Eye care inflation, 1986–2026

Prices are 118.92% higher than in 1986, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Eye Care Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Eye Care, 1986-2026 ($100)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for eyeglasses and eye care are 118.92% higher in 2026 versus 1986 (a $118.92 difference in value).

Between 1986 and 2026, Eye care experienced an average inflation rate of 1.98% per year. In other words, eye care costing $100 in the year 1986 would cost $218.92 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.81% during this same period, inflation for eye care was lower.

Price Inflation for Eyeglasses and eye care since 1986

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1988 (5.07%), 1990 (4.41%), and 1992 (4.16%).

The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.

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Buying power of $100.00 since 1986

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Eye care, over time, for $100 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1986$100.00-
1987$103.463.46%
1988$108.715.07%
1989$112.363.36%
1990$117.324.41%
1991$121.903.91%
1992$126.984.16%
1993$130.362.66%
1994$133.012.03%
1995$137.043.03%
1996$139.301.65%
1997$141.451.54%
1998$144.081.86%
1999$145.470.97%
2000$149.742.94%
2001$154.533.19%
2002$155.520.64%
2003$155.930.27%
2004$159.312.16%
2005$163.242.47%
2006$168.132.99%
2007$171.622.08%
2008$174.111.45%
2009$175.470.78%
2010$176.650.67%
2011$178.250.91%
2012$179.850.90%
2013$180.770.51%
2014$183.921.74%
2015$183.960.02%
2016$186.971.64%
2017$187.300.18%
2018$189.611.23%
2019$191.430.96%
2020$192.940.79%
2021$193.980.54%
2022$198.682.42%
2023$202.161.75%
2024$209.023.39%
2025$216.243.45%
2026$218.921.24%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Eyeglasses and eye care:

Year19861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI100.000103.458108.708112.358117.317121.900126.975130.358133.008137.042139.300141.450144.075145.467149.742154.525155.517155.933159.308163.242168.125171.619174.107175.468176.650178.252179.855180.775183.919183.960186.970187.300189.609191.429192.940193.985198.680202.164209.017216.237218.922

Adjust eye care prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1986* 1986 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Eyeglasses and eye care was 100.000 in the year 1986 and 218.922 in 2026:

218.922 / 100.000* $100 = $218.92

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 in 1986 has the same "purchasing power" as $218.92 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Eyeglasses and eye care).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Eyeglasses and eye care in 1986. In addition to eye care, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.