I haven’t been to the eye doctor in several years. For the most part, that’s not been a big deal. My contacts prescription doesn’t change very often. Moreover, my eyesight isn’t that bad. For example, if I forget my glasses/contacts, I can still get around. Still, it’s time to make sure that everything’s okay. So, I started looking into getting an eye exam. I was surprised to learn that you can do a 1-800 Contacts free eye exam online. I looked into it. Was it worth it?
Contacts Meets Modern Technology
I honestly thought that this might be a scam at first. I’ve worn glasses/contacts for almost thirty years. It’s always been such a hassle to get new contacts. They required a new eye exam every year, and you had to go see a doctor to get that accomplished. Then, for a long time, you could only get your prescription filled at that particular doctor unless you went through a big hassle to have the prescription transferred.
This has all steadily changed in recent years thanks in large part to online technology. I order my contacts through the Internet using my old prescription. They show up every month without hassle. In general, healthcare has gotten a lot easier in recent years in certain ways because of all that we can do online.
What Is 1-800 Contacts Free Eye Exam Online?
Still, I wasn’t sure how you would actually complete a 1-800 contacts free eye exam online. When I go to the eye doctor, they use all these different machines to check my eye health. Then there’s that “which is clearer – A or B” machine that helps them determine your glasses/contacts prescription. (I can seriously never tell – A and B always look the same to me.)
The 1-800 Contacts free eye exam online is totally different. Basically here’s how it works:
- You go to the website.
- Then you select to “start the exam.”
- They ask a few basic questions.
- Then they show you an eye chart consisting of four different letters in a row. You back up ten feet from your screen and read the letters out loud to the computer. You do this once with your left eye, once with your right eye, and once with both eyes.
- And that’s it.
They enter your information. A doctor writes your prescription. Then, they give you options for which contacts to buy.
Was It Really That Simple?
Here’s the thing … it really was that simple but I’m not sure that was a good thing for me. They ask you some questions about your eye health. I answered honestly but I’m not sure they were comprehensive enough to really get at my needs. I do see perfectly well with my contacts. However, I also sometimes get blurry vision in one eye when I’m tired, which I couldn’t explain in their simple format.
Honestly, it didn’t seem like the online test really offered anything “real.” If you’re just looking to get a new prescription written because yours is out of date but otherwise your eyesight is exactly the same as before, then I think it’s probably fine. But, for me, I didn’t feel like it gave me any good information. I honestly wasn’t even sure whether or not I was actually ten feet back from my screen when I gave the answers to my exam. (They tell you based on your personal information how many steps back to take, heel to toe, but I’m not sure it was accurate.)
So, I think that they renewed my exact some prescription. And that’s fine in so far as it’s been working for me. But I’m not sure it’s really helpful from a medical standpoint at all.
Choosing The Right Contacts
Also, there was the issue of contacts choices. I’m not really sure how different each contacts are. I used to use one of the Acuvue brands a long time ago. Then I gave my information to Hubble and that’s where I get my contacts now. When it came time to choose new contacts with this free eye exam, they asked me to choose my current contacts off of a list. However, Hubble isn’t on that list.
I used the chat system to ask what to do. They explained that Hubble isn’t an option, and I said that I used to use Acuvue Dailies but I didn’t remember which ones. They told me the names of two options, and I remembered that I used Oasys. So, then I was able to proceed with that. The 1-800 Contacts site gave me the price for choosing the Acuvue Oasys dailies. Alternatively, they offered me a good extra option with a much better price. I was able to select whichever one I wanted.
The thing is, though, I’m not sure that either of these are actually good options for me. I really don’t understand how different contacts brands work. Are some truly better than others? Or are dailies all dailies? In the past, years ago, when I tried different brands, my eye doctor made a big deal about how switching was a hassle and I’d need to come in multiple times to make sure everything was okay with the change. So was that right or is this?
I will say that they guarantee your money back for seven days so if I ordered the contacts and didn’t like them then it would still be okay.
Was It Worth It For Me?
For me, this was a free eye exam. However, it’s not always free. They were running a deal that I saw. Sometimes it’s $15 or $20 instead. However, they usually offer some type of discount on your contacts order after you take the exam. So, I would say that if you’re just looking to renew your same prescription and order fresh contacts without having to go into an office, then this is worth it.
For me, though, I don’t think it ends here. It was worth it to give it a try since it was free. But the experience made me realize that I think something more is going on with my eyes. As a result, I want to see an eye doctor in person. My 20-year-old self who hated the hassle and cost of going in to an eye doctor every single year just to get the same prescription would be so thrilled that this option exists today. I’m still thrilled. It’s just not right for me at this time.
Have you tried online eye exams? What’s your experience been?
Read More:
- Cheap Glasses and Contacts: Costco Vs. Zenni
- How Much Does an Eye Exam Cost at Walmart?
- How to Save Money When Buying Glasses
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Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.
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