordered her the lenses he wanted to try and gave them to her for a two week trial. Eye docs get trial lenses for free so it behooves you to try them for a week or two. Not all contacts are made alike.

Even at $75 per box, and one box per eye, the price that guy gave Ailerongirl ($359) is outrageous. Call soon - - cancel the check - - don't take no for an answer - - stop payment if you have to. The cost of stopping payment will be easily recovered in the savings you'll realize by buying somewhere else.