Optical Industry Coalition Urges Congress to Address Tariffs Driving Up Cost of Vision Care
Key Takeaways
Optical industry leaders warned Congress that current trade policies are driving up the cost of prescription eyewear, threatening affordable access to essential vision care.
Rising eyewear costs can cause patients to delay care, increasing the risk of undetected eye diseases.
The coalition urged lawmakers to align trade policy with public health priorities, including tariff relief for low-risk optical medical devices and policies that support independent practices and domestic manufacturing.
Representatives from The Vision Council joined independent optometric alliance groups and eyewear manufacturers on Capitol Hill this week to deliver a unified message to lawmakers: rising costs driven by tariffs are undermining access to affordable vision care for millions of Americans, according to a news release from The Vision Council.
The coalition outlined how current trade policies are increasing pressure on optical businesses, independent practices, and patients nationwide. Industry leaders stressed that vision care is an essential component of healthcare and warned that higher costs for prescription eyewear could have far-reaching consequences for public health, educational outcomes, workforce productivity, and healthy aging.
More than 70% of Americans rely on prescription eyewear, according to the group. Even modest increases in out-of-pocket costs can lead patients to delay routine eye exams and eyewear purchases, allowing serious conditions such as diabetes-related eye disease and glaucoma to go undetected.
“We appreciated the opportunity to meet with lawmakers and share real-world examples of how current trade policies are driving up costs for both businesses and patients,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council. “Prescription eyewear is classified as a Class I medical device, yet it does not receive the same tariff exemptions as other low-risk medical products. These policies are unintentionally limiting access to care, especially for children, seniors, and vulnerable populations.”
During the advocacy day, the group met with 11 congressional offices, as well as staff from the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over healthcare policy and programs affecting access to vision care.
In addition to tariffs, discussions focused on the challenges facing small and mid-sized optical companies attempting to expand domestic manufacturing. While industry leaders voiced support for strengthening onshore production, they cited limited access to raw materials such as acetate, high labor and regulatory costs, and ongoing tariffs as significant barriers for independent manufacturers and practices.
Several alliance leaders emphasized the importance of advocacy on behalf of independent practices and their patients.
The Vision Council said it will continue to engage with lawmakers and advocate on behalf of its more than 375 member companies to promote policies that ensure affordable access to vision care and a strong, resilient optical industry. For more information or to get involved, visit thevisioncouncil.org.
Originally published online on Eyewire+.