< AOA Public Health Programs

VISION USA

More than 40 million low-income, working people in the US cannot afford the cost of routine eye care.

VISION USA Open year-round

More than 40 million low-income, working people in the United States cannot afford the cost of routine eye care or the health insurance that covers it. As income earners, they don't qualify for government aid and private health-care assistance.
Now a year-round program, VISION USA can help these people by providing basic eye health and vision care services free of charge to the many uninsured low-income people and their families who have no other means of obtaining care.
VISION USA, started nationwide in 1991, is a program developed by doctors of optometry who are members of the American Optometric Association. Approximately 340,000 low income working Americans have benefited from free eye exams through VISION USA.

Eligibility

The program is open to children and adults of all ages who qualify. Here are the general eligibility requirements, although they may vary by state. To receive free services, individuals must:

Have a job or live in a household where there is one working member;
Have no vision insurance (this may include Medicare/Medicaid);
Have income below an established level based on household size; and
Not have had an eye exam within 2 years.

If an individual or family is eligible, they will be matched with a volunteer doctor of optometry who will provide a comprehensive eye exam at no charge. The doctors are donating their services and may be limited in some areas. Eyewear may also be provided at no cost or for a small fee/donation in some states.

How To Get Care

Residents of Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming should click here for screening instructions.

If you live in a state not listed above and want to apply, you may complete an online application by clicking here.

OR

For a mail-in application:

VISION USA Patient Application form – English
* Word document format
VISION USA Patient Application form – Spanish
* Word document format

Applications are also available by writing to VISION USA, 243 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141.

OR
We also take applications by phone. Call us at 1-800/766-4466, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday to apply.

For additional information contact:

VISION USA
243 North Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63141
Fax: 314/991-4101
E-mail: visionusa@aoa.org

Related Information

As part of VISION USA's support of "America's Promise," we made a commitment to provide information on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP provides affordable health insurance to children and youth in working families. To obtain information about the free and affordable coverage available in your state, you can call a toll-free hotline 1-877-KIDS NOW. This number will connect parents of potentially eligible children directly with people in their state who can assist them in enrolling in the state children's health insurance programs. Please note, the program may be called something other than SCHIP in your state.

In 1999, VISION USA joined forces with America's Promise, The Alliance for Youth, founding chairman General Colin L. Powell. With over one million children in this country not getting basic eye care, VISION USA hopes to help these children, families and individuals by providing examinations and doctors willing to help.