MetLife Vision | The Texas A&M University System

Welcome!

To estimate the costs of services at an in-network eye care provider, take a few minutes to answer a few anonymous questions. At the end, you’ll be given a cost estimate and some additional information to help your experience at your eye doctor be a smooth one.

The Superior Vision by MetLife Vision plan for The Texas A&M University System includes coverage for eye exams and glasses or contacts. In some cases, exams and eyewear may be fully covered! There are a number of helpful lens upgrades that you can make along the way, too.

Let's Begin

Do you currently have a vision plan?

Select a plan for a more accurate estimate. If you don’t have a plan, no worries!
b.
Yes, administered by Superior Vision
c.
Yes, administered by someone else
d.
No, I don't have vision care coverage

Have you received an eye exam within the last 12 months?

Eye exams can help diagnose overall health, including certain health conditions like high cholesterol and diabetes.**
a.
Yes
b.
No

Would you like eye dilation or retinal imaging?

Eye exams typically include eye drops to get good views of the back of your eyes. However, your vision will be temporarily blurred for a short time after the exam. For a small copay, you can replace eye drops with retinal imaging which uses specialized cameras to capture high-resolution images of your eyes. You can get back to your day without needing to wait for your vision to return to normal. May not be available at all providers.
b.
Eye dilation
a.
Retinal imaging (+$39)

Do you prefer glasses or contacts?

Glasses offer cost-effective and stylish ways of correcting vision problems. For those who prefer less noticeable eyewear, contact lenses may be for you.
a.
Glasses only
Prescription eyeglasses are cost-effective, custom-designed eyewear with lenses that have specific optical corrections to improve a person's vision, correcting issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Their benefits include enhancing visual clarity, reducing eye strain, and improving overall quality of life for individuals with vision impairments.

*Progressive-Glasses.com, 07/2021
b.
Contacts only
Prescription contacts are corrective lenses worn directly on the eye to address vision issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, providing clear vision without the need for eyeglasses. Their benefits include natural-looking vision correction, a wide field of view, and freedom from wearing frames, making them a popular choice for many individuals.

*CDC, 11/2022
c.
Both
Generally, plans cover one or the other, not both

What kind of eyeglasses are you interested in?A Note About Eyeglasses

While plans vary, you are eligible for a frame allowance of $200 with 20% off any amount over the allowance. (Materials co-pay applies to lenses and frames only, not contact lenses.)

You might be able to receive an additional allowance of $25 at select providers. Visit metlife.com/mybenefits to locate participating providers.

Davis Vision-administered plans provide members with access to an exclusive collection of over 200 frames, available for no more than a $40 copay – and sometimes for no additional cost (depending on the plan design).

Features**

  • Trend-forward frames across three value tiers (listed below)
  • One-year breakage warranty
  • Available at thousands of independent provider offices across the country
  • Refreshed annually with new styles
d.
Fashion: simple frames that don't break the bank ($0 copay, up to $100 value)
e.
Designer: Quality frames with a touch of personal style ($15 copay, $160 value)
f.
Premier: Name-brand frames with exceptional craftsmanship and designs ($40 copay, $195 value)

Do you only have difficulty seeing objects far away or do you also require vision correction to see up close? (select all that apply)

Certain lenses are suited for certain vision correction needs.
a.
Trouble seeing far (nearsighted)
b.
Trouble seeing near (farsighted)
c.
Trouble seeing near and far

Base lenses have been pre-selected, but you can improve the quality of correction with improved lenses.

Plans include bifocal or trifocal lenses (depending on vision correction needs).

Bifocals have two areas of corrective vision while trifocals offer a third. You can also eliminate the lines between each area by upgrading progressive lenses. Tap the 'i' to learn more.
a.
Standard single vision lenses
e.
Digital single vision lenses
Improves single viewing distance across the entire surface of the lens by either diverging or converging light rays to correct for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

*Digital Single Vision Lenses: Penczek, M. (Mar. 1, 2021). How Single Vision Lenses Work. Retrieved April 21, 2023 from https://progressive-glasses.com/how-single-vision-lenses-work/
c.
Lined bifocal lenses
Lenses that are designed for two corrective distances, usually for near and far distances.

*Progressive Lenses: Heiting, G. (Feb. 14, 2019). Progressive Lenses: No-Line Multifocals For a Younger You. Retrieved April 24, 2023 from https://www.allaboutvision.com/lenses/progressives.htm
d.
Lined trifocal lenses
Similar to bifocals but have one additional, intermediate section of vision correction.

*Trifocal Lenses: Heiting, G. (Feb. 27, 2019). Bifocals And Trifocals: Solutions For “Short Arms”. Retrieved April 24, 2023 from https://www.allaboutvision.com/lenses/multifocal.htm
b.
Progressive lenses
Corrects age-related farsightedness and provides a smooth transition from distance vision to near vision without the visible line found in bifocal lenses.

Lastly, there are a number of optional lens add-ons that can improve the look and feel of lenses. Click on an ‘i’ to learn more about them!

a.
Photochromic lenses (Transitions®) Transitions® XTRActive® Polarized lenses offer dynamic polarization This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Clear lenses indoors that darken outdoors depending on the amount of UV light, reducing glare and providing always-on protection by helping to protect from UV, and filtering blue-violet light.* Learn more about the different Transitions technology and color options here. *Performance improvements are when using authentic Transitions lenses

*Transitions lenses block 100% UV & filter at least 26% of blue-violet light indoors & at least 86% outdoors. Tests performed on grey lenses with premium anti-reflective coating. Blue-violet light is between 400 and 455nm (ISO TR 20772:2018).]
*Transitions®. How Do Photochromics Work? Retrieved April 24, 2023 from https://www.transitions.com/en-us/why-transitions/the-technology/photochromic-tech
d.
Blue light filtering *Included if Transitions is selected. This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Reduces the amount of blue light that reaches the eye, which can help minimize digital eye strain and improve sleep quality by blocking or absorbing blue light and UV light from screens.*

*Blue Light Filtering: Lenses For Harmful Blue Light Protection. (Dec. 2022). Essilor. Retrieved April 21, 2023 from https://www.essilorusa.com/products/blue-light-eye-protection
g.
Ultraviolet coatings *Included if Transitions is selected. *Included with anti-reflective coatings This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Protects eyes from harmful UV rays.
b.
Anti-reflective coatings This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Reduces reflective light by eliminating reflections from both sides of the lens, which can enhance comfort, reduces eye strain and improves the cosmetic appearance of your eyeglasses.*

*Anti-Reflective Coating: Ayaga, V. (Feb. 1, 2023). Are Anti-Glare Coatings Worth it? Pros, Cons & Costs. Retrieved April 21, 2023 from https://www.visioncenter.org/eyeglasses/anti-glare/
c.
Polycarbonate lenses This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses and more impact-resistant. Ideal for sports and children’s eyewear.

*Trivex Lenses: Heiting, G. (Feb. 27, 2019). Polycarbonate vs. Trivex Eyeglass Lenses. Retrieved April 24, 2023 from https://www.allaboutvision.com/lenses/polycarb.htm
e.
Lens color tints *Tint is available for 1.67 High index, but currenty not for 1.74 High Index This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Designed to enhance contrast and reduce glare while also helping with color perception to improve visual comfort in bright light.*

*Lens Color Tint: Eldridge, M. (Aug 10, 2022). How Do You Choose the Best Lens Tint? Retrieved April 24, 2023 from https://blog.safetyglassesusa.com/how-do-you-choose-the-best-lens-tint/
f.
Scratch-resistant coatings *SRC is inherent to both Poly and High Index. This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Protects eyeglass lenses from scratches and other damage caused by everyday wear and tear.*

*Scratch-Resistant Coating and Ultraviolet Coating: Branch, J. (May 2, 2022). What You Need to Know About Eyeglass Lens Coatings. Retrieved April 24, 2023 from https://www.consumerreports.org/eyeglasses/what-you-need-to-know-about-eyeglass-lens-coatings-a4818329583/
h.
High-index lenses This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Made of materials that bend light more efficiently than traditional glass or plastic lenses, making them thinner and lighter.*

*High-Index Lenses and Polycarbonate Lenses: Polycarbonate Vs. High-Index Lenses: Which Is Better? (Nov. 17, 2022). Retrieved April 21, 2023 from https://www.yesglasses.com/blog/polycarbonate-vs-high-index-lenses
i.
Polarized lenses This option is incompatible with the selected lenses.
Reduces glare from surfaces such as water, snow, and glass. Can improve visual clarity and comfort.*

*Polarized Lenses: Morgan, E. (Feb. 27, 2019). Are Polarized Sunglasses Right for You? Retrieved April 24, 2023 from https://www.allaboutvision.com/sunglasses/polarized.htm
Add-ons may not be covered benefits under your plan. Please see benefit documents for coverage details.

Estimated Costs

This is our best estimate of your out-of-pocket costs based on your needs. Actual results will vary based on your specific plan and upgrades.

*Scroll left to see the whole table

*You selected both glasses and contacts. Keep in mind that most plans only cover one or the other rather than both.

Your Estimated Cost* Pricing Without Coverage
Item $0 $0
Item 2 $0 $0
Item 3 $0 $0
Total Out-of-Pocket Cost $0 $0
You might save between $25.50 and $150 on your visit by having a vision care plan!
*Costs and amounts shown are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as the actual costs for specific vision care administration services. The estimated costs may be higher or lower as they are calculated based on average cost and frequency data with an understanding of provider networks. These costs are not intended to reflect your exact costs for services and are subject to change based on your coverage, benefits, and authorization for services. The information presented does not indicate medical advice, actual costs, guarantee of payment, prior approval for services, or judgement of a claim.

Before You Go

Be sure to have the following information handy when visiting your eye doctor:

  • Member ID
  • Health history
  • The kind of eyewear you’re interested in, including frames or contacts and add-ons

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