Sticker shock: Why are glasses so expensive?

[ChoppinBroccoli]

49. I've Also Wondered..............

...............why insurance companies will pay for yearly eye exams and part of the cost of glasses/contact lenses, but won't cover Lasik eye surgery? A few years ago, my wife qualified for vision coverage through her employer's insurance. Around that same time, I began to seriously consider getting the laser eye surgery (I've worn glasses my entire life, and I'm sick of it). We found out that the insurance will cover part of the cost of a new pair of glasses once per year, but will not cover Lasik. Now think about the logic of that. A new pair of glasses every year of your life compared with the one-time charge for laser eye surgery that would correct your vision problems forever. You'd think insurance companies would at least be able to do some basic math and realize that they would be saving themselves money.