Discover why vision insurance is more than just discounted glasses. Learn how it protects your health and saves money on essential eye care you need yearly.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ I spent most of my twenties squinting at screens and pretending I could read street signs from a reasonable distance. The headaches were constant, my productivity was tanking, and I kept telling myself that glasses were just something I would deal with later. You know, when I had more money or more time or some other excuse I could conjure up. The real problem was not my eyes though. It was that I had no idea how to afford taking care of them.

Vision insurance was one of those things I would scroll past during open enrollment every year without giving it much thought. Dental insurance seemed important, sure. Health insurance was obviously essential. But vision coverage felt like an optional extra, something nice to have but not exactly necessary. I was so wrong about that, and I wish someone had sat me down earlier to explain why.

Most people think about vision insurance the same way I used to. We assume it is just about getting a discount on glasses or contact lenses once a year. And while that is certainly part of it, the actual value runs much deeper than a new pair of frames. Your eyes are not just windows to your soul or whatever poetic thing people say. They are critical indicators of your overall health, and regular eye exams can catch issues you would never expect.

My perspective shifted completely when an optometrist spotted early signs of diabetes during what I thought would be a routine exam. I had gone in expecting to update my prescription and maybe pick out some new frames. Instead, I walked out with a referral to see my primary care doctor for blood work. That eye exam potentially saved me from years of undiagnosed health problems, and the whole visit cost me nothing more than my usual copay because I had finally signed up for vision insurance.

Eye exams can detect not just vision problems but also signs of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, autoimmune disorders, and even certain types of cancer. Your eye doctor looks at blood vessels, nerves, and tissue that can reveal what is happening throughout your entire body. When you skip regular eye exams because of cost, you are not just risking your eyesight. You might be missing early warning signs of conditions that are much easier to treat when caught early.

The financial aspect matters more than people realize too. Without vision insurance, a comprehensive eye exam can easily run you anywhere from one hundred to two hundred and fifty dollars depending on where you live. Add in the cost of prescription glasses, and you are looking at several hundred dollars more. Contact lenses? Even more expensive, especially if you go for the daily disposable kind that eye doctors recommend for better hygiene. The numbers add up quickly, which is exactly why so many people put off eye care until something goes seriously wrong.

Vision insurance typically costs somewhere between five and fifteen dollars per month if you get it through an employer. Even individual plans that you purchase yourself rarely exceed thirty dollars monthly. For that relatively small investment, you usually get a yearly comprehensive eye exam with minimal or no copay, a significant allowance toward frames and lenses, and discounts on contact lenses or additional pairs of glasses. The math works out in your favor almost immediately if you wear any kind of corrective lenses.

I think about the years I wasted being penny wise and pound foolish with my eye health. The cheap reading glasses from the drugstore that gave me worse headaches. The old prescription I kept using long after my eyes had changed. The countless times I drove at night while struggling to see clearly, telling myself it was fine when it absolutely was not fine. All of that because I thought vision insurance was some kind of luxury.

Children especially benefit from having vision coverage. Kids do not always realize or communicate when they cannot see properly, and undiagnosed vision problems can seriously impact their learning and development. A child who cannot see the board clearly might seem like they are struggling academically when really they just need glasses. Schools do basic vision screenings sometimes, but they are no substitute for a proper exam with an optometrist who can catch more subtle issues.

Reference​​​​​​​​​​​

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Vision Health Initiative: Common eye disorders and diseases. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/index.html

National Eye Institute. (2023). Eye health tips. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/healthy-vision/eye-health-tips

U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. (2024). Health plans and benefits. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/fact-sheets/health-plans