Eye exams in District of Columbia

In the United States a routine comprehensive eye exam typically runs about $50 to $150 self-pay, with contact lens fittings adding roughly $30 to $150 on top. Prices vary widely by market and by practice — call the office to confirm before you book.

History, visual acuity, refraction to determine your prescription, eye muscle and pupil testing, slit-lamp examination of the front of the eye, intraocular pressure measurement, and examination of the retina, often with dilation or retinal imaging. Expect 30 to 60 minutes.

Glasses prescriptions are generally valid one to two years; the exact expiry is set by state law and by the prescriber. Contact lens prescriptions are usually valid one year.

Most vision plans, including VSP and EyeMed, cover one routine comprehensive exam per 12 months with a copay. Medical eye visits — an infection, an injury, diabetic monitoring — are usually billed to your medical plan instead.