TRICARE Eye Care at Eye Medics Optometry
I have been caring for military families in Fayetteville for over 20 years. Fort Bragg is one of the largest military installations in the world, and a significant portion of our patients are active duty service members, retirees, and their families. We are an authorized TRICARE provider, and we accept TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, and TRICARE For Life.
One of the things I hear most from military families is confusion about what TRICARE covers for eye care. The short answer: TRICARE covers comprehensive eye exams for most beneficiaries, but the details depend on your plan and your status. I want to walk you through what we see in our practice so you can come in prepared.
We are located at 1952 Skibo Road — about 10 minutes from Fort Bragg's main gate. We have evening appointments on Tuesdays and we do our best to accommodate the scheduling challenges that come with military life.
Comprehensive eye exams for Fort Bragg military families — TRICARE Prime, Select, and For Life accepted.
TRICARE Plans We Accept
TRICARE Prime
HMO-style plan for active duty and their families. Requires referral from PCM for specialty care. Zero cost for active duty; cost shares for dependents.
TRICARE Select
PPO-style plan. No referral required for most services. Cost shares apply. Available to active duty families, retirees, and dependents.
TRICARE For Life
Medicare-wraparound for military retirees who are Medicare-eligible. Pays after Medicare, often resulting in little or no out-of-pocket cost.
TRICARE Young Adult
Coverage for adult children of TRICARE-eligible sponsors, ages 21-26. Purchased separately. Similar benefits to TRICARE Select.
Before Your Visit:
Call us at (910) 426-3937 before your appointment and we will verify your TRICARE benefits, confirm referral requirements, and let you know what to bring. This prevents surprises at check-in.
What TRICARE Covers for Vision
TRICARE covers comprehensive eye exams as a medical benefit — meaning the exam itself is covered when medically necessary. Here is what that looks like in practice:
Routine eye exams
Covered for most beneficiaries. Frequency varies by plan — typically once per year.
Medical eye exams (diabetes, glaucoma, etc.)
Covered as a medical benefit. Diabetic retinal exams, glaucoma evaluations, and other medically necessary exams are covered.
Retinal imaging
Covered when medically indicated. Our Optos ultra-widefield retinal camera is used for most patients.
Contact lens fitting (routine)
Not covered by TRICARE medical. Contact lens fittings for vision correction are not a covered benefit.
Glasses (routine)
Not covered by TRICARE medical for routine vision correction. TRICARE covers glasses after cataract surgery and in specific medical situations.
LASIK consultation
Not covered by TRICARE medical. Active duty may have access to LASIK through military treatment facilities.
Estimated TRICARE Vision Coverage — % of Exam Cost Covered
Approximate percentage of comprehensive eye exam cost covered by each TRICARE plan for eligible beneficiaries. Actual coverage varies based on status (active duty, dependent, retiree) and specific plan details. Source: TRICARE.mil, Defense Health Agency.
Call us to verify your specific TRICARE benefits before your appointment.
Active Duty Vision Care
Active duty service members have access to eye care through military treatment facilities (MTFs) on post, but wait times can be long and appointment availability is often limited. Many active duty service members come to us for their eye care because we can usually see them faster and provide a more comprehensive evaluation.
Under TRICARE Prime, active duty service members pay nothing for covered services. Under TRICARE Select, cost shares apply. If you are active duty and enrolled in TRICARE Prime, you will need a referral from your PCM — but we can help you navigate that process.
One thing I see often with active duty patients is undetected vision problems that have been affecting their performance. Dry eye from desert deployments, computer vision syndrome from extended screen time, and early glaucoma are all things I have caught in active duty patients who thought their vision was fine. A comprehensive exam — not just a visual acuity check — is worth doing every year.
TRICARE for Families and Dependents
Military families are a big part of our practice. Spouses and children of active duty service members are covered under TRICARE, and we see a lot of military kids for pediatric eye exams and myopia management.
Children who move frequently — as military families often do — are at higher risk for undetected vision problems. School vision screenings in a new state may not catch problems that were identified elsewhere, and records do not always transfer seamlessly. I recommend bringing any previous eye exam records to your first appointment with us.
For military children with myopia (nearsightedness), we offer a full myopia management program — including MiSight daily contact lenses, Ortho-K overnight lenses, and low-dose atropine eye drops. These treatments can slow myopia progression by 30 to 60%, which matters a lot for kids whose prescriptions seem to change every year.
Pediatric eye exams for military families — TRICARE Prime and Select accepted.
TRICARE for Retirees
Military retirees and their families make up a significant portion of Fayetteville's population, and we are proud to serve them. Retirees under 65 can use TRICARE Select or TRICARE Prime (if available in their area). Retirees 65 and older who are Medicare-eligible have TRICARE For Life.
TRICARE For Life works as a Medicare supplement — Medicare pays first, and TRICARE For Life pays the remaining cost shares. For most covered services, this means little or no out-of-pocket cost. This is one of the best benefits available to military retirees, and I encourage all eligible retirees to take advantage of it.
For retirees, I want to emphasize the importance of annual eye exams. Conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy become more common with age, and early detection makes a significant difference in outcomes. Our Optos ultra-widefield retinal camera allows us to image the entire retina without dilation in most cases — which is more comfortable and more thorough than a standard dilated exam.
Eye Care Services for Military Families
Comprehensive Eye Exams
Full vision and eye health evaluation. Retinal imaging with Optos ultra-widefield camera. TRICARE Prime and Select accepted.
Pediatric Eye Exams
Children's exams from 6 months through high school. TRICARE covers pediatric eye exams. We are patient and experienced with military kids.
Myopia Management
Proven treatments to slow nearsightedness in children — MiSight contacts, atropine drops, and Ortho-K overnight lenses.
Diabetic Eye Exams
Annual dilated retinal exams for diabetic patients. Covered by TRICARE as a medical benefit. We coordinate with your PCM.
Glaucoma Evaluation
Comprehensive glaucoma screening and monitoring. Covered by TRICARE as a medical benefit.
Specialty Contact Lenses
Scleral lenses, keratoconus management, and specialty fits for complex prescriptions. TRICARE may cover medically necessary specialty lenses.
How Eye Medics Compares
| Feature | Eye Medics Optometry | Other Options |
|---|---|---|
| TRICARE Prime accepted | Yes — in-network | Varies by location |
| TRICARE Select accepted | Yes — in-network | Varies by location |
| TRICARE For Life | Yes | Varies |
| Exam time with doctor | 45-60 minutes | 10-15 minutes |
| Retinal imaging (Optos) | Ultra-widefield, no dilation | Basic or none |
| Myopia management | Full program (Ortho-K, MiSight) | Not offered |
| Pediatric eye exams | Comprehensive | Basic screening |
| Fort Bragg proximity | ~10 min from main gate | Varies |
| Google reviews | 1,500+ / 5.0 stars | Varies |
Free Download
"Is My Child's Vision Affecting Their Grades?" — Parent Checklist
A 12-point checklist I give to every parent in my practice. Download it, go through it tonight, and bring it to your child's next eye exam. It takes 3 minutes and could change everything.
Frequently Asked Questions — TRICARE Eye Care
Does Eye Medics accept TRICARE Prime?
Yes. Eye Medics Optometry is an authorized TRICARE provider and accepts TRICARE Prime. If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, you will need a referral from your Primary Care Manager (PCM) for specialty eye care. For routine eye exams, TRICARE Prime covers one exam per year. Call us at (910) 426-3937 to verify your specific coverage and referral requirements before your visit.
Does Eye Medics accept TRICARE Select?
Yes. We accept TRICARE Select. TRICARE Select is a preferred provider option (PPO) that does not require referrals for most services. You can schedule directly with us. Cost shares apply depending on whether you are active duty, a dependent, or a retiree. We will verify your specific benefits before your visit.
What does TRICARE cover for eye exams?
TRICARE covers comprehensive eye exams for active duty service members, retirees, and their dependents. Coverage details vary by plan: TRICARE Prime covers routine eye exams with a referral from your PCM. TRICARE Select covers eye exams with cost shares. TRICARE For Life covers eye exams as a Medicare supplement. Contact lenses and glasses are generally not covered by TRICARE medical — you may need a separate vision plan (like FEDVIP) for those benefits.
Do I need a referral to see an eye doctor with TRICARE Prime?
For TRICARE Prime, you typically need a referral from your Primary Care Manager (PCM) for specialty eye care. However, for routine eye exams, the referral requirement may vary. I recommend calling us at (910) 426-3937 before your visit — we can help you understand your specific referral requirements and verify your benefits so there are no surprises.
Does TRICARE cover contact lenses or glasses?
TRICARE medical plans generally do not cover routine contact lenses or glasses for vision correction. However, TRICARE does cover contact lenses and glasses in specific medical situations — such as after cataract surgery, for severe refractive error, or for certain medical conditions. For routine vision correction, you may want to consider FEDVIP (Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program), which is available to military retirees and their families.
How far is Eye Medics from Fort Bragg?
Eye Medics Optometry is located at 1952 Skibo Road in Fayetteville — approximately 10 minutes from Fort Bragg's main gate via Bragg Boulevard or All American Freeway. We are one of the closest full-service optometry practices to Fort Bragg, and we see many active duty service members, retirees, and their families.
Does Eye Medics accept TRICARE For Life?
Yes. We accept TRICARE For Life, which is the Medicare-wraparound coverage for military retirees who are Medicare-eligible. TRICARE For Life pays after Medicare pays, often resulting in little or no out-of-pocket cost for covered services. Call us to verify your specific benefits.
Reference Resources
TRICARE — Vision Care Benefits
Official TRICARE information on covered vision care services for beneficiaries.
TRICARE — Find a Provider
Official TRICARE provider finder tool to verify network participation.
FEDVIP — Vision Insurance for Military Families
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program — available to military retirees for supplemental vision coverage.
Last reviewed: March 2026 · Written by Dr. Dwight Singletary, OD · Eye Medics Optometry, Fayetteville, NC
