Vision and Eye Care Costs

Here is a look at common categories of vision care to help you maintain your eye health.¹

• Eye exams/tests. Routine screenings and diagnostic tests help detect vision changes, eye diseases and overall eye health issues early.
• Eyewear. From prescription lenses to blue-light blockers, glasses provide vision correction and stylish protection.
• Contact lenses. Daily extended wear and specialty lenses are available as a flexible, convenient vision correction option.
• Orthokeratology (ortho-K). This non-surgical procedure provides lenses that reshape the cornea to provide clear, glasses-free vision.
• Eye conditions. Specific care for issues such as glaucoma, dry eye, macular degeneration and more helps maintain long-term eye health.
• Eye surgery. Procedures like LASIK and cataract removal can permanently correct vision or address serious eye conditions.

Eye Exam Costs

An annual eye exam checks the health of your eyes and vision and usually includes visual acuity, refraction, cover and extraocular tests.

The national average cost* for an annual eye exam in the United States is $136, but it can range from $105 to $257. Without insurance, this is typically paid out of pocket.¹

The cost of the exam can vary depending on the clinic's location, the eye specialist's expertise and any additional tests that may be required.

Annual eye exam costs by state/district

Here are the average costs* of an eye exam in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.¹

State/District	Average cost
Alabama	$113
Alaska	$165
Arizona	$136
Arkansas	$116
California	$166
Colorado	$137
Connecticut	$143
Delaware	$135
District of Columbia	$174
Florida	$136
Georgia	$124
Hawaii	$196
Idaho	$139
Illinois	$126
Indiana	$121
Iowa	$119
Kansas	$118
Kentucky	$123
Louisiana	$127
Maine	$140
Maryland	$159
Massachusetts	$164
Michigan	$124
Minnesota	$129
Mississippi	$120
Missouri	$119
Montana	$135
Nebraska	$122
Nevada	$137
New Hampshire	$143
New Jersey	$153
New Mexico	$123
New York	$142
North Carolina	$126
North Dakota	$124
Ohio	$122
Oklahoma	$117
Oregon	$147
Pennsylvania	$131
Rhode Island	$139
South Carolina	$126
South Dakota	$125
Tennessee	$123
Texas	$126
Utah	$136
Vermont	$146
Virginia	$132
Washington	$155
West Virginia	$125
Wisconsin	$127
Wyoming	$130

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Eye exam/test costs

From acuity testing to pupil dilation, glaucoma tests to tonometry, a variety of vision tests can help your provider determine if you need glasses or contacts, while also screening for potential eye conditions and diseases. Without insurance, an eye exam is typically paid out of pocket.¹

Eye exam/test	Average cost
Color blindness test	$50
Contact lens exam and fitting	$125
Corneal topography:
Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT)	$252
Confocal microscopy	$517
Placido disc topography test	$182
Scanning slit beam topography	$284
Scheimpflug camera topography	$273
Cover test	$25
Dry eye test (Schirmer’s test)	$50
Extraocular muscle function test	$135
Fluorescein angiography	$453
Fundoscopy:
Direct ophthalmoscopy	$104
Indirect ophthalmoscopy	$130
Fundus photography	$45
Glaucoma tests:
Gonioscopy	$75
Perimetry	$60
Tonometry	$21
Heidelberg retinal tomography	$503
New patient eye consultation	$167
Preoperative LASIK evaluation	$202
Pupil dilation exam	$25
Ultrasound A-scan	$455
Ultrasound B-scan	$451
Vision field tests:
Basic	$109
Binocular vision test	$109
Frequency doubling technology (FDT)	$120
Goldmann kinetic perimetry	$151
Standard automated perimetry (SAP)	$109
Vision therapy test: Developmental vision evaluation	$207
Visual acuity test	$25
Visual refraction test	$46

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Eyewear Costs

How your vision is treated depends on the type of impairment, your overall health and your personal preferences. Vision improvement options include eyeglasses, specialty lenses, contact lenses and ortho-k.

Eyeglasses costs

Corrective eyeglasses and lenses can help address things like nearsightedness, farsightedness and colorblindness. Your doctor should be able to help you and your family members find the lenses that are right for all of you. Costs may be higher for designer brands and can also vary between chain retailers, independent boutiques and online stores.¹

Type of eyeglasses	Average cost
Bifocal lens:
Glass	$161
High index	$235
Plastic	$147
Polycarbonate	$182
Trivex®	$213
Color blindness glasses:
EnChroma®	$372
Pilestone®	$180
VINO® Optics	$291
Eyeglass frames:
Average	$218
Basic	$117
Designer	$431
Kids prescription glasses:
Bifocal lens	$91
Photochromic	$86
Polycarbonate	$70
Progressive lens:
Glass	$229
High index	$314
Plastic	$207
Polycarbonate	$261
Trivex	$289
Single lens:
Glass	$93
High index	$115
Plastic	$73
Polycarbonate	$94
Trivex	$110
Sunglasses:
Average	$78
Basic	$29
Designer	$389
Trifocal lens:
Glass	$182
High index	$265
Plastic	$161
Polycarbonate	$192
Trivex	$245

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Eyeglass lens coating costs

When you’re getting fitted for glasses, talk to your doctor about special coatings for the lenses. You can add blue light or antireflective coatings to protect your eyes when you’re on your phone or computer. Some coatings can protect your eyes from the sun (UV) or even extend the life of your glasses (scratch-resistant). Costs vary by types and brand of lens coating, as well as clinic or retail location.¹

Contact Lens Costs

Contact lenses help with vision challenges like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism (uneven focus of light). Lenses come in many types to address different needs, including single-vision, bifocal, trifocal and progressive lenses. Most contact lenses are available in a range of materials to fit your comfort and style preferences. Costs are determined brand and lens type, prescription strength, disposable vs. reusable lenses and frequency of replacement.¹

Orthokeratology Costs

Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, is a non-surgical procedure that uses specially designed and fitted contact lenses to temporarily reshape the cornea to improve vision. Costs may vary based on lens type, the provider's experience and fitting visits required.¹

Common Eye Condition Treatment Costs

Here are some common eye conditions, their causes and available treatment options to help manage symptoms and preserve eye health.

Dry eye treatment costs

Dry eye is a condition where the eyes do not produce enough tears or tears evaporate too quickly, which can cause irritation and discomfort. There are several treatment options your doctor may recommend to help, such as over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops, punctal plug surgery, LipiFlow^®, iLux^®, TearCare^® or NuLids™. Advanced treatments and procedures performed by specialists may increase pricing, as will the location and type of healthcare facility.¹

Macular degeneration treatment costs

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye (macula), which can result in vision loss. Treatment options are based on the two main types: dry AMD and wet AMD.

Blocked tear duct treatment costs

A blocked tear duct happens when an eye's drainage system for tears is obstructed. Your provider can choose from one of several procedures to help unblock the tear duct and restore normal tear flow. Costs will be determined by type of treatment, provider experience and location of facility, as well as the type of anesthesia required.¹

Pink eye treatment costs

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) happens when there’s an inflammation or infection of the membrane around your eye (conjunctiva). Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antihistamines or artificial tears to help manage your symptoms and speed recovery, all of which will affect pricing.¹

Stye (hordeolum) treatment costs

A stye is an inflamed oil gland on the eyelid and may appear as a red, swollen bump. While styes may go away on their own, an antibiotic or lancing and draining by a doctor may be necessary in some cases.¹

Chalazion treatment costs

A chalazion is a small bump in the eyelid caused by a blockage of an oil gland. While most go away on their own, an antibiotic or surgical removal by a doctor may be necessary in some cases. Cost will vary based on necessary treatment.¹

Eye Surgery Costs

Eye surgery — from vision correction procedures like LASIK to cataract removal and glaucoma surgery — can offer lasting solutions to enhance both your vision and overall eye health.

Cataract surgery costs

Cataract surgery restores vision by replacing the eye's cloudy lens with a clear artificial one. Options vary: Monofocal lenses offer single-distance clarity, usually far, with reading glasses needed; toric lenses correct astigmatism, often reducing glasses use; and presbyopia-correcting lenses provide multi-distance clarity, minimizing the need for glasses. Costs can be affected by surgeon experience, whether it is performed in a hospital or outpatient surgery center, and whether additional procedures, medications or potential secondary treatments are required.¹