How Much Do Glasses Cost and Which Type Should You Choose?

Eyeglasses are a vital necessity for most people, considering that around four billion adults wear them worldwide. Overall, around 50% of all women wear glasses and 42% of all men wear glasses.¹

Without glasses, the people who need them wouldn't be able to see clearly. However, prescription eyeglasses aren't cheap, especially without a vision insurance plan. Let's look at what eyeglasses do, what types are available and what you can expect to pay for them.

What Are Eyeglasses?

Eyeglasses are the most common type of eyewear available. They correct and improve many types of eye problems, including:²

• Myopia. Also known as nearsightedness, those with myopia cannot see far-away objects clearly.
• Hyperopia. Also known as farsightedness, those with hyperopia have blurry vision up close.
• Presbyopia. This is an age-related farsightedness, sometimes in combination with existing nearsightedness.
• Astigmatism. This is blurriness at all distances.

How Eyeglasses Work

The corrective lenses in eyeglasses are uniquely cut to a patient's prescription so light entering the glass focuses the image they are viewing correctly on the retina. The lenses may be concave, convex or cylindrical, based on your particular prescription.²

Different Types of Eyeglasses

Today, patients can get a wide variety of corrective eyewear including:

• Prescription glasses
• Reading glasses
• Prescription sunglasses
• Prescription sports and safety glasses

Types of Prescription Lenses

There are several types of prescription lenses available, including:³

• Single-vision lenses. Treats only one kind of vision issue, such as myopia or hyperopia.
• Bifocal lenses. Treats two types of vision issues, such as myopia at the top and hyperopia at the bottom. These lenses have a visible line at the center of the lens between these two areas.
• Trifocal lenses. Treats three types of vision issues at once, including near-vision, intermediate and far-distance correction, with visual demarcation lines on the lens.
• Progressive lenses. Treats more than one type of vision issue without any visual demarcation lines on the lenses, making them a more attractive option.
• Photochromic lenses. These automatically darken in direct sunlight and lighten indoors.

How Much Do Glasses Cost?

The price for eyeglasses can vary widely. According to Consumer Reports, eyeglasses from a top U.S. eyewear chain had an average out-of-pocket cost of $369, while the average cost at a U.S. membership discount retailer was $184.⁴

On the high end, the cost of glasses with designer frames may run up to $1,000 — not including the cost of prescription lenses, which can add an additional expense of $300 or more, depending on your prescription and the type of lenses used. That means that you could be looking at $1,300 or more for your glasses.⁵

Cost of eyeglasses by type

The cost of your eyeglasses will vary greatly, primarily due to your prescription and the type of lenses you choose.

• Prescription glasses range in price from $184 to $1,000 or more.⁴
• Reading glasses range in price from $10 to $1,000.⁶
• Prescription sunglasses range in price from $20 to $700 or more.⁷
• Prescription sport and safety glasses range in price from $100 to $600.⁸

Note that reading glasses used for farsightedness purchased through a drugstore will be significantly cheaper than those purchased through a vision care retailer.

Factors Impacting the Price of Eyeglasses

Glasses frames alone can range anywhere from as low as $8 to upwards of $600 to $1,000 for high-end designer styles. Expect that lesser-known brand frames will cost less than designer frames. In addition, the material of the frames and the type and material of the lenses will affect the overall price of your glasses, as will the prescription.⁴

Material of the frames

Plastic frames generally cost less than metal, as long as they are not designer styles. Of plastic frame materials, zylonite, also known as cellulose acetate, is one of the least expensive,⁹ with non-designer frames ranging from $50 to $100.¹⁰ For metal frames, those made of stainless steel are more affordable than other materials like titanium;⁹ these also range from $50 to $100 for non-designer frames.¹¹

Types of lenses

Single-vision lenses are the least expensive, while multi-focal lenses like bifocals, trifocals and progressives are more costly.¹² Depending on the lens material you choose, multi-focal lenses can double or even triple the cost of single-vision lenses.¹³ For example, while bifocals may run around $105, progressive lenses may cost upwards of $260 because there are no visible lines on your lenses.¹⁴

You'll also find photochromic lenses that become darker when exposed to sunlight and may act as both normal eyeglasses and sunglasses. Photochromic lenses are more expensive than traditional ones, adding between $100 to $400 to your total cost of eyeglasses, depending on what lens material you choose.¹⁵

Material of the lenses

Lenses come in a variety of materials, which can greatly affect the cost of your glasses. Keep in mind that these costs are in addition to the cost of the eyeglass frames themselves. These materials include:

• Plastic. Can cost between $50 and $140, depending on whether you have single-vision or multi-focal lenses.¹²
• Polycarbonate. Can cost between $60 and $160, depending on whether you have single-vision or multi-focal lenses.¹²
• Trivex. Can cost between $200 and $400, depending on whether you have single-vision or multi-focal lenses.¹⁶
• High-index lenses. Can cost between $100 and $300, depending on the type of high-index lenses you choose. The thinner and lighter the lens, the higher the cost.¹⁷
• High-definition lenses. Can cost up to $310 for progressive lenses¹⁴ and may provide clearer vision than other types of lenses.¹⁸

Today, lenses made from actual glass are quite rare and most lenses are crafted from plastic, which is thicker but lighter and less breakable. Materials like polycarbonate and Trivex are the most durable and recommended for sports or safety glasses. They are also more expensive. Finally, high-index lenses are the most pricey option because they are much thinner and lighter than traditional plastic lenses.

Add-on options

When it comes to eyeglass lenses, add-ons like embellishments, anti-reflective coatings, scratch resistant coatings, UV-blocking coatings and blue light blocking coatings for computer usage will increase the overall price of your glasses. The same is true of tints, including darker tints for sunglasses, and polarization. Each additional option you choose may add up to $100 to the total cost of your lenses.¹⁹

Complicated prescriptions

Generally, the more complicated and stronger the prescription, the more expensive the lenses and the overall price of your glasses. For example, if you need multi-focal, high-index lenses, they will cost more than single-vision plastic ones.⁴

Does Insurance Cover Eyeglasses?

Most vision insurance plans provide some coverage for eyeglasses. The amount of coverage depends on your plan and provider. Unlike major medical insurance, vision insurance plans usually provide discounts or wellness benefits that you can use to reduce the cost of a preventive eye exam and eyeglass prescription products like eyeglasses, sunglasses and contacts. Many policies cap the total coverage for eyeglasses around $120, which may include a copay.⁴

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 $185.⁴

Eyeglasses cost without insurance

The cost of eyeglasses without insurance may range from $184 to $1,300 or more. The average cost is around $369.⁴

How to Pay for Eyeglasses

To pay for eyeglasses, or the out-of-pocket costs your vision insurance doesn't cover, there are a few options to consider:

• Cash or debit cards. If you have the funds saved and available, of course, you can use them to pay.
• Health savings account or flexible spending account. For those who have them, you may also be able to use a tax-free Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to cover the cost.
• Provider payment arrangement. For those interested in paying over time for their purchase, note that few eye care providers extend credit through their practice where patients would receive bills from and pay the provider directly.
• General purpose credit cards or the CareCredit credit card. Almost all vision care providers and retailers accept general purpose credit cards, and many accept the CareCredit credit card, which might be a convenient way to pay for a pair of glasses.

Alternatives to Eyeglasses

There are alternatives to wearing eyeglasses that you may wish to consider. These include contact lenses and corrective eye surgery. Each comes with pros and cons.

Contact lenses

Contact lenses are worn directly over the cornea of your eye and correct your vision in much the same way as eyeglasses do. Unlike glasses, other people won't realize you are wearing them. However, they can cause damage to your cornea or an eye infection if not cleaned properly and worn for very long periods of time.²⁰ Expect to pay between $150 and $1,500 annually for prescription contact lenses.²¹

Refractive eye surgery

Surgical procedures like LASIK and ReLex SMILE can permanently correct your vision, eliminating the need for glasses or contacts. These are minimally invasive procedures using a laser, that make permanent changes to your cornea.²⁰ This type of surgery can cost between $1,750 and $2,200 per eye.²²

Prescription eye drops

Prescription eye drops to treat presbyopia can temporarily improve your vision without the use of glasses. They are effective for up to 10 hours per day.²³ Expect to pay around $86 per 2.5ml bottle of eye drops, which is about a one-month supply.²⁴

Implantable contact lenses

Implantable contact lenses are surgically implanted inside the eye and you cannot remove them yourself.²⁰ For implantable lenses, costs vary from $1,200 to $5,000 per eye for surgery.²⁵

Eyeglasses vs. alternatives

Unlike contact lenses, eyeglasses do not deprive the eye of oxygen, so you can wear them day and night.²⁰

Surgical procedures like eye surgery may carry risks of damage to the cornea or infections that eyeglasses don't.²⁰ Procedures to implant contact lenses²⁵ and refractive eye surgery are also generally not covered by vision care insurance.²⁶

Prescription eye drops only treat presbyopia and can cause side effects like redness and headaches.²³ Eyeglasses can treat several conditions that these drops can't.²⁴

CareCredit Financing for Eyeglasses

Whether you're purchasing stylish new frames, getting contacts, or due for an eye exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for care where your insurance leaves off.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a vision specialist near you that accepts CareCredit so you can see all that life has to offer. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.

Author Bio

Susan Paretts is a freelance writer with 18 years of experience covering health and wellness, pet care, and more. Her work has been published by the American Kennel Club, Bayer Animal Health, Elanco, LIVESTRONG.com, The San Francisco Chronicle, Chewy, and more.