The Average Cost Of Glasses Without Insurance [2024] | VAL-Uvision (2024)

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The Average Cost Of Glasses Without Insurance [2024] | VAL-Uvision? ›

National Average Cost of Glasses Without Insurance In 2024

How much do glasses cost? A pair of glasses can range anywhere from $10 for readers to several thousand dollars depending on the brand and prescription lenses. But average prescription eyewear costs between $200 and $300 in today's market. Without insurance to cover the cost, you will need to search for the best price.

“The typical measurements on prescriptions range between -5 and +3 diopters,” Dr. Krainz says. “But you certainly have outliers measuring in the double digits.”

Eyeglasses cost with insurance

Based on the average vision care benefits and the average cost of eyeglasses without insurance, the cost of eyeglasses with insurance may range from $64 to $1,180 or more. The average cost is around $185.

The Cost of Glasses

Most people buy new glasses every year or two, which really adds up! Most pairs of glasses cost somewhere around $200, and trendy designer brands cost even more. If you add up that cost over an adult's lifetime, that cost can easily reach anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 or more.

For basic, single lenses, it was priced at $113 on average. Using these numbers, you can see that, on average, a complete pair of glasses will run you between $200-$300+ if you don't have vision insurance. However, average cost of a complete pair of eyeglasses in the U.S. truly runs the gamut.

Patients will commonly fall within the -25.00 or +25.00 range and the majority between +4.00 or -4.00. For those considered to have high prescriptions, those over +/- 4.00, we might also need a 'back vertex distance' (BVD), which is a millimetre measurement from the back of the lens to the front surface of the eye.

A simple lens replacement from a reputable company can be as inexpensive as $50 or less, or it can creep into the low hundreds if you have a complex prescription and are adding specialty coatings to your lenses. The average cost for a basic lens replacement lands somewhere between $70 and $80, before tax and shipping.

Expect to pay about this much for a complete pair of glasses (frame AND lenses): Single vision glasses: Between $30 and $500. Lined multi-focal glasses: Between $150 and $500. Progressive glasses: Between $250 and $700.

Is insurance on glasses worth it? ›

So, you might only get your benefits for buying glasses every one or two years. If that's how often you want or need to go through a pair of glasses, then vision insurance will almost certainly save you money in the long run. Vision plans can be a great way to save money on your vision needs.

Eyewear is pricey, and if your healthcare plan doesn't include vision insurance, you could be facing a serious out-of-pocket expense just to protect your eye health with prescription eyeglasses. In addition to new frames and lenses, you'll also need an eye exam.

The Average Cost of Glasses

A variety of factors affects how much glasses cost — where and how you buy your glasses play a big role — so prices vary widely. However, according to Consumer Reports, consumers tend to pay between $100 and $400 for their prescription specs.

Cheaper lenses will give you the clarity of vision you require, but more expensive ones will give you a more distinctive pair of glasses, with personalized features. Customized features like lens color, anti-reflective coating, scratch-resistant, polarized, photochromic, etc. are the components of higher price.

A study last year of 300 spectacle wearers looked at where glasses sat in a list of priorities against other items. The survey revealed 38% owned only 1 pair of glasses and only 8% had 3 to 5 pairs – this includes spares, prescription sunglasses, occupational lenses etc… 1 in 12 have multiple pairs, that's all.

Many factors contribute to the rising prices for prescription glasses, from material costs to retail markups and insurance limitations. However, there are relatively high-quality, affordable options available.

If you're a regular glasses-wearer, spending a little extra on a higher quality pair of frames with good durability and strength will save you money at the end of the day, because those frames won't wear down or outright break nearly as quickly as a cheaper pair of frames.