Your eyes are fragile, complex, and important to your well-being, but taking care of them can be expensive. The average cost of an eye exam without insurance is close to $200, while the average cost of glasses themselves is about $230, and that’s before you add on the coatings you need. There are resources that can offer low-cost or even free eye exams and glasses, but you have to meet certain requirements — like income level and lack of insurance. Here’s where you can look for those services.
FREE EXAMS
- EyeCare America offers eye exams and ongoing vision care at no cost to people over the age of 65 and people who are at a higher risk of glaucoma. These services are provided by volunteer ophthalmologists around the country. They don’t provide eyeglasses.
- All Children See offers vision care for children under the age of 18 who have failed a vision screening, have some other vision problem, and who are uninsured or unable to afford care.
- InfantSEE is administered by the American Optometric Association (AOA) and offers free eye assessments for babies ages 6 to 12 months, regardless of income or insurance status.
- Government programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP also offer low-cost or free eye exams, including VA Vision Care for veterans.
- Eyes of Hope offers no-cost eye exams to adults and children who have no insurance coverage and meet their income requirements. Many community health centers offer eye clinics with free or low-cost exams and eyeglasses. You can locate a CHC near you at this site.
FREE GLASSES
Once you have your prescription, you need to fill it. The following programs offer free or super-cheap eyeglasses once you have a prescription in hand:
- New Eyes provides a “basic” pair of eyeglasses for a $10 non-refundable application fee. You have to apply online (do it here).
- Eyes of Hope also provides free eyeglasses to adults and children who meet their income requirements.
- Lions Club International clubs collect and distribute donated eyeglasses. You can find a local club here and contact them directly to find out if they participate in the recycling program and how to start the process. Promotions. Many online stores offer a free first pair of glasses when you shop with them. While there’s no guarantee that these programs will be offered when you need them, sites like GlassesShop and Abbe offer a free pair of basic glasses (shipping and handling is extra) if you have a recent prescription.
