My review of Costco's optical services

[AlphaDog]

A while back there was a thread about eye exams and glasses. I hadn't had an exam or a prescription change in over six years, so I paid attention. A couple of people mentioned they were happy with the optical services at Costco, so, since I no longer have vision coverage, I decided to go to there. Consumer Report had also given them a good rating. I picked up my new glasses yesterday, and I decided to post about my experience. I didn't do enough research beforehand, and I have learned a couple of things (the hard way) that others might want to consider before deciding whether or not Costco is a good option for them.

The exam: The price of a complete exam at Costco is $65. The price quoted by the independent I'd been using was $100. The Costco exam itself was fine. The optometrist was very professional, easy to talk to, and the exam included the glaucoma test and dilation so the back of the retina could be examined thoroughly. I'd definitely give the exam a thumbs up.

The new glasses: Just know in advance that you either have to be prepared to purchase new frames, whether you want to or not, or you have to go without your glasses for about two weeks if you want to reuse the old frames. I had to buy new frames, since leaving my glasses behind wasn't an option.

The frame selection: It's quite limited. I wanted new ones of the same quality as the old ones, which held up exceptionally well for a long time. The optician told me they did not carry frames comparable in quality to the ones I had. By the time she showed me the best of their group, the selection got really, really small, and I wound up buying something that I don't much like.

The lenses: The optical department of the Costco I go to carries only one kind of progressive lens, and it is a "consumer" quality lens. I didn't know this until after I got home and began doing some research. I won't annoy you with everything that I learned, but the bottom line is that, for me, these won't work. I need a better quality progressive that has a wider field of distortion-free vision.

A comparison of price for glasses:

The place I'd been going quoted me the following, which would be virtually identical to what I'd been using happily for six years:

Progressive lenses (Varilux): $235
High Index: $90
Anti-reflective coating: $95

Gag. A total of $420, plus tax for lenses only.

Costco:

Progressive lenses (Ovation) $100
High Index: $30
Anti-reflective: $30
Frames: $60
Total: $220, plus tax, for a complete pair of new glasses

Unfortunately, it looks like I may have to buy those expensive lenses from the independent after all.

I'm not knocking Costco's optical services, because they clearly meet the needs of a whole lot of people, but I don't seem to be one of them. If you've been happy with the glasses you got somewhere else, make sure you do some research and find out in advance if glasses you buy at Costco are going to be of comparable quality. Also check with the specific Costco store you'll be going to, because I have learned that some do carry a wider selection of lenses. The one I go to carries only the Ovation, and I know that because I asked.

It appears I just learned a very expensive lesson, so I hope somebody else can get some good out of my money.

[pinkoos]

As an aside note, LensCrafters gives a flat 30% discount with your AAA membership card presented at the time of ordering lenses/frames. They have been doing this for years.

Of course, I'm pretty sure the 30% discount cannot be combined with any other offers (buy one pair, get one free...etc.).

[jdc]

i always get my exams there, but buy glasses elsewhere, same as you

you did save the $35 on the exam, and the prescription can be used anywhere

[vision63]

In what ways are the consumer quality progressives lesser? Plastic?

[testcase]

AlphaDog, thanks for the information. I got my first pair of variable focus lenses a year and a half ago. I didn't realize there were different types available. My first pair did seem to have a VERY limited field of focused vision and, as such, was virtually useless. Strangely enough, the Rx vari-focus sunglasses I got at the same time work much better. I have a vision benefit with my health plan so, I was able to get new glasses about six months ago. I mentioned the problems I was having with the original vari-focus pair. The optomitrist (same one from a year earlier) listened and, the new ones work much better. Fortunately, my Rx is virtually the same for the last six years so, for most day to day reading, I find myself still using my "old" reading glasses. The primary use for my vari-focus glasses is when I'm flying. Having to scan outside, scan flight instruments and, referrence charts is much easier if I don't have to take glasses off and on. Can you provide some links to the information you found? TIA!

[D-Rod]

[quote AlphaDog]

A comparison of price for glasses:

The place I'd been going quoted me the following, which would be virtually identical to what I'd been using happily for six years:

Progressive lenses (Varilux): $235
High Index: $90
Anti-reflective coating: $95

Gag. A total of $420, plus tax for lenses only.

Costco:

Progressive lenses (Ovation) $100
High Index: $30
Anti-reflective: $30
Frames: $60
Total: $220, plus tax, for a complete pair of new glasses

Unfortunately, it looks like I may have to buy those expensive lenses from the independent after all.

It appears I just learned a very expensive lesson, so I hope somebody else can get some good out of my money.
You forgot to include the cost of the frames at the independent. And if you can't use the ones you bought you could always donate them to the Lions CLub or some organization that can put them to use.

Sorry it was such an expensive lesson.

http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/vis...ling.shtml

[jesse]

This site has a pretty good explanation of the different types of progressive lenses:

http://www.allaboutvision.com/lenses/progressives.htm

Many different progressive lenses are on the market today. The differences among the lenses are mainly in the width of the central corridor of optimum vision. Different areas of the corridor are expanded depending on the function that each particular lens is designed for. Some progressives that are made for a great deal of computer use, for example, have a wider intermediate zone. Others have a larger reading portion. Your eyecare practitioner is in the best position to evaluate which lens style will work best for you.

I had the same problem with the first pair of progressive lenses I tried, the field at the bottom was to narrow, I had to upgrade to a higher costing lense to get the wider field at the bottom.

jesse

[OWC Jamie]

I don't understand why Costco can't get the lenses. All the Optical stores get their lenses from the same warehouses/suppliers. That seems odd.
Charging more would make sense if they have a bulk discount going on.

After that, all they need is your PD and a pattern to cut your lens blank from to fit in your frame. (which would be why they need time for your frames rather than their own- they may have to make a pattern to cut with.)

My optical store doesn't charge for upgrades to the progressives with the larger "hole".
They just asked to 'try' to get used to them first. (3 days).
They also did not have all the frames in stock that they had on display. Some 'special orders'.
$325 +$95 for about the same glasses as yours. "standard" frame.

[AlphaDog]

I've been trying to find one particular site where I was reading about the relative merits of different kinds of progressive lenses, and, after almost an hour of looking, I still can't find it! Plus, for some strange reason, I can't get the History bar to show up in my Firefox. Does anybody have a clue what I might have done to disable it?! When I click on the History icon, it doesn't come up, and I can't access it through the History menu, either.

Anyway, I wanted to say to Dennis R. that I've been donating to the Lions for a long time, so nothing will go to waste!

The independent optometrist was able to order new lenses made, and I just wore the old glasses until the new ones came in. They'd just change them out at the shop while I waited. At this point, I have more frames than I need, so I probably wouldn't have gotten new frames if I'd gone somewhere else.

As I've been researching this more and trying to decide what to do next, I think part of the problem is that "current frame fashion" and the Ovation lenses are incompatible. Most of the frames now are shallower than my old ones, and the Ovation is an older type of progressive, developed when deeper frames/slightly larger lenses were in style.

I also think the optician didn't get an accurate measurement before ordering my lenses. The optician at the "other" place always made sure to fit the frame I'd chosen before trying to take any measurements. Once the frames felt comfortable to me, she did the measuring. At Costco, the optician had me put on the frame and then took a measurement. When I picked up the glasses yesterday, she had to make significant adjustments in the way the frames fit, including changing the angle.

The only thing I'm sure about is that the longer I wear the new ones the more tempted I am to put my old glasses back on and go about my life. All this and the prescription didn't even change much.

[vicrock]

Costco has a "satisfaction guaranteed" policy - if the lenses don' t work for you, I'd bet they will give you a refund.