(This article originally appeared in the November 2024 issue Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

Taking care of your eyes is critical. The National Eye Institute says there are many things you can do to keep your eyes healthy and protect your vision. On the top of the list: getting an eye exam.

Access to eye exams and glasses depends on who you are, your TRICARE plan, and your age. Beneficiaries can get the most out of their coverage and avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs by understanding how vision coverage works.

TRICARE defines a routine eye examination as an “evaluation of the eyes, including but not limited to refractive services, that is not related to a medical or surgical condition or to the medical or surgical treatment of a covered illness or injury.”

[UPDATED MONTHLY: MOAA's TRICARE Toolkit]

Active Duty Families

Active duty servicemembers can get eye examinations at a military hospital or clinic. If they are on TRICARE Prime Remote, they can be seen by a network optometrist with no referral necessary. If they need to see a non-network provider or an ophthalmologist, they’ll need a referral from their primary care manager and an authorization from the regional contractor.

Active duty family members can get one routine eye exam per year. For those on TRICARE Prime or Prime Remote, no referral is needed if they get care from a network optometrist or ophthalmologist.

[RELATED: TRICARE Prime: Understanding Your Care, Your Coverage, and Your Options]

Seeing a non-network provider without a referral could incur a point of service charge.

US Family Health Plan enrollees should check with their plan’s designated provider to make an appointment.

Active duty families on TRICARE Select can get a routine eye exam from any TRICARE-authorized optometrist or ophthalmologist without a referral or prior authorization.

Families stationed overseas should try and get exams at a military hospital or clinic. If that isn’t an option, they will need to get a referral from their primary care manager.

Retirees and Young Adults

Those enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Young Adult Prime can get a routine eye exam every two years from any network optometrist or ophthalmologist without a referral.

Non-network providers will require a referral, otherwise a point-of-service fee will be incurred. Note that children up to age 6 in any plan can get well-child eye exams.

Other Eye Care

Some TRICARE plans, such as TRICARE Select for retirees and TRICARE For Life, don’t cover routine eye exams. However, all TRICARE plans cover ophthalmic services to diagnose or treat eye conditions. And those with certain medical conditions can receive exams: For example, those with diabetes can receive medically necessary eye exams.

[FOR PREMIUM AND LIFE MEMBERS: Transitioning Into Medicare and TRICARE For Life]

Servicemembers are able to get standard-issue glasses and sunglasses from the optometry clinic at their military treatment facility. Retired servicemembers can order one pair of standard-issue spectacles from the Naval Ophthalmic Readiness Activity Yorktown each year. For all other beneficiaries, TRICARE only covers glasses and contacts to treat certain conditions.

Those who don’t qualify for routine exams, glasses, or contacts with TRICARE might qualify for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). You must be enrolled in a TRICARE health plan to be eligible to purchase a FEDVIP vision plan.  

Those who qualify for VA health care benefits might be able to get some or all of their vision care through the VA. The cost of glasses is covered if you receive VA disability payments or have vision problems caused by an illness or injury for which you are receiving VA care. To schedule an exam, talk to your VA primary care provider or contact your nearest VA medical center.