Impaired Vision is the most widespread disability in the world.
Over half of the planet will need some sort of vision correction by 2050.
Brien Holden Vision Institute, 2017
The Importance of Vision
80% of the information we receive comes through our eyesight. It helps us connect with our surroundings, and interpret various colors, shapes, and patterns. Our eyes aren't just performing a task, they are a portal through which our brain tells us about our world, learn new things, and make memories. All of these are reasons why our vision is such an important thing to take care of.
The Problem
In today's digital world, people stare at screens for over seven hours a day on average. Although digital eye strain from looking at screens does not cause permanent damage to your eyesight, it is still important to keep your eyes healthy and have your vision checked. In the United States, 75% of adults need some sort of vision correction (Vision Impact Institute 2020), but not all of them get it. There are a few reasons for this, which are detailed below.
"Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry."
David Lazarus, LA Times, 2019
Long story short: it's all about the money. Vision insurance, which essentially is coverage for eye doctor checkups, glasses, and other necessities, is a premium on top of already pricey health insurance. This is why most people choose to pay out-of-pocket or avoid going to the eye doctor at all.
A glimpse into the blurry, secretive $100-billion dollar eyecare industry
The eyecare industry is one of the biggest healthcare system scams in the United States today. No one is doing anything to prevent a near-monopolistic, $100-billion dollar industry from marking up the prices of necessary eyewear. In fact, eyeglasses can be marked up ten to twenty times what frames and lenses actually cost. It's also run by one single company known as Luxottica. If you wear glasses or have been to popular eyecare centers like LensCrafters or PearlVision, there's a very good chance you're wearing Luxottica frames.
In addition, if you opt into EyeMed Vision care, which is run by Luxottica, the company pays itself whenever you use your EyeMed insurance. If you wear the popular Transitions lenses, you're also a Luxottica customer. Seems like a pretty sweet deal for the company, but not for the people who rely on glasses every day to live.
Don't different frames and lenses vary in quality? Aren't you paying for a better frame?
There are many different options for lenses and frames, and glasses have been getting technologically more advanced over the years. Although the price could reflect these technological advances, it still does not change the fact that eyewear companies are marking up prices for profit, sometimes up to a thousand percent for actual lenses.
The bottom line? Insurance and eyewear companies make access to eyecare unaffordable. You should not have to pay marked-up prices, or additional out-of-pocket costs to see.
The Solution
What can I do? Are there additional
resources available?
The true cost of eyewear should be part of the national healthcare discussion, along with other necessary care, including many prescription drugs. Companies should not be able to profit off of people's disabilities.
ATMS urges you to take advantage of our platform to share your story so that this issue can gain more awareness. In addition, please check out our Take Action page with information and ways to reach out to your local representatives, and share our graphics to friends, family, and social media.
1. Reuse old frames.
2. Support businesses that are not a part of the Luxottica monopoly.
3. Reach out to your local representatives.