Chain Store Opticians?

[coriolis]

The chain stores like Sears and Walmart offer exams in addition to selling the glasses. It's time to take my 4 kids in for exams. Two or three of them probably need corrections, and the 4th may not. Can you trust the exams at these chains? Are they qualified? If someone doesn't need corrections, can you trust them to not try to sell you something? Would I be better off going to an independent optometrist?

[Miss Mary]

Ed - I don't really know the answer to your question but I'll bump this up so everyone sees your topic.

Mary

[Cookiely]

I have used several of the chain store opticians and have always found them very helpful and all are licensed. Sears was a bit expensive on glasses, but I could have gone elsewhere. They really don't pressure you to buy in their store. Frankly, I would look for ads since you have several children needing exams. Here in Tampa there is a very good independent chain store that has very good deals like buy one pair and get one free that family members can share. The only problem I had in that store is the deals are not very good for bifocal or trifocal prescriptions but for children needing single vision glasses it was a great deal. I took my niece and she was pleased with the selection of glasses.

[coriolis]

I suppose that the traditional optometrist not only does exams but also sells glasses. So I suppose that it's six of one/half a dozen of the other.

[Kim_in_MN]

I went to Walmart for my exam for years and was always satisfied with the level of the exam and the selection of glasses.

Kim

[Skywatch_NC]

My folks and I have used a chain called EyeDeals here in Raleigh for eye exams and glasses shopping and fitting...the optometrist is fine...but her opticians aren't much to "write home about" unfortunately. So we're now looking for an ophthamologist. We're through with EyeDeals ...even though this woman is an optometrist...we'd prefer an ophthamologist for our family.

Eric

[CajunMama]

We go to Walmart also for eye exams. We haven't had any problems. The contact lenses for my kids are a great price and being that they have to special order the touric lenses the turnaround time is usually about 3-5 days. And they're good about calling when they come in. I've gotten my glasses and the kids over there and have been pleased.

[southerngale]

I used the optometrist at Walmart several years ago and it didn't work for me. I would get my contact prescription and still couldn't see well. I'd go back and he'd correct it, and I think it took like 3 or 4 trips to get it right! When I had the same problem a year later, I quit going there.

I've been using the optometrist at Sears for several years now and have been very pleased with them. I really like them a lot and they do a great job and very helpful with making decisions and answering questions. They send you off with contacts to try, but they give you your prescription, so you can walk next door into Sears for your contacts/glasses or go anywhere to get them. I've often used 1-800-CONTACTS.com for my contacts and have used Sears and another place in the mall for a pair of glasses to wear when I don't have my contacts in.

Perhaps you would have better luck with a Walmart near you, but I doubt I'll be going back to one for an eye exam. I'm happy with the doctors at Sears. I shop at Walmart a lot, so I may compare prices on their contacts and stuff, but I just won't use their optometrist again.

[alicia-w]

i go to Pearle Vision only because I hate Walmart more than an ex-husband. The Sears store here is not in the best part of town and I'm quite happy with Pearle Vision.