VISION NC Provider Sign Up

VISION NC (formerly Vision USA) provides free eye exams to low-income, uninsured individuals in North Carolina. Eye exams are provided by North Carolina Optometric Society member optometrists who have agreed to give their time and services to help those in need.

The North Carolina Optometric Society encourages all of its members to participate in the VISION NC program. By participating in the program, you agree to provide free eye exams to eligible applicants that are assigned to you. Participation can be as much or as little as you'd like. On the participation form, please indicate the number of exams you are willing to provide each month.

Assignment process:

  1. Eligible VISION NC applicants are matched with the closest participating optometrist within a 25-mile radius from their home.
  2. The optometrist is notified of the assignment by email, fax, or mail (you can select your preference when signing up).
  3. The patient calls and schedules their appointment within 45 days.
  4. The optometrist's office notifies NCOS once the patient is seen or if they no show. If the NCOS does not receive this information within 45 days, they will reach out to the office.

SIGN UP TO BE A PROVIDER HERE

**The VISION NC program provides free eye exams. The decision to provide eyeglasses is solely up to each participating provider. We've provided several different resources below for obtaining eyeglasses at no cost to you or the patient, so you can choose the option that suits your practice best.**


New Eyes - New Eyes provides a basic pair of single vision or lined bifocal lenses for individuals who have no other resources with which to obtain eyeglasses. The patient will need to work with their social service agent to apply for eyeglasses on a patient’s behalf.

VSP Eyes of Hope Gift Certificates - this program provides no-cost access to prescription glasses AND eye care for adults and children in need. If you are a VSP Choice network doctor who carries Altair frames, you can use these gift certificates to be reimbursed by VSP for the eyewear AND eye care you provide. 

Three different gift certificates are available:

  • VSP Sight for Students gift certificates - provides children in need who are 19 years of age or younger with no-cost eye care and prescription glasses.
  • VSP Eyes of Hope Full Coverage gift certificates - provides adults and children in need with no-cost eye care and prescription glasses.
  • VSP Eyes of Hope Materials Only gift certificates - provides individuals who have coverage for an eye exam but not eyewear with no-cost prescription glasses.

For complete details, visit www.nceyes.org/vsp-gift-certificates. To request these gift certificates, contact Kristen Rauch at (919) 977-6964 or [email protected]. When submitting your request, please tell us the amount you would like for the next six months and we’ll mail them to you in bulk.

OneSight - Through OneSight’s OnSite Voucher Program, eligible individuals can receive glasses free of charge. The patient will need to work with a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (such as a school, church, Lions Club, Red Cross, or United Way) to obtain a referral letter and bring it, along with a valid prescription, to a participating Luxottica Retail Location (LensCrafters, Target Optical, Sears Optical or Pearle Vision corporate store) to receive a pair of glasses at no charge. 

Essilor Vision Foundation's Changing Life through Lenses - this program provides no cost eyeglasses to those in need. The program provides no cost lenses, frames and lab services to ANY optometrist. Orders can be placed online using a free account. Click here to get started.