Where should I buy preschooler eyeglasses?

[BZB]

What is my best bet for buying young children's eyeglasses? We just found out my 4 year old needs eyeglasses for pretty severe astigmatism in both eyes. I have read the threads on "vision insurance" and on buying cheap glasses online. I'm not sure I want to go online for the first pair for him because I worry about fit and comfort.  We don't have vision insurance for him. Mr. BZB went to the optometrist connected to the ophthalmologist's office and ordered the glasses and found out they would cost $300. That is insane. We can cancel the order. Any other ideas where I can get a more reasonable price? We have a Costco membership and our Costco has an eyeglasses department. That's all I've come up with - I haven't checked if they carry preschool frames. Also, I'd welcome advice on how to pick frames for a preschooler (metal vs. plastic, what is a reasonable cost, etc.). My son's only stipulation is that they are green, his favorite color.

[libertarian4321]

Vision Insurance?  You don't need no stinkin' vision insurance, you just need to avoid traditional (rip off) eyeglass joints.

Try this:

http://www.zennioptical.com/kids

I was paying hundreds of dollars for a pair of glasses (astigmatism and far sighted, and now need bifocals as I age).  Now I pay about $30 (plus about $6 shipping).

The really bizarre thing is, these cheap zenni glasses fit and feel better than what I used to get at overpriced optical shops, and they have lasted just as long.

[BZB]

Thanks for the reply. We don't have vision insurance for my son. Do you think buying glasses online would work ok for a first pair for a 4 year old? I'll check out the zenni optical website.

[Rural]

Thing is, if the first pair from Zenni is uncomfortable, you can try 3-4 more times for the price at that optometrist.

[brand new stash]

A few months ago my 5 year old had an eye exam that showed she needed glasses, and we were at My Eye Doctor for the eye exam that was going to cost $50 for just the exam, then they said that the glasses would cost more than $400.  I told them that we couldn't afford that and to just give me the measurements of her pupils to be able to order them online.  On the spot they discounted the price dramatically...to $100 for the exam and the glasses.  So we bought them there.

My advice is to call the place that was going to sell them to you for $300 and tell them that you are willing to spend $X on glasses, will they sell them to you for that price.   You might be surprised.

[Grateful Stache]

I get my glasses and eye exam from Wal-Mart. I believe the glasses-only exam is $50, and I found a surprisingly fashionable pair of glasses for $55. I skipped all of the anti-glare and other options and went with the most basic set they offered.

It's important to get your child seeing well, especially in the early years of education when they are learning so much, so fast.

Cheers.

[lifejoy]

If you're in Canada: www.clearlycontacts.ca

First pair free! My boyfriend and I have bought from there (and recieved our first pair free!) so many times. You pay $20 for shipping. GREAT deal. Clever marketing.

[Blindsquirrel]

  Another vote for Zenni Optical here. They have great prices and very comfortable frames.

[SewingmyStache]

We've been getting our glasses at Costco.  i don't know if they have pre-schooler sizes, but they do have children's sizes.
We've been very happy with service and the prices are good compared to most optical places.

I have astigmatism and didn't get glasses until I was 12.  It was a major adjustment in how the world looked.  With a 4 year old, I'm not certain that I would go with online glasses for the first time.

[BZB]

Thanks for all the replies! I cancelled the glasses order from the eye doc's office and got the prescription info and pupil measurements from them so we have the info we need to shop online or at a cheaper store. Also Mr. BZB talked to the doc and she can possibly get us a cheaper set of frames. The tricky issue is the doc wants to try my son with 1/2 the Rx he needs because at this stage in development she thinks his eyes may improve if we don't completely correct his vision. So, if I took the official Rx in to a store they would be full correction. Also the doc offers a "doctor's choice" free glasses replacement if he needs a different Rx after 3 months. Anyway, we'll weigh our options and thanks for all the data points - that helps a lot.

[imustachemystash]

Sorry to hear about your son.  My 4 year old was just diagnosed with a lazy eye and we had to get him glasses too.  I bought him 2 pairs at Costco for $180 total.  It's a good idea to get an extra pair when you have kids.  One of my son's glasses got really bent when a soccer ball hit him in the face and I was glad we had a backup until we can take the other ones to get fixed.

[kimmarg]

Thanks for all the replies! I cancelled the glasses order from the eye doc's office and got the prescription info and pupil measurements from them so we have the info we need to shop online or at a cheaper store. Also Mr. BZB talked to the doc and she can possibly get us a cheaper set of frames. The tricky issue is the doc wants to try my son with 1/2 the Rx he needs because at this stage in development she thinks his eyes may improve if we don't completely correct his vision. So, if I took the official Rx in to a store they would be full correction. Also the doc offers a "doctor's choice" free glasses replacement if he needs a different Rx after 3 months. Anyway, we'll weigh our options and thanks for all the data points - that helps a lot.

Honestly I would go with the eye dr for the first pair. Especially with the half perscription and strong stigmatism you mentioned.  You can actually do vision therapy and improve your eyes. (Some factors like depth perception, tracking, etc can be fixed with practice. Others are the shape of your eye) I did it as an adult jsut recently and it helped a lot. Also the new perscription in 3 months is a super good deal. I got glasses at age 7 and needed a new perscription every 6 months for the first few years. I can only imagine how pricey it was! After he's had them a while and you have a better feel for how his eyes are changing you can go online, etc.

Be sure to get polycarbonate lenses (they probably woiuldnt even sell you anything else for a kid). The twisty frames are also amazing, but you may want to hold off on that until you see if they get broken a lot, etc.

Glasses are not cheap, but they are one of the only things where I 'spare no expense' as I wear them 12+ hours a day everyday and have seen the benefit of having good ones.

[BZB]

@kimmarg - Yes, this eye doc does vision therapy too! She suggested we take our son outside more and have him jump and spin around. She said that after the merry-go-rounds were removed from playgrounds (remember those?) that more children were having vision problems. Apparently spinning movement and bouncing helps in development of vision. I don't know whether it causes physical changes to the eye, or if the movement teaches the brain to perceive input in a way that improves vision, but I thought that was interesting!

[MissPeach]

I was reading somewhere that some company in Europe has a monopoly on eye glasses. Most places in the US use this company with the exception of Costco and Walmart. That is why you see glasses at $300-400 most places and then $30-50 at Costco.

Is there a reason why she won't write 2 prescriptions - one at half to begin? And then you can reevaluate later? For the price difference you could buy several at Costco for less than she can do. Also most places can reuse frames and just change the lenses when/if your child needs the full Rex later.

[BZB]

Wow, MissPeach- I looked up the European company you mentioned, Luxottica. Not only do they have a monopoly on the manufacture and retail and wholesale distribution of eyeglasses, but they also own the vision insurance company EyeMed, that my employer participates in. Costco, WalMart and Warby Parker are some of the few American retail competitors. I'm leaning toward Costco for the first pair because I'd prefer to have help with fit and comfort the first time. Mr. BZB was able to get the 1/2 Rx from the doc, so we are armed to be savvy consumers.
Here's the link where I learned about Luxottica, and also there was a segment about it on the TV show 60 Minutes a couple years ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxottica

[Grateful Stache]

Yes, this eye doc does vision therapy too!

I would caution against a retailer who sells eyeglasses and also sells vision therapy. Might be a conflict of interest. As you may know, the whole idea of 'vision therapy' is relatively controversial and anecdotal. 

[Cincy Stache]

I just received my first pair of glasses from an online retailer last week.  www.goggles4u.com  Total cost INCLUDING shipping was $18.90 and they are great so far!  How I've been doing the brick n mortar stores for all these years is incomprehensible.

They took about 4 weeks to arrive as they're produced in China and distributed out of Cali.  Get sized at your local store or do some internet research and just find glasses online with the right specs.  Got my rx from my eye doc and submitted.

[Dicey]

As a nearly lifelong glasses wearer, I'd strongly caution against buying glasses online. Fit is critical, especially for a tiny person who's growing and developing so fast. I would, however, buy at Costco in a heartbeat.

In fact here's a cool Costco story. It's paraphrased, but recent and true. Two Costco employees brought their munchkin in to have her eyes checked before school started. The in-house optometrist (not a Costco employee) did the exam and saw something he didn't like. He did more tests and then more tests. He sent the child out of the office and brought in both parents. He advised them that what at first appeared to be a shadow was actually a tumor snaking from the child's brain and starting to wrap around her optic nerve. He directed them to a specific hospital's emergency room, wrote down all his findings, gave it to them and insisted they go straight to the hospital. Fortunately, this story has two happy endings. The little girl had surgery to remove the tumor (she had no symptoms) and has completely recovered. The diligent optician? Costco gave him their President's Award, created to honor outstanding employees. Did I mention he's not an actual Costco employee? Yay for him, yay for Costco for recognizing him and yay for the family and their healthy little girl.

This event, plus my own experiences there are why Costco will always get my vote. Oh, did I mention that they have great prices? Yeah, that, too.

[BZB]

UPDATE: I went to Costco and bought 2 pairs of the flex-style glasses with polycarbonate lenses and all the fancy anti-reflective and UV coatings for $188 total. I'm sure I could have gotten cheaper online, but for the first time with this kid's glasses I preferred to try out several pairs in person. Costco did not have many selections at the right size for my 4 year old, but we found something we both liked.  I'm happy because it would have cost me $370 for only one pair at the eye doctor's office. Now I have a back-up pair.
Thanks for all your help, Mustachians!

[Dicey]

Hi BZB, next time your munchkin needs glasses, you could always try another Costco. Their selection varies by store. I bought new glasses recently and shopped both Costco's in my area. I am a bit of a pinhead, so I always look at the YA selections. I noticed a nice display of cute little kid glasses in one store, but the other store had a completely different and less extensive selection. Costco sells what their customers buy, so a family-friendly area might have a better assortment. It would be difficult to do if you lived in BF Nowhere, but I suspect there are plenty of Costco's in the greater Houston area. Thanks for the update!