Eye exam for contact lenses

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

I generally buy my lenses on-line cuz it's cheaper, but need to update my prescription. Most of the previous discussion seems to focus on who has good product available (esp a good selection of glasses frames). I don't need that, just someone who will examine my eyes quickly and cheaply. I'm carless, so within 5 miles bike ride of Davis or on the Red Line is preferable. I went to Harvard Vanguard last time, but wasn't really impressed with either the service or the prices (of course, that was nearly two years ago, things may have changed).

Comments

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I go to Dr. Scott Sylvia in North Cambridge (General Optical on Mass Ave), but since he's covered by my insurance, I'm not sure of his price. I have been very happy with him.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

I have really liked the service at Parrelli Optical in Porter Square (argh, Sweeney Todd stuck in head *again*). For example, when I got my first visual migraine, they were very nice and saw me that afternoon to reassure me that my retina was not falling off. :) I am fuzzier on the prices because my insurance covers eye exams.

I had a really bad experience there

[shana-lyons.livejournal.com]

I'd have to respectfully disagree with the rec for Parelli Optical. I had a really bad experience there about two years ago. I went in for a contact and glasses combo exam. The glasses exam was great. The contact exam, though, meh. Expect the hard sell at the end. The contact exam guy (who is an optician, not an optometrist) told me that the contacts I were currently wearing (Acuvue2's) were being discontinued in the next year. He said that I could either stick with them for one last order knowing that I couldn't reorder them or go ahead and switch in case I ran out midyear. The fitting to switch was extra $$. I decided to make the switch in case I had to reorder. He told me the best contacts for my unusual prescription were ProClears and that I should change them every two weeks even though they said monthly. The rest of the appointment was pretty much a sales pitch. When I asked for a prescription to take with me he got really huffy before finally giving me one after I asked SEVERAL times. Turns out, because he's the optician it can only be used at Parelli. In order to take it to Costco or 800-Contacts, it has to be from the optometrist. So, I ended up having to go back and beg again for my contact prescription where they tried again to convince me to order them there even though they were much more there. Once I got it, fun things I later learned include that there are cheaper ProClears that are identical that are meant to be changed every two weeks. And,that Acuvue 2's are not being discontinued.

I feel like I got scammed. Other folks on Yelp have had the EXACT same experience with the "your lenses are getting discontinued" scam. Beware.

Re: I had a really bad experience there

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's unfortunate. I have only had a glasses exam there, and was happy with it; I hadn't considered that they might behave differently for contacts.

Re: I had a really bad experience there

[rawrin.livejournal.com]

Yep, I had a similar experience, except my contacts really had been discontinued. But rather than staying within the same brand, the father Parelli (http://parrellioptical.com/staff.html) wanted to fit me for some fancypants special order from the UK kind. He was definitely hard selling me on these things (and more, but that's another story). Parelli was obviously ticked when I told him I was not going to pay that much. There was just NO WAY. So I left. He refunded what I had paid for some other related thing (which didn't work out) but I was willing to just leave it because I was so annoyed with his hard sell tactics and his very big ego.

The optometrist, on the other hand, was very nice. She hadn't been able to complete my exam on my first visit and called me about a week after I left with the offer to finish my exam.

Re: I had a really bad experience there

[shana-lyons.livejournal.com]

He tried to sell me the custom fit ones, too. Fortunately, I thought my vision was great with the Proclears, so I told him I was sticking with those. You're the third person I've talked to that's basically had exactly the same contacts experience there. Everyone who goes for glasses LOVES them but the contacts section seems to be really pushy.

I found out that the contact guy can't actually write real prescriptions when I took my "prescription" to the Costco in Everett to have it filled. They have great prices on contacts. The guy behind the optical counter said that they got un-fillable prescriptions written by the optician from Parelli 2-3 times a month. It really seems like there's a pattern.

I'm really hoping that some good recommendations will come from this! I need any eye exam in a few months.

Re: I had a really bad experience there

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

I also had a bad contact experience there which caused me to yank all my business from them.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I recently decided to go cheap and went to the optometrists' attached to LensCrafters in the Galleria, and I turned out really, really liking the guy there. Once again, was on my (Tufts Health Plan) insurance, so don't know what the flat rate costs are, but seems likely they'd be inexpensive given it's a mall service?

[lissie930.livejournal.com]

Second this recommendation, I think he's really good.

[a51abductee.livejournal.com]

I fully agree with the first two posts and also happily recommend Dr. Duane Smith at Cambridgeside Galleria (attached to the LensCrafters). I paid out of pocket for my eye and contact lens exam and found it quite affordable relative to the other options. Dr. Smith is excellent, and isn't reluctant at all to spend as much effort as it takes to get it done right.

[mycroft.livejournal.com]

That's Dr. Duane Smith. I've been using him for years, and I highly recommend him.

[numinicious.livejournal.com]

Do you know if they take other university health plans? ( is your tufts health plan by any chance aetna? :D )

[juldea.livejournal.com]

No, my Tufts Health Plan is http://www.tuftshealthplan.com/ :) It's not because I'm a student (I'm not); it's a insurance company.

[numinicious.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh, aha. Thanks for clearing that up. :)

[bex77]

I use the eye doctor attached to the Lenscrafter in the Cambridgeside Galleria, Dr. Duane Smith. He is very friendly, thorough and professional. I also went to Harvard Vanguard earlier this year. They are inexpensive, but have a definite "15 minutes and out" feel to them, whereas Dr. Smith usually spend almost an hour going over everything. I decided he was worth the money.

[ringrose.livejournal.com]

I went to Harvard Vanguard and didn't get the same "15 minutes and out" feeling. The doctor took as long as needed, and changed the correction when I discovered that the first lenses weren't quite right.

[fefie.livejournal.com]

My experience has been the same. I've been going to Harvard Vanguard for years and have been very satisfied with the eye care there. I have never been given the "15 minutes and out" treatment there.

[latvianchick.livejournal.com]

Cohen's fashion optical will give you an exam for $29 if you print a coupon from their website. They have an outpost in Cambridgeside Galleria. I found the quality acceptable - like you, I was also just looking for a new prescription.

Cohen eye exam rip-off

[1drakon.livejournal.com]

$20 eye exam only applies if you BUY glasses or contacts. Exam only is $75. The "fine print" is not clear on this. It says "must present coupon before purchase".

[turil.livejournal.com]

For Eyes in Harvard Square has always been the cheapest and most reliable quality-wise. I haven't been in a long time, but I imagine they are still similar. Worth checking out.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I like the For Eyes downtown. Dr. Curtis Frank is a great eye doctor.

[fangirl715.livejournal.com]

I'll second that--he's a good eye doctor with an appropriately warped sense of humor. (When I asked him a few years ago when he thought I'd need bifocals, his answer was "Oh, you won't need them for a long time...not for another year at least." I think I told him that if he hadn't been my optometrist, I might have slugged him for that one... ;-) That location is 155 Federal St., near South Station, FWIW.

Parrelli Optical in Porte Sq

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

is good.. May want to call them first... (617) 864-7005 .

[nyusha81.livejournal.com]

Parrelli is good, but I pay $160 out of pocket for a new prescription (same one, just an update)

Message from Liz @ VSP

[eliz-ba.livejournal.com]

Hey Jenny,

Are you a VSP member? If not, you may be interested in individual insurance which will help cut costs. Then you can easily find a doctor in your area. Just use the search on our site to find a VSP doctor near you: http://bit.ly/glMDr

[narya.livejournal.com]

This is a little farther out, but I really like Dr Linda Bennett in Belmont. It's accessible by bus or bike. I'm not sure on the cost (as she takes my insurance) but she has always been really really helpful.

[antimony.livejournal.com]

I've used Miriam Dougherty in W. Medford -- phone number 617-332-6311. About three miles from Davis, or one bus ride (94) and a few blocks. She's on my insurance network, so I don't know how her prices are. But she got my prescription right after the previous one was off a little, so I was pleased.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Dr. David Conway is good:
(617) 576-2020
He's a short walk out of Davis (off Mass Ave).