Costco Eye Exam Cost
Like many other retailers, such as Target, Sam’s Club and Walmart, Costco is yet another option if you’re considering a new pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Similar to other retailer strategies, the optical center located inside of a Costco isn’t owned by Costco, per se; rather, a local optometrist does, meaning your prices will vary.
How much does an eye exam cost at Costco?
According to the official Costco website, all optical centers, aside from the selection of eyeglasses and lenses you can purchase, are owned and operated by a local independent doctor of optometry, which simply means these doctors can set the price of their eye exam as they are just using Costco as their landlord, essentially leasing the space out of the building.
As these locations are independently owned, the prices, from what we researched are quite similar across the board, often around $50 to $80 for a basic eye exam to as much as $125 for a contact lenses exam, but to be certain, we highly recommend you call your local Costco location to see what an exam cost or even visit in person as almost all locations will display the prices on a large billboard near the vision center entrance.
Vision insurance may be accepted, depending on the location you visit. Even if they do not accept insurance, you may still be eligible to receive a reimbursement based on your insurance company policy. As it is considered “out of network” for most insurance companies, you may be able to receive a portion of your payment back.
| Basic Eye Exam | $50 to $80 |
| Contact Lens Exam | - $85 to $115 - Astigmatism: $120 to $140+ - Multifocal/ Monovision: $140 - $160+ |
| Office visit without exam | $20 to $40+ |
| Dilation | + $20 to $30 |
| Visual Fields | + $10 to $20 |
| Frames (optional to purchase) | Most start at $40+ |
| Lens (optional to purchase) | Most start at $65+ |
NOTE: Do keep in mind these prices can be lower if a coupon and/or special offer is available the time of your prescription. Use this as an estimate only.
According to this Reddit.com forum thread, for instance, members talked about the costs of an eye exam at their location, with some members stating it cost them $80 for a routine eye exam at their local location, while another stated said their contact lens exam cost about $99.
Tips to know
While most Costco locations do have an optical center, not all do. To be certain your local location has one, refer to this official search tool on Costco’s website.
There are many reports online which indicate that you do not need a Costco membership to make an eye exam appointment, but you will need a membership to purchase contact lenses and/or eyeglasses if you choose to do so after your exam.
Payments accepted will greatly vary on the location as some only accept cash and checks only, while other locations accept all credit card brands.
Don’t review all Costco vision center locations since, again, each location is independently owned. Try to find out the optometrist who works at your local Costco and see what people are saying about him or her online.
In this CBS News article, they found eyeglasses to be one of the five things you should purchase at Costco, with the median price for glasses being $157 and around $49+ for an eye exam.
Most locations tend to be very busy, and it’s highly recommended you call in to make an appointment as most of these busier locations can have a wait time as long as two weeks.
This informative cbetternow.com forum thread has multiple reviews of people who had their vision exam done at Costco.
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Average Reported Cost: $0
