Eye exam, new patient cost without insurance
Across 181 US markets, hospitals list an outpatient cash price for comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor, new patient from $38.10 to $1,264.26. The median market price is $179.25. Prices come from each hospital's own price file; pick your area below to compare hospitals side by side.
Collected Sep 24, 2026 Each price links to its source file All Eye exam costs
Lowest$38.10any market
Median market$179.25middle of market medians
Highest$1,264.26any market
Listings341hospital prices
Compared with Medicare
$136.02 is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for this service in a hospital outpatient department, including the patient's share and before the local wage adjustment. The median hospital cash price, $201.50 across 343 hospitals, is 1.5× that.
Researchers often measure hospital prices as a multiple of Medicare's rate, and it is a concrete number to mention when you ask a hospital for a cash discount. Source: CMS.
What it is
This is a full medical eye exam for a new patient by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. It usually checks vision, eye pressure, eye movement and the inside of the eye, often with dilating drops, and may take more than one visit.
What the price covers
The price covers the exam itself. Refraction, the test that sets a glasses prescription, is billed separately (92015), as are contact lens fitting, eye imaging and glasses.
Why prices differ
Prices differ between hospital eye clinics, academic eye centers and private offices, and hospital-based clinics may add facility fees.
What to ask
Ask whether the self-pay price for CPT 92004 includes refraction for a glasses prescription and any eye imaging.
Prices by state
Median outpatient cash price, one line per hospital. Pick a state to see every hospital, cheapest first.
- Alaska$314.38
- Arizona$159.37
- Arkansas$260.25
- California$245.28
- Colorado$130.15
- Connecticut$158.00
- Florida$477.43
- Georgia$146.64
- Idaho$121.00
- Illinois$114.80
- Indiana$111.50
- Iowa$312.00
- Kansas$160.32
- Kentucky$481.97
- Louisiana$61.41
- Maine$56.07
- Maryland$315.00
- Massachusetts$175.05
- Michigan$107.90
- Minnesota$211.89
- Missouri$105.88
- Nebraska$78.00
- Nevada$411.00
- New Jersey$725.00
- New York$230.00
- Ohio$256.60
- Oklahoma$179.25
- Oregon$268.45
- Pennsylvania$152.80
- South Carolina$99.00
- Tennessee$91.04
- Texas$241.00
- Vermont$422.20
- Virginia$58.35
- Washington$144.90
- West Virginia$90.75
- Wisconsin$157.50
- Wyoming$393.99
Prices by market
Outpatient cash prices. “×” is how many times the highest price in that market exceeds the lowest.
| Market | Hospitals | Lowest | Median | Highest | × |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna, IL single city | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 | $114.80 | 1.0× |
| Antigo, WI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Akron, OH | 3 | $125.25 | $186.00 | $385.45 | 3.1× |
| Anchorage, AK | 1 | $245.00 | $245.00 | $245.00 | 1.0× |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 1 | $53.20 | $53.20 | $53.20 | 1.0× |
| Ardmore, OK | 1 | $179.25 | $179.25 | $179.25 | 1.0× |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 9 | $146.64 | $146.64 | $146.64 | 1.0× |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 1 | $172.26 | $172.26 | $172.26 | 1.0× |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 1 | $146.64 | $146.64 | $146.64 | 1.0× |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 7 | $241.00 | $241.00 | $241.00 | 1.0× |
| Big Stone Gap, VA single city | 1 | $58.35 | $58.35 | $58.35 | 1.0× |
| Buckhannon, WV single city | 1 | $87.50 | $87.50 | $87.50 | 1.0× |
| Baker City, OR | 1 | $118.30 | $118.30 | $118.30 | 1.0× |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1 | $315.00 | $315.00 | $315.00 | 1.0× |
| Bangor, ME | 1 | $56.07 | $56.07 | $56.07 | 1.0× |
| Beaver Dam, WI | 1 | $115.90 | $115.90 | $115.90 | 1.0× |
| Bennington, VT | 1 | $218.40 | $218.40 | $218.40 | 1.0× |
| Boise City, ID | 2 | $121.00 | $121.00 | $121.00 | 1.0× |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3 | $111.30 | $126.00 | $175.05 | 1.6× |
| Brenham, TX | 1 | $241.00 | $241.00 | $241.00 | 1.0× |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 2 | $137.47 | $295.24 | $453.01 | 3.3× |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 1 | $626.00 | $626.00 | $626.00 | 1.0× |
| Cades, SC single city | 1 | $71.00 | $71.00 | $71.00 | 1.0× |
| Cedar Rapids, IA single city | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 1 | $385.45 | $385.45 | $385.45 | 1.0× |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 1 | $252.75 | $252.75 | $252.75 | 1.0× |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 1 | $99.00 | $99.00 | $99.00 | 1.0× |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 1 | $166.32 | $166.32 | $166.32 | 1.0× |
| Cheyenne, WY | 1 | $393.99 | $393.99 | $393.99 | 1.0× |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 13 | $46.74 | $132.00 | $306.00 | 6.5× |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 3 | $229.50 | $238.80 | $238.80 | 1.0× |
| Clarksburg, WV | 1 | $78.00 | $78.00 | $78.00 | 1.0× |
| Cleveland, OH | 19 | $93.10 | $385.45 | $606.00 | 6.5× |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 1 | $241.00 | $241.00 | $241.00 | 1.0× |
| Columbia, MO | 1 | $126.60 | $126.60 | $126.60 | 1.0× |
| Columbus, OH | 1 | $414.00 | $414.00 | $414.00 | 1.0× |
| Corbin, KY | 1 | $481.97 | $481.97 | $481.97 | 1.0× |
| Corning, NY | 1 | $231.67 | $231.67 | $231.67 | 1.0× |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1 | $141.68 | $141.68 | $141.68 | 1.0× |
| Cortland, NY | 1 | $231.67 | $231.67 | $231.67 | 1.0× |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $87.50 | $87.50 | $87.50 | 1.0× |
| Decorah, IA single city | 1 | $413.70 | $413.70 | $413.70 | 1.0× |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1 | $368.25 | $368.25 | $368.25 | 1.0× |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 2 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 1 | $274.40 | $274.40 | $274.40 | 1.0× |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2 | $82.20 | $130.15 | $178.10 | 2.2× |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4 | $107.90 | $107.90 | $107.90 | 1.0× |
| Dubuque, IA | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 1 | $168.64 | $168.64 | $168.64 | 1.0× |
| Eagle River, WI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| East Amery, WI single city | 1 | $106.37 | $106.37 | $106.37 | 1.0× |
| Eau Claire, WI | 2 | $115.90 | $158.70 | $201.50 | 1.7× |
| Elizabethtown, KY | 1 | $481.97 | $481.97 | $481.97 | 1.0× |
| Evansville, IN | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 | $114.80 | 1.0× |
| Fort Dodge, IA | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 4 | $53.52 | $60.21 | $66.90 | 1.2× |
| Fresno, CA | 1 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $245.28 | 1.0× |
| Gassaway, WV single city | 1 | $87.50 | $87.50 | $87.50 | 1.0× |
| Grinnell, IA single city | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Greeneville, TN | 1 | $58.35 | $58.35 | $58.35 | 1.0× |
| Hartford, CT single city | 1 | $158.00 | $158.00 | $158.00 | 1.0× |
| Hailey, ID | 1 | $121.00 | $121.00 | $121.00 | 1.0× |
| Hammond, LA | 1 | $98.31 | $98.31 | $98.31 | 1.0× |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 1 | $38.10 | $38.10 | $38.10 | 1.0× |
| Henderson, KY | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 | $114.80 | 1.0× |
| Houghton, MI | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 1 | $136.91 | $136.91 | $136.91 | 1.0× |
| Iron River, MI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Ironwood, MI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Jamestown-Dunkirk, NY | 1 | $56.98 | $56.98 | $56.98 | 1.0× |
| Jasper, IN | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 | $114.80 | 1.0× |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 1 | $85.15 | $85.15 | $85.15 | 1.0× |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 2 | $160.32 | $160.32 | $160.32 | 1.0× |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 3 | $241.00 | $241.00 | $241.00 | 1.0× |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 3 | $58.35 | $58.35 | $58.35 | 1.0× |
| Ladysmith, WI single city | 1 | $115.90 | $115.90 | $115.90 | 1.0× |
| LaGrange, GA-AL | 1 | $146.64 | $146.64 | $146.64 | 1.0× |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 1 | $481.97 | $481.97 | $481.97 | 1.0× |
| Lima, OH | 1 | $149.40 | $149.40 | $149.40 | 1.0× |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 2 | $39.60 | $74.10 | $108.60 | 2.7× |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10 | $292.24 | $292.24 | $694.25 | 2.4× |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 3 | $481.97 | $481.97 | $481.97 | 1.0× |
| Lubbock, TX | 1 | $536.00 | $536.00 | $536.00 | 1.0× |
| Magazine, AR single city | 1 | $260.25 | $260.25 | $260.25 | 1.0× |
| Mansfield, AR single city | 1 | $260.25 | $260.25 | $260.25 | 1.0× |
| Marble Falls, TX single city | 1 | $241.00 | $241.00 | $241.00 | 1.0× |
| McCall, ID single city | 1 | $121.00 | $121.00 | $121.00 | 1.0× |
| Medford, WI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Merrill, WI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Minocqua, WI single city | 1 | $115.90 | $115.90 | $115.90 | 1.0× |
| Morganfield, KY single city | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 | $114.80 | 1.0× |
| Madison, WI | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Marietta, OH | 2 | $67.25 | $117.15 | $167.04 | 2.5× |
| Marion-Herrin, IL | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 | $114.80 | 1.0× |
| Marshalltown, IA | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Massena-Ogdensburg, NY | 1 | $188.51 | $188.51 | $188.51 | 1.0× |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 1 | $163.02 | $163.02 | $163.02 | 1.0× |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1 | $473.20 | $473.20 | $473.20 | 1.0× |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 1 | $88.44 | $88.44 | $88.44 | 1.0× |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2 | $89.24 | $123.37 | $157.50 | 1.8× |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3 | $100.36 | $120.80 | $265.01 | 2.6× |
| Modesto, CA | 1 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $245.28 | 1.0× |
| Morgantown, WV | 1 | $170.00 | $170.00 | $170.00 | 1.0× |
| Mount Vernon, IL | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 | $114.80 | 1.0× |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 1 | $114.40 | $114.40 | $114.40 | 1.0× |
| Muscatine, IA | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Neillsville, WI single city | 1 | $115.90 | $115.90 | $115.90 | 1.0× |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2 | $122.96 | $175.96 | $228.96 | 1.9× |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 8 | $44.66 | $61.41 | $116.91 | 2.6× |
| New Philadelphia-Dover, OH | 1 | $385.45 | $385.45 | $385.45 | 1.0× |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 30 | $63.09 | $293.40 | $1,264.26 | 20.0× |
| Ontario, CA single city | 1 | $292.24 | $292.24 | $292.24 | 1.0× |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 1 | $179.25 | $179.25 | $179.25 | 1.0× |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 2 | $78.00 | $78.00 | $78.00 | 1.0× |
| Orangeburg, SC | 1 | $99.00 | $99.00 | $99.00 | 1.0× |
| Paris, AR single city | 1 | $260.25 | $260.25 | $260.25 | 1.0× |
| Park Falls, WI single city | 1 | $115.90 | $115.90 | $115.90 | 1.0× |
| Petersburg, WV single city | 1 | $140.00 | $140.00 | $140.00 | 1.0× |
| Pikeville, TN single city | 1 | $91.04 | $91.04 | $91.04 | 1.0× |
| Presque Isle, ME single city | 1 | $56.07 | $56.07 | $56.07 | 1.0× |
| Princeton, IN single city | 1 | $114.80 | $114.80 | $114.80 | 1.0× |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 1 | $481.97 | $481.97 | $481.97 | 1.0× |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 1 | $78.00 | $78.00 | $78.00 | 1.0× |
| Peru, IN | 1 | $111.50 | $111.50 | $111.50 | 1.0× |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 5 | $152.80 | $152.80 | $152.80 | 1.0× |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1 | $163.38 | $163.38 | $163.38 | 1.0× |
| Plainview, TX | 1 | $103.32 | $103.32 | $103.32 | 1.0× |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 1 | $481.65 | $481.65 | $481.65 | 1.0× |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 6 | $200.20 | $268.45 | $268.45 | 1.3× |
| Rhinelander, WI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Richmond, CA single city | 1 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $245.28 | 1.0× |
| Ripley, WV single city | 1 | $94.00 | $94.00 | $94.00 | 1.0× |
| Reno, NV | 1 | $411.00 | $411.00 | $411.00 | 1.0× |
| Rice Lake, WI | 1 | $115.90 | $115.90 | $115.90 | 1.0× |
| Richmond-Berea, KY | 1 | $481.97 | $481.97 | $481.97 | 1.0× |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4 | $292.24 | $292.24 | $344.53 | 1.2× |
| Rochester, NY | 4 | $158.03 | $274.55 | $391.06 | 2.5× |
| Sistersville, WV single city | 1 | $200.23 | $200.23 | $200.23 | 1.0× |
| Sneedville, TN single city | 1 | $57.04 | $57.04 | $57.04 | 1.0× |
| Summersville, WV single city | 1 | $94.00 | $94.00 | $94.00 | 1.0× |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $245.28 | 1.0× |
| Salem, OR | 1 | $268.45 | $268.45 | $268.45 | 1.0× |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1 | $50.19 | $50.19 | $50.19 | 1.0× |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 5 | $126.00 | $292.24 | $292.24 | 2.3× |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 9 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $245.28 | 1.0× |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $292.00 | 1.2× |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $245.28 | 1.0× |
| Sayre, PA | 3 | $231.67 | $231.67 | $231.67 | 1.0× |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2 | $72.42 | $157.96 | $243.50 | 3.4× |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | 1 | $481.65 | $481.65 | $481.65 | 1.0× |
| Shelbyville, TN | 1 | $122.96 | $122.96 | $122.96 | 1.0× |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 1 | $44.66 | $44.66 | $44.66 | 1.0× |
| Springfield, MA | 1 | $276.00 | $276.00 | $276.00 | 1.0× |
| Springfield, MO | 2 | $85.15 | $85.15 | $85.15 | 1.0× |
| Stevens Point-Plover, WI | 3 | $115.90 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.7× |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $245.28 | 1.0× |
| Syracuse, NY | 1 | $174.00 | $174.00 | $174.00 | 1.0× |
| Temple, TX single city | 1 | $241.00 | $241.00 | $241.00 | 1.0× |
| Tomahawk, WI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Two Harbors, MN single city | 1 | $255.13 | $255.13 | $255.13 | 1.0× |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1 | $60.20 | $60.20 | $60.20 | 1.0× |
| Toledo, OH | 1 | $301.20 | $301.20 | $301.20 | 1.0× |
| Truckee-Grass Valley, CA | 1 | $411.00 | $411.00 | $411.00 | 1.0× |
| Tullahoma-Manchester, TN | 1 | $122.96 | $122.96 | $122.96 | 1.0× |
| Twin Falls, ID | 1 | $121.00 | $121.00 | $121.00 | 1.0× |
| Valdez, AK single city | 1 | $383.76 | $383.76 | $383.76 | 1.0× |
| Vallejo, CA | 2 | $245.28 | $245.28 | $245.28 | 1.0× |
| Winamac, IN single city | 1 | $294.35 | $294.35 | $294.35 | 1.0× |
| Woodruff, WI single city | 1 | $201.50 | $201.50 | $201.50 | 1.0× |
| Waco, TX | 1 | $241.00 | $241.00 | $241.00 | 1.0× |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1 | $87.50 | $87.50 | $87.50 | 1.0× |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 1 | $312.00 | $312.00 | $312.00 | 1.0× |
| Wausau, WI | 2 | $115.90 | $158.70 | $201.50 | 1.7× |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 1 | $144.90 | $144.90 | $144.90 | 1.0× |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 1 | $95.50 | $95.50 | $95.50 | 1.0× |
| Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield, WI | 2 | $115.90 | $158.70 | $201.50 | 1.7× |
| Worcester, MA | 1 | $505.00 | $505.00 | $505.00 | 1.0× |
| Yuma, AZ | 1 | $155.35 | $155.35 | $155.35 | 1.0× |
Common questions
Will I get a glasses prescription from this exam?
Only if refraction is done, and that is usually a separate charge (92015) that some offices add automatically.
How long does the exam take?
Often about an hour, longer if the eyes are dilated, and blurry vision after dilation can last a few hours.
How much does Medicare pay for CPT 92004 (Eye exam, new patient)?
$136.02 is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for this service in a hospital outpatient department, including the patient's share and before the local wage adjustment. The median hospital cash price, $201.50 across 343 hospitals, is 1.5× that.
Other eye exam prices
Median hospital cash price, one per hospital.