New Bifocals at Meijer

[rkwhyte2]

Not sure I'd choose Meijer for my glasses. Wouldn't do WalMart either. Just got new glasses a month or so back. Used VisionWerks the frames were reasonable to outrageous in price. For me the lenses are always big bucks. By the time I left the store I'd paid out just a shade over $600. Exam, frames, lenses with the lenses being the big item. Big money but at least I can see.

 

[Spike Jones 5 2002]

I went to Meijer because My insurance said that was one place they covered.
I tell it like it happened. Go to Meijer's corp web sight. Call the 8##.
They will answer Meijer --------. Tel them you have a complaint about glasses.
They will immediately disassociate with the optical dept.
They will transfer you to the optical dept.
Who will answer Meijer optical.

I went into great detail on my initial visit and the follow visit with the optometrist.
If she would have requested my laptop.
I would have driven home and returned.
She stated that she fully understood my reading distant need.
The optometrist stated that the lens were not made to her directions.

 

[Spike Jones 5 2002]

I just received this E-Mail.

Well my copy - paste did not capture the banner "Meijer optical"

 

[Snapdragon]

I went into great detail on my initial visit and the follow visit with the optometrist.

That's part of the problem. It was a bit much to take in. A briefer summary would have been easier to read. Also, the dramatics with the fonts are a bit off-putting and make it harder to take you seriously, especially when the whole fuss is over $15.

 

[WebSnyper]

I went to a Optometrist to get my eyes checked for effects of diabetes. He was the real deal not one of these big box store fly by night outfits.
They ran me through the entire series of tests. I requested they check my current glasses against my actual needs as I never was comfortable with them. They did and yes they were not right.

They wrote me a new script and I let the spouse pick out some lenses.
1 week later I was sporting my new glasses.
We had the same people work up a new set for the spouse and she is happy with them.

Never use those half baked big box store outfits. Never.

Agreed. Funny thing is I had a very similar ask to the OP as I work on a laptop and additional monitors all day, every day. Told the Optometrist and the person setting up my glasses there, what I wanted, etc. They said ok. I had them made such that almost the whole lens is for computer screen. First time they came back, they were not really right (partly because I use multiple monitors) and I let them know and they adjusted the prescription and remade them with no complaint, picked them up and they work great.

I have a couple of these pairs now, one that goes with me in my laptop bag and one that stays at home.

I have a separate pair that I wear for every day that are bifocals (top for distance, bottom for reading phone, etc but not setup for computer).
I have to swap between glasses but it is worth it for a good purpose built item. I could not get used to progressive lenses that were supposed to do it all.

As CM said, go to a real optometrist.

That said, I have "thought" about having a pair of glasses with my prescription from my regular optometrist made at Costco and just seeing how they do. Anyone done that? If so, are they as bad as the rest of the big box places? Costco has some pretty good services, so not sure how they are in this space.

I've been fairly happy with where we go get our glasses, but I will say, the glasses themselves are not cheap. I can take my prescription from them anywhere, so thinking about giving it a try.

My wife sent her prescription from our Optometrist off to a website, I think EyebuyDirect and had an extra pair made. I think she said they did ok, but its an extra pair for her.

 

[Dead Duck]

I just received this E-Mail.

Well my copy - paste did not capture the banner "Meijer optical"

Hey!
That looks like a great deal.
You should do that.

 

[Hatin Since 87]

I hope those aren’t the frames you bought

 

[chezuki]

I hope those aren’t the frames you bought

“You’ll shoot your eye out!”

 

[Spike Jones 5 2002]

I attempted to give the whole story.
If I gave a brief story.
People would question, Why didn't I do something to ------------------.
As for the font. I do not know why it changed.
I want back and changed it and it popped back again.
As for the copy and paste.
Again I copied the entire add page. You see the after effect of paste.
The Meijer banner headline disappeared.

As for special request for bifocals.
I have a couple of pair made special for shooting.
Just like the one I wanted for my laptop.
The reading lens was made to see the sights on my handgun.
the distant lens is for the target.
BOTH are at arms length.
Again I went to Meijer because my insurance recommended.
They would not cover the optometrist where I had the shooting glasses made.

 

[Tyler-The-Piker]

 

[Vigilant]

Big Box Stores generally don’t do what they are supposed to do right, NO WAY am I getting specialized anything from a big box. As an aside, I just fired up the new to me vision insurance my wife’s employer provides at Ossip. $350 Oakley frames-$0, progressive lenses that turn my RMR dot back into a dot rather than a bunch of grapes-$0. All told with a contact fitting and several different tests, I walked out at $262.00, most of which was copays and additional charges for eye photos, and a bunch of different lense treatments such as Transitions, anti-reflection, etc. all of which went on the employer provided Visa HSA card, for a net-net of $0.00 out of my pocket save the sub $200 per year payroll deduction. Finally found a decent vision plan!

 

[churchmouse]

Agreed. Funny thing is I had a very similar ask to the OP as I work on a laptop and additional monitors all day, every day. Told the Optometrist and the person setting up my glasses there, what I wanted, etc. They said ok. I had them made such that almost the whole lens is for computer screen. First time they came back, they were not really right (partly because I use multiple monitors) and I let them know and they adjusted the prescription and remade them with no complaint, picked them up and they work great.

I have a couple of these pairs now, one that goes with me in my laptop bag and one that stays at home.

I have a separate pair that I wear for every day that are bifocals (top for distance, bottom for reading phone, etc but not setup for computer).
I have to swap between glasses but it is worth it for a good purpose built item. I could not get used to progressive lenses that were supposed to do it all.

As CM said, go to a real optometrist.

That said, I have "thought" about having a pair of glasses with my prescription from my regular optometrist made at Costco and just seeing how they do. Anyone done that? If so, are they as bad as the rest of the big box places? Costco has some pretty good services, so not sure how they are in this space.

I've been fairly happy with where we go get our glasses, but I will say, the glasses themselves are not cheap. I can take my prescription from them anywhere, so thinking about giving it a try.

My wife sent her prescription from our Optometrist off to a website, I think EyebuyDirect and had an extra pair made. I think she said they did ok, but its an extra pair for her.

Exactly.

I understand the need to use the insurance but being retired I pay out of pocket for mine and the spouses glasses. I have used the AARP discounts but that is minimal. Not being herded into a line by a 3rd party does give us some leeway on who we use. The initial Eye exams were done at the Eskinazi hospital facility as they are our medical providers anyway. So getting the appointments was a breeze. Paying for them, well, you already know. We took the Rx from the exams and shopped them. The spouse requires some very expensive lenses. Mine are Bifocals but not anyway near as critical as hers.

 

[GLOCKMAN23C]

I used Target optical for years, with no real complaints. They like many big box optical stores are owned by Luxottica and subcontract to an independent doctor of optometry. I changed only because my wife's optometrist retired and she requires a specialist, and it's closer to home.

 

[Hop]

I decided to try a shooting Rx. I got two pair, one for regular wear, one for shooting (close up work, PC, arms length focus, etc). Two scripts, same Doc.
I ordered the regular glasses from Sams. The shooting glasses from an online seller. The Sams Rx came back perfect 1st time. The online retailer took two tries but it was the Doctor's fault. He set the focus too close the 1st time & nailed it the 2nd time.

Both are in Ray-Ban "flex" frames. Both have Transition lenses. Both anti-scratch, HD / Poly-carb glass. Both cost me close to $400 with all the options. Ouch! I will buy my own frames and pay the stupid ~$30 trace fee from now on.

The Sams club glasses have held up great.
The online glasses anti-scratch coating has failed. The lens material seems to be inferior & more prone to spots & scratches. One plastic ear hook has bent in an odd place. Overall, not happy with the quality.
Both places send out the order to some far away shop to make the glasses but it's harder to deal with the online place imo. Sams is right there. Walk in a ***** at them until they get it right.
I know Sams sub-contracts out the retail space but when you set up shop in the store, you represent the store. Just like the cell phone carrier. The Sams manager should have your back (the customer) not their tenant.

 

[Snapdragon]

Costco also has good glasses and good service.

 

[WebSnyper]

Big Box Stores generally don’t do what they are supposed to do right, NO WAY am I getting specialized anything from a big box. As an aside, I just fired up the new to me vision insurance my wife’s employer provides at Ossip. $350 Oakley frames-$0, progressive lenses that turn my RMR dot back into a dot rather than a bunch of grapes-$0. All told with a contact fitting and several different tests, I walked out at $262.00, most of which was copays and additional charges for eye photos, and a bunch of different lense treatments such as Transitions, anti-reflection, etc. all of which went on the employer provided Visa HSA card, for a net-net of $0.00 out of my pocket save the sub $200 per year payroll deduction. Finally found a decent vision plan!

That does sound like a good plan. I get 1 vision exam and $225 a year towards glasses and that's it. I also use Ossip currently, and while they seem pretty good, they are just expensive on glasses. I too have an HSA, but would rather get the glasses cheaper if I can and hit my HSA for less.

Costco also has good glasses and good service.

Good to know. Did you go there for your exam as well then or just take in an existing prescription?

 

[natdscott]

Damn, I'm never going to Meijer for chemotherapy. The nerve of them.

Repped!

 

[Snapdragon]

Good to know. Did you go there for your exam as well then or just take in an existing prescription?

I always just took my prescription. They also will give you a good price on new lenses for frames you already have.

 

[WebSnyper]

I always just took my prescription. They also will give you a good price on new lenses for frames you already have.

Good to know. Thanks for the info.

 

[Vigilant]

That does sound like a good plan. I get 1 vision exam and $225 a year towards glasses and that's it. I also use Ossip currently, and while they seem pretty good, they are just expensive on glasses. I too have an HSA, but would rather get the glasses cheaper if I can and hit my HSA for less.



Good to know. Did you go there for your exam as well then or just take in an existing prescription?

I would generally do the same, except that my wife’s employer preloads the card every year with $2 or $2.5K at no cost to us, so we burn through that on copays, first aid supplies, and “extras” such as more expensive lense treatments and such.