Glasses and contacts should be replaced when they are no longer serving your vision needs. Here’s what you need to know about replacing your eyewear.
Vision tends to change slowly. Most of us don’t notice that our glasses aren’t working as well as they used to until we’re squinting at a menu or rubbing our eyes at the end of the workday. The good news is that your Heritage vision plan is designed to keep your eyewear current. Here’s how to tell when it’s time for an update, and how to make the most of your benefits.
Glasses, Contacts, or Both?
This is a very personal decision. There are as many reasons to pick glasses or contacts as there are people who wear them. Whichever version of eyewear you choose, it is important to know how your vision plan covers your choice. Many Heritage plans cover contact lenses in place of glasses, while some cover both. If you wear contacts and would like a backup pair of glasses, check your benefit details to see what’s included and how any contact lens allowance can be used.
Signs You May Need New Glasses
Eye care professionals recommend updating glasses every one to two years, but your eyes and your frames will often tell you sooner. It may be time for a new pair if you notice:
- Blurry vision, even with your glasses on
- Headaches or tired, strained eyes, especially after reading or screen time
- Squinting to see clearly
- Scratched lenses or peeling coatings that make it harder to see
- Bent or loose frames that no longer sit properly on your face
Noticing any of these issues is a good reason to schedule an eye exam.
Are You Over 40 and Noticing Reading Is Harder?
If you’ve started holding your phone or a book farther away to read it, you’re not alone. Beginning in our 40s, the eyes gradually lose their ability to focus up close. This is a normal part of aging, and it tends to progress until around age 65. It also means your prescription may change more often during these years, so regular exams are especially important. Your eye doctor can help you decide whether reading glasses, bifocals, progressive lenses, or contacts fit your needs best.
Following Your Contact Lens Directions
Contacts come with a built-in replacement schedule. Daily lenses are worn once and thrown away. Two-week and monthly lenses should be replaced on time, even if they still feel fine. One detail many wearers miss: the replacement schedule starts when you open the package, not when you put the lenses in. A monthly lens worn only on weekends still needs to be replaced after a month.
Contact Lens Care
Contact Lenses carry a higher risk for eye infections, so following contact lens care recommendations will help you keep your eyes healthy.
- Replace your lens case at least every three months.
- Use fresh solution every time, and never top off old solution.
- Don’t sleep in your lenses unless your eye doctor has prescribed them for overnight wear.
- Keep your lenses away from water, including showers and pools.
- Keep a backup pair of glasses with a current prescription.
If a lens becomes torn or uncomfortable, or your eye turns red or your vision changes, take the lens out and contact your eye doctor.
Your Prescription Belongs to You
After your eye exam, your eye doctor is required to give you a copy of your prescription at no extra charge, whether you ask for it or not. Eyeglass prescriptions generally last one to two years depending on your state, and contact lens prescriptions are valid for at least one year.
Understanding Your Benefit Schedule
Your Heritage plan covers an eye exam and eyewear on a regular cycle, usually every 12 or 24 months depending on your employer’s plan. In many plans, that cycle is counted from the date of your last service, not the start of the calendar year.
To find your schedule, log in at heritagevisionplans.com, check with your HR or benefits team, or call Heritage at 800.252.2053. Once you know your eligibility date, put it on your calendar. Scheduling your exam when you become eligible is the simplest way to keep your prescription accurate and your eyewear in good shape.
The Bottom Line
Clear vision affects nearly everything you do, from driving to working to enjoying time with family. Know your benefit cycle, schedule your exam when you’re eligible, and don’t wait if something changes. Your Heritage plan is there to help you see your best.