Prescription Eye Glasses $$

pablo says on Nov 4, 2009, 04:15:

I recently purchased some new lenses for my reading glasses and yes, the exam and the lenses were much cheaper than what they would have cost in the States. They might not have had all the fancy testing equipment (at least the optometrist I visited) as my doctor back home but I felt more than satisfied with the outcome. Perhaps the only negative would be the choice in frame selection and different manufactures offered but as I wasn't shopping for them I was glad to save about half the cost for the same service/product back stateside.

ʇı dןǝɥ ʇou ןןıʍ sıɥʇ ǝʞıן ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹnoʎ ƃuıpןoɥ

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miamimike says on Nov 4, 2009, 04:25:

Much cheaper in Colombia. In Bogota you can find some pretty nice Italian Brand Frames sold very reasonably. B&L Brand btw, is now owned by an Italian Frame Maker. I saved close to 60% on my last pair of glasses in Col.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 4, 2009, 05:38:

charlysito71 says on Nov 4, 2009, 06:12:

La Fam charged me 300.000 cop for lenses only. I can buy lenses and frames for that price in the u.s. and mine are nothing special

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flynn flanagan says on Nov 4, 2009, 06:52:

Much cheaper than in the states. I have bought 2 pair. One a prescription sun glasses. Shop around, some places are rip off.

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Fernando83 says on Nov 4, 2009, 07:28:

I was in Cali in May/09 they had an advertisement: 20K pesos for exam and glasses...my parents took advantage of the deal...of course there's a limit on the pair you want ( I think the choice was between 10 styles) but they were pretty nice styles...not "bulky nerdy" glasses. They were ready the next day to pick-up and the lenses were your choice of either plastic or glass!!! I was astonished, and no kind of insurance needed...just walkins.

I should add the eye exam was the same as stateside....all the same equipment. It wasn't no whole in the wall and they had more than one location in Cali at least.

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scumbuster says on Nov 4, 2009, 08:13:

I have basic insurance for optical here in the US and my wife just got an exam and some glasses for reading in Bogota that were still cheeper than with basic coverage here in the US. I am dropping my optical coverage for next year and we plan to get everything in Bogota from now on.

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 4, 2009, 08:35:

davidyamiga says on Nov 4, 2009, 09:01:

Fernando...do you remember where the location was?

Otra vez en casa...Cali!

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Buongone says on Nov 4, 2009, 10:19:

Fernando. It would be good to find a number in Cali, or Santa Marta.

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Fernando83 says on Nov 4, 2009, 10:26:

David and Buongone,

I'll ask one of my parents tonite...it should be on their prescriptions.

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ERIKA7 says on Nov 4, 2009, 10:42:

I get m prescriptions every year in Cali,
the exam is usually 10k cop,, and normal (no designer) frames and lenses 40k cop,

"por muy bonita que sea, tambien se caga y se mea"

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miamimike says on Nov 4, 2009, 11:46:

Best thing is to check TWO places as I noticed quite a variation in Price for the same exact Lenses &Frames. I went to an Opthamologist first and had my eyes examined then I shopped for Lenses and frames. Let the Doc know, before the Exam, this is your gameplan, that you want the Prescription after the Exam. If they don't go along with this, move on to another Optomitrist (not an MD) or Othamologist(MD with vision speciality) that will give you your prescription. They should have no objection to this as its yours and you are paying for it . I saw some good prices in Suba but the Doc closed and moved to Spain last year where I bought mine. Stay away from Eyewear shops in the trendy touristy areas as prices in all probability will be higher. The Plus side is that you may find the latest style frames in these touristy areas if that is important to you.

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Soy Yo, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska.

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davidyamiga says on Nov 4, 2009, 11:59:

I usually go to an optometrist in Boca, and even though I am a long time customer, they wanted to charge me like $ 200. So I said thanks.

Otra vez en casa...Cali!

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Fernando83 says on Nov 4, 2009, 12:22:

Sorry guys, they've seem to misplace them.

They do remember it was at the "Centro Comercial del Norte" (shouldn't be to hard to find since it's not that big) near the clinica social de seguros...not sure if I said that right. I do remember it's somewhere smack in the middle of the "Centro Comercial del Norte". it's close to the eating section if I remember correctly...I tried paginasmarillas.com, but their website is down.

That's the best I can do! I remeber we got the advertisement en el centro from one of those guys that hand out brochures to everyone...looked funny because on the back of it was a copy of some peso...so it looked like he was handing out money.

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Allen Parker says on Nov 4, 2009, 12:48:

Bill,you talking about lasix surgery for 400,000....is that per eye or what?

Without change we all die!

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 4, 2009, 13:30:

scumbuster says on Nov 4, 2009, 14:34:

Contact lenses are cheeper in the US fron the one place I looked in Bogota

Tomas Jefferson “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

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capt.lou says on Nov 4, 2009, 15:06:

The surgery is a piece of cake. I had it done three years ago in Barranquilla, for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the clinic though. What I do remember is that the doctor studied at the Barraquer clinic in Bogota. From what I have read they pioneered much of this surgery. I also remember getting to the clinic and wondering wether we were really in Barranquilla, spectacular building and wonderful people to deal with. One third the Canadian price for both eyes. The doctor explained to me that a stigmatism in most N. American clinics do a generic procedure. The day of the surgery started with
two hours of pre-surgery and separate topographical maps of my eyes. I am still 20/20.
If anyone is interested, I lost a couple of teeth years ago playing hockey, had implants done by my dentist in Santa Marta.
He studied at the universtity of Tennesee, therefore spoke English, that was my biggest concern. He saved me 8400 cdn.
I normally wait until I arrive in Santa Marta for the 20.00 teeth cleaning, when I arrive and before I return to Canada.

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Fernando83 says on Nov 4, 2009, 15:44:

I had lasik done, but in the states at $3500 with insurance (in case they went bad over time). Someone else here had it done, I can't remember his name, but he said he had done for $750 both eyes in Col....and with insurance as well, must be nice!!!
I only had one sympton from my lasik (I hear this is also normal for people who've had it done): dry eyes...not all the time, just at night when I'm tired and I have the fan on...something that usually never bothered me, not even eye drops help, so I just go to sleep.
I still don't regret it though! I had super bad vision! now I have 20/15! Glasses with florida weather don't mix especially after getting out of a/ced car, house, or anything! Contacts became a danger with me when I left them on for more than a couple days too.

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Buongone says on Nov 4, 2009, 21:21:

capt lou. Do you have the name of your dentist. In Santa Marta. Phone # too. Thanks

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capt.lou says on Nov 8, 2009, 09:10:

My dentist's name is Jesus Manrique. His e-mail address is Jesus Manrique Gomez ;
He will get back to you.

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capt.lou says on Nov 8, 2009, 09:12:

Sorry about that, screwed up the cut and paste.
jamanrique60 at hotmail.com

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Buongone says on Nov 10, 2009, 20:40:

Capt Lou,Thanks.

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