You can get an eye exam and glasses at retail optical chains, wholesale clubs, independent optometrist offices, department store optical centers, and online retailers. The best option depends on your budget, insurance, and how quickly you need your glasses. Without insurance, eye exams typically cost between $45 and $200, with the lowest prices found at wholesale clubs and large retailers.
Retail Optical Chains
National chains like LensCrafters, Visionworks, and America’s Best are among the most common places to get both an exam and glasses in one visit. These stores have independent optometrists on-site (or next door) who perform the exam, then you walk straight to the retail floor to pick out frames and lenses. Some locations have in-house labs that can cut lenses the same day for simple prescriptions, though more complex orders like progressives or high-index lenses usually take about a week.
America’s Best often runs a deal where the exam is free when you buy two pairs of glasses, making it one of the most budget-friendly options. LensCrafters exams start around $73 without insurance. These chains carry a wide range of frame brands at various price points, and staff opticians handle fitting and adjustments at no extra charge.
Department Store and Wholesale Club Optical Centers
Walmart Vision Center, Target Optical, Costco Optical, and Sam’s Club all house optical departments with independent optometrists. The doctors are not employees of the store; they lease space inside or adjacent to the retail location. This arrangement keeps exam prices competitive. Walmart exams start around $75, Target Optical runs $70 to $100, and Sam’s Club starts at $45.
Costco is a popular choice for glasses because its frame and lens prices tend to be lower than standalone optical shops. One thing to know: you need a Costco membership to buy glasses there, but in most states you do not need a membership to see the independent eye doctor. Sam’s Club works similarly. These stores carry fewer designer frame options than dedicated optical retailers, but their house brands and mid-range selections are solid for everyday wear.
Independent Optometrists
A private optometrist’s office is a good fit if you want more personalized care or have specific eye health concerns beyond a basic prescription. Independent practices often spend more time per patient and may offer specialized testing that retail locations skip. The trade-off is cost: new patient exams at independent offices can run up to $200, and returning patients typically pay around $150 without insurance.
Many independent optometrists also sell frames and lenses on-site, though the selection is usually smaller and pricier than what you’d find at a chain. You’re always entitled to a copy of your prescription after the exam, so you can take it elsewhere to buy glasses if you prefer.
What Happens During a Comprehensive Eye Exam
A standard comprehensive exam takes 30 to 60 minutes and covers more than just reading letters off a chart. The optometrist will measure your visual acuity (how clearly each eye sees at different distances), test your depth perception, check color vision, evaluate how your eye muscles track and move, and assess your peripheral vision. You’ll look through a series of lenses while the doctor fine-tunes your prescription for nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
In many exams the doctor will also use dilating drops to widen your pupils, which allows a better view of the structures inside your eye. This is the part of the exam that screens for conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and even signs of diabetes. Dilation temporarily makes your vision blurry and light-sensitive for a few hours, so bringing sunglasses or having someone drive you home is a good idea. The doctor also measures the pressure inside your eyes, which is a key indicator of glaucoma risk.
Buying Glasses Online
Online retailers like Zenni, Warby Parker, EyeBuyDirect, and Pair Eyewear let you order prescription glasses at significantly lower prices than most brick-and-mortar stores. You’ll still need a current prescription from an in-person exam, but the glasses themselves can cost a fraction of what you’d pay in a shop. Standard turnaround is typically two to three weeks from order to delivery, or one to two weeks if you pay for priority production.
The one extra piece of information you’ll need is your pupillary distance, which is the space between the centers of your pupils. This measurement helps the lab center the lenses correctly in your frames. Your eye doctor normally measures this during your visit, but it doesn’t always appear on your written prescription. If it’s missing, you can measure it yourself using a mirror and a ruler held at your brow line while standing about eight inches from the mirror. For reading glasses, your near pupillary distance is usually 3 to 4 millimeters shorter than your distance measurement.
Online ordering works well for straightforward single-vision prescriptions. If you have a strong prescription, significant astigmatism, or need progressive lenses, buying in person lets an optician take precise measurements and ensure proper fit, which matters more when the lens design is complex.
Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist
For a routine eye exam and glasses prescription, an optometrist is the right provider. Optometrists are trained specifically in examining eyes for vision correction, fitting lenses, and screening for common eye diseases. They cannot perform surgery.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye surgery and managing serious eye conditions like cataracts, retinal detachment, or advanced glaucoma. They can also write glasses prescriptions, but their appointments tend to cost more and have longer wait times. If your optometrist spots something concerning during a routine exam, they’ll refer you to an ophthalmologist for further evaluation.
Free and Low-Cost Options
Several national programs help people who can’t afford exams or glasses. VSP Eyes of Hope provides no-cost eye care and eyeglasses to adults and children with limited income and no health insurance. New Eyes is a nonprofit that supplies prescription glasses to people who can’t afford them. Lions Clubs International offers help paying for eye care through local chapters, and some clubs provide glasses directly.
EyeCare America offers free comprehensive exams and up to one year of follow-up care for adults 18 and older. For children, Medicaid and CHIP cover vision care including exams and glasses in families with qualifying incomes. InfantSEE provides free eye assessments for babies 6 to 12 months old.
Veterans and service members who qualify for VA health benefits get routine eye exams and preventive vision testing covered. Depending on eligibility, the VA may also cover eyeglasses. Medicare does not cover routine eye exams or glasses for most enrollees, but it does cover eye care related to specific conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration.
How to Choose the Right Option
If price is your main concern, a wholesale club exam combined with online glasses gives you the lowest total cost. If convenience matters most, a retail chain where you can get examined and walk out with glasses the same day is hard to beat. If you have complex vision needs or a family history of eye disease, an independent optometrist gives you the most thorough experience.
Regardless of where you go, keep a copy of your prescription. It’s legally yours, and having it on hand means you can price-shop frames and lenses at any retailer or website without needing to return to the original office. Prescriptions for glasses are typically valid for one to two years depending on your state, so you have time to find the best deal.