Are you a Sam‘s Club member looking to save money on eye care? Or perhaps you‘re curious about what optical services the warehouse club offers and how much they cost. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about Sam‘s Club Optical, with a special focus on eye exam costs for those without vision insurance.
Overview of Sam‘s Club Optical Services
Sam‘s Club Optical is a one-stop-shop for all your eye care needs. They offer a wide range of services, including:
- Comprehensive eye exams
- Contact lens fittings and evaluations
- Eyeglasses and sunglasses
- Contact lenses
- Vision correction surgery consultations
What sets Sam‘s Club Optical apart is their commitment to providing quality eye care at affordable prices. But just how affordable are we talking? Let‘s take a closer look.
Eye Exam Costs at Sam‘s Club Without Insurance
The cost of an eye exam at Sam‘s Club will vary depending on your location and the specific services you need. However, according to our research, the average price for a comprehensive eye exam at Sam‘s Club without insurance is around $75.
This is significantly lower than the national average of $114 for an eye exam at a private optometrist‘s office, as reported by the Vision Council. So right off the bat, you can expect to save about $40 on your exam by going to Sam‘s Club.
Keep in mind that certain factors may affect the final cost of your exam, such as:
- Whether you need additional testing for conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration
- If you wear contact lenses and need a fitting or evaluation
- Your age (some locations offer discounts for children and seniors)
It‘s always a good idea to call ahead to your local Sam‘s Club Optical center and ask about their current exam prices and any ongoing promotions.
What‘s Included in a Sam‘s Club Eye Exam?
So what exactly do you get for your money when you have an eye exam at Sam‘s Club? A typical comprehensive exam will include:
- A review of your medical history and any vision-related symptoms or concerns
- Testing of your visual acuity (sharpness), depth perception, color vision, and peripheral vision
- Evaluation of your eye muscles and how well your eyes work together
- Assessment of the health of your eyes, including checking for signs of conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration
- Measurement of your eye pressure to check for glaucoma risk
- Determination of your exact eyeglass prescription
- Personalized recommendations for maintaining or improving your eye health
The optometrist will use a variety of specialized equipment and techniques to perform these tests, such as a phoropter (that huge contraption you look through to determine your lens strength), a slit lamp microscope, and dilating drops.
All of this typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your individual needs. At the end of the exam, you‘ll have a clear understanding of your eye health and vision status, and can work with the optometrist to determine next steps—whether that‘s getting fitted for glasses or contacts, scheduling a follow-up appointment, or simply coming back next year for your annual exam.
How Does Sam‘s Club Compare to Other Eye Exam Providers?
We‘ve established that Sam‘s Club offers competitive pricing on eye exams compared to private optometrists. But how do they stack up against other discount retailers and optical chains? Here‘s a quick price comparison:
- Walmart Vision Center: $75-$85 without insurance
- Costco Optical: $75-$85 without insurance
- America‘s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses: $45 for an exam, plus $39 for contact lens fitting
- Target Optical: $75-$80 without insurance
- LensCrafters: $100-$150 without insurance
As you can see, Sam‘s Club is right in line with Walmart, Costco, and Target for basic exam pricing. However, America‘s Best does offer a lower base price (with the tradeoff of limited frame selection and potentially longer wait times). And while LensCrafters is pricier, they often run promotions and accept a wider range of insurance plans.
Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on factors like:
- Convenience of location and hours
- Preference for a certain retailer or doctor
- Need for specialized services
- Frame and contact lens brand availability
- Acceptance of your vision insurance plan
Speaking of insurance—let‘s talk about how that factors into eye exam costs at Sam‘s Club.
Using Vision Insurance at Sam‘s Club Optical
If you have vision insurance through your employer or a private plan, you may be able to use it to cover some or all of the cost of your Sam‘s Club eye exam. However, it‘s important to note that accepted insurance plans can vary widely by location.
Some of the vision insurance providers that Sam‘s Club Optical centers may accept include:
- EyeMed
- Davis Vision
- VSP (Vision Service Plan)
- UnitedHealthcare Vision
- Aetna
- Humana Vision
This is by no means an exhaustive list, so your best bet is to call your local Sam‘s Club Optical center directly and ask if they accept your specific insurance plan. They may need to verify your coverage and benefits before scheduling an appointment.
Even if your insurance is accepted, be sure to clarify what services are covered and what your out-of-pocket costs will be. Some plans may cover a basic exam but not contact lens fittings or specialized testing. Others may have a copay or deductible you‘re responsible for.
If you don‘t have vision insurance or your plan isn‘t accepted at Sam‘s Club, don‘t worry! As we‘ve seen, their self-pay exam prices are still very competitive. And there are plenty of ways to save on eyeglasses and contacts as well. Which brings us to…
Eyewear and Contact Lenses at Sam‘s Club Optical
In addition to eye exams, Sam‘s Club Optical offers a wide selection of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses at members-only prices.
When it comes to frames, you‘ll find a mix of designer brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and DKNY, as well as Sam‘s Club‘s own private label brands. Prices vary by frame material and brand, but you can generally expect to pay between $59 and $200 for a complete pair of single-vision glasses (frames and lenses).
For contact lenses, Sam‘s Club carries all the major brands, including Acuvue, Air Optix, Biofinity, and Dailies. They also offer their own Member‘s Mark brand of daily disposable contacts. Prices start at around $30 for a 30-pack of Member‘s Mark dailies and go up to $130+ for a 90-pack of premium brand lenses.
One nice perk of buying contacts from Sam‘s Club is that you can often find them cheaper than at your eye doctor‘s office or other retailers. And if you have a Sam‘s Club Plus membership ($100/year), you get free shipping on any contact lens order—even if you don‘t meet the regular $50 minimum.
Of course, you‘ll need a valid contact lens prescription to place an order, which you can get as part of your Sam‘s Club eye exam. Once you have that, you can easily order your contacts online through the Sam‘s Club website or mobile app for convenient home delivery.
How to Schedule Your Sam‘s Club Eye Exam
If you‘re ready to book an eye exam at Sam‘s Club, the process is easy. Simply use the "Club Locator" tool on the Sam‘s Club website to find the Optical center nearest you, then give them a call to schedule your appointment.
You‘ll want to have a few pieces of information ready when you call, including:
- Your Sam‘s Club membership number (if you have one)
- Your vision insurance plan details (if applicable)
- Your preferred exam date and time
- Any specific concerns or needs you have (e.g. contact lens fitting, specialized testing)
The optical center staff will walk you through the rest of the process, including any pre-appointment instructions (like not wearing contacts for a certain period before your exam) and what to bring with you (like your current glasses or a list of medications).
One common question we get is whether you need a Sam‘s Club membership to get an eye exam there. The short answer is no—you do not need to be a member to schedule and pay for an exam. However, you will need a membership to purchase glasses, contacts, or other optical products.
If you‘re not already a Sam‘s Club member, you can sign up for a basic membership ($45/year) or a Plus membership ($100/year) at any time. Just keep in mind that optical purchases alone may not be enough to offset the membership fee, so consider whether you‘ll use your membership for other Sam‘s Club purchases as well.
Sam‘s Club Optical Hours and Locations
Most Sam‘s Club Optical centers are open daily, with hours that generally mirror those of the main store:
- Monday to Friday: 9am – 8pm
- Saturday: 9am – 7pm
- Sunday: 10am – 6pm
However, exact hours can vary by location, so it‘s always best to check with your local store for their specific optical center hours. Some stores may also have reduced hours on certain days or close entirely on major holidays.
As for locations, there are over 500 Sam‘s Club stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and most (but not all) have optical centers on-site. You can use the Store Locator feature on the Sam‘s Club website to find the closest optical center to you and get directions, phone numbers, and hours of operation.
Alternatives to Sam‘s Club for Affordable Eye Exams
While Sam‘s Club is a great option for low-cost eye exams, it‘s certainly not the only game in town. Here are a few other places to consider if you‘re looking to save money on your next exam:
- Walmart Vision Center: As mentioned earlier, Walmart‘s exam prices are very similar to Sam‘s Club‘s, and they have a large network of stores nationwide.
- Costco Optical: Another warehouse club option, Costco also offers eye exams for around $75 without insurance (though you‘ll need a membership to buy glasses or contacts).
- America‘s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses: With over 700 locations, America‘s Best is known for their "2 pairs of glasses for $69.95" deal and low exam prices (just $45 for a basic exam).
- Local optometry schools: Many universities with optometry programs offer discounted exams and services performed by supervised students. Check to see if there‘s a school near you.
- Community health clinics: Some non-profit or government-funded clinics offer sliding-scale fees for eye exams based on your income level. Search online or ask your local health department for options in your area.
Keep in mind that while these alternatives may offer competitive pricing, they may not have the same wide selection of frames and contacts as Sam‘s Club, or the convenience of one-stop-shopping for all your optical needs.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has given you a comprehensive overview of Sam‘s Club Optical and how it can help you save money on eye care—especially if you don‘t have vision insurance. To recap:
- Sam‘s Club offers comprehensive eye exams for around $75 on average, which is significantly lower than most private optometrists.
- Exam prices include a thorough evaluation of your vision and eye health, as well as a glasses or contact lens prescription if needed.
- You do not need a Sam‘s Club membership to get an exam, but you will need one to purchase eyewear or contacts.
- Accepted vision insurance plans vary by location, so check with your local store for details.
- In addition to exams, Sam‘s Club sells a wide variety of glasses, sunglasses, and contacts at member prices, with free shipping on contact orders for Plus members.
By knowing what to expect and how to prepare for your Sam‘s Club eye exam, you can make informed decisions about your eye care and get the most value for your money. So go ahead and schedule that exam—your eyes (and your wallet) will thank you!
