If you wear contacts and have no vision insurance.

[readyin07]

Just curious what you all pay for a routine annual exam to update your rx. 

I have been seeing a discount provider who is only $50 for a comprehensive exam (includes retinal scan). Unfortunately, I pretty much hate the optometrist (he pushes and pushes about me buying contacts at his location after I have told him I have found a best price online. He seriously pretty much has called me a liar twice now that VisionDirect's prices are lower than his. He is wrong. And the last time  I was there he mentioned something that was a potential problem, but he refused to talk further about it and I didn't understand what he was saying).
 
I have been calling around to local optometrists and wow! I am astounded that it is about $200 on average for a first time patient exam plus contact lens adjustment (most places insist they would have to refit me too, which seems crazy).

[jessnpaul]

I now have Vision insurance but previously I did not. My regular health insurance covered my eye exam (I think I had to pay the copay but I don't remember) but they always made me pay a $100 fitting fee even though I've been wearing the SAME contact brand and prescription for years!

I think the fitting fee is bullsh*t. I could see it for the first time you get contacts, but not once you are actually wearing them!

[readyin07]

I agree lol! I have been wearing contacts since I was about 12. So over 20 years. OMG. No wonder there was a potential problem with my eyes when you look at it like that.

[kitty]

I pay $95 per year for my contact lens exam. My doctor examines me with my contacts in to make sure they are still fitting well and then looks at my eyes with them out as well to make sure enough oxygen is getting through, blood vessels look healthy, etc. My vision coverage does not pay this fee but it covers most of my lens purchase.

[Here]

We dropped our insurance this year. We might pick it up again, but we had just gotten new contacts right before H changed his job. We figured we could save a year of payments.

I am hoping to try to use my health insurance to pay for the visit and pay out of pocket for contacts.

I didn't have vision insurance until we got married. I don't think it is worth it.