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Frequently Asked Questions

Eye Exams | Vision Insurance | Lenses

Eye Exams

How do I find an eye doctor near me?

To find an eye doctor near you, simply tap the geolocation icon or enter your location in the address bar. 


What information is provided about eye doctors near me?

Our eyecare professional locator listings provide an address, phone number and mapped driving directions. Some enhanced listings include lists of services, office hours, reviews, photos and more.


Why should I get an eye exam?

Even if you don’t need glasses or contacts, getting an annual eye exam is critical. Your eye exam can turn up a host of health issues, such as diabetes and even cancer. Seeing an eye doctor regularly, much as you see a medical doctor for an annual physical or have routine dental cleanings, should be part of your annual overall health checkup. 


What can I expect during an eye exam?

Eye doctors use a wide variety of tests and procedures to examine your eyes. These tests range from simple ones, like having you read an eye chart, to complex tests, such as using a high-powered lens to visualize the tiny structures inside of your eyes. A comprehensive eye exam can take an hour or more, depending on the doctor and the number and complexity of tests required to fully evaluate your vision and the health of your eyes.


Who are Essilor Experts?

Essilor Experts are independent eyecare professionals who are specially trained to explain the many benefits of lenses from Essilor. They will listen carefully to your vision preferences and needs, while also taking into consideration all aspects of your lifestyle. As highly trained and trusted professionals, their expertise will guide you every step of the way. You’ll enjoy and appreciate the experience, not to mention the results. Essilor Experts are the first to know about the latest lenses, as well as about current promotions to make sure you get a great deal on your lenses. 


Vision Insurance

How can I find an eye doctor near me who accepts my vision insurance?

Many of the eye doctor listings in our locator have information about which insurance plans are accepted by the practice. You can choose from over 60 insurance providers, such as EyeMed, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Davis Vision. Select your plan from the drop-down to find an eye doctor who accepts payment from your plan.


Not all listings include vision insurance information, so if your plan-specific search doesn’t produce enough results, try selecting “I’ll pay for myself.”


What Vision Insurances are Accepted?

AARP


Advantica


Aetna


Aflac


AlwaysCare Benefits


Ameritas


Anthem


Avesis


Block Vision


Blue Cross Blue Shield


Cambia Health


Carefirst


Centene 


Central States


Cigna Health


Cole Managed Vision


Coventry


Davis Vision


Envolve Vision


EyeMed Vision Care


EyeMed Vision Care - Insight Network


Golden RuleGroup Benefits


Harvard Pilgrim


HCSC 


Highmark


HIP Insurance


Humana


HumanaVision 


Vision Care Plan (VCP)


Integrated Health Plan


Kaiser


Lifetime Healthcare


Masshealth


McLaren Health Plan


MEBS, Inc. 


MECA


Medicaid


Medicare


Meridian


MESVision


MetLife


Metropolitan


Molina Healthcare


National Vision Administrators (NVA)NGS


Principal Financial Group


Priority Health


Regence


SET/SEG


Spectera


Superior Vision


Tricare


UFCW Local 876 Choice Net 


UMR


Unicare


UnitedHealthcare


UnitedHealthcare Vision


Unum Vision


Vision Benefit of America (VBA)


Vision Care Direct


Vision Care,Inc. 


VSP


Wellcare


Wellpoint


 


How Much Does Vision Insurance Cost?

Vision insurance is usually quite a bit cheaper than you might expect and is offered by many employers and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Even for the self-employed, coverage can make a lot of financial sense if you typically spend big bucks on eyecare each year.


What Does Vision Insurance Cover?

Vision insurance is supplemental coverage specifically for eyecare that covers routine checkups, partially covering the cost of glasses or contacts, and even helps cover the cost of procedures like LASIK and PRK. As far as healthcare costs go, an eye checkup might not seem like too much of a burden, but for a family or those wanting access to more premium lenses, the numbers add up quickly.


Are There Any Restrictions?

Like health insurance, there are certain restrictions that are important to understand, such as in- and out-of-network care. That means people have to make sure they're getting the care they want—especially if they already have an eyecare provider they want to stick with—and be aware that out-of-network charges can be steep. Then it's a matter of ensuring the deductibles and co-pays match up with expectations and carefully examining benefits to see what's covered and what's not.


How do I Compare Plans?

A list of many of the country's biggest vision insurance providers can be found online to help comparison shop for an individual plan; though as vision coverage becomes more common, it's probably worth a check-in with your HR provider first.


lenses

What are the different Types of Lens materials?

With ordinary plastic lenses, a strong prescription can result in a thicker lens. In contrast, we offer many types of eyeglass lenses, made of hi-index plastic or polycarbonate, which reduce lens thickness for greater comfort and a better appearance.


Hi-index plastic is lightweight and thinner than most plastic. Essilor offers hi-index 1.67 and 1.74 lenses that are thinner and lighter with more appealing aesthetics for greater comfort and a better look.


Polycarbonate lenses have superior impact resistance and are lighter than regular plastic lenses. Our eyeglass lenses are 20% thinner and 30% lighter than standard plastic lenses, yet super tough and very hard to break.


What are the different Types of Lens Designs?

Single vision lenses—made for one, consistent focal power to correct a single vision condition.


Progressive lenses—correct more than one vision condition, with the focal power “progressing” from top to bottom without a visible line separating them.


Concave lenses—used to treat near-sightedness, or myopia. The lens shape is concave (thicker at the edge, thinner in the middle) to bend rays outwards.


Plus lenses—used to treat far-sightedness, or hyperopia. The lens shape is convex (thicker in the middle, thinner at the edge) to bend rays inwards.


Cylindrical lenses—designed for astigmatisms, or when the cornea of the eye is oval, rather than round. A cylindrical lens is the most common way to correct astigmatism.


What are the different types of Lens Enhancements?

Anti-reflective coating—reduces reflections, allowing more light to pass through your lenses for better clarity, especially at night. Anti-reflective coatings also help lenses look nearly invisible, reducing distraction and improving eye contact. Crizal® lenses and Xperio UV™ lenses provide this feature by reducing the effects of glare, as well as protecting against scratches and smudges.


UVA and UVB blocking—can help protect your eyes from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays. Xperio UV lenses, Transitions® lenses, and Crizal lenses offer protection for your best vision under the sun.


Adaptive Lens Technology—this feature allows eyeglass lenses to automatically adjust from clear indoors to dark outdoors. With Transitions Light Intelligent Lenses™, you get just that—lenses that adjust from clear to dark, and every shade in between.


Polarization—a special filter that blocks intense reflected light. Xperio UV polarized lenses eliminate blinding glare so you can see the outside world with sharper color and greater depth.


Which lens brands does Essilor Offer?

At Essilor, we design, manufacture, and market a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Our brands include:


Varilux Progressive Lenses


Provide sharp vision and smooth transitions at any distance. Includes Varilux X Series, Varilux Comfort Max and Varilux Physio W3+


Eyezen Single Vision Lenses


Help defend against digital eye strain† so your eyes stay relaxed and comfortable. Includes Eyezen+, Eyezen Start and Eyezen Kids


Crizal No-Glare Lenses


Give you the clearest vision possible with glare, scratch, and smudge protection. Includes Crizal Sapphire HR, Crizal Rock, Crizal Prevencia, Crizal EasyPro and Crizal Easy


Transitions Light Intelligent Lenses


Adapt to changing light, keeping you comfortable and protected in all conditions. Includes Transitions XTRActive next generation, Transitions XTRActive Polarized, and Transitions Signature GEN8


XperioUV Polarized Prescription Sunglasses


Provide maximum protection for the best vision under the sun.


 


How Do I Register My Lenses?

If you’ve recently purchased  Crizal®, Varilux®, Xperio UV™, or Eyezen® lenses, you can register them here.


If you’re looking to register your Transitions® product, please visit the COA registration page on Transitions.com.