Getting colored contacts?

sightseer · #1 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 12:51 PM

Hi, I want to get a pair of Acuvue colored contacts but I dont have insurance at the moment. I already have prescription contacts so would I have to make an eye doctor appointment to get a trial pair of Acuvue 2 Colours? and if I do have to how much would it cost?

LittleElvis · #2 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sightseer

Hi, I want to get a pair of Acuvue colored contacts but I dont have insurance at the moment. I already have prescription contacts so would I have to make an eye doctor appointment to get a trial pair of Acuvue 2 Colours? and if I do have to how much would it cost?

Hello there sightseer. Welcome to Lens 101.

If you want to get a new kind of contact lenses, at least from a reputable place, you need to get a prescription from your eye doctor. If you order Acuvue Colors contacts from Lens.com, for example, they will want to see a prescription with your name, doctor's name and contact lens brand name on it, as well as the base curve, diameter, color and power.

sightseer · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 01:18 PM

Alright, is there an estimate as to how much the appointment will cost?

Spongebob · #4 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sightseer

Alright, is there an estimate as to how much the appointment will cost?

Hmmm, that's a tough one. I've never compared prices because I always thought each eye doctor charged whatever they wanted for visits. I could tell you that my eye doctor charges $50 per visit, but then you could go to the eye doctor right down the street from you and she'll charge $100.
I'm guessing you don't have insurance, right, otherwise you'd probably just pay your copay and worry about the rest later.

I don't suppose that helps very much . . .

Hogwartz · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleElvis

Hello there sightseer. Welcome to Lens 101.

If you want to get a new kind of contact lenses, at least from a reputable place, you need to get a prescription from your eye doctor. If you order Acuvue Colors contacts from Lens.com, for example, they will want to see a prescription with your name, doctor's name and contact lens brand name on it, as well as the base curve, diameter, color and power.

That's exactly right, LittleElvis. You will need a prescription to order a new pair of contact lenses. I think your prescription is good for a year, though. So if you've had an eye exam in the last twelve months, you can just use the prescription given?

Does anybody have a reason to disagree with that?

Spongebob · #6 (**permalink**) 07-16-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogwartz

That's exactly right, LittleElvis. You will need a prescription to order a new pair of contact lenses. I think your prescription is good for a year, though. So if you've had an eye exam in the last twelve months, you can just use the prescription given?

Does anybody have a reason to disagree with that?

I don't see why you can't use a prescription that's eleven months old if you just can't wait for your next exam. After all, you've already procrastinated for almost a year anyway. If you're like most people, you'll probably want to get those contact lenses as soon as you can. So don't wait. Don't hesitate.

LittleElvis · #7 (**permalink**) 07-16-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogwartz

That's exactly right, LittleElvis. You will need a prescription to order a new pair of contact lenses. I think your prescription is good for a year, though. So if you've had an eye exam in the last twelve months, you can just use the prescription given?

Does anybody have a reason to disagree with that?

Thanks Hogwartz. I can't answer your question though, because I wear glasses and I haven't had a change in my prescription for the last three or four years.

Hogwartz · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleElvis

Thanks Hogwartz. I can't answer your question though, because I wear glasses and I haven't had a change in my prescription for the last three or four years.

Good for you. Are you old enough to start getting far sighted? Or should I say are your arms getting shorter yet?

LittleElvis · #9 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hogwartz

Good for you. Are you old enough to start getting far sighted? Or should I say are your arms getting shorter yet?

Ha, ha. I'm 41, so I guess I'm old enough to be far sighted, but at this point I can read just fine without glasses of any kind. I suppose it's just a matter of time . . .

Now, to address sightseer's question about how much an eye exam will cost.

I did a little research and it seems that your average eye doctor exam and contact lens fitting would run about fifty bucks total. Most eye doctors will throw in a trial pair of contacts and a sample of cleaning solution at no extra charge.

specialone · #10 (**permalink**) 07-26-2010, 05:08 PM

I just had a contact lense exam last week and was prescribed Acuvue Advance. I tried to use this precription to order Acuvue Colors from Walgreens and was denied because my eye doctor said I was fitted for Acuvue Advance. So do I have to go back and pay for another exam even though I just had one last month?

Knotlob · #11 (**permalink**) 07-26-2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by specialone

I just had a contact lense exam last week and was prescribed Acuvue Advance. I tried to use this precription to order Acuvue Colors from Walgreens and was denied because my eye doctor said I was fitted for Acuvue Advance. So do I have to go back and pay for another exam even though I just had one last month?

Hello Specialone and welcome to the forum.

I think I would try and negotiate a reduced price when you make an appointment, since the doctor has done most of the work one week ago. You could always check other eye care practices to see what their pricing policy is under these circumstances.

No harm in asking and if you don't ask, you will never know if you would have got a better price for the service.

knotlob

Spongebob · #12 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by specialone

I just had a contact lense exam last week and was prescribed Acuvue Advance. I tried to use this precription to order Acuvue Colors from Walgreens and was denied because my eye doctor said I was fitted for Acuvue Advance. So do I have to go back and pay for another exam even though I just had one last month?

This illustrates in important principle when buying contact lenses. You can't use a prescription for one brand of contact lenses to get another brand. If you want Acuvue Colors you have to have a prescription for them. A prescription for Acuvue Advance won't do. If you tell your doctor that you'd rather have the Acuvue Colors, I'm sure he or she will write you a prescription for you.

Hogwartz · #13 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spongebob

This illustrates in important principle when buying contact lenses. You can't use a prescription for one brand of contact lenses to get another brand. If you want Acuvue Colors you have to have a prescription for them. A prescription for Acuvue Advance won't do. If you tell your doctor that you'd rather have the Acuvue Colors, I'm sure he or she will write you a prescription for you.

Just so Spongebob. I'm sorry specialone didn't get the contact lenses that he or she really wanted, but I'm glad to see that sellers are paying attention to what is being prescribed. There may be a reason that specialone can't wear Acuvue Colors, I don't know, but I wouldn't want them to find out the hard way.

I hope we hear more about this situation.

Spongebob · #14 (**permalink**) 09-24-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by specialone

I just had a contact lens exam last week and was prescribed Acuvue Advance. I tried to use this prescription to order Acuvue Colors from Walgreens and was denied because my eye doctor said I was fitted for Acuvue Advance. So do I have to go back and pay for another exam even though I just had one last month?

What's new with you, specialone? Have you gotten your contact lenses yet? What brand did you get.

For anyone else in this situation, I see you having two options. One would be to just get the Acuvue Advance as prescribed. The other would be to ask your eye doctor to write you a prescription for "Acuvue Colors," which I guess means Acuvue 2 Colours - Opaques. You may have to have another exam, but I doubt it. Using a different brand of contact lenses doesn't change your eyes.

Spongebob · #15 (**permalink**) 09-24-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by specialone

I just had a contact lens exam last week and was prescribed Acuvue Advance. I tried to use this prescription to order Acuvue Colors from Walgreens and was denied because my eye doctor said I was fitted for Acuvue Advance. So do I have to go back and pay for another exam even though I just had one last month?

What's new with you, specialone? Have you gotten your contact lenses yet? What brand did you get?

For anyone else in this situation, I see you having two options. One would be to just get the Acuvue Advance as prescribed. The other would be to ask your eye doctor to write you a prescription for "Acuvue Colors," which I guess means Acuvue 2 Colours - Opaques. You may have to have another exam, but I doubt it. Using a different brand of contact lenses doesn't change your eyes.

Hogwartz · #16 (**permalink**) 10-28-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sightseer

Alright, is there an estimate as to how much the appointment will cost?

I checked the well-known doctor locator website WebMD for an eye doctor in my area. I found several, but there's no information about what they charge for their services. One doctor's office listed which insurance programs she works with, so if you want to know how much a appointment will cost you, you could contact your insurance company (If you have insurance.) and find out what the co-pay amount is.

For those who don't know, a "co-pay" is the amount you are expected to pay yourself when you see a doctor, and they usually want it before you leave. Generally it's about $20.00. I know it can be a bit awkward when you're talking to the friendly receptionist at the front desk and she sweetly says "Okay your copay for this visit is twenty dollars," and you just give her a blank look.

Don't let this happen to you.