Ten Ways to Get a Cheap (or Free) Eye Test and Buy Glasses
Your eyes are fragile, complex and important to your well-being, but caring for them can be expensive. First of all, it’s not easy to get glasses without a recent prescription , and the average cost of an eye test without insurance is close to $200 . The average cost of the glasses themselves is about $230 , and that doesn’t include the coatings you need . This could be a real problem for the estimated 63% of Americans who don’t have vision insurance, meaning they pay out of pocket.
However, there are resources that can offer low-cost or even free eye exams and glasses if you meet certain requirements (such as income and insurance). If you or someone in your family is in desperate need of new glasses, you can seek these services here.
Free exams
Whether you’re buying glasses from a cheap online store or trying to get a free pair, you’ll need a relatively recent prescription (usually issued within the last two years). If you don’t have one, you can find cheap or free screenings using the following resources:
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EyeCare America offers free vision screenings and ongoing vision care to people over 65 and people at increased risk of developing glaucoma. These services are provided by volunteer ophthalmologists throughout the country. They don’t provide glasses.
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All Children See offers vision care to children under the age of 18 who have failed an eye exam, have other vision problems, and are uninsured or unable to afford care.
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InfantSEE is administered by the American Optometric Association (AOA) and offers free vision screenings for children ages 6 to 12 months, regardless of income or insurance status.
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Government programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP also offer low-cost or free vision screenings, including VA Vision Care for veterans.
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Eyes of Hope offers free vision screenings to adults and children who do not have insurance and meet income requirements.
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Many community health centers offer eye clinics with free or low-cost screenings and glasses. Use this website to find your nearest CHC.
Free points
If you have a prescription, you need to fill it. The following programs offer free or very low-cost glasses if you have a prescription in hand:
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New Eyes provides a “basic” pair of glasses for a non-refundable $10 registration fee. You will need to apply online (do so here ).
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Eyes of Hope also provides free glasses to adults and children who meet their income requirements.
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International Lions Clubs collect and distribute donated points. Here you can find your local club and contact them directly to find out if they participate in a recycling program and how to get started with the process.
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Stock. Many online stores offer a free first pair of glasses when you purchase with them. While there’s no guarantee that these programs will be offered when you need them, sites likeGlassesShop and Abbe offer a free pair of basic glasses (shipping and handling costs extra) if you have a recent prescription.