Compare 144 ophthalmologists in Austin, TX. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
144
Ophthalmologists
100%
Accepting patients
94%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Austin's healthcare infrastructure is racing to catch up with a population that has more than doubled since 2000. Dell Medical School, which opened in 2016, is still young but has already shifted the city from a medical education desert into a growing academic hub. The challenge is that provider supply hasn't kept pace with demand, and new-patient wait times for specialists can be long.
Austin has 144 ophthalmologists. The most common credential is MD (94%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Dell Seton Medical Center at UT anchors downtown as the region's Level I trauma center. St. David's has multiple campuses across the metro. Ascension Seton has historically been the largest system but is transitioning. The I-35 corridor is the main healthcare spine, with hospitals clustered along it from Round Rock through downtown to South Austin. Cedar Park and Round Rock have their own hospital campuses for the northern suburbs.
Providers practice throughout Austin. South Congress (SoCo) is a popular south Austin corridor with growing healthcare options and proximity to St. David's South Austin Medical Center. East Austin is a rapidly growing area with community health centers like CommUnityCare serving a diverse population. Downtown Austin is dell Seton Medical Center at UT anchors downtown healthcare as a Level I trauma center. Hyde Park is a central neighborhood near UT campus with family practices and Seton healthcare offices.
Nearby hospitals include Dell Seton Medical Center at UT, Ascension Seton Medical Center, and St. David's Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of Texas at Austin and Dell Medical School (UT Austin). Dell Medical School, opened in 2016, is the first new medical school at a Tier 1 research university in nearly 50 years.
The first visit includes a comprehensive eye exam with dilation, detailed imaging of your retina and optic nerve, and a review of your symptoms and medical history. The ophthalmologist will explain their findings, discuss treatment options (including whether surgery is indicated), and outline next steps. Plan for two to three hours total because of dilation and imaging.
Austin's rapid growth means primary care panels fill quickly. If you're moving to Austin, try to establish a PCP before you arrive or within your first few weeks. Dell Medical Associates, Baylor Scott & White, and CommUnityCare are all actively expanding primary care capacity.
See an ophthalmologist for cataracts, glaucoma requiring surgery or advanced management, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal tears or detachment, eye injuries, LASIK evaluation, eyelid problems, crossed eyes in children, or any eye condition your optometrist has referred you for. You should also see one if you have a systemic disease (diabetes, autoimmune conditions) that affects the eyes.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Cataract surgery: $3,000-5,000 per eye · LASIK: $2,000-3,000 per eye · Retinal imaging: $50-200
Austin, TX has 144 licensed ophthalmologists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of ophthalmologists in Austin, TX are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Austin employer plans skew toward Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna, driven by the tech and state government sectors. Sendero Health Plans is a Travis County-based nonprofit insurer on the marketplace. Central Health is the local healthcare district that funds programs for uninsured residents through CommUnityCare clinics.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. Cataract surgery costs $3,000 to $5,000 per eye. LASIK runs $2,000 to $3,000 per eye. Retinal imaging costs $50 to $200. Actual costs in Austin, TX depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Medical eye conditions (cataracts, glaucoma) are billed to medical insurance. Routine refraction for glasses is billed to vision insurance. LASIK is typically self-pay. Verify which insurance applies to your visit type.
Austin's hospital systems include Dell Seton Medical Center at UT (academic, Level I trauma), St. David's HealthCare/HCA (four Austin hospitals, the largest by bed count), Ascension Seton (historically dominant, now transitioning), and Baylor Scott & White (growing presence in Round Rock and Cedar Park). Dell Medical School is building out its clinical network, which is adding new provider options each year.
76% of ophthalmologists in Austin, TX accept Medicare. Medicare covers eye exams for conditions like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Cataract surgery is covered. Routine vision exams for glasses prescriptions are not covered under Original Medicare. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some ophthalmologists in Austin, TX accept Texas Medicaid, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers medically necessary eye care in all states. Coverage for routine vision exams and glasses varies by state. Children have broader coverage than adults. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Texas Medicaid participation before scheduling.
Central Health is Travis County's healthcare district, funded by property taxes. It doesn't run hospitals directly but funds CommUnityCare community health centers and the Medical Access Program (MAP) for uninsured residents. MAP provides access to primary care, specialty care, prescriptions, and some hospital services for income-eligible Travis County residents.
Yes, significantly. Before 2016, Austin was the largest US city without a medical school. Dell Medical School has attracted new specialists, created residency programs, and built out clinical facilities through its partnership with Ascension Seton. The Dell Seton Medical Center at UT opened in 2017 as a teaching hospital and Level I trauma center.
Top accepted carriers in Austin, TX include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-33602, qhp-17091, and qhp-37758.
Medical insurance covers ophthalmology visits for eye diseases and conditions (glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic eye exams). Vision insurance covers routine refraction and glasses prescriptions. LASIK is typically not covered by either. Cataract surgery is covered by medical insurance. Verify in-network status and whether pre-authorization is needed for surgery or diagnostic imaging.
MD
Austin, TX
