Hi: My husband and I and our children are new to this area-well, we aren't true "newbies" anymore-we've got a year under our feet. We are all due for eye exams, and my six year old will be getting his first exam this year, too! Unfortunately I do not believe that he will be walking away without optical assistance! My husband and I both can't see three feet in front of us! LOL! Our kids didn't have a chance when it came to the optical gene pool!!! It may sound kind of crazy, but since we don't have optical included in our general medical insurance plan (Medcost) we are going to be forking out a lot of money-we are six in total-my husband, myself, and our four boys!! YIKES! When you add in the exams on top of the specs, it's basically bye bye tax return! What is reasonable or "average" for a routine eye exam here? Back in NJ we were able to have our exams billed to our medical insurance (BCBS PPO). Here we don't have coverage, and it's a different carrier all together, so I doubt I'll get that lucky again! Also, any suggestions about who to see would be great! We are between Smithfield/Garner/Clayton with a Smithfield address. We're right off of Cleavland school. Thanks ahead of time!! Tiff
talk to Jennifer, she highly recommends a doctor up there in the Lane bldg - she has talked me into giving that doctor a try when i get around to going again - can't remember the name right now but if you know Jennifer she shops around for the best doctor at the best price.
I really like Dr. Woodworth at Alan Byrd and Assoc in the grandiose building behind CVS. If you tell her you have no insurance, she will work with you as much as possible for keeping costs down. Also, don't order your glasses there, or any other eye doctor for that matter. Get your prescription and go to zennioptical.com Even Clark Howard recommends them, they're great and so inexpensive!
I swear once upon a time, I knew someone who told me that even though they didn't have eye exam insurance, that because they went to an Opthamologist (sp?) instead of an Optometrist there were able to get it covered. The difference being an Opthomologist is a real doctor and the Optometrist is the guy in the eye glasses store that can do an exam, less schooling for him, etc. It might be something to call your insurance carrier and ask about.
Thanks so much!! Wow! I am definitely going to use the zenni tip! Man!! With all of us basically blind here (ha!), and having four little boys you can only imagine how crazy it is here, and how many times I am either repairing specs or calling to get new lenses or new frames! While I'm on the subject, has anyone had an experience with the "bendable" frames that won't lose shape? My mom was describing them but didn't know the name for them. Thanks sooooo much!!! Tiffany
my grandson got them, can't think of the name yet but as far as i know he has had no trouble with them, he plays sports all the time so it was pretty necessary and he is also one that doesn't sit still too much of the time:lol: i'll check w/them tonite and get an opinion and hopefully the name
If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes (as I do) that mandates regular checkups by an opthamologist, your regular health insurance will treat it as a "specialist", requiring only a co-pay. With our insurance, anyway (we have Aetna PPO). We also discovered that even though we have VSP, which pays for one eye exam per patient every 24 months, if you have to return for a followup, the health insurance should also help with the followup visit. It all depends on what the reason is, and what code the eye dr uses on his bill. In my husband's case, it was discovered he is borderline glaucoma, so it is because of a medical condition that he has to go back before 24 months. In my case, the opthamologist is recommended because he is an eye surgeon and more qualified to look for and treat such things as the glaucoma, retinopathy, macular degeneration, etc. that diabetes can cause. Also, if you get tests done in the eye dr office, it is wise to make to sure they bill it as "in-house tests", or you may have to pay 20% of each test, as opposed to it being included in your visit, which would only be your co-pay. This, we learned the hard way :ack: Hope some of this info helps...
talked to both grandson and dil tonite, they totally love them, none of the old problems that had with other glasses and constant trips to get them adjusted but unfortunately they neither one could remember the name of them - good luck
My hubby wears them. I want to say they are Flexon?? Made partly of titanium and super light yet durable. We paid mad $$ for them a couple years ago-well over $200 with insurance with all the no glare, no scratch, shaved down lenses for thinness since he wanted rimless, etc. I want to say I've seen them on the web before for less at one point. Great product. He loves showing people how they twist around and flex right back in place, though this is probably not recommended:lol:
