This blog is all about making smart financial choices and being smart with your money and this includes spending on healthcare! If you struggle with your eyesight (like me), you will know how expensive it can be to get new glasses frames. Sometimes the easier (and cheaper) option is to just make do with the frames you have had for the last few years (like I did), instead of forking out for a new pair, especially with so many of us trying to save money this year. But that doesn’t have to be the case because there are a few ways that you can get a new pair of specs without having to spend a fortune. By shopping selectively and being smart about it, you could end up saving yourself some cash. 

In this blog post, we’re going to look at ways you can save yourself money on prescription eyeglasses.

Buy your glasses online

Before you go ahead and book an appointment with an optician, have a browse online at different glasses frames so you have an idea of what ones you like. If you know your prescription you can simply buy your glasses online. However, you do need to have an eye exam every few years, so if it’s been a while since you last had one, it’s worth going to get your eyes checked as your vision may have changed. Contrary to the pressure your eye doctor might make you feel, you don’t have to buy your glasses frames while you are there when you have your eye exam. You can simply browse in-store, see which frames suit you, and once you have your new prescription you can head home and find them on a website for a lot cheaper than you would pay in-store.

This is something I should probably get better at myself; online shopping is often so much more affordable and glasses are no exception to the rule!

Re-use your current glasses frames

I know how it is when you become attached to something, and if you already have the perfect glasses frames, you may be less inclined to want to part with them. That’s okay, and you don’t have to. You can simply ask your optician to replace the glass in your current frames if your prescription has changed, and it will save you from having to pay for a whole new pair of glasses. Or if you’re not so careful with your frames and they have broken, you can take them to an optician who will happily fix the frames for you. Why buy new when you can get your current pair replaced or get new lenses?

Check your insurance plan 

It pays to find out what your insurance plan offers for vision benefits, as most plans cover eye exams if you have dry eyes, corneal disorders, diabetes, a lazy eye, or cataracts and other eye conditions. If you have a vision benefit plan or if your employer provides one for free, you should use it each year before it expires. The quality of the frames will not be the best, but it’s ideal if you want a backup pair or even a pair of prescription sunglasses. If you want to use your vision benefit plan to get slightly better quality frames or lens, browse online and use the Out of Network benefit. 

Also if you do wear glasses or contacts, consider supplementing your vision insurance with FSA or HSA money. Those are tax-free accounts provided you use the money on healthcare expenses. Another great way to save!

Summary

It’s important to look after your eyes, so if you do need a new pair of prescription glasses frames, just remember there are ways you can get some that don’t require you to spend a lot of money. 

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