Does TRICARE cover glasses or contact lenses?

Direct answer: Generally no — TRICARE medical only covers glasses or contact lenses to treat specific medical conditions, like infantile glaucoma, not routine nearsightedness or farsightedness, and it doesn't cover routine contact lens fittings at all, even during a covered eye exam.

Applies to: All TRICARE plans · All regions

Details

Active duty service members can get eyewear through a military optometry clinic as a readiness item, separate from the routine-benefit question. Everyone else who wants help paying for ordinary glasses or contacts needs a separate FEDVIP vision plan, which carries frame and lens allowances — active duty family members can generally buy FEDVIP vision (unlike FEDVIP dental, which they can’t, since they already have the TRICARE Dental Program) as long as they’re enrolled in a TRICARE health plan.

What to do next

Confirm this with your Primary Care Manager or regional contractor before scheduling — rules can vary by region and by service.