Does Urgent Care Do Eye Exams? Here’s What You Need to Know (2025 Guide)

If your eye suddenly becomes red, itchy, or painful, your first thought might be:
💭 “Can I just go to urgent care for an eye exam?”

The short answer is yes — but it depends on what’s wrong.
Urgent care centers can handle many eye-related medical issues, but not every type of vision or prescription exam.

Let’s break it down clearly so you’ll know when urgent care can help, when you should go to an optometrist, and how much it typically costs.

What Kind of Eye Exams Do Urgent Care Centers Offer?

Urgent care clinics are designed for non-life-threatening medical problems, including some eye emergencies.
However, they do not replace a full comprehensive or vision-based eye exam done by an optometrist.

Here’s a breakdown 👇

💬 Summary:
Urgent care = short-term medical treatment.
Eye doctor = long-term vision and eye health care.

When You Should Go to Urgent Care for Eye Problems

Go to urgent care if you’re experiencing:

• Red or swollen eyes
• Sudden eye irritation or pain
• Light sensitivity (photophobia)
• Eye discharge or crusting
• Minor trauma (e.g., scratched cornea)
• Eyelid swelling or stye

They can:
✅ Diagnose infections and allergies
✅ Prescribe antibiotic or steroid eye drops
✅ Remove debris or particles
✅ Refer you to an ophthalmologist if needed

🩺 Most urgent care centers have general practitioners, not optometrists —
but they can still treat eye infections, inflammation, and injuries effectively.

When NOT to Go to Urgent Care

Skip urgent care and head straight to an ER or ophthalmologist if you experience:

• Sudden partial or total loss of vision
• Severe eye trauma or bleeding
• Chemical exposure (like cleaning products or battery acid)
• Seeing flashes or floaters
• Severe or burning pain
• Suspected foreign object deep in the eye

These require specialized eye equipment and often same-day surgery or imaging, which urgent care clinics are not equipped for.

Does Insurance Cover Eye Exams at Urgent Care?

Yes — medical insurance (not vision insurance) usually covers eye-related urgent care visits.

Here’s how billing works 👇

🧾 Pro Tip:
Bring both your medical and vision insurance cards — clinics will bill the correct one depending on your diagnosis.

📍 Best Urgent Care Centers for Eye Problems in the U.S.

If you’re in the U.S., here are popular urgent care providers that handle eye-related conditions:

💬 Many urgent care centers also offer virtual consultations (telehealth) for non-emergency eye issues like pink eye or allergies.

Urgent Care vs Eye Doctor: Key Differences

💡 Takeaway:
If your eye problem feels medical, go to urgent care.
If it’s about vision or long-term health, see an optometrist.

How Long Does an Urgent Care Eye Visit Take?

Most urgent care eye visits take 20–30 minutes, depending on how busy the clinic is.
If medication or flushing is required, it might take slightly longer.

✅ Walk-ins are accepted.
✅ Same-day results and prescriptions.
✅ Referrals provided if condition is more serious.