Do all eye doctors charge a fitting fee for contact lenses?
 

I've went to a doctor and was told that I'd have to pay for the eye exam, and an additional $105 fitting fee for the contact lenses evaluation.This is all excluding the price of the contact lenses themselves!!!
Did all of you contact lenses wearers pay for the eye exam, then for the fitting fee, and then for the lenses themselves???
Why is there a fitting fee? Shouldn't it be included in the eye exam?
Are there places or doctors that don't charge a fitting fee?
If yes, where can I find them?
How can I avoid being charged a fitting fee?
Thx in advance.

I've never had to pay a fitting fee, and I've been wearing contacts for about 20 years. It should be included in the eye exam, and given that the fitting exam will only take 20 minutes to a half hour, $105 seems very high. I'd change providers unless this guy is doing something special. Ask your insurance company since they should have at least a list of opthamologists.

Never that high. I've had to pay £10 (about $18) before now, but that's it.

I tried contact lenses once, and I had to pay about 300 SEK (~38 USD) I think for the examination and fitting and everything, it was part of a kind of lenses beginner kit offer. There is a special kind of examination/fitting that needs to be done for the first time you use contacts, and follow-up exams as well, because not all eyes are able to wear contacts. But shop around, most places should have a special introductory offer. In my experience they are very interested in converting glasses wearers to contacts because they generate a better cash flow. ;)

Been wearing contacts for a very long time.... never had to pay any such thing. May I suggest finding another doctor?

I've never had to have one, but I wear soft contacts. Hubby wears toric (I believe) because of his astigmatism and had to have several contact fittings for his lenses; he paid for the first one, but I don't think it was as high as $105.

This is very common. $105 is outrageous though. $30-$60 sounds more in the ballpark. I recently went back to contacts after 3+ years wearing glasses (and 8 years of wearing contacts before that). I was charged a fitting fee of something like $40 (insurance paid it anyways) and if you are new to contacts or going back to contacts this is very common. This part of the exam goes above and beyond a normal eye exam. The doctor will use some instruments to determine which lens shape and size (base curve, diameter) best suits your eyes and then you will put them on. He will then look at your eyes through some instruments again and see if they fit right. Contact lenses can really damage your eyes and these extra steps help ensure you do not have any problems.