Free & Low-Cost Vision Care & Eye Exams (2026 Guide)

EyeCare America is a public service program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). It is one of the most established free eye care programs in the country, with over 5,500 volunteer ophthalmologists participating nationwide.

The program offers free comprehensive eye exams and up to one year of follow-up care at no out-of-pocket cost. There are two main components:

Seniors Program: For U.S. citizens or legal residents age 65 and older who have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years. There is no income requirement. The volunteer ophthalmologist accepts Medicare or other insurance as full payment — and if you have no insurance, the exam is free.

Glaucoma Program: Provides free glaucoma screenings for people who are at increased risk for glaucoma, including African Americans age 40+, Hispanic Americans age 65+, and anyone with a family history of glaucoma.

To check your eligibility and find a volunteer ophthalmologist, visit aao.org/eyecare-america or call 1-877-887-6327. The program has provided free eye care to over 2 million people since 1985.

Vision USA is a program of Optometry Cares, the charitable arm of the American Optometric Association (AOA). It provides free comprehensive eye exams to uninsured, low-income working Americans and their families.

To qualify, you must: have a job or be a dependent of someone who is employed, have no vision insurance, have family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, and not have had an eye exam within the past two years.

Volunteer optometrists in all 50 states participate. The program typically opens enrollment in January each year and exams are provided through April (dates may vary). Vision USA has provided free eye care to over 250,000 people since the program began in 1991.

Vision USA covers the eye exam only — it does not cover glasses. However, many participating optometrists will help you find affordable eyewear options or connect you with a Lions Club or other program that provides free glasses.

To apply, visit aoa.org/visionusa or contact your state optometric association directly.

Lions Club International has been focused on vision care since 1925 when Helen Keller challenged the organization to become "knights of the blind." Today, Lions Clubs across the country provide several vision-related services:

Free recycled eyeglasses: Lions Clubs collect used eyeglasses, clean and sort them by prescription, and distribute them to people in need — both in the U.S. and internationally. Many local Lions Clubs hold regular eyeglass distribution events.

Free eye screenings: Many Lions Clubs sponsor free vision screenings at community events, schools, and health fairs.

Financial assistance for eye care: Local Lions Clubs often help pay for eye exams and eyeglasses for people who cannot afford them. The availability and amount of assistance depends on the local club's resources.

Lions KidSight: Free vision screenings for children ages 6 months to 6 years to detect vision problems early.

To find your local Lions Club, visit lionsclubs.org or call 1-630-571-5466. Explain your situation and ask what vision assistance they offer in your area. Programs vary by chapter, so call ahead.

VSP Eyes of Hope is a charitable program from VSP Vision Care that provides free eye exams and glasses to people who need them most. The program focuses on three groups:

Homelessness: Partners with shelters, community organizations, and health centers to provide free eye exams and glasses to people experiencing homelessness.

Domestic violence survivors: Works with domestic violence shelters and organizations to provide free vision care to DV survivors and their children.

Disaster relief: After natural disasters, VSP deploys mobile eye care units to affected areas to provide free eye exams and glasses.

Since 2003, VSP Eyes of Hope has provided free eyewear and eye care to more than 3 million people in need. You cannot apply directly as an individual — the program works through partner organizations. Contact local shelters, DV organizations, or community health centers to ask if they partner with VSP Eyes of Hope.

For more information, visit vspeyesofhope.org.

InfantSEE is a public health program of the American Optometric Association and The Vision Care Institute of Johnson & Johnson Vision. It provides free comprehensive eye assessments for infants between 6 and 12 months of age.

The program is available to all infants regardless of family income or insurance status. Participating optometrists volunteer their time and expertise to provide a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment at no cost.

Early detection of vision problems is critical — undiagnosed vision issues in infants can affect development, learning, and overall health. InfantSEE checks for conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, eye movement problems, and eye health issues.

To find a participating InfantSEE provider near you, visit infantsee.org or call 1-888-396-3937. Over 100,000 infant eye assessments have been provided through the program since its launch.

Medicaid vision coverage varies significantly depending on your state and your age:

Children: Medicaid covers comprehensive vision care for all enrolled children under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. This includes eye exams, eyeglasses, and treatment of eye conditions. CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) also typically covers vision care.

Adults: Medicaid adult vision coverage is optional — states choose whether to include it. As of 2026, about 30 states offer some level of adult vision benefits through Medicaid, ranging from comprehensive coverage (exams, glasses, contacts) to limited coverage (exams only or emergency-only).

Some states with strong adult Medicaid vision coverage include California (Medi-Cal), New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Illinois. States with no adult vision coverage include Alabama, Arizona (limited), and several others.

If you are on Medicaid, contact your state Medicaid office or managed care plan to ask specifically what vision benefits are covered. Community health centers are often the most reliable places to access Medicaid vision services.

To apply for Medicaid, visit HealthCare.gov or your state's Medicaid website.

Many Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) offer vision services alongside medical, dental, and behavioral health care. These community health centers serve everyone regardless of ability to pay, using a sliding fee scale based on income.

Vision services at FQHCs may include: comprehensive eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions, screening for glaucoma and diabetic eye disease, referrals for eye surgery, and sometimes on-site optical shops where you can get affordable glasses.

Not all FQHCs offer vision care, so search specifically on the HRSA Health Center Finder at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. You can call the health center directly to ask if they have an optometrist or ophthalmologist on staff, or if they partner with a local eye care provider for referrals.

If your income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, services may be free. At 101-200% FPL, you will pay a reduced fee. Above 200% FPL, you pay based on the center's sliding scale but still typically less than a private practice.

Even if you do not qualify for a free program, you can still get affordable glasses:

Online retailers offer the lowest prices. Zenni Optical sells complete prescription glasses starting at $6.95 — including frames and basic single-vision lenses. EyeBuyDirect starts around $6 for basic frames. Warby Parker offers stylish frames starting at $95 with lenses included and has a free home try-on program. Pair Eyewear starts at $60 with customizable magnetic top-frames.

Walmart Vision Center offers eye exams for around $75-$100 and sells budget frames starting at $10-$30. Sam's Club and Costco Optical offer similar budget options — and Costco does not require a membership to use their optical department in most states.

America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses offers a deal that includes two pairs of glasses and a free eye exam starting at $79.95. Many locations run additional promotions.

To order online, you need your pupillary distance (PD) measurement in addition to your prescription. Some online retailers provide tools to measure this at home, or you can ask your eye doctor to include it on your prescription. Under federal law (the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act and the FTC Eyeglass Rule), your eye doctor must give you a copy of your prescription.

Many states operate their own vision care programs for low-income residents:

Sight for Students (VSP) provided free eye exams and glasses to children — while the formal national program ended, many local VSP partnerships continue. Check with your school district.

New Eyes for the Needy provides new prescription eyeglasses to people in the U.S. who cannot afford them. Applications must come through a social service agency, school nurse, or similar organization. Visit new-eyes.org.

Prevent Blindness offers free or low-cost vision screenings and can connect you to local vision care resources. They have chapters in several states. Visit preventblindness.org.

Many state and county health departments also operate vision programs for low-income residents, particularly for children. Call 211 for vision assistance resources in your area.

Community organizations including Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, and Rotary clubs sometimes provide vision care assistance in their communities. Contact local chapters to ask.