While the effort may be noble, it takes a lot more than consuming a bunch of carrots to make sure your eyes keep up their perfect 20/20 vision. It is increasingly important to seek professionals when dealing with the health issues and monitoring of the eye. Unfortunately, many people avoid visiting the optometrist or forego purchasing the new pair of glasses due to a lack of insurance and fear of high costs. Thankfully, there are a few great ways to save money on your eye care. Consider implementing these four tactics.
1. When in Doubt, Go Generic
Just like generic toilet paper is normally cheaper than the brand name version, the same goes for eye medications and solutions. For those who wear contacts, instead of reaching for the brand name version, save money and get the generic brand. Most times, the generic brand is just as good as the brand name version. The only difference is that the generic brand comes at a fraction of the cost.
2. Search for an Inexpensive Optometrist
A regular eye exam is a lot cheaper than most people think. On the high-end, an eye exam might run $100, but most commonly, it is possible to afford a great eye exam around $50 -$60 out of pocket. This normally includes a thorough eye exam. In the cases where a prescription is needed, this comes with the eye exam. Don’t be afraid to shop around for the best price that fits the budget.
3. Purchase Frames Online
After visiting the optometrist, there’s usually a large room filled with lots of light and attractive, fashionable frames. If the goal is to save money, don’t purchase any of the glasses under the glowing lights. Pay for the appointment and make a beeline for the door. Pull out the laptop and find tons of discounted eyewear at online shops like Marvel Optics. In most cases, the cost of one pair is usually a fourth of what most people pay in the store. There are plenty of people who brag about their beautiful frames they’ve purchased for a mere eight bucks on a few discounted shops.
4. Pay with an HSA or FSA
For those who are employed by a company, find out if the employer provides either of these options. An HSA (health savings account) or an FSA (flexible savings account) are beneficial because the employee is able to use pre-tax dollars to purchase necessary items like glasses, contacts, services, etc. with the money stored in these accounts.
These are four simple options to consider in an effort to save money on eye care. Eye care doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, especially when multiple family members need eyeglasses and prescriptions. Do a little research and save a ton of money in the long run!