It is no secret that purchasing prescription eyeglasses can be expensive to say the least. Therefore, you need to set a budget for this undertaking so that you can get the much-needed eyeglasses. Although some Americans can afford to purchase these eyeglasses upfront, there is a section of the populace that can hardly afford to buy them right away. If you belong to the latter category, you might have to strain your budget so that you can afford these eyeglasses.
Thankfully, there are programs that allow low-income individuals to get these eyeglasses free of charge. Here, low-income adults can now be able to see clearly without having to get into debt. Since a certain percentage of low-income adults would like to get these eyeglasses free of charge, we shall take a closer look at that, alongside other related facets.
Who Qualifies For Free Eyeglasses For Low Income Households?
If you want to get free eyeglasses for low income households, there are certain eligibility requirements that you must fulfil. Some of these requirements include the following:
- To get free eyeglasses for low-income households, you must have low income that is not enough to sustain your family.
- You are working in a poor condition
- You are unemployed and lack money to pay for your eyeglasses
- Make sure that you are an U.S citizen.
- You don’t have a health insurance or your insurance is limited.
However, the eligibility requirements to get free eyeglasses vary from one program to another. Therefore, you should check what your program eligibility requirement and then determine if you meet the much-needed threshold or not.
14 Best Programs Or Organizations That Provide Free Eyeglasses For Low-income Households
Eyeglasses can be costly to people from low-income households, primarily adults trying to find a financial breakthrough. Fortunately, some organizations and programs can help you get free eyeglasses if you are a US citizen or legal resident. Here are some programs and organizations that can help you acquire free eyeglasses if you are a victim of eyesight.
1. New Eyes for the Needy
New Eyes is a non-profit organization whose primary goal is to help people from households with low income get free eyeglasses. It is located in New Jersey. New Eyes for the Needy is among the best programs offering free eyeglasses to adults who cannot afford them. The program does also provide free glasses to children all from low-income households. Besides, all indigent people are eligible to receive help from this organization as long as they are a resident of the United States. So, if you get a low income or are unemployed, you can get free eyeglasses from the New Eyes for the Needy.
How does New Eyes work? New Eyes usually buys new glasses for those who cannot afford the eyeglasses. Additionally, they typically collect eyeglasses donated by people and recycle new glasses usable by people according to their eyesight needs. So, you are also free to donate your eyeglasses to New Eyes and help a needy person.
How to qualify for New Eyes
- You must be from a household with a monthly net income below 250% of the US poverty line.
- You should have had an eye exam with a pupillary distance measurement in the last 24 months. Kindly note that if your exam is over 24 months, you must renew your prescription before applying for the program.
2. Medicaid
Medicaid is a known program that helps low-income people access reliable healthcare. It is a federal public health program that seek to see citizens access affordable health services. Medicaid has several health benefits, including one that helps blind people who need proper eye care. It also provides eye care for children who need the services. Kindly note that it is not a requirement of the law for Medicare to give eyeglasses; however, some states offer them as optional services. So, kindly check if Medicaid offers eyeglasses in your state
3. Local Lions Club
Local Lions Club is a top-rated humanitarian and charitable organization in the United States. Their main vision is to improve the lives of people with visual problems. Local Lions Club has a program that can help you get free eye treatment if you are from a low-income household. Are you unable to afford eye care or eyeglasses because income level? Do not worry; the Local Lions Club is here to rescue you. You need to contact them for assistance or visit one of their clubs to get more information on free eyeglasses.
Apart from buying new eyeglasses for people, Lions also receive eyeglasses from donations from different parts of the world. You can donate your eyeglasses to Lions at any participating center, for instance, Walmart Vision Centers. After sending the glasses, you can contact the Local Lions Club to find out if your glasses were received. Besides, you can use a club locator near your community by searching the URL www.lionsclubs.org/en/start-our-approach/club-locator.
4. Prevent Blindness
Prevent Blindness is an affiliate program of several health organizations that helps low-income people access free eye care and eyeglasses. Their main agenda is to allow people to undergo vision screening to prevent blindness. They usually receive donations from several organizations all over the world. Their free eyeglasses program cuts across adults and children in the United States from low-income households.
Prevent Blindness program is available for residents in several cities like Iowa, Ohio, and Georgia. So, kindly use these leading voluntary eye health organizations and get free eyeglasses.
5. ReSpectacle
The ReSpectacle program’s primary goal is to ensure that all the needy people, mostly from low-income households, can access eyeglasses after recycling. It uses the power of the internet to distribute the eyeglasses donated to them by individuals and organizations worldwide.
If you need free eyeglasses, kindly provide the prescription and all the information that ReSpectacle will request from you. If your application is accepted, you will receive your eyeglasses within seven days. The good news is that you can order up to 3 eyeglasses per person in a whole year.
6. Vision USA
This is a program run by American Optometric Association that provides help to adults who are uninsured or come from low-income households. The program comprises thousands of opticians who volunteer to help US citizens. You must apply for the program if you want assistance from Vision USA. After qualifying for their assistance, they will link you with a local doctor where you can receive an eye examination.
As mentioned above, so many volunteer doctors work under the umbrella of Vision USA, where patients are connected to. These doctors will provide high-quality services with a comprehensive eye exam without paying a coin. Additionally, there are states where you can receive free eyeglasses from Vision USA under certain conditions.
Kindly note that you must have one member in your household who is employed for you to participate in this program. You can follow two channels of communication and apply for free eyeglasses. You can contact them via their toll-free number 1-800-766-4466 or search their website at www.aoafoundation.org/vision-usa/. All these platforms will land you on an agent who will guide you on how to apply for the program.
7. Clear Vision for All
Clear Vision for All also provides eyeglasses to adults and children from low-income households. You will also be eligible for free eye exams sponsored by the same organization. To apply, you will need to look for a local office or chapter in your locality and find out if you are qualified for the program.
8. Eyes Care America
This program is eligible for people over the age of 65 and people who are at risk of glaucoma. If you are from a low-income household and meet those guidelines, kindly consider applying to Eye Care America for assistance. Eye Care America will give comprehensive eye exams and eye care fully sponsored by them. The good news is that once you qualify according to their guidelines, you will receive eye care for any disease for a whole year. Kindly visit their site at www.aao.org/eyecare-america/ and apply for the program if you meet the stated guidelines by Eye Care America.
9. VSP Eyes of Hope
Vision Service plan mainly focuses on college students from needy households. The program provides several eye remedies like free eye exams and free eyeglasses to students and adults above 19. What the parents need is to look for a partner locally or request the school nurses to sign up for the gift card. As mentioned, the program also covers people above 19 who must follow the same process when applying.
Once your application goes through, you usually receive a gift certificate that enables you to receive free prescription eyeglasses. Those who have an eye exam and would like to be assisted in securing eyeglasses will receive a materials-only gift certificate. Besides, Eye of Hope also provides financial support for eye exams and glasses through the Vision Service Program. Like the VSP, Eyes for Hope through VSP usually gifts certificates that help you get free eyeglasses.
How do you qualify?
- You must demonstrate that your family’s income is at or below 200% Federal poverty plan.
- You should not have a vision care program either via a government or private insurance company.
10. OneSight Onsite Voucher Program
Luxottica backs the OneSight program to provide free eyeglasses to people of all ages who are from low-income households. You must check your eligibility with them before you apply for the program. To qualify for the program, you must present an income that has been approved by non-profit organizations. Some of these organizations include schools, Red Cross, and churches. If you have met all the requirements, kindly drop your referral letter and prescription to any Luxottica to get free eyeglasses.
11. Optometry schools
There are so many optometry schools that offer free eye exams and eyeglasses in the country. The exams are always conducted by students whom professionals have supervised. Some of these schools usually provide free eye services to individuals willing to participate in the school’s research. This is an excellent opportunity for those adults who come from low-income households and want access to free eyeglasses. Kindly note that you must agree to participate in the research program to get free eyeglasses. Besides, the programs are not so popular, so you may take an intensive search before landing one. However, you can try your luck and search if there is any school around your residence offering the program.
12. VA Health Care
This program is only eligible to those who qualify for health benefits through the Veteran Affairs Department in the US. If you are a service member, VA will cover your eye exams and all mandatory testing you should undergo. Besides, you can also get eyeglasses and other eye care under the sponsorship of the Veteran Affair. So, if you are an adult with eye problems, kindly check if you qualify for the VA health benefits, and they will give you free eyeglasses.
13. Medicare
This is a government health insurance program for all seniors above 65. Besides seniors, Medicare also benefit adults with disabilities. Additionally, you can qualify for eye exams and glasses if you have some disease like diabetes, cataracts, etc. kindly check the eligibility criteria on the FCC official website before you apply for free eyeglasses under the Medicare program.
14. Finest Glass
Finest Glass is another program where adults from low-income households can get free eyeglasses. Their program gives free eyeglasses for both male and female adults and children. To get a pair, you need to have a coupon, proceed to their website, and buy your favorite eyeglass. How do I locate their official website? Kindly open your favorite browser and search the URL finestglasses.com to get eyeglasses free of charge.
There are many programs and places where you can get free eyeglasses if you are from a low-income household. Some organizations may require you to prove your annual income before they can qualify you for free eyeglasses. Additionally, other organizations will give you free eyeglasses after you confirm your age bracket. For instance, you will not get free eyeglasses under the children’s program in some organizations and programs if you are an adult. We therefore wish you the best in finding free eyeglasses from the programs we have discussed herein.
Factors To Consider When Getting Free Eye Glasses
When getting free eyeglasses, there is an array of factors that you should put into consideration. Some of these considerations include:
- Ensure that you have completed your eye health examination and initial treatment early enough. This way, you will be able to choose the eyeglasses with the right lenses.
- Make sure that you submit your eye care papers to the place where you are going to get the eye glasses from.
- Keep an eye on the quality of the eyeglasses’ frame. Ideally, it should be made from a high quality.
- Check the shape of your face so that you can choose the right eyeglasses to use. For instance, if you have a round face, be certain that angular frames would look good on you. On the other hand, if you have a square chin or chiseled cheekbones, eyeglasses with round frames would complement your overall outlook. Ideally, the frames of your choice should not overpower your facial features.
- Choose a frame that matches your skin tone. For instance, if you have a warm skin tone, consider choosing gold, olive green, light tortoise, or brown frames. On the other hand, if you have a cool skin tone, go for pink, black, silver or blue frames.
- Ensure that the eyeglasses are comfortable to wear.
- Check your lifestyle. Ideally, the frames of your eyeglasses should offer much-needed flexibility and freedom.
Alternative Ways Of Getting Free Eye Glasses For Low Income Households
If you don’t qualify for free eyeglasses from the programs and organizations above, you can try alternative ways of getting free eyeglasses. For instance, if you need eyeglasses but can’t afford one, you can ask for help from your local church.
Places To Get Discounted Eye Glasses
Besides free eyeglasses, there are other places that sell discounted eyeglasses, making them easily accessible to low-income households. These are places like:
- America’s best
- Target optical
- Walmart vision center
- Costco and Sam’s club
FAQ’s on Free Eyeglasses
Can I get free eyeglasses with Medicare?
Not really. Although Medicare is a federal program that helps low income patients to afford health services, this program don’t directly offer free eyeglasses. However, some customers, especially those who have undergone cataract surgery, can get assistance from their medical insurance to pay for eyeglasses.
Are eyeglasses covered by health care card?
Yes, eyeglasses are covered by health care card in some states. There are different programs in different states that offer free eyeglasses through a health care card. To know more about free eye glasses by health card in your area, contact your local health department for inquiries.
Are there income guidelines for free eye glasses?
Yes, different eyeglasses programs and organizations have different income guidelines for eyeglasses. For instance, to get free eyeglasses from New Eyes, you should have a monthly income limit of 250% of the federal poverty guideline. Other programs like VSP have an income limit of 200% of the federal poverty guideline.