I really need to look into doing lasik myself. I refuse to wear contacts. I struggle with anything near my eye (the open poles on pegboards at stores freak me out) and they tried to get me to wear hard contacts to slow my astig down and I could get them in, but couldn't get them out. Later when I was like 18/19 I tried to do soft as they FINALLY offered a soft toric in my prescription, but I couldn't get them in for crap, but could get them out. weird.
my glasses NEED to be the high index polycarb because my prescription is so bad. it's not just a look thing, it's a functionality issue. if I went with cheap straightup plastic my lenses would be over an inch thick. I actually have to be super careful about the style of frames I pick (smaller is better as less of the dramatic curve from the astig will be there) and my prescription is too thick for a lot of styles. it looks pretty funny in wires these days, and I can't do rimless at all. I think last time I asked they said anything over a -6.0 the lab wouldn't do, or wouldn't advise be done. mine are -9.0 (plus the bad astig)
I haven't fooled with insurance ever because my glasses are "specialty" when you are talking more custom frames and needing low reflect high index poly carb. a lot of ins companies won't pay for that, or only a smaller %. plus most of the jobs i've had offered the "mail in what you paid and we'll refund you some small chunk" ehhh....
Last time I bought glasses was at binyons/eyemasters and probably my cheapest trip EVER. I think I paid around 600 bucks and got exam and 2 pairs of glasses. it was a buy one get one thing, and i'd never had two pairs and when you are as blind as I am....it was def nice to finally have a backup. plus I no longer need new glasses every year like I did til i was 20ish.
Sad I considered 600 bucks "cheap"!
I usually pay around 100 for frames and 200+ for lenses. I paid a little over 400 once for a pair.
I got vision here at my new job and i'm about due for a re-exam and i'm wanting to try zenni myself. I won't be totally out of luck if they can't do them anyway, and even 60 bucks (what a frame plus high index would run me) is a heck of a lot cheaper!
I keep talking myself out of lasik tho. at the cost of my lenses it would pay for itself in just a few years really, and it would be SOO nice to be able to see my kids while at the pool without wearing glasses and looking like a total dork. hahhaa...
or fumbling around for glasses to even SEE my clock in the AM, or worse knocking glasses off and having to gingerly pick way into bathroom where 2nd pair is kept so I can find the first pair.
I can really only see high contrast/color without them. my vision doesn't have a point where it becomes clear. it's hard :S
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