If you need prescription vision correction to improve your sight, you already know that the expense can build up over time. Finding a way to save money without compromising your vision can be difficult. If you're interested in spending as little money as possible while still being able to see clearly, check out this guide on which method of vision correction will cost you the least over time:

Glasses

Although glasses are the traditional standard for correcting vision, that doesn't mean that they're inexpensive. It's fair to say that most people will end up spending at least a hundred dollars on a single pair of corrective glasses. The cost varies depending on your personal vision correction needs. For example, it's estimated that most people will spend between $100 to $300 on single vision correction, while progressive glasses can range from $200 to $600. This cost can go up or down, even more, depending on the type of frames you get.

In addition, if your vision changes frequently, you'll need to get a new pair of glasses at least every year, and you may want to get more than one pair of glasses in case your pair is damaged or becomes lost.

Based on the above example, even if you spent as little as $100 per year on a pair of glasses, you could end up spending $3000 over the course of 30 years in vision correction, assuming you had no broken or damaged lenses and your vision never worsened and needed more expensive correction.

Contacts

Contact lenses have many of the same cons as glasses, except that they can be even more expensive over time.

Like glasses, your costs will vary depending on your particular vision problems and how often you replace your contacts. For example, someone with astigmatism might expect to pay $500 - $700 per year in disposable contact lenses.

To make matters worse, contact lenses are far easier to damage than most glasses. While glasses have had more improvements made to make the lenses hardier and less prone to scratches, soft contact lenses are incredibly delicate. Even the slightest tear can require throwing out the lens and switching to a new one, which will increase costs over the course of a year.

Using the same example as with glasses, if you had astigmatism, you would be looking at spending at least $15,000 over the course of 30 years for your contacts.

Laser Eye Surgery

Lastly, laser eye surgery is one option that many people shy away from due to the perceived high cost. However, the reality is, laser eye surgery might actually be one of your more affordable options.

Like the above examples, the cost of laser vision correction can vary wildly depending upon your needs. However, it's estimated that on average, laser vision correction cost about $2,500 per eye. This would mean spending an average of $5,000 to have both eyes corrected.

This may initially sound like it costs more than glasses. However, the main difference to keep in mind is that once your laser eye surgery is complete, you won't need further vision correction. Regular exams to determine if your vision has changed won't be necessary, and therefore, no extra costs will be added to your bill like they would be with contacts and glasses. In addition, you'll never have to worry about spending extra money because your glasses or contacts have been lost, damaged, or broken.

Lastly, keep in mind that laser vision correction is permanent. While you can expect the above figures over the course of 30 years, you won't continue to incur further costs past those 30 years if you chose laser eye surgery instead of corrective lenses.

Laser eye surgery is a safe method of vision correction that frees you from needing to worry about damaging your contacts or glasses. Over time, it's more affordable than either alternative. Talk to an eye doctor about Lasik to find out if it's a good choice for you.