Book An Eye Doctor Appointment Online

Choose an eye doctor, pick an open time and send your request in a few minutes. Booking through My Eye Doctor is free for patients, you don't need an account, and the office confirms your visit by email or phone.

  • Free for patients
  • No account needed
  • Live open times
  • Confirmed by the office

Need Help Booking?

Our team can help with the site or a booking request.

Request Your Appointment

To request an appointment, browse our eye doctors and use the booking calendar on any doctor's profile.

How Long Does An Eye Exam Take?

Most eye appointments take between 30 minutes and 2 hours. How long yours takes depends on the type of visit, whether your eyes are dilated and whether you need extra tests. Use these typical times to plan your day, and ask the office if you're not sure.

  • 30 to 60 min

    Routine Eye Exam

    A vision test, an updated glasses prescription and a check of your eye health.

  • 60 to 90 min

    Comprehensive Exam With Dilation

    Includes 20 to 30 minutes for dilating drops to work, so the doctor can check your retina and optic nerve.

  • 45 to 60 min

    Contact Lens Exam

    A full eye exam plus lens measurements and a fit check. A first fitting may need a follow-up visit.

  • 30 to 60 min

    Children's Eye Exam

    Uses pictures, lights and games for younger children. Dilation adds extra time.

  • 1 to 3 hours

    Specialist Or Medical Visit

    Retina, glaucoma and other specialist visits often include imaging, extra tests or treatment.

  • 15 to 30 min

    Video Visit

    Good for follow-ups and talking through results. There is no dilation or eye pressure check.

Tips To Keep Your Visit On Time

  • Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, or a little earlier as a new patient, to check in and complete your forms.
  • If you wear contact lenses, wear them to the appointment unless the office tells you otherwise, and bring your lens boxes or prescription.
  • If your eyes may be dilated, bring sunglasses and plan a ride home, as blurry vision usually lasts 4 to 6 hours.
  • Running late? Call the office straight away so they can tell you if they can still see you.

Times are typical and vary by practice and by the care you need.

Which Appointment Type Do You Need?

Choosing the right reason for your visit helps the office plan enough time and bill the right insurance.

  • Routine Eye Exam

    For a regular check, new glasses or a change in vision with no other symptoms. Usually billed to vision insurance.

  • Contact Lens Exam

    For new contact lenses or to renew your lens prescription. Includes a full eye exam plus a lens fitting.

  • Medical Eye Visit

    For red, painful, itchy or dry eyes, floaters or a change in vision. Usually billed to medical insurance.

  • Children's Eye Exam

    For a child's first full exam, a failed school vision screening or an eye that turns in or out.

  • Follow-Up Visit

    To check how you're doing after treatment, surgery or a change in eye drops or medicine.

  • Second Opinion Or Surgery Consultation

    To discuss cataract, LASIK or retina surgery, or to review a diagnosis with another specialist.

Choose the reason closest to your needs in the booking form. The office can change the visit type if needed.

Before Your Appointment

A little preparation helps your visit run smoothly and makes sure the right plan is billed.

What To Bring

  • Your vision and medical insurance cards, and a photo ID
  • Your current glasses and contact lenses, or your latest prescription
  • A list of the medicines you take, including eye drops
  • Sunglasses for after your eyes are dilated
  • Any referral letter or earlier eye test results

Insurance And Cancellation Tips

  • The reason for your visit decides whether vision or medical insurance is billed, so share both plans with the office.
  • Confirm your exact plan type, such as PPO or HMO, and whether you need a referral.
  • Paying for yourself? Ask for the self-pay price before your visit.
  • Many offices ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule.

Find eye doctors by insurance plan

Eye Emergency? Don't Book Online

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room straight away if you have:

  • Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
  • A curtain or shadow moving across your vision
  • A sudden shower of floaters or flashes of light
  • A chemical splash in the eye. Rinse with clean water for at least 15 minutes
  • An eye injury or something stuck in the eye
  • Severe eye pain with headache, nausea or halos around lights

Booking Questions

Quick answers about requesting an appointment. For more, read our full FAQ.

Is my appointment confirmed as soon as I send the request?

Your request goes straight to the doctor's office, and a copy arrives in your inbox right away. The office then confirms by email or phone, and you'll get another email when your appointment is confirmed or cancelled.

Can I book for my child or another family member?

Yes. Enter the patient's name with your own contact details, and mention in the note that you're booking for someone else. A parent or guardian usually needs to come with a child to the visit.

Why can't I see any open times for a doctor?

The doctor's online calendar may be full for the coming weeks, online booking may be turned off for that doctor, or the remaining times may be too soon to book online. Call the office, or choose another doctor with open times.

What time zone are the appointment times in?

Times are always shown in the doctor's local time zone, which appears above the calendar. If you live in a different time zone, double-check the time before you send your request.

How do I cancel or change my appointment?

Call the office using the phone number in your confirmation email, and let them know as early as you can. Each practice sets its own cancellation policy.

My Eye DoctorFree online booking with eye doctors across the United States

General information, not medical advice. Last updated .

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