One of the best places to buy contacts online is WebEyeCare. It has positive customer reviews and an A+ grade with the Better Business Bureau. We discuss this and other online contacts retailers, including the most affordable.
Roughly
This article explores the best place to buy contacts online, discusses how to get affordable contacts online, and what to look for when shopping.
The table below compares each of the brands in this article on price and types of lenses available.
| Price | Types | |
|---|---|---|
| WebEye | $37 to $165 | daily, 1 to 2 weekly, monthly, color, astigmatism, bifocal, and multifocal |
| Warby Parker | $55 to $192.20 per pack | daily, biweekly, monthly, toric, multifocal and bifocal, color |
| 1-800 Contacts | $32.99 to $189.98 | disposable-daily, disposable 1 to 2 weekly, monthly, soft and vial, toric, multifocal and bifocal, color enhancing |
| ContactLensKing | $23.95 to $139.95 | toric, silicone hydrogel, monthly, daily, color, bifocal, 1 to 2 weekly, gas permeable, novelty, vials |
| Walmart Contacts | $36.86 to $143 per box | daily, 1 to 2 weeks disposable, 1 to 3 months disposable, vial, toric, colored and tinted, bifocal and multifocal |
MNT regularly refreshes this list to ensure readers get access to the best options for their needs.
We choose contact lens retailers based on the following factors, where possible:
- Prescription: MNT chooses companies that require a valid prescription to order contact lenses.
- Duration of wear: MNT chooses companies that offer a range of contact lenses suitable for daily, weekly, or monthly wear.
- Brands: MNT selects contacts retailers that offer a wide selection of popular brands.
- Price: MNT chooses brands that offer contact lenses at prices suitable for various budgets.
- Reputation: MNT chooses brands with positive reputations online based on Better Business Bureau (BBB) review scores.
MNT follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
To purchase contacts online, a person needs to:
- Get an up-to-date prescription from an eye doctor. In some cases, individuals can use an online retailer’s doctor finder service or complete an online eye exam. The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source emphasizes that it is important to have an up-to-date prescription and that people should not use lenses from older prescriptions. Online eye exams do not replace in-person eye tests. - Visit an online retailer offering contacts. In some cases, a person may want to choose a retailer that offers specialty contacts that help with certain conditions. Alternatively, they may want to select generic contacts, as they are often cheaper than name brands.
- Select the contacts to purchase. Typically, a person will have a prescription that specifies a particular type or brand of contact lens. While purchasing online, people should select the appropriate brand and lens type and provide their prescription information.
- Complete the online purchase and upload a copy of the prescription. Some companies allow people to pay with insurance or payment plans. Others provide an invoice that an individual would then use to submit a claim with their insurance company.
Buyers should note that the number of contacts per box, price, subscription services, and financing options vary greatly between brands and retailers.
Learn about whether Medicare covers contact lenses.
There are many considerations for those looking to buy contacts online. These factors include:
- Price: Prices will vary greatly between brands and online retailers. A person should review the costs of lenses via different sites to see if they can find a price that suits their budget.
- Ordering options: With some companies, such as Warby Parker, a person can choose a subscription service that delivers a set supply every month. Other retailers may offer a 1-year or 6-month up-front service and send the whole supply simultaneously. Some may benefit from subscribing to these services as they do not need to remember to order every month.
- Brand reputation: A person needs to consider two main factors. The first focuses on the contact lens brand: Does it generally receive good or bad reviews from other customers and have good standing with third-party organizations, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB)? The second consideration is the retailer: Does the company provide contacts at reasonable prices and good customer service?
- Personal needs: A person can work with their eye doctor to choose a safe option that works best for their prescription and eye health. Some may prefer disposable contacts whereas others may prefer to use long-term contacts.
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Also, people should be wary of any firm that supplies contact lenses that do not exactly match the customer’s prescription.
A doctor may be able to offer specific recommendations for reliable brands and products.
A note on who should not use contact lenses
It is important to note that contacts are not for everyone. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAOO), a person should reconsider using them if they are:
- working or living in a very dusty area
- prone to eye infections
- experiencing severe allergies or dry eyes
- unable to care for contact lenses properly
Below, we look at how people can save money on their contact lenses.
- Bulk buying: Buying a lot of contact lenses at once may help reduce some costs. People may opt to use a company’s membership or subscription service that offers regular delivery, discounts, or free shipping.
- Getting insurance coverage: Individuals working with a low budget may want to buy their contact lenses from a provider that accepts insurance. If a company does not accept insurance payments directly, they can forward their invoice to their health insurance company for reimbursement. In some cases, customers may also choose to pay with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
- Using coupons: Shopping browser extensions or coupons from a company directly may open up opportunities to use coupon codes or receive cash-back rewards to get contacts for the best price.
Is it cheaper to buy contact lenses online?
Buying discount contacts online can be cheaper than buying them from a doctor’s office, but it may not always be the most affordable option.
Many companies offer discounts, coupons, or subscriptions, allowing customers to save money and benefit from free shipping if they order regularly.
However, eye care professionals state that someone may have to consider some disadvantages to ordering contacts online. For instance, there is a risk that people will order from unreputable online retailers that may offer the opportunity to purchase eyewear products without consulting a doctor. They may also sell damaged products.
Additionally, a person may be unable to take advantage of the “open box policy” many eye doctors offer if they buy online. This means a person can exchange open and closed boxes of lenses for free if their prescription changes.
It can be safe and convenient to buy prescription contact lenses online. However, there is a risk of receiving incorrect orders, having orders get lost in the mail, and mistakes occurring during the prescription reading process. People need to avoid using companies that do not require individuals to have a current prescription. Individuals ordering contacts online must also have a current prescription and ensure the company has a high customer rating from the BBB.
The best place to buy contacts online will depend on the type of lenses a person needs, their budget, and whether they would like to use health insurance. According to customer reviews, the most highly rated online contact lens retailers include WebEyeCare and ContactLensKing.
This will depend on the type of contact lenses a person needs. However, all of the companies on this list provide contact lenses at reasonable prices. According to the companies on this list, ContactLensKing may be one of the most affordable places to buy contacts online.
Buying contacts online can be convenient, although many retailers have a mixed reputation online.
Insurance coverage, price, and a person’s vision needs are important factors to consider when purchasing contact lenses online.
