teenager's first contact lenses and insertion fees

[Anonymous]

Have been trying to get contact lenses for my teen, but was a bit shocked by the fees and the number of appointments involved at our regular eye doctor's office (which has both optometrists and ophthalmologists). The costs include 90$ for a contact lens exam and a second appointment costing 200$ for a contact lens instruction and insertion fee, and that's before we even pay for the contact lenses.

Anyone have recommendations about places that don't require the second appointment for the contact lens instruction/insertion (or who charge less than 200$)? I am a long-time contact lens user and feel that between myself helping and available youtube videos, my kid could manage to use contact lenses pretty successfully without a 200$ private class...

[Anonymous]

Then just pay the $90 lens exam and say you'll pay the $200 for the private lesson IF it's needed. More importantly than YOU thinking your teen can be taught by you and Youtube, does your TEEN think that?

[Anonymous]

My DD had to go back like 6 times because she just couldn’t get the contacts in. I think they only charged one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then just pay the $90 lens exam and say you'll pay the $200 for the private lesson IF it's needed. More importantly than YOU thinking your teen can be taught by you and Youtube, does your TEEN think that?

op here. Opting out of the $200 lesson is not possible at the practice where we go. No 200$ appointment, no contact lens prescription will be given. They say it’s a liability issue for first time lens wearers.

my kid has not expressed a need for a private lesson. They’re not particularly anxious such that they would assume they need a private lesson to do something they’ve seen me do dozens of times…

[Anonymous]

Then go elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Use your FSA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then go elsewhere.

Yes that’s the point of this post if you read the opening post. Asking for recommendations for places that don’t have this 200$ additional fee/additional appointment requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then go elsewhere.

Yes that’s the point of this post if you read the opening post. Asking for recommendations for places that don’t have this 200$ additional fee/additional appointment requirement.

Have you checked Costco?

[Anonymous]

Warby Parker

[Anonymous]

Definitely go to Costco

[Anonymous]

Northern Va doctors of optometry. Contact lens appointments are more (I think $130, even for adults), but you don’t need the lesson unless you want it, and it wasn’t nearly that expensive. One of my kids started wearing contacts through them at age 8 or 9 and has never had an issue

[Anonymous]

You have to take the contact lens appointment to prove you can put them in and take them out successfully.

They only charge once.

Our doc charges $170 for the exam and contact class to learn how to put them in and take out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then just pay the $90 lens exam and say you'll pay the $200 for the private lesson IF it's needed. More importantly than YOU thinking your teen can be taught by you and Youtube, does your TEEN think that?

op here. Opting out of the $200 lesson is not possible at the practice where we go. No 200$ appointment, no contact lens prescription will be given. They say it’s a liability issue for first time lens wearers.

my kid has not expressed a need for a private lesson. They’re not particularly anxious such that they would assume they need a private lesson to do something they’ve seen me do dozens of times…

It's not about it being private or not. Or anxious or not. Many, many people struggle with putting them in and taking them out. The cost for the fitting and "class" (it is private), is usually less than $200. Once the contacts are in, they do need to evaluate them to make sure they are fitting correctly.

You sound cheap.

[Anonymous]

I'll share a pro tip that a friend gave us when our DD was having trouble getting started with contact lenses. Get your kid some lubricating eye gel like this one https://www.refresheyedrops.com/92056.html and have them practice, just like they are inserting contact lenses, for 10 minutes a day. It has to be the gel, because it has to be something they put on a finger, like a contact lens, that is meant to touch the eyeball.

We started this after struggling through 2 contact lens appointments, with some successes, but mostly blinking before the contact was in. We committed to 10 minutes a day before our next appointment, and she got past the 'want to blink' stage and has been a contact lens wearer since then.

[Anonymous]

I'd check Costco.