Many vision threatening conditions have no early warning signs, making regular eye exams very important. Costs for eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses can add up.

In this Angie’s List report, we tell you how to focus on saving a few bucks at the eye doctor.

You might think you don't need to go to the eye doctor until something is wrong, but that idea is wrong in itself... especially if you’re not going to try and save money.

"The first thing you want to do to keep your eye care cost low is regular check ups because then you could potentially find problems early and prevent bigger problems down the road," Angie’s List founder, Angie Hicks, said.

Getting check ups isn't the first step when it comes to preventing serious and expensive eye procedures. Doctors said you should get prepared before you even walk into their offices.

"As an optometrist, I love it when a patient comes to their appointment prepared. If you are a new patient to a practice, it's best to bring both your eyeglass and contact lens information with you, as well as any records from your past eye doctor. It just helps streamline the process when you get started with your new doctor,” Dr. Kathleen Busby, O.D., said

If the doctor believes you need contacts or glasses, there are ways to save money on those items as well.

"In order to save money a lot of people like to shop around to find the best deal on their contacts or glasses because, keep in mind, you don't have to buy your glasses and contacts from your doctor,” Hicks said.

In fact, you can compare prices at stores in your area, or even take your money saving search to the web. However, you might have to make some sacrifices if you find the best deal on the internet.

"It can be great for comparison shopping, but if you are getting glasses and it's the first time with this particular pair, you may not get the fitting if you are buying online that you would if you were buying at your doctor's office or in a local store. Keep that in mind and understand how you will handle an issue if something comes up such as the prescription is wrong or they don't fit properly - how do you resolve that if you are buying online," Hicks said.

For those of you who have vision insurance, don't assume you're in the clear. Always check if your plan covers certain tests before you get them, even if they're recommended. It's always better to know ahead of time how much you might have to pay out of pocket before you get a shocking bill in the mail.

Doctors say another great way to keep your eyes healthy and avoid problems is to wear sunglasses. You can take the cheap route here, too. Doctors say a ten dollar pair gives the same protection as an expensive pair, as long as they have 100% UV protection.