Best online contacts for specialized lenses
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To order any type of contact lenses, you’ll first need a prescription from your doctor.
If your insurance policy covers vision care, check to see if the retailer you’re considering accepts your insurance.
If your doctor prescribed a particular brand of contacts, it’s best to stick with a retailer that offers that brand.
Be sure to double-check the retailer’s return policy in case you need to make a return.
Did you know that 45 million people in the US wear contacts, but many of them end up paying more than they need to? Yes, you can save yourself a trip to the eye doctor’s office and some cash by checking out online contact retailers. Online contact lens providers let you easily compare prices, and the best places to buy contacts online even accept vision insurance.
At CNET, we’ve covered vision care for years with extensive research and unbiased reviews. After checking and reviewing various online stores, we have found the ones that have something to offer everyone. Here are our top picks of the best places to buy contacts online so that you get the most value for your money.
Read more: Best Online Glasses and Contacts Deals: Savings You’ll Have to See to Believe
What’s the best place to buy contact lenses online?
Topping our list is Warby Parker, which we think is the best place to order contacts online. As one of the most popular eyewear brands, Warby Parker offers a seamless and hassle-free buying experience for filling your new prescription. Additionally, the company carries most major contact brands so you can shop around for a lower price. If you choose to buy your contact lenses at Warby Parker, you can buy in bulk, like getting an annual supply, to save money.
Best places to buy contact lenses online for 2024
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Warby Parker doesn’t just sell affordable and stylish eyeglasses, the company sells contact lenses too. You can pick from Scout, Warby Parker’s own contact lens brand, or get contacts from Acuvue, Biotrue, Air Optix, Dailies and other major brands. A three-month supply of Scout daily contacts (a total of 90 lenses) starts at $52, which is a good deal for daily contact lenses. Depending on where you shop and the brand you use, prices online can vary from $60 to $200. You can get a six-day trial pack of Scout contact lenses to see if you like them before committing to a full supply.
Depending on your vision insurance, you may be able to use your benefits to pay for your Warby Parker contacts purchase. If your insurance company doesn’t directly work with Warby Parker, you can instead file a claim with your insurance to be reimbursed for any qualified orders.
GlassesUSA.com sells both contact lenses and glasses and will price-match other sellers. Like every other retailer on this list, GlassesUSA.com has all of the popular lens brands, including Acuvue, Biofinity and more, and offers free returns and free shipping on prescription lenses.
As one of the best-known contacts stores, 1-800 Contacts stocks all of the most popular brands, and you can even get hard contacts through its call center. One CNET editor praised the company for providing customer service that went above and beyond.
1-800 Contacts will price-match any competitor, so if you find a better price, you can let the company know and it will do its best to match it (with some restrictions).
Like Lens.com, you can text or email your contact lens prescription, which speeds up the ordering process. 1-800 Contacts also offers 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). You can also buy colored contact lenses from 1-800 Contacts. If you need to exchange your unopened lenses for any reason, 1-800 Contacts will cover the shipping cost.
A popular source for cheap contact lenses among my fellow CNET editors is ContactsDirect, because it often sends out coupon codes to customers. It has a wide selection of lens options, including multifocal lenses, colored contacts, soft contact lenses for dry eyes and toric lenses for astigmatism.
ContactsDirect offers returns on products that were purchased within one year if your vision changes and you need a correction from your doctor. ContactsDirect also sells contact lens solution, as does 1-800 Contacts.
Lens.com’s prices are often lower than other shops for prescription contact lenses. It has an impressive selection of brands — including Acuvue, Air Optix, Dailies and Biofinity Toric for astigmatism — plus it takes returns and covers the cost of shipping for unopened boxes.
Lens.com is an out-of-network provider of vision insurance, so you can’t use your benefits to directly pay for your order. But, you can submit the receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement. (Always check with your insurance company to see what it covers.)
Eyeconic has a wide array of contact lens brands to choose from, including Acuvue, Air Optix, Biotrue by Bausch + Lomb and Extreme H2O. Like others on this list, it offers free shipping and free returns.
To narrow down our list of best places to buy contact lenses, we considered factors like:
- Customer satisfaction: We researched customer reviews from reputable third-party platforms like the Better Business Bureau to gauge overall client satisfaction.
- Variety: We assessed product range, choosing retailers that offer a wide array of products that cater to different prescriptions and needs.
- Accessibility: We prioritized online retailers that offered a smooth ordering process and had user-friendly sites and customer support.
- Price transparency: We favored retailers that provide competitive pricing and a clear breakdown of costs. Additionally, we chose those that accept some type of vision insurance or discounts.
- Shipping policies: We also considered shipping and delivery times to ensure our readers are offered a prompt and reliable service.How to order contacts online
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Buying contact lenses online is just as safe as buying them from your eye doctor, as you get the same lenses you’d find at the optical shop. The process requires a little extra effort than getting them from your eye doctor, but you’ll be rewarded with savings.
To get started, you just need to follow a few easy steps.
- Have your contact lens prescription.
- Search for the brand and model of contacts from your prescription at any of the stores above to find your specific lenses. Disposable contacts are sold in boxes, and most online shops give you a deal if you buy a six- or 12-month supply, rather than one box at a time.
- During the checkout process, you’ll enter your prescription information to select the correct lenses and then submit verification of your prescription. Most stores allow you to upload an image or PDF of your prescription, or you can opt for the company to contact your doctor to verify it. This process can take as little as a few minutes or up to a few days if the store contacts your doctor.
- Once that process is complete, your order will be finalized and cleared to ship directly to you.
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Pro tip: Right after your contact lens exam, it’s almost always worth it to get a year’s supply of your current prescription. Regardless of whether you’re buying daily disposable contacts, monthly lenses or even multifocal contacts, buying in bulk will help you save money.
If your prescription changes sometime during that year, many of the retailers above will allow you to exchange unopened boxes with a new prescription. You don’t have much to lose by buying a full-year supply. Although it can be a higher up-front cost, you’ll save money compared to buying one box at a time.
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If you are considering buying contacts online, keep these things in mind to ensure you make a safe purchase.
- Be sure to have a valid prescription from your eye doctor. Whether you buy in a store or online, a prescription is required to ensure you get the correct prescription strength.
- Shop around at different online contact retailers to find the best deals and look at customer reviews.
- Double- and triple-check the details on your order before placing.
- Make sure you have (or also purchase) all of the care supplies you need to ensure the safety and longevity of your contacts.
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Are contacts safe to buy online?
Can I order contacts online with an expired prescription?
Do you need a prescription to buy contacts online?
What’s the best place to buy contacts online?
Is it expensive to buy contacts online?
