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9 Places to Find Free Glasses
New Eyes
(Get free glasses with a prescription)
New Eyes is a non-profit agency founded in 1932 with the aim of improving vision for the financially disadvantaged. The organization operates with a team of paid staff and volunteers under the stewardship of a Board of Trustees.
You can get free glasses if you fall under these categories;
- Low income as per the federal guidelines threshold
- Working poor
- Unemployed
- Have limited or no insurance
New Eyes free glasses application procedure
- You must have an eyeglasses prescription from a recognized eye doctor or institution.
- The next step is to attach your prescription and send your application.
- After careful scrutiny, the organization may approve the application, and send you the voucher number.
- Next, access the New Eyes website and commence the order process. In your order, you must include pupillary distance and select the frame. However, you’ll find that most prescriptions have detailed information about your eye assessment.
- The next step is to enter your voucher number, name of the beneficiary, and shipping address. There are instructional videos with useful tips about the ordering process.
- Then, the organization receives your order and sends the glasses to your shipping address.
- You can use the voucher number to track down your order.
A social service organization or health advocate can also order glasses on your behalf. Notably, you must claim your order within three months, failure to which you’ll have to wait for 12 months before sending a new application.
Vision USA Free Glasses
(Use referral agents to order your glasses)
Vision USA offers free eye assessment to low-income and uninsured persons. The program only helps individuals who can’t benefit from the federal government or state programs.
To be eligible for Vision USA services you must meet the following requirements;
- You must not have had an eye examination in the last year
- You must not have Medicaid, Medicare private, and public insurance
- Your house income falls below the 150% federal poverty threshold
- Only four members in your household can apply
Vision USA uses a unique approach to receive and approve applications. Under this program, only a referral agent such as a community action group, social worker, health department, and charitable agency can submit an application on your behalf.
VISION USA may provide basic eyeglasses excluding contact lenses; however, you must contact your area coordinator or volunteer doctor when you need eyewear.
Also, your doctor can send a copy of the eye prescription and request free glasses processing.
Once you receive an eligibility notice, you must book an appointment within thirty days. However, if you forfeit, you’ll have to wait for one year before reapplying.
The program doesn’t offer long-term care; however, your doctor may seek services from other providers in your location if you’re in need of ongoing treatment.
EyeCare America Free Glasses
(Get free eye care and glasses for the elderly)
EyeCare America is an award-winning organization that has assisted over 2 million individuals get free eye care for over 35 years.
The program provides a comprehensive one-year eye examination to low-income persons, the working poor, and people without medical insurance.
The organization has partnerships with other programs such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology and other local or national organizations to offer EyeCare to people in need.
To qualify, you must;
- Be above 65 years of age and have not had an eye assessment for three years and above.
- Be at risk of developing glaucoma or have not had an eye exam for over 12 months.
Once you get accepted into the program, you can benefit from high-quality care for one year.
It’s important to note that EyeCare America doesn’t offer free glasses; however, they may refer you to other programs that provide free eyewear.
For the majority of free glasses programs, to determine if you qualify, you must visit the website and fill an online questionnaire with your details, including name, gender, phone number, and address. You can also seek a referral on behalf of another person.
Lions Clubs Free Glasses
(Get free air eyecare from your local club)
Lions Clubs International Foundation was established in 1917 and had a global presence in over 200 countries.
The organization distributes eye and hearing aids, including eyeglasses, and over 200 million people from disadvantaged groups worldwide have benefited from this initiative.
Lions Club has centers across the country and partners with volunteers and charitable organizations to handle social issues that face the less fortunate such as lack of proper eye care and access to glasses.
They also take in referrals from their partners with the primary goal of reducing or reversing eye blindness and helping people with hearing problems.
To find out if you’re eligible, send your request through your local Lions Club, which will determine your suitability.
You can locate your local club by submitting your address, country, zip code, and state on the Lions Club’s website or your regional chamber of commerce office.
They can also advise you or possibly offer assistance to help you get eyeglass and hearing aids.
Sight for Students
(Comprehensive care for students)
Sight for Students is a program under VSP Vision Care operating in the US, Canada, Ireland, UK, and Australia.
The program offers free glasses, tests, exams, and specialized eye care to children up to 19 years from low-income backgrounds and a majority who are uninsured.
It also partners with third parties such as hospitals, social service providers, schools, local communities, and other agencies such as Prevent Blindness to bring onboard small kids from disadvantaged backgrounds requiring specialized eye care.
You can send your application via your kid’s school nurse or find a community clinic near you that offers free eye examinations for children and adults.
Federal low-income guidelines differ depending on the number of members in a household and the state. For example, in California, if you earn less than $97200 per year in a family of four, you qualify for Government aid.
National Eye Care Project
(Eye program for the elderly)
The National Eye Care Project, also known as the Senior Eye Care program, is a non-profit organization under the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) that provides eye care to low-income older people.
It has a team of volunteer specialists who offer free services to the seniors regardless of their insurance coverage.
The seniors’ program ensures that all elderly access free medical care alongside educational materials and cataracts treatment.
To qualify for this program, you must meet specific requirements such as;
- Be above 65 years
- Be a US citizen
- Demonstrate you require finance assistance
- Unable to hire a private ophthalmologist or alternative care such as Veteran hospitals
However, they don’t offer glasses but can refer you to partners or agencies that provide free prescription glasses and contact lenses.
Any eye care provided by the ophthalmologist is free, and you must book an appointment because it’s not a walk-in service.
The specialists may refer your loved one to a local center in your town or partner groups participating in the program.
InfantSEE
(Eyecare for infants)
InfantSEE is a public health agency under Optometry Cares (AOA foundation) that offers free eye care to infants between 6 to 12 months regardless of income status or insurance coverage.
The organization runs a volunteer program where experts identify needy cases and coordinate free eye examination, testing, and treatment for small kids.
During an assessment, the specialists may test;
- Nearsightedness
- Farsightedness
- Astigmatism
- Eye movement ability
- Eye health problems
- Parents medical history
After an assessment, the experts may recommend other eye care, surgery, and ongoing care for your child.
Vision To Learn
(Free eye care for elementary students)
Vision To Learn is a non-governmental organization operating in 13 states and over 400 cities in Delaware, Iowa, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginal, and Georgia. Currently, over 200,000 children have benefited from this program.
The organization offers free eye examinations and eyeglasses to elementary pupils from low-income communities and with no means to pay so that they can succeed in school and life.
The organization runs a mobile clinic program where the team delivers glasses to the children in their communities.
Not only does the program offer free eye care, but also ongoing care for children to assess their progress. They will also get free medication depending on the condition.
Vision To Learn Requirements
| Applicant | Information needed |
| Student, parent, faculty, staff, or visitor | Name, email, telephone, region, school name and district, state and city |
State Resources for Uninsured Families
(Provides state programs for the disadvantaged groups)
State resources for uninsured families are non-profit organizations or public sponsored initiatives such as the Mission Cataract USA that provide free eye exams and prescription glasses to needy people in various states like California, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
You, your spouse, or other persons in your family can receive free eye examinations for common diseases like cataracts or diabetes that may affect your vision.
Based on tests from your medical personnel, you can benefit from eye care and ongoing treatment.
