Deciding Where To Buy Contact Lenses – The Best Choice:

When you need contact lenses, you have a vast choice of shops and places where to buy contacts. Here is just a few of them:  Should you buy from an eye doctor or an optician, or should you chose an online contact lens shop, or a buying club or a brick and mortar discount shop? Wherever you buy, shop for value and don’t forget your eye health.

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

There’s no single “best” place to buy contact lenses. 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:.

How To Decide Where To Buy Contact Lenses:

First and foremost, you need keep an open mind: 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” really are looking for the best overall value. This is especially important when purchasing contact lenses, where a combination of products and professional services is involved.

Overall contact lenses value is affected by these factors, you can weigh them according to your own preference:

  • Availability. The best price won’t mean much if the product is out of stock, and you need your contact lenses now.
  • Customer service. If you encounter rudeness or unacceptable delays, switch to a place that appreciates your business.
  • Convenience. Consider the value of your time, plus the price of gas.
  • Bundled products and professional services. Sometimes you can find some nice deals by purchasing all services and products from the same outlet.
  • Price. Costs can vary, especially if you buy in larger volumes.

If you are a first-time contact lens 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.

The Steps To Follow When Buying Contact Lenses

To get organized and avoid having to run around to get all documents, it’s best to follow these steps when choosing a contact lenses seller.

Buying Contact Lenses 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 get an annual allowance for the cost of your contacts and your contact lens exam.

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 for your contact lenses.

Buying Contact Lenses Step Two: Evaluate Different 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 an optometrist or ophthalmologist will be more expensive than contacts from other sources. But many eye doctors offer contacts at very competitive prices, especially if you purchase a year’s supply of lenses at one time.

Other advantages of buying contact lenses from your eye doctor include:.

  • If the contact lenses are in stock, you know immediately.
  • If you pick the lenses up), there are no handling or shipping charges.
  • Many eye doctors have websites where you can order your lenses online at any time.
  • Online orders can be picked up in person or mailed to you, and shipping often is free if you order multiple boxes of lenses.
  • Immediate service. In an emergency, your eye doctor often can supply your contact lenses immediately, with no waiting or fees for expedited shipping.
  • Free lens cases and solutions. Many eye doctors offer free lens storage cases and travel-size contact lens care products for patients who purchase lenses from them.
  • Easy exchanges. You can exchange them immediately if your new contacts don’t feel right or arrive torn or damaged.

Your eye doctor and his or her staff can answer any contact lens-related questions you might have when you pick up your contacts, and they can advise you when it’s time for your next eye exam to renew your contact lens prescription.

Optical chains. Stores like LensCrafters and Pearle Vision generally have on-premises either optometrists 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.

Contact Lenses

Contact Lenses allow you to preserve your natural look and not be bothered by glasses

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 they may be able to sell you lenses with no waiting if they have your lens, brand and size power in stock. 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. And these locations generally are open evenings and weekends.

Mass merchandisers. Stores like  Target or Sears 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. Walmart, which has a mix of company-owned and leased optical departments or Costco, which runs its own optical department, 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 the advantages and pitfalls of buying contact lenses online. Buying form large, well known internet retailers is like buying form a brick and mortar shop, whilst some small sites might not deliver the same quality of service or goods…

Internet sites let you order 24/7 and make it easy to compare prices. A disadvantage is that if you need contact lenses today, you won’t get them; and if you need them tomorrow, be prepared for extra shipping charges.

Buying Contact Lenses Step Three: Compare Prices.

To get the best price on contact lenses, you have to comparison shop. This can become complicated quickly, as not all shops offer the same additional services.

Check shipping and handling rates before ordering, whether you purchase online, at an optical store or from your eye care practitioner. Sometimes the charges are significant; sometimes there’s no charge at all. These factors can change the final price you pay for your contact lenses significantly.

Don’t assume you’ll find a better price on the Internet than you will at an optical chain store or from an independent eye care practitioner. 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 on the Internet.

A good way to  proceed and finally find the best solution for yourself when shopping for contact lenses is this:

  • Ask about replacement lens prices at your eye 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 each of the above steps, be certain to ask if any rebates are available.

Click here for savings and rebates coupons.

Note that when we called stores in an earlier survey, we were given different prices and/or rebate information by different store locations of the same retailer. We don’t know if rebates and prices varied 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. One store we called offered to match Costco’s price as long as you could prove you had a Costco card. You might consider asking outlets if they will match advertised prices or specials from a competitor.

In short, you need to do some work before buying contact lenses:

Many eye doctors offer contacts at very competitive prices, especially if you purchase a year’s supply of lenses at one time. 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 they may be able to sell you contact lenses with no waiting if they have your lens, brand and size power in stock. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea – you just have to know the advantages and pitfalls of buying contact lenses online.

Don’t assume that any seller who offers one particular lens for less will be cheaper for all contact lenses brands and types.

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