If you've ever squinted at a restaurant menu or struggled to read street signs while driving, you know how essential good vision is to everyday life. But here's what catches most people off guard: that annual eye exam and new pair of glasses can easily run $400-$600 out of pocket. Vision insurance exists to make regular eye care affordable, but what exactly does it cover?
Think of vision insurance less like traditional health insurance and more like a discount membership with predictable benefits. For around $10-$20 per month, you'll get one eye exam per year, plus either eyeglasses or contacts. Let's break down exactly what's covered, what you'll pay, and whether it's worth it for your situation.
Annual Eye Exams: Your Core Benefit
The foundation of any vision insurance plan is coverage for a comprehensive eye exam once per year. Without insurance, these exams typically cost $150-$250, depending on where you live. With vision insurance, you'll usually pay just a $10-$25 copay.
These aren't just quick vision checks. A comprehensive eye exam includes testing your visual acuity, checking for prescription changes, examining your eye health for conditions like glaucoma or cataracts, and screening for diseases that show up in your eyes first, like diabetes and high blood pressure. Your optometrist will also evaluate how well your eyes work together and assess your risk for future vision problems.
Some plans cover exams every other year instead of annually, so check your specific policy. But if you wear glasses or contacts, have a family history of eye disease, or are over 40, that annual exam is genuinely valuable beyond just updating your prescription.
Eyeglasses: Frames and Lenses
Here's where vision insurance gets interesting. Most plans provide an allowance for frames, typically between $130 and $200. If you choose frames within that allowance, you pay nothing extra. Fall in love with $350 designer frames? You'll pay the difference out of pocket. The average pair of frames costs about $218, so that allowance covers most of a decent pair.
Prescription lenses are usually heavily subsidized. Basic single-vision lenses often come with just a small copay (sometimes $0-$25), while progressive lenses or bifocals might have a higher copay. Most plans also include standard lens coatings like anti-scratch and UV protection at no extra cost. Upgrades like anti-reflective coating, blue light filtering, or transition lenses that darken in sunlight typically come with an additional fee, though some premium plans include these.
One important catch: most vision insurance plans only cover new frames every one to two years. If your prescription changes or you break your glasses six months after getting them, you might need to pay full price for a replacement pair. Some plans offer discounts on additional pairs during your benefit period, which can be a lifesaver if you need backup glasses or prescription sunglasses.
Contact Lenses: An Alternative to Glasses
If you prefer contacts over glasses, vision insurance has you covered, but there's a trade-off. Most plans give you a choice each year: use your benefit toward eyeglasses or contact lenses, but not both. The contact lens allowance averages around $150 for basic plans, though more comprehensive plans may offer higher amounts.
A year's supply of contact lenses can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,600 depending on your prescription, the type of contacts (daily disposables vs. monthly), and whether you have astigmatism or need specialty lenses. If you're someone who wears daily disposable contacts, that $150 allowance might cover only a few months' supply, and you'll pay out of pocket for the rest. But if you wear monthly contacts, the allowance could cover most or all of your annual supply.
Some people get creative: they use their vision insurance benefit for glasses one year and contacts the next, building up a rotation. Others keep an older pair of glasses as backup and use their annual benefit exclusively for contacts. Think about your actual usage patterns when deciding which benefit to claim each year.
LASIK and Vision Correction Surgery Discounts
Let's be clear: vision insurance almost never covers LASIK or other laser vision correction procedures. These surgeries are considered elective and cosmetic, not medically necessary. The average cost is about $2,200 per eye, or $4,400 for both eyes, which is a significant out-of-pocket expense.
However, many vision insurance plans have partnerships with LASIK providers that offer substantial discounts. For example, some Cigna plans can reduce the cost to $695 per eye through network providers. EyeMed offers 15% off standard pricing, and VSP members can save an average of $948 per eye. If you're seriously considering LASIK, having vision insurance might save you $1,000-$2,000 on the total procedure.
Even without vision insurance, you have options. LASIK qualifies as a medical expense for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), so you can use pre-tax dollars to pay for it. The 2025 HSA contribution limit is $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families, which could cover the entire procedure if you've been saving.
What Vision Insurance Doesn't Cover
Vision insurance is designed for routine, preventive care and basic corrective eyewear. It's not a replacement for medical insurance when it comes to eye health problems. If you develop a serious eye condition like a detached retina, glaucoma requiring surgery, or diabetic retinopathy, those treatments fall under your medical health insurance, not vision insurance.
Vision insurance also won't cover non-prescription sunglasses, reading glasses you buy at the drugstore, or eye drops for dry eyes. Premium lens upgrades beyond what's included in your plan come with extra costs. And if you want multiple pairs of glasses in the same benefit period, you'll typically get a discount on additional pairs, but not full coverage.
Is Vision Insurance Worth It?
Do the math for your situation. If you pay $20 per month for vision insurance, that's $240 per year. Your annual eye exam alone (valued at $150-$250) nearly covers that cost. Add in frames and lenses, which average $218 and could be much more with your prescription, and you're likely coming out ahead if you actually use your benefits every year.
Vision insurance makes the most sense if you wear glasses or contacts regularly, need annual prescription updates, have children who go through glasses quickly, or have a family history of eye conditions that require regular monitoring. It's less valuable if you had LASIK years ago and have perfect vision, only need reading glasses occasionally, or prefer to buy inexpensive frames online.
How to Get Started
Many employers offer vision insurance as a voluntary benefit during open enrollment, often at a significant group discount. If your employer doesn't offer it, you can purchase an individual vision plan directly from carriers like VSP, EyeMed, or Humana. Plans typically start at around $5-$10 per month for basic coverage.
Before you enroll, check which eye care providers are in the plan's network. There's nothing worse than signing up for vision insurance only to discover your longtime optometrist isn't covered. Most major plans have online provider directories where you can search by zip code. Also compare the frame allowance, lens coverage, and how often you can get new glasses to make sure the plan matches your needs.
Your eyes deserve the same preventive care as the rest of your body. Vision insurance makes that care affordable and predictable, so you're never skipping an eye exam because of cost or squinting through an outdated prescription because new glasses feel too expensive. Compare plans, run the numbers for your situation, and invest in protecting your vision for the long term.
