Do you have to pay to get fitted for contacts?

Question

i've been printing out free trials for contact lenses, but i curious....do you have to pay just to get prescribed for a certain kind of contact? i mean, i know that you have to pay for the eye exam, but is the fitting seperate?

Answer 1

A contact lens fitting involves more work and expertise so there is a charge for it.  Even when you come back the next year, the doctor needs to evaluate the fit of the current lenses and there should be a charge for it.  

Those stupid free trial certificates are useless, by the way.  Everyone who comes to my office wanting contacts gets free trials without those dumb certificates.  That's the way it is at most eye docs' offices.

Answer 2

No. If you tell your eye doctor that you want contacts, they will fit you at the time of the exam and there won't be an extra charge for it. At least that's the way it works here in Alaska.

Answer 3

the exam u pay for- updates your vision Rx. usually all free trials come with a "must have exam" contract. yes it cost the same as any other eye appointment.

Answer 4

There usually is a fitting fee.  Most vision plans do not cover the fitting fee.  Mine is $70.00.

However, once you have been fitted for your contacts, they usually will not charge you again if your vision & contact remains the same for your next eye exam.

EDIT:

My vision plan is VSP & I use doctors that honor the plan.  I've had fitting fees for both doctors in Kansas & Illinois.

Answer 5

Well, i live in Virginia and i had to pay $58 or $68 dollars for the fitting, $49 for the exam, and $118 for the contacts. (6 month supply)

And they were clear contacts..

Answer 6

There is more work involved with contacts, we need to measure the size and shape of your eye, check your eye for any health reasons that may hinder contact lens wear, we need to teach you how to put them in, take them out, and clean them. Most offices charge extra for all the extra work. At my office we charge between $40-$95 for a fitting (the $95 is for very complicated toric bifocal contacts, most people fall in the $40-$50 range) plus $25 to train you how to put them in and take care of them. These fees do include everything you need to start off with including a trial pair of contacts, a starter set with solution and a case, plus any follow ups you may need for 6 months. The training fee is a one time in your life fee (once you know how to care for them, we don't need to do it again) but the fitting is every year to two years depending on how much your vision changes. Some insurances will cover it, it comes out of the amount of money they give you to buy contacts, but some do not.

In my office, those certificates are useless also, you need a new trial pair, I will give it to you, if you are printing those so you never have to buy contacts, I'm sorry, that isn't how it works...