What to Expect at Your America's Best Contact Lens and Eyeglass Appointment

How America's Best appointments work

America's Best is a chain of optical stores owned by Essilor Luxottica, the same parent company as LensCrafters and Visionworks. When you book an appointment at America's Best, you're scheduling time with an optometrist or ophthalmologist who will perform an eye exam, and then you'll work with an optician to choose frames and order glasses or contact lenses. The appointment typically takes 60 to 90 minutes from check-in to leaving with your prescription.

Most America's Best locations operate on a walk-in basis as well as scheduled appointments, but booking ahead means you won't wait and your eye care provider will have time blocked for you. You can schedule online through their website, by calling your local store directly, or through their mobile app. The exam itself costs money — America's Best does not bill insurance directly at the point of service the way some independent optometrists do — but many vision insurance plans will reimburse you after you submit a claim.

Key Takeaways

• America's Best appointments include both an eye exam (which you pay for) and frame selection, and typically last 60 to 90 minutes.
• You'll need your current glasses or contact lens prescription, insurance card, and photo ID; bring your contact lens box if you wear contacts.
• The eye exam tests your vision, eye pressure, and eye health; the optician then helps you choose frames and places your order.
• Vision insurance usually covers part of the exam cost and may include a frame allowance, but you pay upfront and claim reimbursement later.
• If you need glasses or contacts urgently, ask whether your location has same-day or next-day fulfillment options.

What documents and information to bring

Bring your photo ID and your current vision insurance card. If you have vision coverage through your employer or a marketplace plan, the optometrist will need your member ID and group number to process the exam correctly for insurance purposes. Even if you don't have vision insurance, bring any ID so the store can create or pull up your account.

If you wear glasses, bring your current pair — the optometrist will use them as a reference point during the exam. If you wear contact lenses, bring the box or case so the eye care provider can see the brand, power, and base curve you currently use. If you don't have the box, know your prescription: the power (like -2.50), the base curve (usually between 8.3 and 8.8), and the diameter. If you've never had an eye exam before, you don't need to bring anything except ID and insurance information.

The eye exam portion of your appointment

The optometrist or ophthalmologist will start by asking about your vision history, any eye problems, and whether you have a family history of eye disease. They'll ask what you use your eyes for most — computer work, reading, driving — because that shapes which lens type might work best for you. Then they'll move through a series of tests: they'll check how well you see at distance and near, measure the pressure inside your eye (a puff of air or a gentle contact probe), and look at the back of your eye with a dilating drop and a special lens.

The refraction — the part where they flip lenses in front of your eyes and ask "which is better, one or two?" — usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. The whole exam is typically 30 to 45 minutes. At the end, you'll receive a written prescription that you can use at any optical store, not just America's Best, though the store will keep a copy in your file.

Choosing frames and placing your order

After the exam, an optician will walk you through the frame selection process. America's Best stocks hundreds of frames in their stores, organized by style, size, and price range. The optician will help you find frames that fit your face shape and prescription needs — some prescriptions work better in certain frame sizes, and the optician can explain why a frame might or might not suit your vision correction.

Once you've chosen frames, the optician will measure your pupillary distance (the distance between your pupils) if it wasn't done during the exam. This measurement is required to make glasses correctly. You'll then choose lens options: single vision (one power across the whole lens), bifocals or progressive (multiple powers for distance and reading), and add-ons like anti-reflective coating, blue light filtering, or photochromic (light-darkening) lenses. Each option changes the final price. The optician will explain what each does and what it costs.

Your glasses will be made in a lab — either in-store or at a regional facility — and the timeline depends on your location and the complexity of your prescription. Standard orders take 7 to 10 business days; some locations offer rush service for an extra fee. Ask about the timeline when you place your order so you know when to expect a call that your glasses are ready.

Contact lens fitting and ordering

If you want contact lenses, the eye exam gives the optometrist the basic prescription, but contact lenses require an additional fitting. The optometrist will place a trial lens on your eye to check the fit — how it sits on your cornea, whether it moves the right amount when you blink, and whether it's comfortable. This fitting takes an extra 15 to 20 minutes. You'll also need to demonstrate that you can insert and remove the lenses safely, and the optometrist will go over cleaning and storage instructions.

Contact lens prescriptions are separate from glasses prescriptions and expire after one year. Once you have a valid contact lens prescription, you can order lenses through America's Best or through online retailers. America's Best will place the order during your appointment and ship it to you, or you can pick it up in-store if they stock your prescription in their inventory. Ask about their shipping timeline and whether they offer trial pairs so you can make sure the fit is right before committing to a full box.

Insurance coverage and what you'll pay

Vision insurance plans vary widely in what they cover. Most plans cover a portion of the eye exam — typically $0 to $25 out of pocket — and many include a frame allowance of $100 to $200 toward the cost of glasses. Some plans also cover a portion of lens costs. You'll pay the full amount at the register, and then you can submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement, or America's Best may file the claim on your behalf depending on your plan.

If you don't have vision insurance, America's Best offers a discount program called America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses Club. Membership is free and gives you discounts on frames, lenses, and contact lenses. Ask about it at the register. Prices for uninsured exams and glasses vary by location, but you can call ahead to ask what an exam costs at your nearest store.

What happens if you need glasses or contacts urgently

If you need vision correction quickly, ask your optician about same-day or next-day options when you place your order. Some America's Best locations have in-store labs and can make standard single-vision glasses in a few hours. Others partner with regional labs and can offer next-day service for an additional fee. Not all locations offer rush service, so ask before you commit to an order.

If you need contact lenses right away, ask whether America's Best stocks your prescription in their inventory. If they do, you can walk out with lenses the same day. If not, they'll order them and ship to your home or the store. In the meantime, if you have an old contact lens prescription, you can order a temporary supply from an online retailer while you wait for your new prescription to arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my glasses prescription to order contacts online?

No. A glasses prescription and a contact lens prescription are different — they measure different things because glasses sit in front of your eyes and contacts sit on your eye. You need a separate contact lens exam and prescription. America's Best can provide this during your appointment, or you can get it from any other eye care provider.

What if I don't like the frames I chose?

America's Best typically allows frame exchanges within a certain timeframe — usually 30 days — if you haven't picked up your glasses yet or if you pick them up and decide they don't work. Ask about their return and exchange policy when you place your order. If your glasses have already been made and you want to exchange the frames, there may be a restocking fee.

Do I need a separate appointment for a contact lens fitting?

No. If you want both glasses and contacts, you can do the fitting during the same appointment. The eye exam covers the basic prescription, and the fitting adds 15 to 20 minutes. If you only want contacts and have never worn them before, the fitting is part of your appointment time.

Can I get my prescription without buying glasses at America's Best?

Yes. After your exam, you'll receive a written prescription that you can take anywhere — to another optical store, to an online retailer, or keep on file. You pay for the exam regardless of where you buy your glasses. Some vision insurance plans cover the exam even if you don't purchase frames through the same provider.

What if my prescription is very strong or unusual?

Tell the optician when you place your order. Strong prescriptions and unusual measurements sometimes require specialty lenses or frames, which may take longer to make and may cost more. The optician can explain your options and give you a timeline before you commit.