THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026 Page 17 How to Save on Prescription Eyeglasses Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for finding affordable prescription eyeglasses? I currently have vision coverage through my employer’s insurance plan but will lose it when I retire in a few months and sign up for Medicare. --Nearsighted Nancy Dear Nancy, You’re wise to plan ahead. Eyeglasses can be expensive. A basic pair often runs $150 to $300, and bifocals or progressive lenses can easily double or triple that. The good news is that with a few strategies, you can keep costs manageable once you retire and transition to Medicare. Medicare & insurance Original Medicare and Medigap plans generally do not cover routine eye exams or eyeglasses, except after cataract surgery, when Part B helps pay for corrective lenses. But many Medicare Advantage plans, also called Part C, do include vision benefi ts. These plans, off ered by private insurers, must cover everything original Medicare does and often include extras like dental, hearing and prescription drug coverage. That said, I would not choose a Medicare Advantage plan just for vision coverage alone, but it is worth understanding what is available. To compare plans in your area, visit medicare.gov/ plan-compare or call 800-6334227. Be sure to check the details to confi rm coverage for routine eye exams, frames and lenses. You can also buy a standalone vision insurance plan. Major carriers like Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare, along with specialty providers like VSP and EyeMed, off er plans with premiums typically ranging from about $10 to $30 per month. Before enrolling, compare the costs and benefi ts to make sure the savings on exams and glasses outweigh the premiums and copays. Discount stores Buying glasses from discount retailers can save you a substantial amount. Warehouse clubs like Costco Optical and Sam’s Club Optical offer eye exams typically ranging from $80 to $130 depending on location, with basic prescription glasses starting around $120. You will need a membership, but the savings can often justify the cost. Other good options include Walmart Vision Center, Target Optical and independent optical shops. Prices vary, so it pays to shop around and ask about package deals or seasonal promotions. An AARP membership can also provide discounts at retailers like LensCrafters, Target Optical and Visionworks. Buy online Ordering glasses online is another excellent way to save, often cutting costs significantly compared to traditional retailers. Reputable sites like Warby Parker, EyeBuyDirect and GlassesUSA offer single vision glasses starting around $70, with progressive lenses typically ranging from $120 to $200 depending on features. You will need a current prescription and your pupillary distance, which may be included on your prescription or can be measured by your provider or even at home. Many online retailers offer virtual try on tools so you can see how frames will look before you buy. Also pay attention to lens options such as anti-refl ective coating, scratch resistant coating and blue light fi ltering. For most people, a basic pair with durable coatings is usually suffi cient. Low-income assistance If your income is limited, local clinics may off er free or reduced cost eye exams and eyeglasses. Your local Lions Club is another excellent resource. Many chapters sponsor vision programs or can direct you to nearby services. You can fi nd your local club at lionsclubs.org/en/start-ourapproach/club-locator. The nonprofit New Eyes also provides eyeglasses through a voucher program for people in fi nancial need, working with participating providers to supply frames and lenses at little or no cost. With a little planning, you can keep your vision sharp without overspending. Between Medicare options, discount retailers, online shopping and community programs, there are plenty of ways to fi nd quality eyeglasses at a price you can aff ord. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5, Norman, OK 7070. 1. July 10 is Collector Car Appreciation Day; were rumble seats invented for cars? 2. What does Julius Caesar’s statement “Veni, vidi, vici” mean? 3. Which is considered the birthplace of dry fly fishing in the USA: Catskills, Florida Keys or Vermont? 4. On July 11, 1893, the fi rst cultured pearl was created in what country? 5. In what Shakespeare play about a Danish prince is “to the manner born”? 6. In Illinois is a 31 foot tall tower for what productive Swiss breed of animals? 7. On July 12, 1895, what designer of the Montreal Biosphere was born in Milton, Mass.? 8. A watermelon has about what percent water: 30, 60 or 90? 9. The 1881 line “Icecream is the favorite currency of love” comes from a magazine with which title: Bon Appétit, Gourmet or Puck? 10. On July 13 in what decade was the start of the fi rst FIFA World Cup: 1910s, 1930s or 1950s? 11. What O. Henry novel has a title inspired by a Lewis Carroll poem? 12. In which county is the least traveled U.S. or State Route in Mass.: Essex or Worcester? 13. On July 14, 2013, a statue in Woods Hole of what author of “Silent Spring” was dedicated? 14. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” is the theme song for what 1987 movie? 15. How many feet long is the Lincoln Memorial Refl ecting Pool: 934, 2,028 or 3,336? 16. What New England state has the nickname “Ocean State”? 17. On July 15 what country (starts with U) annually celebrates Statehood Day? 18. Mount Vernon’s resident baker is Justin Cherry, who is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Bakers in what city having the Tube? 19. What typestyle’s name is derived from the Latin name of a mountainous country? 20. On July 16, 1956, what circus (hint: brothers) had its last traveling tent show, thereafter appearing in air-conditioned arenas? Answers 1. They were seats for hired help at the farthest back of carriages, called rumble due to vibration and noise. 2. “I came, I saw, I conquered” 3. Catskills 4. Japan 5. “Hamlet” (The phrase was popularized as “to the manor born.”) 6. The Saanen breed of goats (the Tower of BaaGoat) 7. Buckminster Fuller 8. 90 9. Puck 10. 1930 11. “Cabbages and Kings” (“The Walrus and the Carpenter” poem) 12. Worcester (the Town of Royalston; State Route 32 connects two state lines) 13. Rachel Carson 14. “Dirty Dancing” 15. 2,028 16. Rhode Island 17. Statehood Day 18. London (The Tube [also called the Underground] is a rapid transit system.) 19. Helvetica (The Latin name for Switzerland is Helvetia.) 20. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey
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