EyeCare America

A public-service program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology offering eye exams at no out-of-pocket cost to qualifying seniors and people at risk of glaucoma.

Financial assistanceDental and vision

Best for

People 65 and older who have not had an eye exam recently and have no vision coverage.

Why Kave includes this

Vision loss from glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy is largely preventable with an exam that costs little to provide. This program removes the cost barrier entirely for the group most at risk, and is run by the profession's own academy rather than a retailer.

Expected cost: Volunteer ophthalmologists waive their fee. There is no out-of-pocket cost to the patient for the exam.
Insurance requirement: For people without vision coverage; participating doctors accept insurance as payment in full where it exists.
Who qualifies: Programs are aimed at US residents 65 and older who have not seen an ophthalmologist recently, and at people at increased risk of glaucoma.
Where it is available: Nationwide (United States)
How you use it: In person
Languages: English and Spanish

Limitations Kave wants you to know about

Covers the exam and initial treatment, not glasses, surgery, or long-term care.
Volunteer availability varies by area.

Check Eligibility

Verification

Compiled by Kave on July 1, 2026 and link-checked. Not yet independently verified. Kave assembled this from the organisation’s own published material and confirmed the links resolve. No reviewer has confirmed the eligibility details against the source, so check them on the official site before you rely on them.

Compiled: July 1, 2026 (28 days ago)
Next scheduled review: September 29, 2026
Reviewed by: Not yet reviewed

Sources used

American Academy of Ophthalmology — EyeCare America — read July 1, 2026

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Kave quality score

83/100

Kave lists resources scoring 80 or above that also clear all four mandatory gates.

Patient impact20.5/25
Affordability or financial value18.4/20
Transparency12.3/15
Accessibility10.8/15
Ease of use7.6/10
Institutional credibility4.8/5
Geographic reach4.3/5
Privacy and data practices4.3/5

Geographic reach is deliberately worth only five points, so a strong local resource is not pushed out by a weak national one. Read the methodology.