How much do you value your eyesight? Is your vision health important to you? It should be. I'm sure you enjoy being able to see clearly. The health of our eyes is often overlooked as long as we think we can see clearly. You go to the doctors to make sure your body is working right and you go to the dentist because you don't want to lose your teeth. I would say eyesight is one of our best qualities that we often overlook.

If you have prescription glasses or contacts, you probably visit your optometrist on a somewhat regular basis, although, this isn't always the case for everyone. If you have glasses that let you see better you probably don't think about going to the eye doctor because you can see fine.

In actuality, your eyes can change very frequently. Many people see the eye doctor each year and are often given a stronger prescription. The longer you go looking through the wrong prescription, the worse your eyesight can get. Also, there are eye diseases you could get that can't be treated unless you visit the optometrist.

Often the reason why people fail to visit the eye doctor is the same reason why they don't go to their regular physician or dentist. It just costs too much. Sure, getting an eye exam and a new pair of glasses isn't going to cost as much as a heart transplant, but it can really put a dent in your wallet or a large burden on your already tight budget.

This is where individual vision insurance can help. Just like you can get car insurance, life insurance, and health insurance, you can get vision insurance. Being covered with vision insurance will often mean being covered for:

• Annual Eye Examinations/Check-ups • A new pair of glasses or contacts every 12 to 24 months (depending on your plan) • Often no deductibles or only low co-pays • Surgical procedures • Supplies and other vision related expenses

If you have poor vision that requires corrective lenses, having vision insurance is practically a must. It will save you money in the long run and help keep your eyes healthy.

If you don't have poor vision and don't require corrective lenses, individual vision insurance may not be necessary. You should still get periodic check-ups, but you won't have to buy new glasses or contacts. The best way to find out is if it's cheaper to pay annual insurance premiums or annual check-up examinations. Taking the time to make the comparison could save you some money each year.

Don't just think about your own vision, if you support a family, take them into consideration as well. If you have never sent your children to the eye doctor for a check-up, do so! Even if they don't exhibit any signs of poor vision, only an optometrist can know for sure and help them before it gets worse. Make sure your vision insurance plan covers your family as well.

Do you get vision insurance from your employer? Vision coverage isn't always a top priority in insurance packages from employers. If you don't have it, check to see what your spouse has. Sometimes you might both have insurance coverage but one has better vision insurance than the other. Go with the best coverage.

If you don't get individual vision insurance from your employer, look into getting your own to supplement your health benefit package. Don't sacrifice your eyes to save a buck. Losing your vision is nothing to take lightly, and getting your eyes checked regularly will keep them in the best condition possible.