It’s important to have your eyes examined periodically by an eye care professional, even if you feel your vision is fine.
According to the AOA, in general, these visits should occur:
At least once every two years, or as recommended, for adults 18 - 60
Annually, or as recommended, for those 6 - 18 or 61 and over
For those younger, at 6 months and 3 years of age, or as recommended
The question on many people’s mind: “How much do an eye exams cost?” The answer, as you might expect, depends on several factors—your location, the type of exam, whether you’re updating your lenses or getting new ones, etc.
Let’s take a moment to explore what factors you should consider when pricing an eye exam.
Eye exam prices
When scheduling your eye exam, feel free to ask about the costs involved. You’ll find they likely vary depending upon how comprehensive an exam you need and the level of expertise of your eye examiner.
For example, the overall cost for an ophthalmologist (an eye surgeon) is going to differ from that of a quick, low cost eye exam at a big box department store.
Before you start calling around, be ready to provide the following information:
- Your insurance (if you aren’t covered, keep reading)
- Your history of eye exams (when did you last visit an eye doctor?)
- Your family’s history (did your parents always wear glasses?)
- Your age and current state of vision
Having the answer to these questions before you call will likely help the people working at the eye doctor’s office better provide you with a quote on the cost of an eye exam