Eye exam cost without insurance
The median cash price for Eye exam, new patient is $188.51 across 391 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $76.02 and $423.00.
Eye exams are billed by whether you are a new or returning patient and how thorough the exam is. The test for glasses (refraction) is often billed separately, and extra tests such as visual fields or retina scans add to the total.
Collected Nov 10, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
Eye exam prices by type
92004 is a comprehensive exam for a new patient and is used in the state table; 92014 is the same for a returning patient; 92012 is an intermediate exam; 92083 is a visual field test; and 92134 is a retina OCT scan.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Middle 80% | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye exam, new patient Comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor, new patient · code 92004 | 391 | $76.02–$423.00 | $188.51 | $136.02median 1.4× |
| Eye exam (comprehensive) Comprehensive eye exam, returning patient · code 92014 | 396 | $58.35–$385.45 | $165.45 | $136.02median 1.2× |
| Eye exam (follow-up) Eye exam, returning patient, intermediate · code 92012 | 416 | $57.40–$385.45 | $146.72 | $136.02median 1.1× |
| Visual field test Visual field test, extended · code 92083 | 296 | $78.00–$471.15 | $164.07 | $135.93median 1.2× |
| Retina OCT scan OCT scan of the retina (optical coherence tomography) · code 92134 | 369 | $37.70–$297.50 | $93.00 | $60.27median 1.5× |
“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.
Eye exam, new patient: median by state
States with at least 5 hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its eye exam prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Louisiana$73.28
- Tennessee$100.28
- Arkansas$108.60
- Idaho$121.00
- Missouri$127.98
- Minnesota$130.05
- Wisconsin$130.90
- Illinois$132.00
- Michigan$147.54
- Pennsylvania$152.80
- Mississippi$154.85
- Washington$169.40
- West Virginia$170.00
- Georgia$207.01
- Massachusetts$208.03
- New York$230.00
- Texas$241.00
- California$245.28
- Ohio$256.60
- South Dakota$321.60
- Florida$481.65
- Kentucky$481.97
Eye exam, new patient: median by metro area
Metro areas with at least 10 hospitals.
- Atlanta, GA$268.50
- Chicago, IL$132.00
- Cleveland, OH$385.45
- Los Angeles, CA$292.24
- New York, NY$152.50
- San Francisco, CA$245.28
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask whether refraction for glasses (92015) is included.
- Optometrists and retail optical stores usually charge less than hospital eye clinics for routine exams.
- If you have diabetes or glaucoma, ask which tests you need each year.
Questions
How much does an eye exam cost without insurance?
The median hospital cash price for Eye exam, new patient (code 92004) is $188.51 across 391 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price; most charge $76.02 to $423.00. By state, the median runs from $73.28 in Louisiana to $481.97 in Kentucky.
How often should I get an eye exam?
Every one to two years for most adults, more often with diabetes, glaucoma or other eye conditions.
Is an eye exam the same as a vision test?
No. A comprehensive exam also checks eye health.
Does Medicare cover eye exams?
Original Medicare covers exams for medical eye problems but not routine exams for glasses.