Best place to buy contacts online in 2020
You cannot avoid the reality that contact lenses are expensive. It doesn’t help that many vision insurance plans only pay for contacts or glasses – not both – and limit how often you can use your benefits. However, if you pay for eye care out of your own pocket and want the best available price when buying contacts, you can shop online. It is usually cheaper than what your eye doctor or optician charges for each type of prescription.
While you may not Save hundreds of dollars if you buy contacts online like you would do it Buy glasses onlineYou are still more likely to find a good deal at an affordable price. Another great way to save money when buying contacts online is to purchase in bulk. You usually get better discounts. If you don’t expect your contact lens prescription to change next year, you’ll get a full year supply. In most of these online stores, you can also return unopened lens boxes if you get an eye exam and your prescription is changed.
Below is our selection of the best place to buy contacts online. Keep in mind that you must first have an eye test and contact lens exam carried out by your optician or optician – eye health is so important, especially if you suffer from diseases like dry eye or astigmatism. Therefore, all of these stores require a valid prescription from an ophthalmologist to dispense contact lenses and can help review the prescription during the online retailer’s ordering process. This is not an exhaustive list. Please indicate in the comments your preferred location for ordering contact lenses online – especially for colored contact lenses – so that others can find them more easily.
Scout by Warby Parker
Warby Parker, the company that has made a name for itself with affordable and stylish glasses, has now launched its own contact lens brand, Scout. The company promises that these daily contacts are breathable and offer superior comfort because they are made of a material that is supposed to stay moist all day. The contacts are also supplied in space-saving packaging that is practically flat and easy to transport.
A three-month supply of daily scout contacts (90 lenses in total) costs $ 110. This is not the cheapest price you can find for daily contacts. Depending on where you shop and what brand of daily contacts you use, online prices can vary between $ 60 and $ 200. You can purchase a 6-day trial package of Scout contact lenses for $ 5 to see if you like them before you commit to full delivery.
Warby Parker also sells branded contacts on its website and in its retail stores.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff / CNET
Personal story time: I found Lens.com too many years ago to remember now, and it was my first choice to make good contacts. I keep coming back because customer service is great and prices are usually the lowest I can find with prescription contact lenses. It offers an impressive selection of brands – including Acuvue, Air Optix, Dailies and Biofinity Toric for astigmatism – as well as returns and even the cost of returning unopened boxes. ‘Nuff said.
Does not accept vision insurance, but you can submit your receipt to your insurance company for a refund (and always check with your insurance company to find out what it covers).
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff / CNET
One of the best-known contact stores, the online retailer 1800Contacts, carries all the popular brands, and you can even make hard contacts via the call center. A CNET editor praised it for customer service that goes above and beyond.
As with Lens.com, you can send your contact lens prescription via SMS or email, which speeds up the ordering process. 1800Contacts also offers student discounts, free shipping on all orders, and allows you to update your prescription through an online test (only available for adults between 18 and 55 years old). Finally, you can sign up for a subscription that will send you lenses if necessary.
Accepts vision insurance with a valid prescription.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff / CNET
A popular choice to buy contacts among my CNET editors is ContactsDirect as it accepts our company’s vision insurance and frequently sends coupon codes to customers. It has a wide range of lenses, including multifocal lenses, colored contacts, soft contact lenses for dry eyes and toric lenses for astigmatism. And it offers returns for products bought within a year if your eyesight changes and you need a vision correction from your doctor. ContactsDirect (and 1800Contacts) also sells contact lens solutions.
Accepts vision insurance.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff / CNET
Coastal offers contact lenses and correction glasses from a single source. What makes it so attractive is that there is a price match guarantee that includes the total cost of buying (including fees and shipping) from another authorized online contact lens retailer – some conditions apply. It offers a wide range of lenses, including non-prescription colored contact lenses, free returns, and a subscription program.
Does not accept vision insurance, but you can request reimbursement from your insurance company.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff / CNET
Eyeconic has a wide range of contact lens brands to choose from, including Acuvue, Air Optix, Biotrue from Bausch and Lomb and Extreme H2O. The website will help you find an ophthalmologist or eye clinic. Like others on this list, they offer free shipping and free returns. (Note that Eyeconic’s Chicago stores previously available for walk-ins are closed until further notice.)
Accepts vision insurance.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff / CNET
Last but not least is GlassesUSA.com. As with Coastal, you can order contact lenses and glasses through the website. If you order both, you will receive significant discounts. Like any other retailer on this list, GlassesUSA.com has all major lens brands, offers free return and free shipping for prescription lenses.
Does not accept vision insurance, but you can request reimbursement from your insurance company.
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Originally published in 2019 and updated regularly.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about an illness or health goals.
