Where is the Best Place to Find Contact Lenses Today? If you wear contacts, you know that keeping up with your contact lenses can be its own full-time job. Whether you get disposables or the more costly long-term options, you'll need to replace your contacts pretty regularly (especially if you're someone who has a frequently-changing prescription). So, if you're considering buying your contact lenses online, you're not alone. It's one of the easiest ways to buy or reorder your eyewear. But finding the right contact lens store to trust with your eyesight? That can be harder.
Best Option
Contact Lens King is a contact lens store that's been around since 2004. Promising name-brand contacts at the "lowest possible prices", you get the same kind of lenses sold by your eye doctor (just without the price hike). Some of the discounts offered at Contact Lens King are up to 70% off the retail price. However, if you're looking for the nicest site to browse on, you might think Contact Lens King needs a bit of an update. But, don't judge a book by its cover. This is the top place to save money on contact lenses.
Website could use a little update
While this contact lens store's site is old-fashioned, you can search your preferred brand from the search bar at the top and filter through the selection of contact lenses about the same as you would on more modern sites. But compared to other contact lens stores, it can take a little longer to find what you need on Contact Lens King. During our research, we found 10+ different brands, and over 200+ options to sift through. You'll find brands like Acuvue, AirOptix, Dailies, Biofinity, Clariti, Biofinity, and more.
Costs $38.95 and $52.25 per box
To compare costs at each contact lens store, we used the preferred brand and prescription from a test patient (prescription of OD -2. 25 and OS -3. 00). Our test patient also has a -0.75 CYL on the left eye (which indicates astigmatism). Her preferred brand is Biofinity. Our pricing will include cost ranges for the astigmatism-specific contacts alongside the normal type since our test patient would need to buy one box of each. Here's what we found:
Our test patient's total purchase would be $91.20 with an additional $12.95 for shipping for a total of $104.15 for regular and astigmatism contacts at Contact Lens King.
Does not take insurance
Contact Lens King does not provide a way to use your insurance directly through purchase. The contact lens store notes that some insurance providers might reimburse you after the fact (and you can send your Contact Lens King invoice to your vision carrier), but this isn't a guarantee. You'll want to check with your insurance provider before you try to buy the lenses at Contact Lens King if using insurance is a dealbreaker for you.
30-day return policy
Contact Lens King offers a return policy that allows you to send back any unopened (sealed) boxes of contacts within 30 days of your original date of purchase. If you have a defective box or pair of contacts, Contact Lens King promises to replace them. This is on par with most refund and replacement policies in our review.
High praise across the board
Contact Lens King holds an "A" rating from the Better Business Bureau as well as full accreditation. According to recent third-party reviews, the less-intuitive website isn't a problem for most people, especially if they're looking for deals. Recent reviews are all uniformly 5 stars with an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 from Trustpilot. Customers note that the site was hassle-free when it came to regularly purchasing their contact lenses at this contact lens store. Plus, there is a great deal of praise for the promotional offers and sales at Contact Lens King, so you may find even lower prices depending on the promotion. There were also consistent reviews praising the customer service team at Contact Lens King.
Top pick: low-cost contacts
There are a lot of benefits to choosing to go with Contact Lens King. The prices are notably lower than at many of the contact lens stores in our review, and the selection of brands is competitive (as well as its inventory). While Contact Lens King doesn't take insurance, it offers some of the lowest prices in the industry, so if you don't have vision insurance, it's not too costly to buy. With high praise for customer service and ease of shopping, Contact Lens King earns 5 stars in our review and is the top recommendation for those looking for lower-cost contacts who can't rely on insurance for help.
Great
Glasses USA is a popular site for buying everything eyewear. This is more than just a contact lens store as a one-stop shop for contacts, glasses, and sunglasses. So, if you want to buy everything you need in one shop, Glasses USA is worth a look. The best part? Glasses USA has its own optical lab to make sure your glasses (and contacts) fit correctly. Having won awards in 2019 and 2023 for its top-notch shopping experience, Glasses USA stands out from other all-in-one shops in our review.
Pick from 16 brands of contacts
Browsing contact lenses on Glasses USA is easy to do by brand, type, manufacturer, or prescription type. You'll find 16 different brands at this contact lens store including Acuvue, Air Optix, Avaira, Biofinity, Biomedics, Biotrue, Clariti, Impressions, Miru, and more. Across the entire selection of contact lenses, Glasses USA offers 107 different products, which is a little higher than we've seen at other one-stop-shop sites. You'll find options for single vision, astigmatism, and multifocal correction, as well as daily, weekly, and colored styles.
Costs $64.53 and $83.76 per box
To accurately compare costs at different contact lens stores, we used a prescription from a test patient who already wears contacts. Her prescription was OD -2.25 and OS -3.00, along with a -0.75 CYL in the left eye (astigmatism in that eye). Our test patient normally buys the Biofinity brand, so during our price comparison, we looked at both normal and astigmatism lenses (usually those with astigmatism will need two different types of contacts to address the shape of the eyes) in that brand. Here's what we found:
The cost at Glasses USA is a little bit higher than we've seen at competitors. The total cost for one box of each type is $148.29. You do get 100% free shipping with Glasses USA, and if you sign up for a subscription to get regular shipments, you'll get 15% off your next order.
Most insurance accepted by Glasses USA
According to Glasses USA, most customers save an average of $100 on purchases by using vision insurance. Glasses USA works with providers like UnitedHealthcare, Spectera, VSP, EyeMed, NVA, Aetna, DavisVision, Anthem, MediGold, Lincoln Financial Group, and more. If your provider isn't listed, you can apply for reimbursement with your insurance company using an itemized receipt from this contact lens store.
60-day refund for contacts
Glasses USA has a 100% money-back guarantee. This contact lens store promises that if you're not satisfied within 14 days, you can get a refund or 100% store credit. Now, we needed to use Glasses USA's digital assistant to get most of the details on the return policy itself, but we found that returns for contact lenses are even more generous than the industry standard return policy. Here, you have 60 days to return your contacts as long as they are sealed in the original packaging.
Top marks on Trustpilot
Glasses USA currently holds a "B" rating from the Better Business Bureau, and its rating on Trustpilot is one of the best we've seen in the industry. Glasses USA holds a 4.4-star average out of 5, and this is across over 100,000 individual customer reviews (that's 70,000+ 5-star ratings). Recent reviews of this contact lens store note that shopping at Glasses USA is easy and economical. There was equal praise for the contact lens purchases as well as the glasses and sunglasses. As a one-stop shop, customers praise almost every aspect of Glasses USA.
Top one-stop shop
If you're looking for our favorite pick for a one-stop shop, Glasses USA is one of the best. While the prices were a little higher than at some contact lens stores in our review, Glasses USA stands out with its rave reviews on Trustpilot, competitive inventory, and a large selection of accepted insurance providers. Glasses USA clearly stands out from the pack, which is why it earns an excellent rating in our review.
Great
LensDirect is a site that specializes in contact lenses. With discount contacts from major brands, you can expect to see a large inventory and lower-than-average prices here. This contact lens store has been open since 1992, and it offers a price match guarantee. So if you find a lower price on another site (excluding sales or promotions), LensDirect will match the price. LensDirect is a great spot for deal hunters (or those who need to buy contacts often). Plus, you can also buy lens replacements for your glasses, and new eyeglasses or sunglasses frames too.
Pick from 14 brands of contacts
You can easily browse LensDirect's selection of contact lenses. Like most sites in our review, you can either browse the entire inventory or use the helpful filters to narrow the field. If you know exactly which brand you're recommended by your optometrist, LensDirect's search bar is the fastest way to find what you need. There are 90 different types of contacts in this contact lens store's inventory, and with 14 brands, you'll find most of your favorites at LensDirect. You can expect to see Acuvue, Bausch+Lomb, Dailies, Air Optix, BioTrue, Cariti, Proclear, Soflens, Purevision, and more. There are options for daily contacts, astigmatism contacts, monthly contacts, multifocal, weekly, and colored contact lenses too.
Costs $58.74 and $77.49 per box
For our contact lens store price comparison, we used a test patient with a prescription for OD -2.25 and OS -3.00, along with a -0.75 CYL which indicates astigmatism in her left eye. Since our test patient prefers the Biofinity brand and needs one astigmatism-correcting contact and one normal, we priced out both versions of the Biofinity brand. Here's what we found:
Since shipping is free at LensDirect, you can expect the total cost for one box of each type to be $136.23. If you choose a subscribe and save option, you can save between $11.75 and $15.50 per box.
Doesn't accept insurance
At the time of our review, LensDirect did not accept any insurance. You can complete the process offered by many contact lens stores in our review where you can take an itemized receipt (provided by LensDirect) to your insurance company. This way, your vision insurance can reimburse you for your purchase. However, you will still have to pay out of pocket at the get-go at LensDirect.
90-day refund policy
You have 90 days to request a return or refund at LensDirect. Any unopened boxes of contacts are eligible for either store credit or a full refund. If there are any return shipping fees with your order, you will be responsible for those. 90 days is one of the longer periods of time offered by contact lens stores in our review, so if you're someone who buys ahead, this could be a great way to make sure you can get your money back if the contacts don't work out for you.
Helpful service and low-cost
LensDirect holds a balanced "B" rating from the Better Business Bureau and an extremely high rating on third-party review sites like Trustpilot. Currently, LensDirect shows an impressive 4.7-star rating out of 5 across 10,000 reviews. Customers praise the quality of the contact lenses and the fast delivery. Almost every review mentions the "good prices" and how user-friendly the site is. There is praise for all of the aspects of this contact lens store (glasses, sunglasses, and contacts too). Customers loved the service reps who quickly resolved issues when a question popped up, using both the online messaging service and direct phone calls.
Low-cost one-stop shop
If you're looking for a highly competitive contact lens store that has high praise and impressive customer service, LensDirect is a spot you want to check out pronto. While it has a slightly smaller inventory than our top picks, it comes in as a close competitor with low prices, high review ratings, and a competitive return policy. With all these things considered, LensDirect earns a very high rating in our review. It is slightly lower only due to our top picks offering better insurance coverage or even lower prices than this. But if you want a solid one-stop shop to browse, definitely check out LensDirect as your next contact lens store.
Very Good
Eyeconic (on top of having a stellar name) is one of the most popular eyewear stores out there. Known for its top-notch customer service, this contact lens store offers more than just contacts: it's a one-stop shop for eyewear of all kinds. So, no matter what you need for your prescription, Eyeconic has got you covered. This contact lens store was founded in 2011 by VSP and offers you access to its in-house network of over 38,000 doctors to help you with questions or frame adjustments for your eyeglasses.
Pick from 110 options
Finding what you need at Eyeconic is a breeze. You can either use the helpful filters to explore the 110 different contact lens products at Eyeconic or search for your preferred type and brand using the search bar. There are 19 different brands to choose from at this contact lens store including ETHOS, Infuse, MyDay, Precision1, Proclear, Biotrue, Biofinity, Bausch+Lomb, Air Optix, and more. You can also choose from single-vision, multifocal, astigmatism, and colored/color-enhancing lenses.
Costs $77.99 and $94.99 per box
For our cost comparison between contact lens stores, we used a real prescription from a test customer. The prescription is OD -2.25 and OS -3.00, along with a -0.75 CYL in the left eye, since our patient has astigmatism in just one eye. Our customer normally wears Biofinity, so we based our search on that brand only. In order to cover her normal purchasing needs, we looked at normal and astigmatism lenses in the same brand since our patient would normally need to buy a pack of each. Here's what we found:
Notably, Eyeconic will suggest brands that are similar but cost less than brands you might be shopping for. For example, we were suggested the Ethos Aquatech 6 pack as an alternative for Biofinity at a $15 reduction in cost per box. As for our normal brand, the total cost for one box of each type is $172.98. Shipping is free at Eyeconic, but this is a much higher per-box cost than other competitors.
Insurance accepted directly
Eyeconic currently accepts insurance from VSP, MetLife, and Cigna Vision. If you have one of these providers, you can slide the toggle to the right at this contact lens store and fill out your member details. Once you're confirmed as a covered member of one of those vision providers, you'll get your insurance automatically applied before you buy. This, at least, will help keep costs down at Eyeconic.
Customer-friendly free exchanges
Eyeconic offers 100% free returns for any of its products (including contact lenses). You have 30 days to send back your contacts if you don't want them (as long as they're unopened). On top of that, if you're looking to do an exchange because of a prescription change, specifically, Eyeconic offers a full 6 months to get your contacts changed out. This is one of the most generous exchange programs in the industry, and it's perfect if you pre-order multiple months' supplies of contacts and need to send them back or change out for a newer prescription. In our experience with this process, Eyeconic was stellar about completing exchanges. We even missed the exchange deadline - and Eyeconic's team was extremely helpful and let us complete the exchange anyway.
Praise for ease of use
Eyeconic holds a competitive "B" rating on the Better Business Bureau and a higher-than-average 4.2-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. Recent reviews show high praise for the all-around site experience as well as the fast shipping offered by Eyeconic (specifically, for contact lenses). Unlike some other one-stop shops, many of the reviews specifically mention purchases for contact lenses, and most of these have 5 stars for impressive discounts and the ease of using insurance with this contact lens store.
Best choice if you have insurance
This is one of the best spots you can pick if you're either not too worried about cost or if you have one of the listed insurance plans. Eyeconic is a great one-stop shop, meaning you can get all your eyewear at this contact lens store alongside your contacts themselves. However, if you're looking for the lowest costs for your lenses, Eyeconic may not be your first pick. But if you can use insurance, then no sweat. For this reason (as well as competitive returns and helpful exchanges) Eyeconic earns a good score in our review, only slightly lower-rated due to the higher-than-average prices for non-insured patients.
Average
ContactsDirect stands out as one of the largest contact lens stores in the US. ContactsDirect is a sister site to Glasses, and both fall under the parent company Luxottica Group. While ContactsDirect is about the same as (or occasionally slightly more affordable than) its competitors, it does offer significant discounts if you order more contacts at once. The company got started in 1992 and is based in sunny Florida.
Easy to find your brand
Browsing for your contact lenses at ContactsDirect is simple. You can either search using the range of filters or use the search bar to find your favorite brand. You can find daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly disposable contacts as well as options for color (cosplay fans check these out), multifocal, and astigmatism support. You'll find popular brands like Acuvue, Soflens, Optima, Proclear, Dailies, Proclear, Miru, Total, Infuse, and Biomedics. There were a total of 37 brand options and 105 products listed at this contact lens store at the time of our review. However, some issues with the site can make browsing a problem. While the site is organized well, we ran into glitches where it reset our test prescription multiple times during checkout, making the process a bit tedious to do over.
Costs $55.99 and $71.99 per box
To compare prices at different contact lens stores in our review, we used a real example from a test shopper. Her prescription is OD -2.25 and OS -3.00, with a -0.75 CYL in her left eye, which means she has astigmatism in just one eye. She typically wears Biofinity contact lenses, so we checked out the costs of that brand at every retailer. Since she would normally buy one box of regular Biofinity lenses and one box of Biofinity Toric lenses made for astigmatism, we looked at the cost for both types. Here's what we found when we checked the prices:
For one box of each, our test patient would pay $127.98 total, and shipping at ContactsDirect is free.
Takes in- and out-of-network insurance
ContactsDirect accepts most insurance plans including in-network and out-of-network carriers. Some of the main insurance providers that can be used at ContactsDirect include Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Superior Vision, Cigna, and more. You can select your carrier in the dropdown menu. Once your insurance plan is verified, your benefits will be applied automatically during checkout at this contact lens store.
6-month refund window
ContactsDirect's return and exchange policy offers both refunds or replacements for contact lenses depending on which you prefer. You have 6 months to make a decision (so, if you preorder a bunch of contacts, you can return any that are unopened), and they can be returned for a full refund. However, shipping and handling charges for returns won't be covered at this contact lens store. If you paid for shipping (instead of using the free shipping option), you won't be refunded for that portion of your purchase.
Some reputation issues related to site use
In order to find the Better Business Bureau page for ContactsDirect, we needed to research its parent company instead. Regrettably, Luxottica only holds a "D-" rating from the Better Business Bureau, due to 46 complaints filed against the company that weren't resolved. On the bright side, ContactsDirect itself does better rating as a standalone company on third-party review sites. Currently, this contact lens store holds a 3.8-star average rating out of 5 from Trustpilot. Many of the recent reviews are a bit mixed, though, spanning 1, 2, and 5-star ratings. While some customers have used ContactsDirect for years, others note that they find the website lacks user-friendliness. Another reviewer stated the site repeatedly asked if she wanted to allow notifications (as a continuous popup) which made browsing a frustrating experience.
Mid-tier choice with competitive pricing
While the deals are competitive when compared to other contact lens stores in our review, ContactsDirect has some hiccups with things like site glitches and popups that make this retailer a less positive experience for many. However, the inclusion of insurance is a perk and makes it simple to get your contact lens purchase covered. So, it earns a more balanced rating in our review. It could do some work on sprucing up the website but the actual purchases are competitive, earning ContactsDirect a mid-tier rating in our review.
Fair
Rather than some other sites in our review which are just contact lens stores, Designer Optics offers a one-stop shop for everything you might need for your vision: glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses all in one. In business since 2011 and promising a 100% satisfaction experience, Designer Optics claims it wants you to have fun browsing its online selection. However, according to reviews, this may not be the experience you receive. Read on to see why.
Pick from 18 different brands
The selection of contact lenses at Designer Optics is a little smaller than those we've found at competing contact lens stores. We saw 18 different brands available at Designer Optics including SofLens, Total30, Dailies, Cariti, Biotrue, BioMedics, Avaira, Air Optix, Acuvue, Miru, Infuse, and more. You can also find single-vision, multifocal, and astigmatism-focused lenses. However, the total inventory is just 79 products, which is about a third of the total number we have seen at top contact lens stores. On the other hand, the experience of browsing is easy to use and intuitive, making up a bit for the smaller inventory.
Costs $53.99 and $69.99 per box
For our cost comparison, we used a contacts order from an example patient. Her prescription is OD -2.25 and OS -3.00, with a -0.75 CYL in her left eye, which means she has astigmatism on that one side. She generally wears Biofinity contact lenses, so our price comparison focused on that brand at each retailer. Those with astigmatism usually need to buy different types of lenses, so we looked at both types of Biofinity lenses (regular and Toric). Here's what we found:
The total purchase for 1 box of each type at this contact lens store is $123.08, and 7- to 10-day shipping is free of charge at Designer Optics.
Leaves reimbursement up to your insurance carrier
As of 2021 (and there hasn't been a policy update since), Designer Optics is an "out-of-network" provider for eyewear. Currently, there is no way to automatically apply your insurance during checkout through this contact lens store. Instead, you'll need to fill out a separate form (provided by Designer Optics) to request that your vision insurance provider reimburse you for your purchase: you will need to buy your contacts at the listed price, and then ask your insurance company to pay you back. So, you might want to make sure your provider will be willing to reimburse you before you buy.
Returns within 14 days
Designer Optics will accept returns for its products within 14 days of your original delivery date. If you want a refund for your order, you will be charged a $5 handling fee for any return that you make. Keep in mind, though, that all custom prescription orders are not refundable (this applies only to glasses). For contact lenses, you can only return unopened boxes (as is the policy with most contact lens stores).
Not much feedback from contact lens shoppers
Designer Optics is currently not rated by the Better Business Bureau. Instead, we had to focus our research on Designer Optics's third-party reviews from eyewear customers who left verified feedback. The news... wasn't great. Regrettably, Designer Optics holds just 2.5 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot. Many of the recent reviews were just 1 star. Customers' complaints for this contact lens store were mainly focused on eyeglasses and sunglasses rather than contact lenses, but low inventory was one of the main complaints for all eyewear types. The few reviews we could find that talked about contact lenses at Designer Optics were pretty high ratings, though it seems most customers are using this site for glasses purchases rather than contact lenses.
Doesn't stand out from the pack
Overall, Designer Optics isn't a top contender for a few reasons. First, it doesn't have a competitive refund policy, charging a restocking fee of $5 no matter what you return. Second, it comes in with an "NR" rating from the BBB and just 2.5 stars from customers on Trustpilot with very few actual reviews covering the service's contact lenses. The prices are competitive, but not the best we've seen, and without insurance integrated into the purchase process, Designer Optics leaves you a bit on your own to handle things. For this reason, it earns a below-average score in our review. Plenty of other contact lens stores offer better returns and insurance support, so Designer Optics will need to do a little work to become a more competitive contact lens store.
Subpar
Founded in 1996, Discount Contacts promises a hassle-free process that's different from other contact lens stores online today. Discount Contacts's goal? To save you the most money while still getting the best quality contacts. One of the features that stands out for many buyers is the simplicity of reordering your contacts. So, ideally, you'll never have to worry about running out.
Pick from 13 contact brands
Browsing on Discount Contacts is a simple process, and you can jump right in with the "Shop all contacts" button unless you want to use the search bar to find your favorite brand. Across the inventory, we found 133 different products to choose from. Discount Contacts provides contacts from 13 brands including Acuvue, Biotrue, Infuse, Proclear, Air Optix, Cariti, Avaira, Precision 1, ULTRA, and Biofinity. The browsing is clean and offers pricing before you add your prescription, which stands out from many other contact lens stores, which require the specifics of your prescription beforehand. Discount Contacts offers products for multifocal vision, colored or tinted brands, disposable, and contacts for astigmatism.
Cost is $50.99 and $55.99 per box
To check prices across different contact lens stores, we used a real prescription from a test customer: OD -2.25 and OS -3.00, along with a -0.75 CYL in the left eye, which means she has astigmatism. Our customer normally wears Biofinity contact lenses, so we based our search on that brand. For our pricing, we looked at both regular Biofinity lenses and Biofinity Toric lenses since our test customer would need to buy a pack of each. Here's what we found:
The cost is notably lower for both the normal and astigmatism boxes at Discount Contacts. The total purchase for one of each would be $106.98. Shipping is also free on all orders at Discount Contacts.
It's up to the customer to get reimbursement from insurance
Discount Contacts is unfortunately out-of-network for most vision plans. Like a few other low-cost contact lens stores in our review, Discount Contacts suggests that you use the reimbursement process. You'll need to fill out a form and include the itemized receipt offered by Discount Contacts during your purchase. Your insurance provider will then send you the money for your insurance claim as needed. It's smart to check with your provider first before making the purchase if using your insurance is a must-have.
30-day return policy
Discount Contacts offers a competitive 30-day return policy as long as you have your receipt. All unopened boxes of contact lenses will receive a full refund. Since shipping is free at Discount Contacts, you won't be charged any fees during your return. If your contact lenses are defective for any reason, this contact lens store may need to send them to the manufacturer for analysis before you get the refund. You will receive a replacement or refund, depending on your choice.
Increasing concerns about customer service
Discount Contacts doesn't currently have a page with the Better Business Bureau. However, the company is owned by AC Lens, which does have a BBB presence. Currently, AC Lens holds a full "A+" rating from the BBB. On the other hand, Discount Contacts itself isn't popular, with a 2.4-star average rating on Trustpilot. Recent reviews are mixed between 1- and 5-star ratings, and regular complaints include issues with customer service. One reviewer blamed a possible buyout, where he noted a change in customer service after Discount Contacts was purchased by another. Some customers who were longtime supporters of Discount Contacts have decided to move on after issues with wait times. Finally, with concerns about slow shipping (despite some customers paying for expedited shipping), there are a lot of increasing red flags with service at this contact lens store.
Declining service quality hurts its rating
While some of the features are nice, the increasing concerns from customers about declining customer service at Discount Contacts raises some red flags for us. While we'd love to jump on some of the deals at Discount Contacts, the prices aren't quite good enough to warrant bad customer service and slow shipping times. Getting your eyewear without issues (and promptly) is extremely important, since many of us can't drive or function without our contacts. For this reason, this contact lens store earns one of our lower ratings, with the hope that it will improve its customer service experience in the future.
Subpar
LensCrafters is known as a brick-and-mortar eyewear and optometrist service. Offering both in-store and online shopping, this favorite (often seen in your local Target or shopping mall) is a convenient spot to get your contact lenses - and everything else you need for your vision correction. With glasses, sunglasses, contacts, and eye exams, it would seem to be the ultimate one-stop shop.
Choose from 18 contact lens brands
Finding your contact lenses on LensCrafters is simple. You can either browse the entire inventory of brands or search for your favorite in the search bar. The filters are also helpful, allowing you to narrow your options by brand, eye correction type, and the length of time the contacts will last. There are 18 brands to choose from at LensCrafters including Acuvue, Air Optix, Avaira, Biofinity, Dailies, Infuse, LensCrafters brand, Miru, MyDay, Precision7, Proclear, and more. You can also find over 60 different options in LensCrafters' inventory (though this is a smaller number of available contact lenses than we've seen at other contact lens stores).
Costs $71.99 and $78.99 per box
When doing our cost comparison across different contact lens stores, we used a test prescription for a patient who already wears contacts. Her prescription was OD -2.25 and OS -3.00, along with a -0.75 CYL (astigmatism in the left eye). Since our test patient prefers the Biofinity brand, we used that as our focus for pricing. Further, since those with astigmatism just in one eye will need different types of contacts to address the shape of each eye, we also priced out "normal" and astigmatism-focused versions of the Biofinity brand. Oddly, LensCrafters did not have the standard Biofinity 6pk. Instead, we had to price out the Biofinity Energys 6pk as the "normal" option. Here's what we found:
This is a much higher general cost than at other contact lens stores (especially since LensCrafters didn't offer the standard Biofinity option). The total cost for one box of each is $150.98. Thankfully, shipping is free at LensCrafters, so there won't be any additional costs on top of that.
Tons of insurance coverage
LensCrafters does offer to interface with your insurance company, and the contact lens site accepts both in- and out-of-network carriers including EyeMEd, Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and DavisVision. You can check if your insurance provider is included on the insurance page of LensCrafters' website. As a practicing optometrists' office, LensCrafters accepts most insurance for all aspects of its practice. Only a few insurance providers are accepted in-store only. These include National Vision Administrators, Avesis, Heritage Vision, and Davis Vision.
30 days for refund or replacement
At LensCrafters, you have 30 days to complete a refund or replace an item purchased here. This 30-day period starts the day your contacts arrive at your home (or when you pick them up from the store). You can return online or in-store. Though the refund page is focused on glasses, the same requirement for returning contacts is applied at LensCrafters as with other contact lens stores in our review: you need to return a fully sealed package of contacts in order to qualify.
Poor in-person experiences
Regrettably (as we see with many large companies), LensCrafters holds a dismal "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, we're not super clear on why this rating is so low, as it is due to just 3 unresolved complaints against the company. On other review sites like Trustpilot, LensCrafters holds a more balanced 3.6-star rating out of 5. In general, customers had mixed feelings about shopping in-store. There are regular complaints about rude salespeople, loud music, and staff members who couldn't answer questions or were "sitting around" not helping customers. While some customers had a "seamless" experience ordering contacts online, the overall feeling is that LensCrafters needs to work on its customer service in person before it becomes a competitive contact lens store.
Best only for online orders
If you're just looking to order contact lenses from LensCrafters, you should be okay. Online ordering was one of the few things that received praise at this contact lens store. However, if you were hoping for a friendly one-stop shop where you can also go get new glasses in person, you might be disappointed by the overall experience at your local store. This may differ depending on where you're located. But, on the whole, it's not very impressive to hear about sales associates ignoring customers or being unable to help with basic inventory questions. It would have ranked even lower, but the ability to get eye exams and the competitive refund policy keep it a little higher than some other contact lens stores.
Weak
1 800 Contacts is a brand many of you might remember from seeing commercials on TV. In operation since 1995, 1 800 Contacts promises it's been trying to improve an industry that's been overly reliant on kickbacks to doctors. 1 800 Contacts was the first site offering online purchases of contacts. Plus, they've worked with government agencies to pass laws that allow you the right to your prescription (so you can decide where you want to buy your contacts).
Pick from 11 brands and 300+ contacts
Browsing contact lenses at 1 800 Contacts is a breeze. You can search by brand if you have a favorite, with names like Acuvue, AirOptix, Dailies, Biofinity, Clariti, Bausch+Lomb, and CooperVision to choose from. There were a total of 11 different brands offered by this contact lens store. Depending on your needs, you can also expect to find contacts that suit your needs for astigmatism, multifocal, color/enhancing, as well as disposable, soft, and vial selections. Across the entire inventory, we saw over 300 different types of contact lenses in stock.
Costs $59.99 and $69.99 per box
To price out the contact lenses at each retailer, we used the base prescription from a test patient with a prescription of OD -2.25 and OS -3.00 (right and left). Our test patient also has a -0.75 CYL (astigmatism) on the left eye. She uses the Biofinity brand by CooperVision. As such, we priced out the cost ranges for the astigmatism-specific alongside the normal type since our test patient would need to buy one box of each (normal for the right eye and astigmatism for the left). Here's what we found:
The total for this order would cost $129.98 and shipping for the order is free if you choose 5-7 business days at 1 800 Contacts.
Applies insurance at checkout
1 800 Contacts is a great contact lens store if you want to use your insurance. You just put your basic details in, and 1 800 Contacts will find your benefits through your insurance company and apply them automatically at checkout. You may need to do a little scrolling to find the insurance tab (since it's not included in the checkout window), but once you get it submitted, the process is totally hands-off. You just get to enjoy the savings.
Generous exchange program
1 800 Contacts offers returns and exchanges on all unopened boxes of contacts. You'll also qualify for a return (with a refund) if your prescription changes between when you ordered your last box and when it arrives, if you want to try a new brand, or if you ordered too many. This contact lens store also allows you to exchange contacts you got from another retailer as long as they're unopened.
Increasing concerns about customer service
1 800 Contacts holds a full "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau; however, patients who left reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot and Sitejabber tell another story. The average rating on Sitejabber is just 1.9 stars out of 5, and on Trustpilot, it's about the same with a 2-star average out of 5. There are regular complaints about "shady" practices and poor customer service. Some customers have had issues with being overcharged for shipping or with listed discounts not being honored. Other reviewers said the quality of contacts was poor, and this contact lens store's customer service was difficult to get ahold of for returns or exchanges.
May not be worth getting bad contacts
Despite how exciting 1 800 Contacts seems based on its exchange program and easy browsing, eyewear patients are saying it isn't worth the trouble. With poor-quality contacts standing out as a regular complaint, we're more wary of recommending 1 800 Contacts over other contact lens stores in our review.
Poor
For Eyes is one of several contact lens stores in our review that also serves as a one-stop shop for all other eyewear. On top of your contacts, you can grab both eyeglasses and sunglasses (including high fashion brands), making it convenient to shop for everything in one place. For Eyes first got started in 1972 in Philadelphia, PA. It's been around for more than 40 years now and offers both online retail and over 100 brick-and-mortar locations.
73 different products to choose from
Now, there aren't quite as many contacts at For Eyes as you might see at rival contact lens stores. There are about 73 different products to choose from at For Eyes. As for contact brands, you'll find 17 different choices to sift through, including Acuvue, Air Optix, Bausch+Lomb, Biofinity, Biomedics, Dailies, iWear, Precision1, and more. There are only 3 types of lenses though: spheric (single vision) toric (astigmatism), and multifocal. You won't find any color lenses at this retailer. Browsing the options is simple. You can either look through the inventory using the filters or use the search bar to find a particular brand right away.
Costs $61.99 and $78.99 per box full price
When we looked at pricing across different contact lens stores, we used a prescription from a test patient. The prescription included OD -2.25 and OS -3.00, along with a -0.75 CYL in the left eye (astigmatism in that eye). Our test patient prefers Biofinity, so we based our search on that brand, and we looked at normal and astigmatism-correcting lenses as she would normally need to buy a pack of each. Here's what we found:
There are often sales and promos at For Eyes; for instance, at the time of this review, we were offered $23.79 off the astigmatism lenses and $18.60 off the regular ones. The total purchase at For Eyes was $98.68 for one box of each. Plus, with free delivery, costs are much lower. However, this can be dependent on limited-time promotions.
In-network for most insurance
For Eyes accepts insurance from plenty of providers including Aetna, Anthem, Avesis, Cigna, EyeMed, EyeQuest, Humana, NVA, Premier Eye Care, Spectera, VSP, and more. To get your insurance added to your purchase, you can either call For Eyes directly or email its customer service to verify your membership. This is a little more clunky than the verification processes at other contact lens stores. You can also submit a claim directly to your insurance company if you prefer to go the reimbursement route.
Free refunds within 30 days
For Eyes offers a free refund policy which states that you won't pay any fees to return items. You have 30 days from the day you received your contacts to send them back. While the policy doesn't state that your For Eyes contact lenses need to be unopened, it's safe to assume that is the case. Most contact lens stores require that due to the contact lenses being a medical product, but the lack of detail on this from For Eyes was a little disappointing.
Almost no feedback for For Eyes
Regrettably, For Eyes currently holds an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. This is mostly due to unanswered complaints filed against the business. While it gets slightly better ratings on third-party review sites like Trustpilot, a 3.9-star average is still a bit lower than we've seen at other contact lens stores. Plus, compared to some companies that have thousands of customer reviews, For Eyes has under 20 total reviews (which is surprising for a company that's been around so long). There's only one listed review that mentions contact lenses at all, and it said that the customer's purchase was notified as "backordered" and not shipped. While there are some 5-star ratings for glasses and sunglasses purchases, the lack of feedback on contact lenses raises some questions about how popular this site is as a contact lens store, specifically.
Not worth the red flags
At the end of the day, For Eyes doesn't stand out in any category. The regular prices for contacts are higher, there's almost no feedback for its services, and the "F" rating from the BBB is a major red flag. With other contact lens stores out there that offer better pricing and a larger inventory of contact lenses, For Eyes falls to the bottom of the pack in our review of contact lens stores.
Continued from above...
If you wear contacts, you know that keeping up with your contact lenses can be its own full-time job. Whether you get disposables or the more costly long-term options, you'll need to replace your contacts pretty regularly (especially if you're someone who has a frequently-changing prescription). So, if you're considering buying your contact lenses online, you're not alone. It's one of the easiest ways to buy or reorder your eyewear. But finding the right contact lens store to trust with your eyesight? That can be harder.
Before we get into finding the right fit, let's look at the benefits: shopping at an online contact lens store for contacts gives you access to better prices, a wider selection, and the freedom to order from anywhere. You won't have to feel tied to buying your lenses right after your eye exam (because ouch). Instead, you can take the time to think over what you need and take your prescription to the site with the best prices or best fit for your eye shape. The same lenses your eye doctor offers can often be found online at a fraction of the price. Recent research shows that many online contact lens stores take insurance too, which can keep costs down.
Online contact lens stores also tend to offer a much broader selection than local shops. You can find lenses for nearly every prescription and lifestyle. Whether you need extended-wear lenses for astigmatism or just a convenient daily disposable option, chances are you'll find it online. Plus, if you're someone who loves costumes or cosplay (guilty as charged), buying your contacts online is a must. You won't find the colorful selections for prescription cosplay contact lenses at your local optometrist.
Finally, the best contact lens stores will help you keep on top of your prescription. Reordering is simple, and some sites send automatic reminders, while others offer subscription services that ship new lenses on your schedule. That means no more running out or pushing your lenses a few days too far. It's one of the easiest ways to stick to good eye care habits without a lot of stress.
If you're not sure where to take your eyewear needs, don't worry about it. We've done the research to put together a helpful list of factors that can get you started. If you're not sure how to choose, consider the following as you browse the contact lens stores out there:
To help you find the best eyewear for your prescription, Top Consumer Reviews has rated and reviewed the best online contact lens stores available today. This way you can find the perfect fit, stop worrying about how you look with your glasses on in photos, and enjoy that picture-perfect vision you deserve!
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The Latest Trends in Contact Lenses
Contact lenses have come a long way since the earliest blown-glass creations in the late 1880's. It was not until the 1950's that lenses were crafted that could be worn all day. Even so, lenses were fragile and expensive, and contact lens insurance was common.
The cornea in the eye does not contain blood vessels, so oxygen must be directly absorbed by the cornea from the air. In the late 1970's, doctors developed rigid gas permeable lenses that allow oxygen to pass through the lens material. Also in the 1970's, chemists developed contact lenses made from soft, flexible material, and these have become the most popular types.
Current contact lens research is involved in finding ways to increase oxygen transference to the cornea. Scientists are also working on ways to include antimicrobial ingredients in the lenses themselves. This helps with the identification and prevention of conditions resulting from contamination by foreign organisms and reduces bacterial infection.
Contact lenses must be periodically cleaned, then rinsed and disinfected before reuse. Lenses must also be stored in a liquid solution when not being used, for example overnight. In the past, each of these functions was performed by a separate formulation. More recently, multipurpose cleaning solutions have been developed that perform all these functions. There are even devices that clean and disinfect lenses using ultrasonic, ultraviolet, or vibration. The latest multipurpose solutions are effective against bacterial and fungal growth, and include ingredients to increase surface moisture and provide greater comfort to lens wearers.
Other areas of patient compliance also present a challenge. For example, if lenses designed for daily wear are worn overnight, there is an increased risk of corneal infection. The use of daily disposable lenses helps reduce contamination by inadequate cleaning or improper storage. A lens case lined with silver has been developed to help eliminate germs that might come in contact with the lens case.
Perhaps the most radical and exciting development in contact lenses is the work being done to create "bionic lenses". Still in the testing stage, these lenses include electronic circuits and infrared lights incorporated into the lens material itself to create a virtual display similar to a heads-up display in modern aircraft. Scientists are experimenting with using radio signals to power the lenses instead of conventional power sources, like batteries. With a built-in antenna, these lenses could communicate with a personal computer or other electronic device and be used for playing video games, education, training, or perhaps to provide warnings to people who are hearing-impaired.
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