Updated on May 6, 2025
Free and Low Cost Vision Healthcare Providers in the Bay Area
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Community health centers, university clinics, or nonprofit foundations often provide free and low-cost vision services. Low-cost clinics usually operate on sliding scale fees.
A sliding scale means eye care services are priced depending on the person’s income. This is to make quality services more accessible to underserved communities or people who are struggling financially.
Nonprofit organizations and government agencies also have programs on a national level to provide people with free or low-cost eye care services.
These national programs often work on a volunteer basis. Doctors sign up as providers for these programs and operate in their local communities.
Free and Low-Cost Vision Clinics in the Bay Area
San Francisco Lighthouse Eye Center
Address
1155 Market Street, Suite 1050
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone Number
(510) 642-5726
Website
https://eyecare.berkeley.edu/
Services Offered
- Eye exams
- Contact lenses
- Infant and toddler care
- Specialty clinics
- Emergencies
- Refractive surgery
- Specialty eyewear
- Featured frames
Meredith W. Morgan University Eye Center
Address
200 Minor Addition
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-2020
Phone Number
(510) 642-2020
Website
https://eyecare.berkeley.edu/
Services Offered
- Eye exams
- Contact lenses
- Infant and toddler care
- Specialty clinics
- Emergencies
- Refractive surgery
- Specialty eyewear
- Featured frames
Tang Eye Center
Address
3rd Floor, University Health Services
Bancroft Way
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-4300
Phone Number
(510) 643-2020
Website
https://eyecare.berkeley.edu/
Services Offered
- Eye exams
- Contact lenses
- Infant and toddler care
- Specialty clinics
- Emergencies
- Refractive surgery
- Specialty eyewear
- Featured frames
Mindful Eyes Foundation
Address
2339 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
Phone Number
(510) 548-2570
Website
https://www.facebook.com/mindfuleyesfoundation
Services Offered
- Vision and eye care referrals
- Prescription eyeglasses
Local Initiatives Providing Vision Care for Low-Income Families
Vision To Learn
Website
https://visiontolearn.org/where-we-work/northern-california/
Address
12100 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 1275
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone number
(800) 485-9196
About
Vision To Learn is a school-based program. It gives students access to eye care, like vision screenings, eye exams, and frame selection.
It started as a single mobile clinic in Los Angeles in 2012. Since then, it operates in more than 145 school districts and 400 cities. It is the largest school-based program in the nation.
UC Berkeley School of Optometry Community Outreach
Website
https://optometry.berkeley.edu/academics/community-outreach/
Address
Alameda Health Systems – Highland Hospital
1411 E 31st St,
Oakland, CA 94602
California School for the Blind (CSB)
500 Walnut Ave
Fremont, CA 94536
La Clinica de la Raza Family Optical
3060-B East 9th Street
Located in the Fruitvale Station Shopping Center, next to Starbucks
Oakland, CA 94601
Community Colleges
SF Bay Area
About
Berkeley Optometry’s community outreach has programs in many locations, including the bay area. They aim to provide vision care services for people who lack health insurance, have disabilities, low income, or other restrictions. They also provide eye exams and materials at low cost for financially disadvantaged students.
Project Homeless Connect
Website
https://eyecarumba.com/pages/giving-back
Address
Four Embarcadero Center, LL3
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone number
(415) 772-8282
About
Project Homeless Connect started in 2004. It’s a program that collaborates with different businesses, agencies, and organizations to provide comprehensive eye services for homeless people.
The program serves more than 6,000 people every year. It gives people access to new prescription glasses and other eye care services.
National Programs and Resources
EyeCare America
(877) 887-6327
https://www.aao.org/eyecare-america
New Eyes
549 Millburn Ave
Short Hills, NJ 07078
https://new-eyes.org/
Mission Cataract USA
Fresno, CA.
(559) 797-1629
https://missioncataractusa.org/
Free White Cane Program
655 Beach Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
https://nfb.org/programs-services/free-white-cane-program
InfantSEE
243 N. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63141
https://www.infantsee.org/
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
143 Rollins Ave #2046
Rockville, MD 20847
(301) 231-5944
https://optometriceducation.org/
My Retina Tracker Genetic Testing Program
(358) 40-2511-372
https://blueprintgenetics.com/my-retina-tracker-program/
Genentech Ophthalmology Access Solutions
(877) 436-3683
https://www.genentech-access.com/hcp/ophthalmology.html
Lions Clubs International
300 22nd Street
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
(630) 571-5466
http://www.lionsclubs.org/
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About Our Contributors
Veronika, with seven years of writing experience, is a content writer at Vision Center. She collaborates with editors and medical experts to produce credible, easily digestible articles on vision and eye health. Her belief in making medical and scientific information accessible helps people make informed, unbiased decisions about their eye care.
Dr. Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer with a passion for educating people about eye health. With her unique blend of clinical expertise and writing skills, Dr. Huang seeks to guide individuals towards healthier and happier lives. Her interests extend to Eastern medicine and integrative healthcare approaches. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new skincare products, experimenting with food recipes, and spending time with her adopted cats.