How Much Does A Cheap Eye Exam Cost
Cheap eye exams vary in cost but are usually available for $100 or less. Cheap tends to equate to basic. If you have serious vision health concerns, seek a comprehensive exam.
Cheap eye exams are not recommended for people diagnosed with:
- Hypertension
- Serious vision health issues
Eye exams are important for protecting your vision and for early diagnosis of other health concerns. Some basic eye exams can detect problems with heart health, stroke risk, and diabetes-related vision problems.
However, if you believe these issues are a concern for you, its best to set up routine checkups at a full-service eye health center.
Cheap eye exams are ideal for young people, do not suspect any eye health issues, and want to measure their visual acuity.
Opticians And Contact Lens Fitters
Costco Optical in Canada prides itself on having some of the most knowledgeable and helpful employees in the industry. Our staff consists of trained, provincially licensed professionals that are highly respected in the optical industry. You can feel confident that you are receiving the best possible care when visiting your local Costco Optical department. You will find licensed staff working during all warehouse opening hours*.
What Is An Eye Exam
An eye exam consists of a series of tests that measure how well you can see and how healthy your eyes are. During an eye exam, a doctor of optometry or ophthalmology will look for problems that might affect the overall health of your eyes and quality of vision. These can include eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and cataracts. How often you should have an eye exam depends on a variety of factors, including your overall risk for specific problems.
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Popular Alternatives To Costco
If price is the biggest motivator in your decision-making, a Costco eye exam is usually one of the most affordable available. But optical centers inside supermarkets or department stores could result in similar savings.
The following national retail chains offer a similar experience to Costco:
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Sams Club
Unlike Costco or Sams Club, you wont need a membership at Target or Walmart to order glasses or contacts during the same trip.
Exam prices at these stores tend to be in line with Costco exams. But remember prices vary from store to store, so make sure to call ahead of time.
If a Costco optometrist offers a lower exam price, youre already a member, or you just want to grab a jumbo-sized slice of pizza afterward, Costco could be your winner.
Page published on Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Page updated on Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Schedule an exam
Ready For Your Costco Eye Exam
Ready to get your Costco Eye exam ? You are in luck because we have all the information. If you are looking to have your next Eye Exam done at Costco we recommend that you schedule an appointment by calling your local Costco store. By scheduling an appointment you are guaranteed to get your eye exam done on time and with a minimal wait time. If you are feeling lucky you can always visit your local Costco store for a walk in eye exam but just know that clients with appointments will get priority and you may end up waiting for a long time. In some rare cases you may have to come another day if Costco vision center is too busy to take you in. This is why we urge everyone to schedule an appointment which can be done with ease by visiting by and enter your zip code and select the Costco Optical near . Alternatively you could always give them a call and schedule an appointment that way.
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Is It Worth It
Costco Optical appears to be a decent option for affordable and quick in-person eye exams, especially if you have a Costco membership. If you opt to go elsewhere, note that you have a plethora of options available to you.
Ash Fisher is a writer and comedian living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. When shes not having a wobbly-baby-deer day, shes hiking with her corgi, Vincent. Learn more about her on her website.
Costco Eye Exam Cost 2022
Many people go to Costco for shopping, but Costco also offers excellent optician services. The company doesnt employ the Ophthalmologists working at Costco, but they work as independent contractors. However, they have to conform to the standards set by Costco.
This is why you get to experience almost the same level of services at all Costco branches. They have all of the latest equipment and technology, and they can do the test right on site.
Related: 12 Places Where You Can Get an Eye Exam
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Add Affordable Eye Care To The List Of Amazing Things Costco Offers
There are very few items you cant buy at Costco. The membership allows access to discounted food in bulk, affordable vacation packages, and perks when purchasing things like gym memberships and even cars. One lesser-known perk is Costcos great eye care.
Costco Optical offers access to all your eye care needs, including independent, licensed optometrists who will provide cheap eye exams. Pricing does differ from doctor to doctor, but most take varying types of insurance. Its still a good idea to check with your local warehouse to make sure they accept your insurance. Annual eye exams for uninsured walk-ins are around $70, Southern Living reports. For comparison, NerdWallet reports the average vision tests and eye exams cost anywhere between $46 and $255 depending on location and if youre an established patient. Here are 10 more bizarre things you never knew you could buy at Costco.
Erica Smit/Shutterstock
That said, you can technically check your vision with a Costco eye exam without having a membership. Billing doesnt go through Costco since the optometrists are contractors, so your exam bill is separate from your membership. The glasses, contacts, and lenses are all Costco-owned, meaning you need a membership to buy those items. These are the 7 other things you can do at Costco without a membership.
Things You Can Do at Costco Without a Membership
Things You Shouldnt Be Buying from Costco
Does Costco Do Eye Exams In 2022
Costco does eye exams for a minimum of $50, which includes a frame and prescription lens. This price is great because those are the most expensive parts of an exam you would have to pay in other places.
You can also add additional contact lenses or glasses for a discounted rate if needed. However, you will have to pay more if you want to get additional tests done.
Almost all Costco branches have an optical center. If youre looking for some new frames or contacts, stop by Costco with your prescription from your optometrist . The friendly staff will be happy to help you find what you need.
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How Do I Schedule An Eye Exam And What Are Their Hours
While walk-ins are welcomed when available, youd be smart to call ahead and schedule your next eye exam.
This brings us to the next logical question, what are the Costco Optical hours and are they different that the regular warehouse hours?
In many cases, the exam hours are different than the warehouse hours but the hours that they are open to actually sell glasses are the same.
At my Costco, exams are available from 10 am 7 pm Monday-Friday, 9:45 am 5 pm on Saturday, and 10 am 3 pm on Sunday.
Just call your local Costco to schedule your appointment and ask what hours they are open.
Do Costco Members Get Free Eye Exams
Costco members receive a myriad of discounts and deals each year with their membership. Unfortunately, free eye exams are not one of them. However, as stated earlier, their eye exams are much cheaper than other vision centers. I called my local Costco while writing this post, and they told me it was $65 for an eye exam without insurance.
You can schedule eye exam appointments online or over the phone. Your eye health is worth a couple of hours of your day, especially considering it is relatively inexpensive. The eye exam may reveal your eyes are perfectly healthy, or you may learn about problems that need treatment.
Either way, you will have a game plan to ensure the best vision possible for years to come.
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How Much Is Costco Optical Without Insurance
A Costco eye exam will cost you between $50 to $100 for a comprehensive exam with glasses. Of course, the price will vary depending on your location.
The final price will also be determined by services you have done during your exam, such as dilation, contact lens fitting, and retinal imaging.
The median cost of glasses at Costco Optical without insurance is $186, compared to the price at major retailers without insurance of $369. Thats a huge discount!
Costco Eyeglasses And Eye Exam
by george» Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:22 pm
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leegar wrote:If you have frames from your exiting glasses you wish to use but did not purchase from Costco, there is an additional charge of about $24. I find this strange for a consumer oriented retailer, and a waste of a good pair frames that I have already purchased last year and that are very adequate. I will not get my new prescription filled at Costco.
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Eye Exam Cost At Costco
An eye exam without insurance at Costo may vary depending on the location. No matter what, it is considered low-cost compared to private eye doctors.
You can usually get an eye exam for around $70.
Costco also accepts most vision insurance coverage plans, which can help to cut the cost down even further. However, this can vary, because Costco optometry offices are all independent. Some Costco offices dont take insurance at all.
Will Costco Optical Put New Lenses In Old Glasses With Insurance
There are many reasons why your local Costco Optical might not want to put new lenses in your old glasses, even if you have insurance. One reason is that they may not have the proper tools or equipment to do so. Another reason is that it’s often cheaper and easier for them to simply sell you a new pair of glasses. Finally, it’s possible that your particular insurance plan doesn’t cover the cost of lens replacement. However, it’s always worth asking your local Costco Optical team about their policy on lens replacement – you may be surprised by their answer.
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How Much Is Eye Exam At Costco
On average, a basic eye exam at Costco costs around $64 to $70 without insurance and it includes a frame and prescription lens. Costco contact lens exams cost around $104 to $120, and additional services such as specialty contact lenses cost around $134 to $150.
Additionally, frames and other services such as dilation, retinal image and contact lens fittings, the cost will be slightly higher.
You do not need a Costco membership to get an exam at Costco. However, a membership is required if you want to buy products such as glasses, contact lenses and eye care kits.
Eye exam prices vary depending on the Costco location. In this example below, the price is from Costco California.
Best Budget: Americas Best
Americas Best
- Eye exam cost: From roughly $50 to $90
- Perk: Free eye exam when purchasing two pairs of glasses
- Number of locations: 700 locations throughout the U.S.
Why We Chose It: We chose Americas Best because of its low prices, frequent discounts, and savings for members.
-
Examination feels rushed
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Low quality control
Founded in 1978, America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses is a discount optical chain with more than 700 retail locations throughout the United States. The company offers a wide assortment of frames for the cost-conscious family. A basic eye exam averages about $50, with a contact lens exam starting around $90.
Perhaps one of the biggest perks of the company is the free eye exam that comes with the purchase of two pairs of eyeglasses. The company claims to accept many vision insurance plans, including regional plans.
Customers have the option of joining The Eyecare Club. Membership to this includes three years of free eye exams , three years of contact lens exams for about $99, and a 10% savings on all other purchases. Most locations are open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses offers the lowest price for eye exams, Eyecare Club memberships for savings, several discounts on purchases, and enticing package deals.
Also Check: America’s Best Eye Exam Cost Without Insurance
How A Costco Eye Exam Compares To Others
In general, youll get roughly the same set of vision and eye tests at Costco as you would anywhere else especially when it comes to eyesight correction.
This series of tests is called a comprehensive eye exam. During this exam, a doctor measures your visual sharpness and makes sure the inside and outside of each eye looks healthy.
They may perform several painless tests that monitor:
After your eye exam, the optometrist will provide an updated vision prescription. You can use this information to get prescription glasses, sunglasses and contacts anywhere not just at Costco.
If you have specific concerns about the health of your eyes, you may want to consider scheduling an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist at a private eye care practice. While a retail optometrist knows how to spot the signs of eye disease, they will likely refer you to a separate vision practice if anything warrants a second look.
Doctors in private offices are usually better equipped to diagnose and manage complex or long-term medical issues than store-based optometrists. In many cases, group-practice optometrists work with ophthalmologists if they need a second opinion, they can get one on the spot.
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What Does A Costco Optical Exam Entail With Or Without Insurance
In general, youll have roughly the same vision and eye tests at Costco Optical as you would at any eye doctor especially when it comes down to vision correction.
All of these tests are considered to be part of the comprehensive eye exam, which during the doctor will measure your visual sharpness and ensure that your eye is healthy on the inside and outside.
The doctor will perform a variety of painless tests that monitor:
- Color blindness
- How your peripheral vision is doing
- How your eyes move together
- Fluid pressure inside your eyes
- Your retinas health
- Presbyopia, astigmatism, farsightedness, nearsightedness
- Visual sharpness
After the exam, the doctor will give you an updated vision prescription that you can use to purchase new glasses, sunglasses, and contacts.
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How Much Does Costco Eye Exam Cost
Many people are surprised that Costco offers eye exams but it is true, they do. You can have all your eye care needs met by Costco Optical center because in addition to exy exams Costco sells eyeglasses and contact lenses at all their locations as well. If you are concerned about the quality of the eye exam dont be, Costo eye exams are performed by independent doctors of Optometry which means that the doctors are not connected to or hired by Costco they are independent doctors who rent the space from Costco. The good news is that you can go to Costco for an eye exam even if you are not a Costco member. So how much does Costco eye exam cost? We have all the prices listed below.
Is Costco A Vsp Provider
According to Costco Opticals website, Costco accepts most vision insurance plans. But we had to do a little digging to find out exactly what that means.
Unfortunately, Costco is not a VSP network provider. Customers can still use Costco Optical with VSP insurance, but Costco is treated as an out-of-network provider. So, customers are responsible for submitting claims for reimbursement after receiving care.
Whats the difference between out-of-network and in-network providers?
Good question. Out-of-network means that your provider and your insurance company dont communicate. In other words, your provider wont be able to bill your insurance company directly because there is no existing relationship between the two companies. An in-network provider is a provider that has an established relationship with your insurance company and can take care of the billing process for you.
A provider being out-of-network does not have to mean that you wont be able to work with that provider. It just means youll have a little bit of extra leg work to do in order to get your care covered. To submit an out-of-network coverage claim to VSP, simply follow the steps listed on their website here.
As a side note, you might be wondering what VSP even is. Weve got you!
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