Updated on April 29, 2025
Free and Low Cost Vision Healthcare Providers in Los Angeles
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Community health centers, university clinics, or nonprofit foundations provide free and low-cost vision services. Clinics can offer their services at a low cost by using a sliding scale. Some might also have charity programs that allow people to access these services for free.
A sliding scale means that the prices of eye care services depend on how much a person earns. This ensures that quality services are more accessible to underserved communities or people at a fair price.
There are also nonprofit organizations or government agencies with eye care programs available nationwide. This is to provide people with free or low-cost eye care services.
These national programs often work on a volunteer basis. Doctors can sign up as providers for these programs and operate in their local communities. School clinics can also be part of these national programs.
Free and Low-Cost Vision Clinics in Los Angeles
Braille Institute
Address
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Phone Number
(323) 663-1111
Website
https://brailleinstitute.org/losangeles
Services Offered
- Low vision rehabilitation
- Classes and workshops for the visually impaired
Angels for Sight
Address
920 North Alameda Street
Compton, California 90221
Phone Number
(310) 537-2102
Website
http://angelsforsight.org/
Services Offered
- Vision screenings
- Eye exams
- Prescription glasses
Saban Medical Community Clinic
Address
6043 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Website
https://www.sabancommunityclinic.org/
Services Offered
- Eye exams
- Vision tests
- Prescription glasses and contact lenses
- Surgery referral
- Diabetic retinal exams
Saban Medical Community Clinic
Address
8405 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Website
https://www.sabancommunityclinic.org/
Services Offered
- Eye exams
- Vision tests
- Prescription glasses and contact lenses
- Surgery referral
- Diabetic retinal exams
Saban Medical Community Clinic
Address
137 N. Virgil Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Website
https://www.sabancommunityclinic.org/
Services Offered
- Eye exams
- Vision tests
- Prescription glasses and contact lenses
- Surgery referral
- Diabetic retinal exams
Local Initiatives Providing Vision Care for Low-Income Families
UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic (UMEC)
Website
https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/ophthalmology/mobile-eye/
About
UMEC was established in 1975 by an anonymous donor. Now, it has a staff of ophthalmologists, ophthalmology residents, technicians, and volunteers.
The staff visits hundreds of Southern California community locations annually to provide free vision care to medically underserved communities.
The free services include basic eye examinations to determine the need for prescriptive lenses and to rule out the need for further treatment of any eye condition or disease. It also includes vision services for young children. Prescription and reading eyeglasses are provided at no cost to the patients who need them.
Operation Sight
Website
https://ascrs.org/foundation/operation-sight
About
Operation Sight is a US ASCRS Foundation program launched in 2014. It is run by a nationwide network of volunteer surgeons and their colleagues.
Their mission is to provide life-changing cataract surgery for Americans who cannot afford or access quality eye care. Since its founding, the program has provided over 7,000 surgeries throughout the United States.
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/
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/
In this article
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.