Looking for an eye exam near me? This guide compares what an eye exam costs across the USA, including the Costco eye exam cost without insurance, Walmart eye exam cost, Sam’s Club eye exam and Target eye exam prices. It also shows how to find a free eye exam near me, a cheap eye exam near me or a walk-in eye exam near me, and explains when an online eye exam is enough.
Prices below are typical ranges that patients report. Most store exams are given by independent optometrists who set their own fees, so always call your local office to confirm. Want to test what you know? Try the eye exam practice quiz.
Key takeaways
- A routine eye exam without insurance typically costs about $75–$200; comprehensive exams at private practices cost more.
- Walmart, Costco and Sam’s Club are usually among the cheapest places for an eye exam, at about $60–$120.
- Contact lens exams add a fitting fee, often $40–$100+.
- Free options exist for babies (InfantSEE), many seniors (EyeCare America) and children on Medicaid.
- Online eye exams can renew a prescription but can’t check the health of your eyes.
USA Eye Exam: Quick Facts
- Typical cost, no insurance
- About $75–$200 routine; $150–$300+ comprehensive
- Walmart (typical)
- About $75–$100 routine exam
- Costco (typical)
- About $70–$120 routine exam
- Sam’s Club (typical)
- About $60–$110 routine exam
- Contact lens fitting
- Often +$40–$100+
- How often (adults 18–64)
- At least every 2 years (every year at 65+)
How to Find an Eye Exam Near Me
The fastest way to book an eye exam near me is to decide what kind of exam you need, then pick the cheapest provider that offers it:
- Glasses or contacts prescription: a routine exam with an optometrist (OD) is usually enough. Warehouse clubs, Walmart and retail optical chains are often cheapest.
- Eye health concerns (diabetes, glaucoma risk, flashes or floaters, sudden vision change): book a comprehensive dilated exam with an optometrist, or see an ophthalmologist (MD). Sudden vision loss is an emergency.
- Insurance: search your vision plan’s directory (such as VSP or EyeMed) first. In-network exams often cost just a copay.
- Directories: the American Optometric Association’s “Find a Doctor” tool lists optometrists by ZIP code.
How Much Is an Eye Exam Without Insurance? (Eye Exam Cost in the USA)
How much is an eye exam? Without insurance, a routine eye exam usually costs $75–$200, and a comprehensive or medical eye exam $150–$300+. The cost of an eye exam depends on where you go and what’s included. Big-box and warehouse optical centers are usually the cheapest. Private optometrists and ophthalmologists charge more, especially for medical or comprehensive exams.
| Provider | Glasses exam | Contact lens exam |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart Vision Center | $75–$100 | $105–$150 |
| Costco Optical | $70–$120 | $120–$200 |
| Sam’s Club Optical | $60–$110 | $100–$180 |
| Target Optical | $75–$125 | $120–$200 |
| LensCrafters | $73–$150 | $125–$250 |
| Visionworks | $79–$110 | $130–$210 |
| Private optometrist | $100–$250 | $150–$300 |
| Ophthalmologist (MD) | $150–$350+ | Varies |
Pro tip
Ask for the self-pay price when you book, and ask whether dilation, retinal imaging and a contact lens fitting are included or cost extra.
Costco Eye Exam Cost Without Insurance
How much is an eye exam at Costco? A Costco eye exam without insurance typically costs about $70 to $120 for a routine glasses exam. Contact lens exams cost more because of the fitting. The exams are done by independent optometrists who work next to Costco Optical, so each location sets its own Costco eye exam cost and hours.
- Membership: many locations don’t require a membership for the exam itself, but you need one to buy glasses or contacts from Costco Optical.
- Insurance: many Costco optometrists accept vision plans such as VSP and EyeMed. Ask when you book.
- Costco eye exam appointment: book online through Costco Optical’s appointment page or call the optometry office in your warehouse. Walk-ins are limited at many locations.
Walmart Eye Exam Cost Without Insurance and Appointments
How much is an eye exam at Walmart? A Walmart eye exam at a Walmart Vision Center typically costs about $75 to $100 without insurance, and about $105–$150 for an exam with a contact lens fitting. Walmart doesn’t publish one national price. The exam is usually given by an independent optometrist, so the Walmart eye exam cost and accepted insurance vary by store.
Walmart eye exam appointment: book online through your local Walmart Vision Center page or call the store. Choose “eye exam,” then pick a date and time with the in-store optometrist. Many locations offer same-week appointments, and some accept walk-ins when the doctor has openings. Bring your current glasses or contacts, your vision insurance card and a list of medications.
More on Walmart Eye Exam Cost Without Insurance and Appointments →Sam’s Club Eye Exam: Cost and What to Expect
A Sam’s Club eye exam works like Costco’s: independent optometrists practice next to Sam’s Club Optical. Routine exams usually cost about $60 to $110 without insurance, and contact lens exams cost more.
| Costco | Sam’s Club | Walmart | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who examines you | Independent optometrist | Independent optometrist | Usually an independent optometrist |
| Typical exam price | $70–$120 | $60–$110 | $75–$100 |
| Membership for exam | Often not required | Often not required | Not applicable |
| Membership to buy eyewear | Required | Required | Not required |
Target Eye Exam Cost (Target Optical)
A Target eye exam is available at stores with a Target Optical department. As at other retailers, the exams are given by independent doctors of optometry. Self-pay prices commonly run about $75–$125 for a routine exam, and many locations accept major vision plans. Book online or call the store.
More on Target Eye Exam Cost (Target Optical) →Free, Cheap and Affordable Eye Exam Near Me
Looking for a free eye exam near you, or a cheap eye exam near me? These programs and places are worth checking:
- InfantSEE: a free, one-time eye assessment for babies aged 6–12 months at participating optometrists.
- EyeCare America: a program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology that connects eligible seniors 65+ with volunteer ophthalmologists, often at no out-of-pocket cost.
- Medicaid: covers eye exams for children and, in many states, adults.
- Community health centers: sliding-scale fees based on income.
- Optometry school clinics: reduced-cost exams given by supervised students.
- Lions Clubs and charitable programs: local vouchers for exams and glasses.
- Warehouse and big-box stores: Walmart, Costco and Sam’s Club are usually the cheapest paid options.
Walk-In and Same-Day Eye Exam Near Me
Want a walk-in eye exam near me or a same-day eye exam? Many Walmart Vision Centers, retail optical chains and some independent offices see walk-ins when the doctor has an opening. Call ahead the same morning to ask about wait times. For eye injuries, chemical splashes or sudden vision loss, go to urgent care or the ER instead.
More on Walk-In and Same-Day Eye Exam Near Me →Online Eye Exam: Does It Work?
An online eye exam or online vision test can renew a glasses or contact lens prescription for some healthy adults. You take the test at home and an eye doctor reviews the results. Availability depends on your state, age and prescription.
Important
An online test only checks how clearly you see. It can’t check eye pressure, your retina or your optic nerve, so it can’t detect glaucoma, diabetic eye disease or other conditions. You still need regular in-person eye exams.
LensCrafters and Visionworks Eye Exam Cost
The LensCrafters eye exam cost without insurance is typically about $73–$150, depending on the location and whether you choose a digital exam. The Visionworks eye exam cost is usually about $79–$110 for a standard exam. At both chains, the exam is given by an independent doctor who sets the fee, and a contact lens fitting adds about $50–$100. See our contact lens exam guide.
More on LensCrafters and Visionworks Eye Exam Cost →Eye Exam and Glasses Near Me
Want an eye exam and glasses in one trip? Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Target Optical, LensCrafters and Visionworks all have optometrists on-site, so you can get your prescription and order frames the same day. To keep costs down:
- Ask for the exam price and the glasses price separately. You’re not required to buy glasses where you get the exam.
- Ask for a copy of your prescription (it’s your right under the FTC Eyeglass Rule) and compare prices, including online retailers.
- Look for exam + glasses bundles and check what your vision plan’s frame allowance covers.
Managing diabetes? You need a dilated exam, not just a glasses check. See our diabetic eye exam guide.
More on Eye Exam and Glasses Near Me →Eye Exam Chart: How to Read the Snellen Chart
The familiar eye exam chart is the Snellen chart: rows of letters that get smaller as you go down. You read it from 20 feet away (or via mirrors in a smaller room), one eye at a time.
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| 20/20 | Normal sharpness: you see at 20 feet what a typical person sees at 20 feet |
| 20/40 | You must be at 20 feet to see what a typical person sees at 40 feet; the common driving standard |
| 20/200 | The big “E” at the top; best-corrected 20/200 or worse in the better eye is legal blindness |
| 20/15 | Sharper than average |
Children and people who can’t read letters may use a “tumbling E” or picture chart. An eye chart only measures sharpness. A full exam also checks eye health.
More on Eye Exam Chart: How to Read the Snellen Chart →What Is a Refraction Eye Exam (and Why Is It Billed Separately)?
A refraction eye exam is the part of your visit that measures your eyeglass prescription. The doctor has you look through a phoropter and asks “Which is clearer, 1 or 2?”
Refraction is often billed on its own (CPT 92015) because Original Medicare and many medical insurance plans don’t cover it. They treat it as “routine vision.” So even when your medical eye visit is covered, you may pay a separate refraction fee, commonly $25 to $75.
Good to know
Under the FTC Eyeglass Rule, your eye doctor must give you a copy of your glasses prescription right after the refraction, at no extra cost, whether you ask or not.
Vision Exam Near Me: Screening vs. Comprehensive Eye Exam
A school, DMV or workplace vision exam is usually a screening. It checks how well you read an eye chart, but it can’t diagnose eye disease. A comprehensive eye exam also checks eye pressure, your retina and your optic nerve. Commercial drivers must meet specific DOT physical exam vision standards, and Florida permit applicants take a vision test with the Class E knowledge exam.
More on Vision Exam Near Me: Screening vs. Comprehensive Eye Exam →What Happens During a Comprehensive Eye Exam?
- History and symptoms review
- Visual acuity test (the eye chart)
- Refraction to measure your prescription
- Eye pressure test (tonometry) to screen for glaucoma
- Slit-lamp exam of the front of the eye
- Dilated or imaging exam of the retina and optic nerve (comprehensive exams)
Original Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye exams for glasses. It does cover yearly diabetic eye exams and glaucoma tests for people at high risk. See the screening schedule from your annual wellness exam or physical exam.
More on What Happens During a Comprehensive Eye Exam →America’s Best Eye Exam Cost
America’s Best is known for bundling an eye exam with its two-pairs-of-glasses offers, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to get an exam plus glasses. Standalone exam prices and contact lens exam fees vary by store and state, so confirm the price with your location before booking. Compare with Costco and Walmart.
More on America’s Best Eye Exam Cost →Warby Parker Eye Exam Cost
Warby Parker offers comprehensive eye exams at many of its stores, with self-pay prices typically starting around $75–$100. Contact lens exams cost more because they include a fitting. Warby Parker also has a Virtual Vision Test app that can renew some existing glasses prescriptions for eligible adults. It isn’t a substitute for a full eye health exam.
More on Warby Parker Eye Exam Cost →1-800 Contacts Online Eye Exam
1-800 Contacts offers an online vision test (Express Exam) that can renew a contact lens prescription for eligible adults with no eye problems. It checks visual acuity, not eye health. You still need regular in-person exams to detect glaucoma, cataracts or retinal disease. See contact lens exam for what a full fitting includes.
More on 1-800 Contacts Online Eye Exam →How Long Does an Eye Exam Take?
A routine comprehensive eye exam usually takes 20–60 minutes. Dilation adds about 20–30 minutes while the drops work, and your vision may stay blurry and light-sensitive for 4–6 hours. Bring sunglasses and consider a driver.
More on How Long Does an Eye Exam Take →Does Medicare or Medicaid Cover Eye Exams?
- Original Medicare doesn’t cover routine eye exams for glasses or contacts.
- It does cover a yearly diabetic eye exam, glaucoma tests for high-risk people, and medically necessary exams for eye disease or injury.
- Many Medicare Advantage plans add routine vision benefits.
- Medicaid covers eye exams for children (EPSDT). Adult vision coverage varies by state.
Slit Lamp Exam
A slit lamp exam uses a microscope with a bright, thin beam of light to examine the eyelids, cornea, iris and lens, and (with a special lens) the retina. It helps detect cataracts, corneal scratches, dry eye and macular problems. It’s painless and a routine part of most comprehensive exams.
More on Slit Lamp Exam →Fundoscopic Exam
A fundoscopic (ophthalmoscopic) exam looks at the back of the eye: the retina, optic disc and blood vessels. It’s done with an ophthalmoscope, usually after dilation. It can reveal diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma damage, high blood pressure changes and papilledema. Students also learn it in the cranial nerve exam (CN II).
More on Fundoscopic Exam →Free practice test
Ready to test yourself?
Choose your test length, practice with instant feedback or take it exam-style, and get your score with an explanation for every answer.
Go to the USA Eye Exam practice test →USA Eye Exam FAQs
How much is a Costco eye exam without insurance?
Typically about $70–$120 for a routine glasses exam. Contact lens exams cost more. Each Costco eye doctor is an independent optometrist, so call your local office for the exact price.
Full answer →How much is a Walmart eye exam?
A Walmart Vision Center eye exam usually costs about $75–$100 without insurance, or about $105–$150 with a contact lens fitting. Prices vary by store.
Full answer →How much is an eye exam without insurance?
Usually about $75–$200 for a routine exam and $150–$300 or more for a comprehensive or medical exam. Walmart, Costco and Sam’s Club are often the cheapest at about $60–$120.
Full answer →How much is a LensCrafters or Visionworks eye exam?
Typically about $73–$150 at LensCrafters and about $79–$110 at Visionworks without insurance. Contact lens fittings add about $50–$100.
Full answer →Can I get a same-day eye exam?
Often, yes. Many retail optical stores offer same-day appointments or walk-ins when the doctor has openings. Book online or call ahead.
Full answer →How do I book a Walmart eye exam appointment?
Book online through your local Walmart Vision Center page or call the store. Many locations have same-week appointments and some take walk-ins.
Full answer →What does 20/20 mean on an eye exam chart?
It means you see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision sees at 20 feet. 20/40 is a common driving standard, and 20/200 best-corrected in the better eye is legal blindness.
Full answer →How much is a Sam’s Club eye exam?
Routine Sam’s Club eye exams are commonly about $60–$110 without insurance, with contact lens fittings extra.
Full answer →Where can I get a free eye exam near me?
Try InfantSEE (babies 6–12 months), EyeCare America (eligible seniors), Medicaid, community health centers, optometry school clinics and local Lions Club programs.
Full answer →Can I get a walk-in eye exam?
Often, yes. Many Walmart Vision Centers and retail optical stores take walk-ins when the doctor has openings. Call ahead to check the wait.
Full answer →Is an online eye exam as good as an in-person exam?
No. An online test can renew a prescription for some healthy adults, but it can’t check eye health, such as glaucoma or retinal disease. You still need regular in-person exams.
Full answer →What is a refraction eye exam?
The part of the exam that measures your glasses prescription with a phoropter. Many medical plans and Original Medicare don’t cover it, so it’s often a separate $25–$75 fee.
Full answer →How often should I get an eye exam?
The American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive exam at least every two years for adults 18–64, and every year for adults 65+ or anyone at higher risk.
Full answer →Official sources
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. Coverage, prices and requirements change and vary by provider and location. Confirm details with your provider, insurer or the agency listed in the sources. Read our editorial policy.