“You are paying hundreds more than you need to!”
The title of this article may sound strange – however, this is a common message often heard by someone in the market for contact lenses or new pair of glasses. With all the new optical retailers that have recently arrived on the scene (online and store-based), the message about eyewear seems to be moving from “what are the best options that meet your needs” to “why would you spend more?”
Remember that eyeglasses and contact lenses are medical devices which require a process to deliver the best results. This process includes multiple measurements, information about the intended use, vision needs, and most importantly eye health and safety.
Beware of claims from online and budget retailers about being “more affordable” as well as “the same for less”. Let us look at the facts – here is a current offer from an online contact lens company that has been heavily advertising lately. $40.00 a month for contact lenses? Sounds intriguing, but let’s look a little closer:
| Online Contact Lens Supplier:
Year Supply of 1-Day disposables = $40.00/mo. subscription + $4.00 shipping each month = $528.00 No professional fit/assessment No free replacement for damaged/defective lenses
|
Our Offer:
Year Supply of comparable 1-Day disposables = $506.00 with complimentary shipping Doctor-certified proper fit, Doctor visits at no charge for any issues with lens fit/comfort No charge replacement for damaged/defective lenses |
Digging deeper we see that the type of contact lens offered by this online retailer is older technology – newer contact lens materials are much more breathable with advanced designs and surfaces resulting in a more comfortable wearing experience and fewer health risks to the eye. For this reason, you will not often see our doctors fit this older technology as in most cases there are better options that will meet your needs better and protect your vision.
What about eyeglasses? One pair of glasses may look and feel the same as another, and with prices ranging from $100 to over $1,500 it is easy to become confused about the differences. Again, let’s look at the facts:
| National Box Store:
Pair of Single Vision Glasses = $299.00 Includes: – Frame with a value up to $149.00 – Polycarbonate lenses – Anti-Scratch and Anti-Reflection Coating |
Our Offer:
Pair of Single Vision Glasses = $250.00 Includes: – Frame with a $170.00 value – 1.60 High Index Lenses – Anti-Scratch and Anti-Reflection Coating |
Eye wear experts will often recommend a high-index lens instead of Polycarbonate as it is better engineered for superior vision comfort, more scratch resistant, has coatings with advanced durability and offer improved warranties. With respect to frames – as anyone who has been unfortunate enough to have a frame part fail after only a few months of use can attest, the quality, fit and finish leave a lot to be desired, which is why we often look to supply frames that provide higher quality to our patients. When deciding on price alone a buyer may leave with some regrets.
Another tactic to be aware of is the claim of identical product within a brand. Due to the evolution of technology, a Nikon lens that we sold 10 years ago is not even close in performance to the new lenses that provide our customers with the highest level of satisfaction. So be careful of the store that claims it will also sell you a Nikon lens, but for hundreds less!
Everyone’s needs are different, and our job is to recommend the product that fits you the best, everything considered. We have progressive lenses that start at $220.00 – for some, this is all they need. For others with more complex prescriptions, vision demands or symptoms it will fall seriously short. It is important to remember that in the world of eyecare, there is no “one size fits all” or “best for less” solution, despite what discount and online services would have you believe.
We are always interested in your feedback and suggestions. I would love to hear from you, please email me at: [email protected]
