EyeCare America® is a public service program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology that provides uninsured and underinsured individuals 18 years and older with access to medical eye exams by matching qualified patients with a volunteer ophthalmologist in their area.

 

In April 2025, with generous support from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., EyeCare America lowered the eligibility age from 65 to 18, expanding access to no-cost medical eye exams. To see if you qualify, visit their Online Referral Center at www.aao.org/eyecareamerica.

 

WHY

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all healthy adults get a medical eye exam at least once in their 20s, twice in their 30s, and as recommended by an ophthalmologist in their 40s and up. People who have a family history of eye disease or preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes, may need to come in once or twice a year, or more often.

Regular eye exams throughout adulthood are important for detecting eye diseases and conditions early, before symptoms appear. For some conditions, once vision is lost, it cannot be restored. Approximately 6 million Americans have vision loss, and 1 million have blindness.

An eye exam can also detect health issues beyond eye diseases. That’s because the blood vessels and nerves at the back of the eye reflect your overall health and can signal the start of certain conditions, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or vitamin deficiencies. Other surprising diseases an ophthalmologist can help diagnose include diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

The easiest way to protect your sight is to have regular eye exams.

 

WHO

Through its Online Referral Center, EyeCare America, one of the largest public service programs in American medicine, provides eye care to those most in need through a pool of more than 2,750 volunteer ophthalmologists.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for EyeCare America, a patient must meet the following criteria:

  • A U.S. citizen or legal resident

  • 18 years old or older

  • Not belong to an HMO or a PPO, nor have private insurance or benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Not have been seen by an ophthalmologist in three or more years

  • Not have been seen by an EyeCare America volunteer ophthalmologist in the past

 
 

Services Provided:

If you are eligible, the EyeCare America program provides

a medical eye exam and up to 1 year of follow-up visits for any condition diagnosed in the initial exam at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

Services Not Provided

The EyeCare America program is for medical eye care only.
It does not cover or provide:

  • Refraction exams or prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses

  • Eyeglasses or contact lenses

  • Fees for procedures or surgeries, including laser surgery

  • Associated costs such as anesthesia, medications, injections, diagnostic tests, or surgical facility fees

Please discuss the cost of service(s) needed with your ophthalmologist beforehand.

 

How

EyeCare America’s referral system works in the following way:

  • Complete the EyeCare America Referral Questionnaire about yourself or on behalf of someone else

  • If you are matched with a volunteer ophthalmologist, you will receive an email with your referral details, including the doctor’s name and office information, and this information will also appear on your screen

  • Call the doctor’s office to schedule an appointment

  • At the appointment, the volunteer ophthalmologist will provide a medical eye exam. Note that exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses are not covered by the program

  • After the appointment, complete the Patient Survey and return it to EyeCare America

 

In April 2025, with generous support from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., EyeCare America lowered the eligibility age from 65 to 18, expanding access to no-cost medical eye exams.

This change also consolidated the Seniors and Glaucoma Programs into a single, unified model while continuing to serve seniors as a core population.

EyeCare America is endorsed by state and subspecialty ophthalmological societies.

A public service program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, EyeCare America’s mission is to reduce avoidable blindness and severe visual impairment through education and public service.

 

For those in need of eyeglasses or contact lenses only:

Please visit: aao.org/eyecare-america/resources

Visit aao.org/eyecareamerica

for more information or to see if you qualify for a referral to one of EyeCare America’s 5,000 volunteer ophthalmologists nationwide.

 

CONTACT

EyeCare America
Phone: 877-887-6327 | Fax: 415-561-8567
Email: eyecareamerica@aao.org
PO Box 429098, San Francisco, CA 94142

EyeCare America is co-sponsored by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., with additional support provided by Alcon.