Your eyes are fragile, complex, and important to your well-being, but taking care of 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 exam without insurance coverage is close to $200. The average cost of the glasses themselves is about $230—and that’s before you add on the coatings you need. This can be a real challenge for the estimated 63% of Americans who don’t have vision insurance, meaning they’re paying out of pocket.
There are resources that can offer low-cost or even free eye exams and glasses, however, if you meet certain requirements (like income level and lack of insurance). If you or someone in your family desperately needs new glasses, here’s where you can look for those services.
Free exams
Whether you’re shopping at a cheap online store for glasses or trying to get a free pair, you’ll need a relatively recent prescription (generally within the last two years). If you don’t have one, you can find cheap or free examinations using the following resources:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Government programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP also offer low-cost or free eye exams, including VA Vision Care for veterans.
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Eyes of Hope offers no-cost eye exams to adults and children who have no insurance coverage and meet their income requirements.
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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:
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New Eyes provides a “basic” pair of eyeglasses for a $10 non-refundable application fee. You have to apply online (do it here).
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Eyes of Hope also provides free eyeglasses to adults and children who meet their income requirements.
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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.
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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.