Sam’s Club Optical Prices for Eye Exams, Glasses and Contacts
Sam’s Club optical centers sell glasses and contacts, and independent eye doctors practice right next to them. Single-vision glasses run about $58 to $200 with frames and basic lenses, and an eye exam costs around $102, according to a Clark.com price check.
You need a membership to buy eyewear but not to see the eye doctor. Prices vary by club, so treat these as a guide and call your optical center for an exact quote.
Glasses and lens prices
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Single-vision glasses, frame and basic lenses | $58 to $200 |
| Scratch-resistant single-vision lenses | $29 |
| Thin and light polycarbonate upgrade | $60 |
| High-index single-vision lenses | $100 |
| High-index ultra-thin lenses | $200 |
| Progressive lenses, including no-line bifocals | $60 to $160 |
| Contact lenses | From $24.88 a box |
These figures come from Clark.com’s review of Sam’s Club Optical, updated in August 2026. Sam’s Club doesn’t publish a national price list, and frame selection differs from club to club.
The lenses are where the bill climbs. By my math, a basic pair with high-index ultra-thin lenses costs about $171 more than the same frame with standard lenses, so ask what each upgrade adds before you agree to it.
Clark.com counted frames from more than 50 brands, from Member’s Mark to designer names, with a bigger selection in clubs than online. On the lens side, Sam’s Club’s help page lists its own Diamond Lenses, progressives, Transitions lenses that darken outdoors, and polarized sunglasses with or without a prescription.
Eye exams and the independent doctors
The eye exam isn’t a Sam’s Club service. Sam’s Club partners with independent doctors of optometry who practice next to its optical centers, and exam availability varies by club.
Because the doctors are independent, exam prices and accepted insurance vary by location. Clark.com put a typical exam around $102, with an extra fee for a contact lens fitting.
To book, call the doctor’s office at your club. Sam’s Club’s optical help page says you can find the optical center’s number in the club finder if you don’t have the doctor’s.
Optical center hours
Optical centers keep shorter hours than the club. Sam’s Club’s help page lists 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Individual clubs vary. One San Antonio club lists 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, so check your club’s page before a weekend visit. Like the pharmacy, the optical center runs on its own clock, not the club’s hours.
Contacts and vision insurance
Contacts can be ordered online, by phone at 844-223-1930 or in person at an optical center, and every order needs a valid contact lens prescription. Sam’s Club can confirm it with your eye doctor if you don’t have a copy.
- Color-only lenses still need a prescription, since contacts are medical devices.
- Clubs in Arkansas can’t sell contact lenses or bill insurance for them.
- Insurance can’t be applied to online contact orders. You pay, then send the receipt to your insurer for reimbursement.
- If your prescription changes, Sam’s Club exchanges unopened boxes, and it replaces torn lenses within the maker’s recommended time frame.
For glasses, accepted vision plans vary by club, so call ahead with your insurance card. Online glasses orders also need your pupillary distance, which in-club opticians can measure.
How long glasses take
Glasses usually aren’t made on the spot. An associate orders the frame and lenses, and Clark.com reports that prescription glasses arrive within 7 to 10 business days of shipping, with contacts taking 5 to 7 business days by standard shipping.
Online orders can be canceled within 30 minutes of placing them, and shipping is free on orders over $50. After that window, the order has to arrive before it can go back through the online return process.
Lens-only orders and other services
- Sam’s Club will put new lenses in frames you bought elsewhere, for a charge.
- Two pairs with different prescriptions have to be ordered in the club, not online.
- A Sam’s Club gift card can pay for glasses or contacts in the club, but not for contacts online.
- Sam’s Club can’t issue a replacement order for a prescription item, so a lost or broken pair means placing a new order.
What Plus members save
Plus members get 40% off each additional complete pair of glasses for the same person, bought the same day, Clark.com reports. Sam’s Club lists optical savings among the Plus perks on its join page.
By my math, a second pair at $150 saves $60, exactly the step up from Club to Plus. A family buying two higher-end pairs for one person can cover the upgrade in a single visit.
Plus members don’t earn 2% Sam’s Cash on eyewear. Sam’s Club’s terms exclude prescription glasses, contacts and vision exams from the Plus cash back.
Warranty, returns and adjustments
Every pair comes with free coverage for the first 60 days when the glasses are serviced at a Sam’s Club optical center, with no plan to buy. After that, Sam’s Club offers an optional Allstate plan for the rest of the year.
Eyewear bought in a club can be returned or exchanged within 60 days. Online orders follow the online return process and can’t be returned at a club, and frame adjustments are free in person.
When another store is cheaper
Clark.com found lower prices at online sellers such as Zenni Optical and EyeBuyDirect, while expecting Sam’s Club to beat Warby Parker, Target Optical and even Costco.
For a simple single-vision prescription, I’d price-check an online store first. For progressives, a child’s glasses or two pairs at once, the in-person fitting, free adjustments and the Plus discount make Sam’s Club the stronger pick.
Prices, fees and policies were checked when this guide was last updated and can change without notice. Sam’s Club Tips is an independent site and is not affiliated with Sam’s Club or Walmart Inc.
