How Much Does An Eye Exam Cost?

An eye exam should be done by a registered optometrist. Eye exams help to diagnose and correct vision problems and eye disease. The cost of a basic eye exam is around $40-$150. Eye exams at optical centers at retail stores like Walmart or Costco are usually cheaper than eye exams at an optometrist office. Basic eye exam cost at an optical center at a retail stores is around $50-$60, while the cost at an optometrist office is around $100-$150. The cost of an eye exam is increased if additional tests need to be done. The cost of an eye dilation test is around $20 and the cost of an Optos retinal exam is around $30. Patients that want contact lenses will also have to pay for a contact lens fitting; contact lens fitting costs $40-$150. In addition, there may be an extra $50-$100 charge for new patients. Most insurance plans cover at least some of the cost of an eye exam. In the United States, the cost of eye exams is similar throughout the entire country.

Average Cost Of An Eye Exam

Average eye exam cost is around $60 for a basic exam; however, eye exam cost can be as high as $150.  The cost is less at large retail stores like Walmart or Costco than at an optometrist’s office. Average eye exam cost at an optometrist’s office is around $100-$150. The cost at an optical center at a large retail store like Walmart or Costco is around $50-$60. Average eye exam cost does not cover extra tests like an eye dilation test or an Optos retinal exam. The average cost of a dilation test is around $20 and the average cost of an Optos retinal exam is around $30.

Eye Exam Cost Without Insurance

The cost of an eye exam ranges from $40-$150 without insurance. The average cost of an eye exam without insurance is around $60. Most health insurance companies give at least partial coverage for eye exams. Some optometrists give a discount to patients that have no insurance, to the elderly, low-income families and to those that pay in cash. Health insurance coverage for eye exams varies per insurance company and plan; eye exam coverage ranges from 15%-100%. With insurance, eye exam cost ranges from free to $100. The average cost of an eye exam with insurance is around $10-$20.

Online Eye Exams

There are numerous online eye exams. Some online eye exams are just games and are not a reliable way to test a person’s vision; however, there are some online eye exam sites that offer a good first assessment of a person’s vision. There are two different types of online eye exams – a focal vision exam and a color blindness exam. Online eye exam cost is usually free. An online eye exam can be a helpful tool for judging if you need an eye exam; however, it is not a substitute for going to an optometrist.

Walk In Eye Exams

Some eye clinics, especially those in large retail stores like Walmart and Costco, offer walk-in eye exams. Walk in eye exams are when an appointment is not necessary to see an optometrist. Most people will wait 20-30 minutes for a walk in appointment; however, some waits for a walk in eye exam can be as long as an hour or two, depending on how busy the optometrist is. Walk in eye exams cost the same as eye exams done when an appointment has been set. Most private optometrist offices do not allow for walk in patients, an appointment will need to be set.