Where's the Best Place To
Buy Contact Lenses?

From an eye doctor? Optical store? Internet? Warehouse club? Wherever you buy, shop for value and don't forget your eye health.

By Liz Segre

With so many choices, how can you find the best place to buy contact lenses?

There's no single "best" place to buy. Finding the right source for your lenses will require some research — but the information in this article will help you save time. Here's where to start:

First, ignore your preconceived ideas about which source is cheaper or better, and be prepared to evaluate a variety of offline and online sources.

Second, focus on value, not just price. With any type of purchase, most people who are "looking for the best price" are really looking for the best overall value. In contact lenses, where a combination of products and professional services are involved, this is especially important.

Overall value is affected by these factors (in no particular order):

• Availability. The best price won't mean much if the product is out of stock, and you need it now.
• Customer service
• Convenience. Consider the value of your time, plus the price of gas.
• Bundled products and professional services
• Price

If you're a first-time wearer, bear in mind that contact lenses can be purchased from a variety of sources, but only after you've been evaluated and fitted by an eye care practitioner (ECP). If you already wear lenses, you'll need a copy of your contact lens prescription from your ECP. You may also want to read the article, "Understanding Your Contact Lens Rx."

Next, follow our step-by-step plan for choosing a contact lens seller.

Step One: Check Your Insurance

Do you have a health insurance plan that includes vision coverage? Check to see what benefits are provided for contact lenses. Typically you'll find one of two scenarios:

• You get a simple percentage discount (for example, 15 percent off) at participating brick-and-mortar retailers and ECPs.
• You can mail-order from a lens seller that either is owned by the plan provider or has a special arrangement with them.

The prices from your insurance plan's seller may or may not be better than what you can find elsewhere. Consider this as one option as you shop around.

Step Two: Evaluate Sources

Before comparing specific prices, consider the positives and negatives of different types of contact lens sellers:

Your eye doctor. Pricing of contact lenses from ECPs varies widely. Many people assume that lenses from a doctor will be more expensive and inconvenient, but some doctors will sell larger quantities of lenses (a year's supply, for example) at prices that are competitive with other sources. And they can have the lenses shipped directly to you.

Also, some ECPs offer bundled packages of lenses and professional services. If your doctor's lens price is slightly higher than a competitive source, but the package includes office visits, contact lens care products or other services, the value may be greater. The disadvantage: Not all ECPs are price competitive, and generally they don't offer the convenient hours of some other lens sources.

If you purchase a contact lens that is damaged, does your source have a good return policy? Check before you buy!

Optical chains. Stores like LensCrafters and Pearle Vision generally have optometrists either on-premises or in adjacent affiliated locations. Such outlets offer the advantage of being able to provide eye exams and contact lens fittings, as well as sell you a supply of lenses.

If you have a common prescription, already have a valid Rx and need more contact lenses immediately, such a location may be a good option because there's no waiting for your lenses. These sellers also benefit from volume buying and generally offer competitive prices. Some people also appreciate the "trust factor" of an in-person transaction, as opposed to purchasing contact lenses online or via mail order. And these locations generally are open evenings and weekends.

Mass merchandisers. Stores like Sears and Target often have optical departments that offer the same advantages of optical chains — in fact, many of the optical departments in these stores are owned or leased by major optical chains. Costco, which runs its own optical department, and Walmart, which has a mix of company-owned and leased optical departments, offer these same advantages, too.

Online retailers. Buying anything on the Internet involves some risk, and contact lenses are no exception. That doesn't mean it's a bad idea — you just have to know where to buy. (For complete information, read Buying Contact Lenses Online.) Internet sites let you order 24/7 and make it easy to compare prices. A disadvantage is that if you need lenses today, you won't get them; and if you need them tomorrow, be prepared for extra shipping charges.

Check shipping and handling rates before ordering, whether it's online, at an optical store, or at your eye care practitioner's office. Sometimes the charges are significant; sometimes there's no charge at all.

Step Three: Compare Prices

To get the best price on contact lenses, you have to comparison shop. This can be complicated.

Don't assume you'll find a significantly better price on the Internet than you will in an optical chain or from an independent eyecare practitioner. Also, don't assume that any seller who offers one particular lens for less will be cheaper for all lens brands and types. And remember that pricing can change often, particularly at Internet sites.

Here's what to do:

• Ask about replacement lens prices at your doctor's office when you have your examination, or during a follow-up visit when you obtain your contact lens prescription.
• Call or visit several optical stores for price quotes. If you belong to a warehouse club like Costco, be sure to include them.
• Check prices on the Internet. For details on how best to do this, read Buying Contact Lenses Online.
• For each of the above, be certain to ask what rebates are available.

The chart below gives sample prices for two boxes of popular brands of contact lenses from a number of sellers. Please note that pricing for contact lenses can change frequently, and limited-time rebates may reduce lens prices significantly.

Also note that when we called Costco and Pearle Vision, we were given different prices and/or rebate information by different stores for two of the products. We don't know if prices and rebates vary by location or if some store employees were misinformed. Either way, it pays to ask questions and double-check the information when you call.

And you may want to ask about price-matching. We didn't ask, but one Target location we called offered to match the price if we found SofLens 66 Torics for less somewhere else.

Step Four: Factor in Rebates

When purchasing contact lenses, be aware that several types of rebates may be available:

• Rebates from the seller
• Rebates from the manufacturer
• Rebates for first-time contact lens wearers
• Rebates for individuals who buy lenses and get an eye exam

Usually, you can take advantage of only one rebate, because the required proof of purchase (for example, a box flap with bar code) can be sent to only one entity. Also, you may have to order larger quantities to qualify for rebates. Be sure to factor in the rebates offered by each vendor to make sure you are getting the best price for your lenses. Even though the "per box" price may be higher from a given source, when you factor in rebates, this supplier may offer the best value.

10 Tips for Getting the Best Price

Brand-Switching and "Private Label" Contact Lenses

By law, contact lens retailers must sell you the exact lens you have been prescribed — with no switching of brands or lens specifications.

But there is one exception. Some lens manufacturers sell a particular lens under several brand names: for example, they may create private-label brands for large eye care practices or optical chains. If your prescription calls for a private-label lens, it's legal to buy that same lens packaged with its alternate brand name. Some mail-order sellers offer guides to help determine the national brand name of a private-label lens.

The Bottom Line on Buying Contact Lenses

To get the most value from your purchase, you'll need to think about what best meets your needs, and do some price-comparison shopping.

No matter where you buy your lenses, be sure to have your eyes checked on a regular basis. With smart shopping and regular eye care, your contact lens-wearing experience can be both economical and healthful.

[Download a printable PDF version (31kb) of "10 Tips for Getting the Best Price." Requires Adobe Reader, which should be already installed with your browser. If not, you can download Adobe Reader now.]

[Page updated January 2009]