If you’ve been told that you need to wear prescription lenses to be able to see clearly, you’ll probably at least start out wearing glasses rather than contact lenses. If you’ve not worn glasses before, there will be a range of different things to think about. For many people, one of the biggest surprises arises from the cost of clear vision.

Make no mistake, all vision correction costs money. But with glasses comes a huge selection of different options, all of which have a different price tag attached. Basic, in-house brand frames are, unsurprisingly, usually sold at a lower price point than styles from cutting-edge and classic designers. Meanwhile, the lenses themselves can be supplied in different materials, with various coatings and technologies, all of which are designed to keep your eyes healthier as well as enabling you to see more clearly.

So, with so much choice, how do you know what you actually need? Are our premium brands worth the money, or should you save your money and stick with more budget-friendly options? How much is your vision worth?

Value vs. Cost

When it comes to investing money in any product, one of the biggest things to remember is not to confuse value with cost. The value doesn’t just refer to monetary worth. When you are investing in glasses, which are essentially a medical aid, their value is also their importance. Meanwhile, the cost is simply the price you pay for them, be it in one single lump sum, or over installments.

When you are investing in glasses, the value isn’t in the physical product itself, but in the solution that it is providing you. In this case, clear vision that enables you to work, enjoy your preferred social activities and hobbies, and even keeps you safe. If you choose to upgrade to premium aspects within those glasses, their value could increase even further. Here are a few of the typical options you will be faced with and how they could add value to your vision.

Lens treatments and coatings

One of the things that your eye care team will almost certainly recommend is that you consider specific lens coatings, which will be based on your individual needs and each of which serves a specific purpose and that could extend the life of your glasses and/or benefit your eye health and vision. For example, the scratch-resistant coating can help to protect your lenses from surface damage, helping them to last longer. Meanwhile, a treatment like a blue light filter can be valuable for people who spend a lot of time using digital devices, as it can minimize the effects that blue light exposure can have.

Specialized glasses

If you need to wear glasses all of the time, or for a specific purpose such as to wear them at work, you might benefit from a pair of specialized glasses. These are glasses that are tailored to offer you the maximum visual benefit when you are wearing them. Many people opt to have a pair of specialized glasses in addition to their usual day to day glasses. For example, if you spend a lot of time outdoors at weekends, you may want to choose a specialized pair of glasses with reactive lenses which will help you to have an optimal vision in all light conditions, or a pair of prescription sunglasses that will protect your eyes from UV damage, as well as helping you to see in bright light.

Premium lens materials

Contrary to what many people believe, glasses lenses are not all made from the same material – far from it. In fact, many people don’t even realize that the lenses found in glasses frames today are not normally glass at all, but instead are made from a specialized plastic. There is a range of different lens materials to choose from, all of which come in at different price points. Unsurprisingly, lenses made from premium materials are normally more expensive, but are also usually more desirable, being lighter, thinner, and more durable, or able to support coatings better, making them more effective.

When it comes to your vision budget, break it down

We know that spending hundreds of dollars on glasses can seem expensive and even a little overwhelming. But when it comes to calculating what your vision is worth to you, it’s helpful to break it down. Many of us wouldn’t bat an eyelid about spending $3 a day on a cup of coffee, or $30 a week on gas or bus tickets. So why do we sometimes balk at spending money on the health of our eyes and our vision? The average lifespan of a single pair of glasses is usually 2 years. That’s 24 months, 104 weeks, or 730 days. If we were to spend $1000 on a pair of premium glasses, that’s still only £41.66 per month, $9.61 per week, or a measly $1.37 per day. When you think about it, that’s an incredibly small price to pay for the value we receive by having healthy eyes and clear vision.

If you would like to find out more about the cost of your vision, don’t hesitate to speak to our friendly eyecare team.