Can you find an affordable eye checkup without insurance?
Access to quality eye care is essential for maintaining overall health. However, people without insurance coverage may worry about high costs. Fortunately, various options exist that cater to diverse financial situations. This enables wider accessibility to routine eye care for uninsured people.
Between competitive pricing and non-profit organizations, affordable eye care is well within reach. People can focus on their eye health by using these resources, without the high price tag.
Where to find cheaper eye exams without insurance
Navigating the landscape of eye care can be challenging. But different resources are available to provide affordable eye exams without compromising quality. Below are some places that may offer inexpensive ways to see an eye doctor without insurance.
Retail vision centers
Retail vision centers stand out for their competitive pricing and accessibility. Typically, a routine eye exam without insurance at one of these locations is under $100. This is often lower than at a standalone eye care practice. Some of the most common retail vision centers include:
It’s common for these retailers to have sales around back-to-school time. Some stores also offer bundled deals. These usually include an eye exam and a pair (or two) of prescription glasses — all at a flat rate. Taking advantage of these deals can lower your total cost for eyewear and eye care services.
Optometry schools
Some optometry schools may offer lower-cost eye care services. In these cases, care may be provided by educators and supervised students. Most participating programs have details and appointment booking available on their websites.
Pricing will vary depending on several factors. Research optometry schools in your area and contact them for more information.
Online vision tests
If you’re in a rush to order new glasses or contacts, you may be able to renew your prescription with an online vision test. This can be very convenient if your vision hasn’t changed. But it does not replace a comprehensive in-person evaluation.
An in-person comprehensive eye exam allows an eye doctor to assess vision and eye health. An online vision screening can only confirm that your existing prescription is still correct. It is not the same as an in-person exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Visibly is an FDA-approved online vision screening tool that you can use on your smartphone or tablet. An eye doctor will review your results and renew your prescription within 24 hours if you meet eligibility requirements.
Currently, Visibly can only be used to renew existing prescriptions for eligible patients. It cannot be used to establish new vision prescriptions.
SEE RELATED: What is a digital eye exam?
Medical eye exams without insurance
A medical eye exam is different from a routine “wellness” eye exam. During a routine exam, your eye doctor checks your vision and updates your prescription. They also examine your eyes and perform tests to assess your eye health.
In some cases, your doctor may find signs of a medical eye condition, such as:
- Diabetic eye disease
- Glaucoma
- Macular degeneration
If this happens, they’ll schedule a medical exam with more testing to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.
Medical eye exams focus on the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of a specific eye condition. They’re typically covered by medical insurance. Wellness eye exams are routine checkups of your overall vision and eye health. They’re usually covered by vision insurance.
Some optometry schools may provide lower-cost medical eye exams with no insurance. You may also find some eye doctors who offer low-income discounts or payment plans. It’s best to confirm exam types and payment options before making an appointment.
Saving on other eye care when you're uninsured
Getting an eye exam is important for your vision and eye health. But the extra expense of glasses or contact lenses often follows. Fortunately, many online eyewear retailers prioritize fashion and affordability.
Eyebuydirect offers styles for the whole family, with over 100 frame options under $20. Standard prescription lenses start at $7 and include anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings. Their low-cost quality options make Eyebuydirect a great source for prescription glasses without insurance.
New Eyes is a program that gives glasses to low-income, uninsured Americans. The organization recommends having a social worker or health advocate apply on your behalf. But you can apply directly if you don’t have access to those resources.
The National Federation of the Blind provides free white canes for people who need them. This allows greater independence for visually impaired people without a hefty price tag.
SEE RELATED: How to get discount glasses without insurance
Free or low-cost eye exams and eye care
Eye exams without insurance may seem relatively affordable. But everyone’s budget is different and vision care should accommodate individual needs. If you need a free or low-cost eye exam with no insurance, the vision assistance programs below may be able to help:
National programs
Vision assistance programs provide affordable eye care to older adults with preexisting vision conditions. A few national programs include:
- Operation Sight – This is a program through the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. It provides cataract surgery for uninsured, low-income individuals.
- EyeCare America – This public service program provides medical eye care, including surgery. Services are often at no out-of-pocket cost for uninsured patients.
- AGS Cares – This program is part of the American Glaucoma Society Foundation. Participating doctors provide free surgical glaucoma services to qualifying individuals.
You can find more details about eligibility requirements and enrollment on each program’s website.
Government programs
Several government programs assist qualifying people with preventive eye care costs, including:
- Medicaid – This program is overseen by the federal and state governments. It assists with medical expenses for Americans with few resources and low incomes. Coverage varies from state to state.
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – This is coverage provided by the federal and state governments. It's meant to assist children of families who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Eligibility requirements must be met to enroll.
- Veterans Affairs – VA health benefits are provided by the government to qualifying veterans. They cover routine eye exam costs and preventive vision testing.
It’s important to note that coverage for these programs varies from state to state. To learn more, check coverage details and eligibility criteria in your state.
Community clinics and nonprofit organizations
Nonprofit vision assistance programs provide low-cost and free eye exams. Some of the most notable and wide-reaching organizations include:
- OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation – This foundation provides free eye exams and prescription glasses to low-income areas worldwide.
- Lions Clubs International – This organization partners with eye doctors, schools and leaders of various communities. Together, they provide vision screenings for children and adults.
- All Children See – This program provides eye exams to uninsured kids. To be eligible, a child must have been flagged for a suspected vision problem in a past vision screening.
- InfantSEE – This organization provides free eye and vision assessments to babies between 6 and 12 months old.
These programs often partner with community clinics to offer free eye checkups without insurance. Call your local community health centers to find out if they provide these services.
Next steps to find affordable eye care
Finding affordable eye appointments without insurance is possible with a bit of research. The following may have information about discounted services:
- Community health centers
- Eye care assistance programs
- Optometry schools
- Online resources
If you meet eligibility requirements, you could pay significantly less to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Some eye doctors may offer low-income discounts, cash rates or payment plans. Consider calling local practices to ask if they have any options that fit for your budget and needs. By doing your research and using available resources, you can maintain your eye health without breaking the bank.
READ MORE: Where can I get a walk-in eye exam?
