While we love getting cheap glasses, we can’t let those who prefer frames get all the attention! Contact lens wearers, we compiled our favorite tips for buying low-cost contact lenses. We’ve compared some of the best options in areas such as cost, interaction with insurance, and ability to get a prescription. Check it out, and comment below with any other favorites!
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Quick Links
Your Local Optometrist
It is ESSENTIAL to make sure that the optometrist AND the optical shop are both in-network with your insurance company, as the optical shop and the optometrist are separate businesses and have different tax IDs. It is possible that one is in-network with your plan and one isn’t, so make sure to do your homework in advance!
You can buy contact lenses from your optometrist, but often you can get a better deal using some of the companies below.
Exclusively Online Contact Lens Shops
These online stores don’t have optometrists and may not accept insurance. Make sure that you read the fine print for each to see what makes sense for you.
1-800-Contacts
Claim to Fame: “We beat any price on contact lenses. We deliver, you save”
Return Policy: “At 1800Contacts.com, your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you're not pleased with your order, we’ll make it right. We’ll even exchange unopened boxes of previously purchased contact lenses if your prescription changes.”
Prescriptions: 1-800-Contacts allows some people to renew prescriptions online via their “Express Exam” without going to their doctor’s office. To qualify, you must have been previously fitted for contact lenses, and you must be between a certain age range. Otherwise, you will need to upload, text, or send a current prescription to their experts, or input your optometrist’s name into their system so they can call to verify it for you.
Insurance: The company says they are in-network with Blue View Vision (Anthem BCBS) at the time of publishing, and are out-of-network with other vision insurance. They will provide you with an order invoice so you can submit the claim for out-of-network benefits or get reimbursed from your FSA or HSA account.
Tips:
A coupon code pops up for your first order at the top of the page.
Check out their FAQ here.
Hubble Contacts
Claim to Fame: Cheap daily contacts mailed to you monthly! $1 for the first box, then $36/month for 30 pairs of daily contact lenses delivered to your door. If you need a brand other than Hubble, they sell those at different prices.
Return Policy: “Hubble doesn't accept returns, but please don't let that stop you from getting in touch about any issue with your order! (Particularly if we made a mistake, which we work hard to avoid, but can happen every now and again.) Reach out by phone or email and we'll be more than happy to figure out a solution right away. :)”
Prescriptions: Hubble does not provide prescriptions, but will send you a list of nearby optometrists.
Insurance: The company is out-of-network with all insurance plans, but will provide an itemized receipt so you can submit the claim for out-of-network benefits or get reimbursed from your FSA or HSA account.
Tip:
If you type your email into their pop up, they give you a free box of contacts!
Best for those without insurance who want Hubble dailies.
Update 11/4/19: Hubble recently launched another contact marketplace where you can compare and save on brand name (other than Hubble) contacts. Check out their (temporary) deal using the link below!
Discount Contact Lenses
Claim to Fame: “DiscountContactLenses.com provides the largest selection of brand name contact lenses at the lowest prices.”
Return Policy: “DiscountContactLenses.com believes that returning items should be two things—easy and free. So, no matter the reason—wrong size, wrong color, or even if you're just not happy with the product—U.S. customers can return items up to 365 days from the ship date. (Seriously.)”
Prescriptions: Discount Contact Lenses does not provide prescriptions. You must upload, email, or fax a current prescription to their experts, or input your optometrist’s name so they can call to verify it for you.
Insurance: Discount Contact Lenses does not state that they take insurance on their page, but they will provide a receipt so you can get reimbursed from your FSA or HSA account.
Tip: Click around on the site to find new customer introductory offers!
GlassesUSA
Claim to Fame: “GlassesUSA.com is the largest online eyewear retailer offering a variety of both high-quality designer and house brands with a wide-range of styles and lens types including: single vision lenses, multifocal lenses, Rx sunglasses, sports glasses, kids glasses, contact lenses, digital protection, anti-reflective coatings and more.”
Return Policy: “It's pretty simple. If you're not 100% happy with your order, we'll give you your money back. No questions asked and completely hassle-free. If your prescription has changed, you can return all unused lenses, as long as they're still sealed in their original packaging and as long as it’s within the first 30 days of receiving them. Once we confirm your new prescription, we will send your new lenses back to you.”
Prescriptions: GlassesUSA does not provide prescriptions in the traditional way, but they recently launched an at-home prescription scanner in their app. All you have to do is scan your glasses with your phone’s camera, and it reads the “optical parameters from your current glasses”. This may not replace an eye exam needed for contacts, so read their fine print!
Insurance: The company is out-of-network with all insurance plans, but will provide an itemized receipt so you can submit the claim for out-of-network benefits or get reimbursed from your FSA or HSA account.
Tip: Get 25% of with code CONTACTS25, or if you need glasses and contacts, get 70% off frames with your contacts order with code CONTACTS70!
WALDO
Claim to Fame: “High-quality daily contact lenses without the hassle or price tag. More savings + more freedom = happy days.”
Return Policy: “If you find something has gone wrong or if you’ve just had a change of heart and no longer want the lenses you’ve received, please feel free to contact us directly within 30 days of receiving your order. Be mindful that due to the nature of contacts, we cannot provide refunds for any boxes that have been opened or otherwise tampered with. If, however, your box is still sealed, please do get in touch with our customer service team and we can look further into granting you a refund.”
Prescriptions: Waldo does not provide prescriptions. You must upload, email, or fax a current contact prescription to their experts so they can call your optometrist to verify it for you.
Insurance: Waldo does not deal with insurance providers directly, but they will provide a receipt so you can get reimbursed from your FSA or HSA account.
Tip: Waldo lets you start with a free trial of 10 pairs of contacts. All you have to do is pay the $2.95 for shipping! Click here to sign up for their free trial.
Brick & Mortar and Online Contact Lens Shops
Warby Parker
Claim to Fame: The original disruptor in the glasses market now offers competitive pricing on their own contacts, Scout, and tons of other brands you’ve heard of including Acuvue, Biofinity, DALILIES, and Air Optix.
Return Policy: “We have a 30-day, hassle-free return or exchange policy for our eyewear, books, and accessories. (Accessories are any non-eyewear objects we sell, except for gift cards.) If you aren’t totally satisfied with your purchase, we’ll get you set up with a full refund or an exchange within 30 days of receipt. This same policy applies to any contact lenses in the original, unopened box—and we’ll also accept returns or exchanges for any contact lenses that are defective or arrive damaged within 30 days of receipt. Note: We do not accept returns or exchanges for trial packs. Purchases of gift cards are non-refundable.”
Prescriptions: Warby Parker is primarily online, but they do have a growing retail presence with optometrists in store. If you currently wear contact lenses or have worn them in the past, you can book a contact lens exam at any of their locations with eye exams available. Learn more here.
Warby Parker Note: Eligibility and price for contact lens exams will vary by location, so please pay extra close attention to this information while booking your exam. At the moment, most of our doctors only offer contact lens fittings for customers who currently wear single-vision spherical or toric lenses.
HH Note: Before you see a Warby Parker optometrist for an exam, make sure they are in-network with your vision insurance. The optical shop may be a separate business from the optometrist, so they each have their own Tax ID. If you plan to use your insurance, you should verify that the optical shop AND the optometrist are both in-network with your plan.
Insurance: Warby Parker has the most user-friendly insurance check that we have seen so far. Click on the link to see if your provider is in-network with Warby Parker (and double check on your insurance provider’s website). If they are not in-network, Warby Parker will provide you with a receipt and with detailed instructions for how to submit your claim so it processes with your out-of-network benefits. While we wish they were in-network with some of the bigger vision networks, we applaud them for their specificity and clarity to help their customers!
America’s Best
Claim to Fame: Prescriptions and low cost eye supplies! They offer a contact lens exam at their stores for $89, and contact lenses at a low cost.
Return Policy: “Merchandise accompanied by a receipt may be returned within 30 days for a full refund less the eye exam* fee.”
Prescriptions: Yes - America’s Best does have optometrists at their locations
Insurance: America’s Best “accepts” vision insurance. You’ll want to check that they are a preferred provider with your insurance plan if you hope for reimbursement. They also make it clear that you cannot combine insurance benefits with promotional offers. If you choose this company, talk to an America’s Best associate about the best way to maximize your savings.
WALMART
Claim to Fame: “You’ll save money and time when you buy contact lenses at Walmart Contacts online. Focus on our large selection of lenses, including top brands you trust at low prices you’ve come to expect. And with a valid prescription, you can order online with ease and have them shipped to your front door.”
Return Policy: “Walmart makes returns easy. No matter what your reason is, U.S. customers can return items up to 365 days from the shipping date— free!”
Prescriptions: You’ll need a current prescription (from any optometrist) to order contacts online. If you don’t have one, Walmart Vision Centers are available at some Walmart locations. Note that they are independent of Walmart and may bill as out-of-network, so you want to check before you go for a prescription.
Insurance: Walmart doesn’t provide much information on its website about its vision insurance status. Check on your vision insurance provider’s website to see if the optical shop AND the optometrists are in-network with your plan. Remember, the optical shop is a separate business from the optometrist, so they each have their own tax ID.
COSTCO Optical
Claim to Fame: It’s Costco. Many brands at a low cost!
Return Policy: Not written on their website.
Prescriptions: Yes - Costco does have optometrists at most of their locations
Insurance: Costco doesn’t provide much information on its website about its vision insurance status, except for saying that it “accepts” most (this is not the same as being in-network!). Check on your vision insurance provider’s website to see if the optical shop AND the optometrists are in-network with your plan. Remember, the optical shop is a separate business from the optometrist, so they each have their own Tax ID.
Note: Costco requires an annual membership.