Does Insurance Cover Blue Light Glasses? (Ultimate Guide)

Key Takeaways

  • Vision insurance plans may cover prescription blue light glasses, but not non-prescription versions. However, coverage depends fully on your insurance provider.

  • If your eye doctor prescribes blue light filtering lenses as part of vision care for digital eye strain, there's a chance they might be covered under your insurance plan.

  • Non-prescription blue light glasses are often excluded as they’re seen as similar to sunglasses or accessories.

  • Ask your insurer and eye doctor, or consider alternatives such as HSA/FSA funds, or budget-friendly blue light glasses if not covered.

If you’ve been searching for a solution to tired, dry eyes after a long day in front of screens, chances are you’ve come across blue light glasses. However, the question “Does insurance cover blue light glasses?” is a good one to be asking, since the answer might be a little complicated.

The good news? Prescription blue light glasses may be covered under your vision insurance plan if medically necessary. The bad news? Non-prescription pairs almost never are.

In this article, we’ll break down how eyewear coverage works, what qualifies, and smart alternatives if your plan doesn’t include blue light lenses.

Insurance Coverage for Blue Light Glasses Explained

Most vision insurance plans include an allowance for prescription glasses every 12-24 months. However, this type of coverage usually applies only to prescription lenses (since these are deemed medically necessary), not non-prescription blue light lenses.

If your eye doctor specifically documents that your digital eye strain requires blue light filtering lenses to improve your quality of life and eye health, your insurer may process it as a standard prescription and potentially cover a portion of the costs.

On the other hand, non-prescription or over‑the‑counter “blue light glasses” are unfortunately rarely covered.

Prescription vs. Non‑Prescription Blue Light Glasses: When Are You Covered?

Prescription Blue Light Glasses

  • They may be covered under eye health and vision insurance when prescribed by an eye doctor for severe digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome.

  • Coverage depends on your insurance provider, your insurance benefits, and whether a blue light filter qualifies as a medical necessity.

Non-Prescription Blue Light Glasses

  • These are usually not covered by vision insurance plans since they tend to be treated like sunglasses or accessories.

  • You can buy them over‑the‑counter, online, or in-store, without a doctor’s prescription.

  • Even though they may help with eye fatigue and digital eye strain, insurance companies still often won’t view them as a medical necessity. 

Tips to Get Insurance Coverage for Blue Light Glasses

Here’s how to increase your chances of insurance paying for blue light lenses:

  1. Get a Doctor’s Prescription

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor for help with your digital eye strain or screen time discomfort. A prescription mentioning a blue light filter helps justify your claim with your insurance provider, so this approach gives you the best chance of getting your blue light lenses covered.

  1. Check On Your Vision Insurance Plan

You should ask your vision insurance provider if they include blue light filtering lenses under your benefits.

  1. Use FSA/HSA Funds

If you find out your insurance won't cover blue light filters, you may be able to apply FSA/HSA funds toward non-prescription blue light glasses. Keep your doctor’s prescription or recommendation handy.

Find out more on this subject in our guide: Are blue light glasses FSA or HSA eligible? 

Alternative Ways to Get Blue Light Glasses Without Insurance

  1. Budget-Friendly Retailers & Bundles

You can find budget-friendly glasses for under $30 if you need to watch your spending. Take note that some cheaper options may not filter out blue light as effectively or may cause further discomfort due to lens distortion. They may also be less durable and prone to scratching, resulting in frequent replacements.

If you want to invest in a pair of glasses that will serve you for years to come, Dream Recovery Blue Light Blocking Glasses have premium lenses that have been proven to block 98% of blue light for maximum protection from screen time.

Check out some of the best blue light blocking reading glasses, the best blue light glasses for women, and the best blue light glasses for men.

  1. Add-On Filter Coatings to Your Existing Glasses

Can you add blue light filters to existing glasses? Yes! If you already wear prescription glasses, ask your optician about adding a blue light filter to your lenses. It usually costs $20-60 extra, and sometimes your insurance might cover part of that as a lens coating.

  1. Use Screen Filters and Apps

If blue light glasses aren’t in your budget right now, you can try limiting your blue light exposure in other ways. For example, you can install software filters like f.lux or use night mode on your devices. This is a free way to lower your blue light exposure. 

Want to keep learning more? Check out our guide: Do blue light glasses work?

Choose Dream Recovery for Your Blue Light Glasses

If you want to invest in a pair of blue light blocking glasses, Dream Recovery is the best choice for eye health and sleep quality.

Unlike other mass-produced glasses, Dream Recovery’s Blue Light Glasses are hand-crafted, resulting in a polished, smooth, and high-quality finish. The frames are crafted from premium Italian Mazzucchelli acetate, while their premium lenses block 98% of blue light.

These glasses also feature two specialized lens options: Yellow for daytime use and orange for nighttime use (making them the best blue light glasses for sleep). These options are designed to provide continuous blue light protection for different times of the day.

Transform your sleep with Dream Recovery Blue Light Glasses.

 

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