Beauty

[ChillyTulip]

I'd never go for an exam at Costco----I want an ophthalmologist examining my eyes. Too many things can get missed with a less experienced individual. Now if you already have an ophthalmologist you see regularly and just need to get refracted for glasses then an optometrist is fine. Fortunately my MD does both.

My glasses and contacts, however, I get at Costco.

[Tigriss]

My insurance only covers my local Walmart. I've had bad experiences at WM in Athens but not in my hometown. It is the doctor that makes the difference.

[Q4u]

Ophthalmologists are usually for people who have some kind of issue that can be seen through the eyes, more of a specialist.

I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis and had to see an ophthalmologist until they could no longer see the illness (it went into remission). A certified Optometrist knows what to look for and if it comes back they will then refer me back to the ophthalmologist.

I've had several exams at Costco, all were excellent and done by certified Optometrists. I've had them done at WalMart, same thing. Also at Lenscrafters. Also at Kaiser (We've moved a bit). ALL EXCELLENT! I've had records sent, I've had baseline pictures taken of my optic nerve every few years and have never had a problem. Oh yeah, I'm also diabetic and they keep a watch for bleeds from high sugar. But since I've kept my blood sugars low since I was diagnosed, no bleeds.

As long as the Optometrist is certified and you feel they've been thorough, I believe they're fine.

[Q4u]

Exams are performed by an optometrist at Costco just like at any optometrist's office, right?

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Yes, exactly like any optometrist's office....

[charlotte]

Do you have to be a Costco member?

[HonnyBrown]

Yes, you have to be a Costco member to have your eyes examined.

Save, I went to the local eye mill for convenience for the past few years. When we got our membership a few months ago, I was by the optometrist and made an appointment.

I am very pleased about every single aspect of that experience: from the appointment process to the thoroughness of the exam to the cost.

If it's a concern, see if they accept your insurance. The one I went to didn't. The exam (glasses, contacts and DMV) was $99.

I didn't get my glasses or contacts there because I get better prices elsewhere.

[chi5925]

I had my last eye exam at Costco and I was very happy!

He was a registered, licensed Optometrist and did an extensive exam.

I also purchased the frames at Costco -- one for clear lenses and the other pair was for sunglasses.

After checking out prices at 2 other eye places (located in my neighborhood mall), Costco was the best bang-for-the-buck.

[Naturesbeauty]

Thanks again everyone for taking the time out of your day to answer!!!!! This was a great help..... :-)

[devalen]

My contacts brand was discontinued so I used the Costco optometrist to recommend a new one as my medical plan is short on contact advice. He surprised me by recommending a much different strength then my medical plan doctor had just given me a prescription for. I could now see so much better! I wore the ones Costco suggested and went back six months later to see what my medical plan doctor said. She was very casual about it and agreed with his recommendation. Needless to say, I have a lot of respect for Costco after that! They give you much better pricing on frames because they are not under this monopoly on frames that others have settled for. There was a big article a year or so on this.

[Retiredpsych]

I can't believe that Costco would have optometrists that were not as equally trained and licensed as an independent optometrists office. As a matter of fact, I just might try them next time. I will see if my VSP Plan covers Costco. The last time I went to my optometrist (a big practice) I got a very mediocre exam. Literally less than 5 minutes. I do see my ophthalmologist yearly (Macular Degeneration is in my family history) so he would see anything that is a significant medical problem, but he does not do eye exams for glasses.