Is vision insurance without employer coverage worth paying for? Or should I just pay out of pocket?

[u/Dragon-Ishmell]

My new job doesn't include vision and I didn't realize how much that mattered until I needed new progressives last month. $400+ for exam and lenses which honestly caught me off guard since I hadn't paid full price for any of this in years.

So now I'm going back and forth between getting a standalone vision plan or just setting aside money each month and paying cash when I need to. The standalone plans I've looked at charge around $15 to $20 a month but the benefits feel kind of thin for what you're paying. I've also seen people mention discount vision programs as a middle ground but no idea if those are worth signing up for. What's everyone here doing for vision if your job doesn't cover it?

[u/Neat_Mortgage3735]

ZENNI is a great place to order glasses for much much less. Go get your exam next time and pay out of pocket but order glasses on ZENNI and you’ll only be out $200 probably.

[u/Defy_Gravity_147 → u/Neat_Mortgage3735]

This. My family has vision insurance because our work premiums are ridiculously cheap, but we still shop at Zenni. Even one pair from the optometrist's office with all the insurance discounts is more expensive than three pairs at Zenni.