Your vision matters more than ever in retirement.
Optometrist Dr. Nicholas ("Nick") Rashid understands this deeply. In fifth grade, he put on glasses and saw the leaves on trees with crystal clarity for the first time, a moment of freedom that inspired his life's mission to help protect the gift of sight for others. After 24 years in practice, he's learned that this protection enables independence, connection, and the freedom to live fully.
Robert (“Bob”) Laura, a retirement expert and founder of the Retirement Coaches Association, is learning this lesson firsthand. At 54, vision decline has become personal; he reaches for his readers constantly throughout the day and admits, "I'm angry at my eyes." But what worries him more is what he hears from his clients. They're not driving at night anymore; they're struggling with activities they planned for; and nobody prepared them for how much their vision would change.
Both Bob and Dr. Nick see the same truth: Vision changes aren't typically part of the retirement planning conversation, but they should be.
Join us for a compelling conversation that uncovers surprising insights and explores the three most important things every retiree should know about their vision.
1) Protect & Preserve Your Retirement Dreams With Eye Health
As retirees approach their 60s and 70s, vision changes feel inevitable with cataracts forming, dry eyes emerging, and prescriptions shifting. But here's what Dr. Rashid and Bob want every retiree to know: There are proven ways to protect and preserve the eye health you have. The good news is that it's not too late to make a difference.
Bob Laura: We've spoken before about how ironic it is that our senses tend to retire at the same time we do. You finally have the freedom to live how you want, and suddenly your vision is declining. What are some typical things that new or soon-to-be retirees start dealing with right when they stop working?
Dr. Rashid: By 60 to 65, most people have adapted to reading glasses. But that's when cataracts and dry eyes become common concerns. Usually, the blurriness people experience is a combination of dry eyes and early cataracts forming.
Bob Laura: Growing up, we were always told to eat carrots to help our vision. So, what can people who are 50, 60, or 70 actually do to improve their eye health? Are there supplements that work?
Dr. Rashid: There is truth to the carrot advice! Leafy greens, bright-colored peppers, fish, salmon, and omega-3s all support eye health. At our age, it's not too late. We can hold onto the eye health we have. For conditions like macular degeneration, vitamin therapy can help prolong your vision. Omega-3s and fish oils are particularly important for dry eyes. There are also solutions like anti-reflective coatings on glasses that reduce glare and treatments like IPL that reduce dryness substantially.
2) Create a Health Team to Optimize Your Retirement
Your annual eye exam is far more than a vision test. It's a preventive health screening that can help your eye doctor detect systemic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma1, and even early signs of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's before other doctors catch them. Bob and Dr. Rashid agree it’s a critical part of every retiree’s health plan.
Bob Laura: This is something I've been thinking about as retirees age. Are you seeing things in eye exams beyond just vision? Can you tell if someone's diabetic, or at risk of a stroke, or other health issues?
Dr. Rashid: Your eyes are the window to the soul, literally. When we look into the back of your eyes at the retina, we can see so much more than just vision. We've been able to help monitor diabetes and blood pressure for years. Now, with advanced technology and AI, we're seeing early signs of glaucoma, and research is even pointing to early Alzheimer's and Parkinson's detection through the retina. An annual eye exam is becoming more important than ever because we're learning so much more and connecting those systemic markers to overall health.
Bob Laura: So, as we're thinking about retirement, an eye doctor should be part of your health team in retirement, just like your primary doctor, audiologist, etc.?
Dr. Rashid: Absolutely. Once people recognize that an eye exam is more than just reading 20/20, everything changes. An annual exam isn't just about glasses anymore. It's preventive health care.
3) Bridge Coverage Gaps to Keep Vision Affordable in Retirement
One of the toughest surprises for many retirees is realizing that vision care may not be covered the way they expected. Original Medicare generally does not cover routine eyewear*, which can leave people paying out of pocket for exams, lenses, frames, and other vision-related needs at a stage of life when budgets often matter more than ever.
Bob Laura: I know many retirees new to Medicare are confused about what it covers. What's been your experience with how older adults, especially those transitioning to retirement, learn these things the hard way?
Dr. Rashid: A very high percentage of people new to Medicare are confused about what it covers. Here's the real shock: Some Medicare plans don’t cover anything in eyewear. After cataract surgery, you get one pair of basic single vision glasses, but that's it. Vision care costs are also rising at 5 to 7 percent annually2. Contact lenses, frames, coatings, everything's going up.
Bob Laura: So, eyewear gets more expensive every year while your coverage stays the same.
Dr. Rashid: Exactly. That's why having vision insurance becomes increasingly important. Your costs stay predictable while eyewear expenses keep climbing. I think a big reason you need insurance in retirement is that you probably finally need the bells and whistles. You might need anti-glare coatings or a different pair of glasses for night driving versus sunlight.
Make These Three Commitments Now
The most reassuring part of Bob and Dr. Rashid’s conversation is that while aging brings changes, taking care of your vision in retirement comes down to three things: being proactive about your eye health, building a health care team that includes an eye doctor, and planning your insurance before you transition to Medicare. Do those three things now, and you'll help protect the independence and quality of life you've earned.
1 American Optometric Association, “See the Full Picture of Your Health with an Annual Comprehensive Eye Exam,” accessed June 12, 2026, AOA, https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/full-picture-of-eye-health.
2 VSP Vision Care, “Vision Benefits: The Surprising Solution to Curb Rising Healthcare Costs,” accessed May 21, 2026, VSP Vision Care, https://visioncare.vsp.com/solutions-healthcare-costs.
** Check your Medicare Plan to see if your vision care needs are covered and/or if a VSP Individual Vision Plan is right for you. VSP Individual Vision Plans does not coordinate benefits with Medicare.
Your vision. Your way.
Not covered for vision? Get an individual plan, customized for you – including where you want to use it: at the doctor, in a retail location, or even online.
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