Key Takeaways
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Blue light glasses are FSA and HSA eligible only if they’re prescribed by a doctor for a specific medical condition.
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A Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) or a valid prescription is required for reimbursement through your FSA or HSA provider.
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Non-prescription glasses usually don’t qualify unless they’re documented as necessary for medical treatment by a healthcare professional.
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You’ll need to buy from retailers that accept FSA/HSA payments and provide itemized receipts to ensure your claim is approved.
Blue light glasses can be FSA or HSA eligible, but only if you have a doctor’s prescription. If this detailed is overlooked, it might result in denied claims and wasted FSA dollars.
Blue light glasses can significantly improve your quality of life by reducing screen-related eye strain, headaches, and sleep disruptions - but they’re not automatically considered a qualified medical expense. To qualify for reimbursement, you’ll need to prove medical necessity.
In this guide, we’ll explain which types of glasses qualify under FSA/HSA rules, how to buy them with your pre-tax benefits, and what documentation you need for reimbursement.
What Are Blue Light Glasses?
Blue light glasses are specially designed to filter out high-energy visible (HEV) blue light emitted by screens and artificial lighting. These glasses have been gaining popularity for the right reasons, as screen time continues to rise for both work and entertainment.
The main benefits of blue light glasses include reduced digital eye strain, fewer headaches, and improved sleep quality.
So, are blue light glasses worth it? Yes! They’re an easy, non-invasive solution to the common symptoms you might experience from extended exposure to digital screens.
Transform your sleep with Dream Recovery Blue Light Glasses.
Understanding FSA and HSA
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) allow people to pay for qualified medical expenses using their pre-tax dollars. This means that you can significantly lower your out-of-pocket costs on healthcare-related purchases.
While FSA funds typically have a “use-it-or-lose-it” policy at the end of the year, HSA funds tend to roll over year to year and can even grow as tax-free savings.
Both FSA and HSA accounts can be used for some eyecare expenses like eye exams, prescription glasses, contact lenses, and medical eye drops.
Are Blue Light Glasses FSA Eligible?
General Rule
Blue light glasses are not automatically eligible under FSA or HSA rules. The IRS classifies eligible medical expenses as those used to diagnose, treat, or prevent a specific medical condition
This means that to use your FSA or HSA funds for blue light glasses, they must be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider for a diagnosed condition, such as severe digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome.
Glasses bought for general wellness or preventive use typically won't qualify.
Therefore, it’s essential to always review your plan’s specific rules or consult your FSA administrator to avoid any surprises with reimbursement.
Doctor’s Prescription
You'll need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) in order to qualify blue light glasses as a reimbursable medical expense.
The letter must come from your optometrist or ophthalmologist and provide details like:
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The diagnosed eye condition (e.g. digital eye strain)
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The recommendation of blue light glasses as part of your treatment
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How the glasses might alleviate the symptoms you’re experiencing
Without this document and the right information, FSA and HSA claims are most likely to be rejected.
And remember, even if your glasses are for vision correction, the blue light feature should still be medically justified on your documentation. Don’t forget to keep both the letter from your healthcare professional and your receipt when filing your claim.
If you need vision correction, check out the best blue light blocking reading glasses.
What if the Glasses are Non-Prescription?
Non-prescription blue light glasses generally don’t qualify for reimbursement through FSA or HSA accounts. However, there might be some limited exceptions.
If your doctor specifies in the LMN that non-prescription blue light glasses are necessary to treat a diagnosed medical condition, you may be able to submit a claim, but at the end of the day, your FSA or HSA provider has the final say.
If your purchase is denied, then your blue light glasses won’t be reimbursed, and you may be responsible for replacing those funds in your account.
How to Get Blue Light Glasses Using Your FSA or HSA Benefits
To ensure your purchase qualifies and your reimbursement goes smoothly, you need to follow the right process from diagnosis to documentation. Below is a breakdown of each step:
Process
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Schedule an eye exam : Visit a licensed eye care provider to diagnose your symptoms and determine the medical necessity for blue light glasses.
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Get a prescription or LMN: Request a written prescription or Letter of Medical Necessity. It should outline your diagnosis and explain how the glasses may help you.
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Select eligible glasses: Choose prescription or medically required non-prescription blue light glasses from a retailer that supports FSA/HSA payments.
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Use FSA/HSA payment method: Pay using your FSA/HSA debit card, or use another method and submit a claim with the right documentation.
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Submit for reimbursement: Upload your receipt and prescription to your FSA/HSA portal so that it can undergo the approval process.
Where to Buy
You can purchase eligible blue light glasses both online and in physical stores. The key is choosing a provider that offers itemized receipts and accepts HSA or FSA payments.
You can take a look here at the best blue light glasses for men, best blue light glasses for women, and best blue light glasses for sleep.
Documentation Needed
To file for reimbursement or prove eligibility for your blue light glasses, you must keep the following:
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An itemized receipt that shows the product
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A valid letter of medical necessity
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Any supporting notes from your provider about the condition
If you paid out of pocket, include a reimbursement form from your FSA/HSA portal and don’t forget to keep digital copies in case of audits or any claim disputes.
Be sure to submit everything before your FSA deadline, or you may risk losing out.
Advantages of Utilizing FSA/HSA for Blue Light Glasses
Using your pre-tax health accounts for blue light glasses is both cost-effective and medically strategic, especially if you spend a significant amount of time in front of screens or under artificial lighting. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages:
Cost Savings
Paying with your FSA or HSA gives you an instant discount because you're using your untaxed income. For example, if you’re in a 25% tax bracket, you can effectively save $25 for every $100 spent.
You can use the leftover savings on other eligible items for your eye health, like eye drops, contact lens solution, or a new pair of reading glasses.
Plus, it’s a smart way to prevent waste at the end of the year when FSA balances often expire.
Additional Health Benefits
By preventing eye strain today, this might help reduce the need for more serious treatments in the future. Wearing blue light filtering glasses while using screens may help:
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Limit the development of chronic digital eye fatigue
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Improve sleep quality by reducing your exposure to artificial light that negatively impacts your circadian rhythm
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Protect your retinas from potential long-term damage caused by prolonged screen time
Basically, investing in your eye care early supports long-term vision health and can lower future medical expenses.
For more guidance, check out Do blue light glasses work?
Choose Your Blue Light Glasses with Dream Recovery
Now that we’ve covered the eligibility requirements, you can move on to finding a pair of blue light glasses that suit your unique needs.
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: Amber for daytime use and orange for nighttime use. 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.
Note: If you’re till unsure about your coverage regarding blue light glasses and FSA or HSA, speak with your healthcare provider.