The ColoHealth Health & Wealth Newsletter
January 2020
Vol. 10, Issue 1

Eye Exams: A Necessary Cost, or a Huge Rip-off?

For far too long, those of us who rely on prescription glasses and contact lenses have been at the mercy of a multi-billion dollar industry that has done everything in its power to charge us more, more, & more for our spectacles. While $300 might be worth while for a pair of deluxe Ray Bans, it is hardly a defensible price for something that should be (but isn’t) considered essential medical equipment.

After all, I’m not just wearing glasses because I think that they make me look smarter. I need them to see the words in front of my face, and for that reason I think that it’s appalling that we should have to pay so much for a pair of prescription glasses just because they’re not covered by health insurance.

Well let me tell you what, I’ve got an entirely new eye problem now: I just can’t see paying for one more mandatory eye exam when I already know the lens strength I need.

As a special favor to anyone else who has found their out-of-pocket eye care costs to be a little less than palatable, I’ve got a few pointers that might serve as the proverbial ‘sight for sore eyes’.

‘Read the Top Line’: The Structural Problem with Modern Health Care 

Did you know that in most parts of the world, you can simply stroll into an optometrist’s storefront and purchase a pair of prescription glasses, without the prescription?! It’s true. Most of the world over, if you know your lens strength, you can have a new pair of glasses in your hands in two minutes flat, and for only a few bucks at that.

Our healthcare system is, quite obviously, not so intuitive. The fact that eye exams are a requirement for obtaining prescription glasses is one of the primary reasons that costs have skyrocketed so significantly over the last few decades, to the point where people like you and me would rather repair our specs with a bit of duct tape before forking out the dough for an expensive new pair.

Three Ways To Save Money on Glasses 

If the money that you are about to spend on a pair of glasses is enough to cover an entire weekend away with the wife, then STOP. Not only are you paying too much, but you are also supporting the predatory medical industry and the archaic federal regulations that are their bread and butter.

As promised, here are a few ways that you can sidestep ‘the man’ and keep a little more of that hard-earned cash for yourself:

1.) Keep a digital copy of your prescription

Losing your prescription is one of the most surefire ways to earn you a trip back to the optometrist’s office for yet another out-of-pocket eye exam. Remember, your optometrist is required to give you a copy of your prescription immediately following your eye exam, so don’t leave their office without it.

Keeping a digital copy of this prescription on your smartphone or cloud is an excellent way to avoid unnecessary gaps in vision, such as those unfortunate moments when your glasses break at the worst possible time and you need a replacement fast.

2.) DON’T buy glasses from your optometrist

As I mentioned earlier, prescription glasses and contacts make up an industry that is worth about $100 billion dollars in this country. This isn’t because more and more people are wearing glasses, it’s because the prices have simply been going up and up.

The markup on both frames and lenses is pretty crazy, but it is never more pronounced than it is at your optometrists office. Without a doubt, this is the most expensive place to buy.

3.) Google is your friend

If there is one thing we can thank the internet for, it is for those tech-savvy Silicon Valley disruptors with a penchant for making things easier for everyone. Web-based discount retailers like Zenni and Vision Direct are only a couple examples of affordable, convenient sources that are not only going to save you big dollars, but also offer much, much bigger selections than you are going to find in the store.

Because Vision Direct is based outside the U.S. you don’t even need to provide proof that your prescription is “current”.

Conclusion: Take Control Of Your Vision 

While there is not much that we can do about the medical complex as a whole, we can exert noticeable pressure on the eyeglasses & contact lens industries by refusing to support their questionable practices and unjustifiable markups.

Spend some time online. Explore your options, both in terms of style and what you are going to be paying. As is usually the case, the best deals are only going to reveal themselves to the people that go looking for them.

To Your Health and Wealth,

Wiley P. Long III
President- ColoHealth

The ColoHealth Health & Wealth Newsletter is published monthly and emailed to subscribers at no charge. Subscribe now to stay on top of the critical information you need to know about health insurance, healthshare plans and managing your finances to achieve financial security.

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