They provide medical eye exams for little or no out-of-pocket costs.
There are additional sources for free or affordable eye exams: Another resource is New Eyes, which provides vouchers for free eyeglasses to those in need as well as a state-by-state listing of local agencies offering low-cost or free eye exams. The National Eye Institute (NEI) provides a list of resources that offer free eye exams. If you do not have insurance, there are still options for affordable and free eye exams. To determine if you are eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP, contact your local state office. The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through Medicaid offers services, including eye exams to children of low-income families. While Medicare plans do not regularly cover routine eye exams, they will offer coverage for eye exams if you suffer from diabetes or are at risk for glaucoma or macular degeneration. Even Medicare covers some forms of eye exams. Vision insurance plans typically cover at least part of the cost of an annual eye exam. They can cost as much as $250 at a medical clinic or the office of a private eye doctor. Enough resources exist that cost should not be a deterrent to getting your eyes checked regularly.Įye exams can vary greatly in cost, with some costing as little as $50 at a big box retailer, such as Costco, Walmart, Target, Sears, or an optical chain. If you lack vision insurance to cover the cost of a complete eye test or you can’t afford to pay out of your pocket, multiple agencies, as well as organizations, now make vision care much more accessible by offering free or low-cost eye scan options.Įye exams typically cost between $50 and $250, with the price differences determined by where you live, who your doctor is and the extensiveness of the testing.īut various community organizations and public health programs offer vision help to people in low-income brackets, children and senior citizens.
But if you have any comorbidity that predisposes you to eye problems such as diabetes and hypertension, you should receive a full eye exam even earlier.Ī consistent family history of eyeglass and contact lens wearing is a signal that you should have regular eye exams before you turn 50.īut the unfortunate fact is, most eyesight issues go undiagnosed because general medical insurance rarely covers eye care. Before you turn 40, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends you get at least one comprehensive eye examination done by a qualified physician.