Whether you're a new contact lens wearer or you just want to find a cheaper price on your go-to brand, buying contact lenses online is a smart way to save yourself the time and money from ordering them from your doctor's office. Plus, it's your right! The Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act gives lens wearers the freedom to shop around for the best cost, with their doctor-issued, up-to-date prescription. It also bars contact-lens sellers from misleading users into a binding subscription agreement, selling lenses without a prescription, and also pushing substitution lenses for your prescription. Violations of the Act are subject to FTC investigation.

 

There are a couple of new, direct-to-consumer contact-lens brands that have launched in recent years, namely Hubble and Scout by Warby Parker. While these are certainly options for cost-conscious consumers to look into, they're not for everybody. Both of these direct-to-consumer brands offer lenses in just one base curve, making them less ideal for people with astigmatism, who have an abnormally shaped base curve in one or both eyes. The reviews also widely vary on these two brands, so we suggest talking to your eye doctor before making the switch.

 

Here are a few reliable places to buy contact lenses online that allow you to compare costs with total peace of mind. Just make sure you stay on top of your regular eye-doctor appointments, as you will need to adjust your new contact lens orders if the prescription does change from year to year. 

 

 

This eyewear hub has an expansive range of options, no matter if you’re looking for glasses, sunglasses, or blue-light blockers, and their selection of contact lenses is great, too.

 

GlassesUSA carries seven different contact-lens brands in single vision, multifocal, colored, and toric types and in a range of everything from daily to yearly wears. You can easily upload an image of your prescription to start the ordering process, or you can call the reps at GlassesUSA to get your prescription from your eye doctor on your behalf.  

 

 

Coastal not only carries a wide variety of brand-name eyeglasses and sunglasses, but they also sell seven brands of contact lenses. Though their manufacturer selection isn't extensive, they do stock toric and colored lenses.

 

Shipping is free for orders over $99, which makes this site a good option if you are stocking up on multiple boxes at once. Coastal also offers a price-match guarantee on their contact-lens orders — their final price must be matched with another authorized online retailer's for the same brand, along with the same number of boxes and lenses. 

 

 

LensDirect.com is another online-only retailer that's great for bargain shoppers. They carry 17 different daily, weekly, monthly, and toric contact-lens brands (along with colored Halloween lenses!).

 

The site is also notable in that it offers a customizable AutoRefill service, so that users can get their new lenses mailed to them in a timely fashion. This service also gives an extra 5% off every delivery, along with free shipping and the ability to pause orders for as long as needed.

 

LensDirect.com also offers online eye exams, which allows users who are in good health to easily renew their prescriptions. The results of the test are sent to an in-state, independent ophthalmologist for a professional evaluation. Again, this process is not a substitution for a comprehensive eye exam, which all patients should take at least once every two years.

 

 

If you're already picking up your groceries and other prescriptions at Walmart, consider adding contact lenses to your shopping list. Many Walmart stores nationwide have Vision Centers, which offer eye exams from an on-site optometrist.

 

Walmart offers free standard shipping on all contact lens orders, and carries 15 major brands in all of the standard lens varieties.  

 

 

One of the most trusted names in eyeglass frames also is a one-stop-shop for all of your contact lens needs. LensCrafters stocks 20 different contact-lens brands and offers a big annual-supply discount on all types, incentivizing users to buy in bulk.

 

Shoppers also get free shipping and returns on contacts, and can even opt to schedule an eye exam from an in-store, licensed optometrist. 

 

 

CVS shoppers, if you're not getting your contact lenses through your go-to pharmacy, you're missing out! They offer 20% off of regular retail prices and free shipping, plus, you can earn up to $50 in rewards points when you swipe your ExtraCare card.

 

Their lens selection covers 20 different brands, available in daily, weekly, or monthly disposables, along with toric and colored varieties. CVS is a great retailer for buying lenses in bulk, as you may be able to save even more, although they currently don't offer a subscription service for lens delivery. 

 

 

This contact-lens retailer has one of the most seamless online ordering processes. If you have a copy of your prescription on hand, you can simply enter it manually or upload a photo of it — but those who don't have it available can simply have 1-800 Contacts reach out to their eye doctor instead.

 

Also, those in need of a prescription renewal — who also live in a qualified state — can even take an eye exam online and have the results reviewed by a licensed in-state ophthalmologist. Just note that this exam does not screen for eye diseases, and you should definitely pay a visit to the eye doctor if you have never worn glasses or contacts before.

 

1-800 Contacts also carries nearly every major contact lens brand, along with toric, multi-focal, and even colored lenses. Users can opt-in to their subscription delivery service, which automatically sends contacts as often as needed. The service can be paused online or through 1-800 Contacts' app at any time, and standard shipping is always free. 

 

 

This unique brand began as a lens-replacement service for existing frames, and now they carry a wide variety of optical frames, sunglasses, and contact lenses.

 

Lensabl carries nine brands of contacts in every major type: daily, monthly, single-vision, multifocal, colored, and toric. They also offer free shipping and a subscription option — users who opt to subscribe will receive two boxes of lenses at a 6% discount, though the length of time between shipments is fixed and determined by each individual brand. Of course, pausing or canceling shipments is available at any time.