Looking after the health of your vision is just as important as looking after other aspects of physical health. According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 93 million adults in the US are at high risk of developing serious vision loss. It has also been shown that only around half of these people have visited an eyepiece in the last 12 months. Vision care can be very expensive and seem like something you can save by putting off until you need it. If it’s not something you can manage, there are still options for getting affordable care.
According to a 2022 report, 63% of Americans do not have vision insurance, which is not included in standard health plans. Without insurance, a typical eye exam often costs more than $100. Add in the cost of glasses or contacts, and it’s no wonder many Americans avoid going to the eye doctor or keeping their prescriptions up to date.
Getting an eye exam without insurance doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. There are several ways to find cheap eye exams or low-cost eye care, and we’ll go over them here.
Read more: The best places to buy glasses online
Where is the most affordable place to get an eye exam?
Some of the best places to look for eye exams or glasses without insurance are discount eye exam centers or online eyeglass retailers. There are plenty of options, but our favorites are:
- America’s Best: This popular chain offers eye exams for $69, or you can buy two pairs of glasses for $80 and get a free eye exam.
- Costco: Not all Costco locations have a Costco Optical, but this can be a good option if your nearest Costco offers it. Exams range between $50 and $100, but you’ll need a Costco membership first.
- EyeBuyDirect: Online eyeglass retailers have exploded over the past decade, and EyeBuyDirect offers some of the best deals on glasses without insurance. Frames start as low as $6, and basic prescription lenses are very affordable.
- The world of glasses: Another online retailer, Eyeglass World, offers deals on up to two pairs of glasses for $89. The company also offers eye exams in more than 100 locations across the US.
- Cup USA: This online retailer offers deals similar to what you’ll find at Eyeglass World, with a variety of discounts and sales to make glasses without insurance even more affordable.
- Jonas Paul: Eye care costs can add up quickly for families, but Jonas Paul aims to change that. Based on Warby Parker’s model of try-on at-home kits and giving away a pair of glasses for every pair you buy, Jonas Paul offers freestyle glasses for kids and teens, starting at $59.
- Sam’s Club: As with Costco, you’ll need a Sam’s Club membership to access this benefit. Eye exams range from $50 to $100 on average.
- The aim AND Walmart: If you’d rather not get a Costco or Sam’s Club membership, you can get free eye exams while you shop at Target or Walmart. Eye exams at these major retailers also fall in the $50 to $100 range.
Read more: Give yourself an eye exam from your smartphone
If you just need new lenses for an existing frame, you can save money by checking online options for replacement lenses. For contact lens wearers, learn how to extend the life of your contacts to save money in the long run.
Read more: The best places to buy contact lenses online
Programs that offer free or discounted eye exams
The retailers above may still be too expensive for some people, but they are not the only options for eye exams without insurance. Many programs offer free eye care or low-cost options to those who qualify, including:
See an eye pupil
If you are willing to receive care from students studying optometry or ophthalmology, many schools offer free eye care and free eye exams to patients. Students taking the exam are supervised, so you can still be sure you’re getting quality care. You may also find opportunities to participate (for free) in college research studies.
Search for participating schools here and call any school in your area to inquire about student exam programs and costs.
Medicare or Medicaid may help cover the costs
Participants in Medicare or Medicaid may have plan-specific options when it comes to finding low-cost eye care.
Medicaid, which provides free health care for low-income children and some low-income adults, generally provides some level of vision care. All Medicaid plans include eye exams and glasses for children under the age of 21, but coverage for adults varies by state. You may be able to get free eye exams, glasses, or both. To find out what Medicaid covers in your state, contact your state Medicaid agency. Children who do not qualify for Medicaid may be able to get vision coverage through their state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Medicare is a program for adults over 65 and some people with disabilities. It generally does not provide vision coverage, but it does help with some eye conditions, including cataracts, dry eye, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
You may be able to get more comprehensive vision coverage through a Medicare Advantage program. This Medicare-approved coverage is offered through private insurers and often includes vision coverage for eye exams, glasses, and contacts.
Where to buy affordable contacts and glasses without vision insurance
Once you have a prescription for your glasses or contacts, getting discount prices online is fortunately easier than ever, thanks to the plethora of online companies that often run sales and take some of the work out of vision correction. Most will give you direct options to upload or enter your prescription, and then the company does the rest.
Some of our favorites include:
- Zeni was voted the best budget option on CNET’s prescription glasses list. You can get a pair of prescription glasses at a very low price through a very straightforward ordering process, as long as you have your prescription and know your pupil distance.
- Warby Parker glasses start at $95 for prescription lenses and frames. This company was voted the best shopping experience by CNET, thanks to its “try on at home” model that allows you to test multiple frames, plus the fact that Warby Parker has multiple in-store locations for people who prefer to talk to a associate while finding their glasses. Warby Parker also sells contactsand you get 20% off your first order.
- 1-800 Contacts makes the contact lens ordering process seamless, which is why (like Warby Parker) it landed on our list of the best places to order contacts online.
- Retailer Optical aimingin addition to being a good place to get an affordable eye exam, it offers good discounts on a number of popular contact brands.
- Cup USA it’s a great place to shop if you don’t have vision insurance because of all the sales the company does. (For example, it’s running a “30% off plus free shipping” sale on glasses right now and a 50% off coupon for your first set of frames. GlassesUSA.com also sells contacts at discounted prices.
The best way to make sure you’re getting the best deal on glasses and contacts if you don’t have insurance is to shop around and look for deals. For more options, see or list the best places to buy contacts online and the best places to buy prescription glasses.
