Contacts Free

A few months back, I was on my last pair of contacts.

Seeing as it had been over three years since I got my one-year supply, I decided to call an optometrist and get my eyes checked out.

One of the benefits working at a Medical Center is that if you are looking for any kind of doctor, they are most likely there.  It makes getting to appointments easy: no need to worry about finding a place to park, just walk down!

I met with the nice Doctor and she did her eye Doctor thing.  Twenty minutes later, she told me my earlier prescription was too strong, and was probably too strong when I got it.  She recommended I get new glasses after seeing the battle worn glasses I brought in.

I asked her about contacts.  She'd be more than happy to fit me for contacts; all it required was a fitting fee and more money.

The practical (read: cheap) side of me starting butting in the internal monologue I was having.  If I had to get new glasses anyway, why get contacts as well?  If I decided that glasses weren't the thing for me on a daily basis, I could easily just stop down for another appointment and pay the fee.

Practicality usurped control and I just ordered glasses. It was hard to decided on a pair that I liked.  I knew I didn't want too thick framed or too large of a lens: I had flashbacks to my seventh grade picture with the glasses that ran halfway down my cheeks.  I also didn't want to pay a crapton for frames.

Side note: just like cars and houses, after looking a 30 or 40 pairs of glasses, they all look the same.  It helps to take notes and go back after a day or so to compare.

I finally decided on a frame and began the purchasing process.  Without any discounts, the glasses should have cost $460!

Thankfully, insurance kicked in $60 (sarcasm), I got an employee discount, and got a "game card" that got me an extra 15% off.

 

When it was all said and done, it ended up around $250...not bad.  Not great, but when you factor in time off from work increase, the employee discount and gas to drive, I don't know if I could have done much better.

 

So far, I'm liking just doing the glasses.  I do have to clean my lenses so I can see periodically, but I like it.  The only time I don't like wearing glasses is running, as they have a tendency to fog up and bounce a bit.  I suppose I could get a glasses strap to help keep the in place...

I could also get a pocket protector while I'm at it too...