Contact lenses are an essential part of many people’s lives.
As a convenient alternative to glasses, they increase the quality of life for millions. However, this convenience comes with its price.
If you are not careful, you can end up spending upwards of $1,000 a year on your lenses.
Whether you are a first-time buyer or are just looking to get the best deal, here is what you can expect to pay and how to reduce that bill on your next purchase.
Average contact lens pricing
While many factors contribute to the pricing of contact lenses, in general a 1-year supply can range between $200 and $1,000.
Factors contributing to the price tag include type, brand, and seller.
Contact lenses designed for daily use are generally more expensive because you need to purchase more of them.
Specialized contacts such as those for astigmatism or presbyopia will also run in the higher end of this range.
10 tips for saving money on your next contact lens purchase
Take advantage of rebates and promotions
Rebates are designed to give price-conscious shoppers the opportunity to shop at a discount.
A simple mail-in rebate could refund you up to 40% of your total lens purchase price.
If rebates are not advertised, always ask the seller if they offer them.
In addition to rebates, sellers will offer special deals such as promo codes and friend referral programs. Always ask if there are any promotions going on prior to ordering.
You can also sign up for newsletters to stay on top of the latest deals.
Odds are, you will be able to save big on your next contact lens purchase by taking advantage of these money-saving deals.
Check your local eye doctor pricing
Contrary to popular belief, lens pricing is not always cheaper online.
In fact, ordering from your local eye doctor can oftentimes be significantly less expensive.
In addition, the eye clinic can order your lenses right to your door for you just like online.
If your prescription is still valid, no appointment is necessary either.
Choose the right product
The biggest price factor for contact lenses is the brand and model.
If you are paying too much, check out some less expensive options.
If you wish to try out a cheaper type of lenses, be sure to ask your eye doctor or online retailer for a free sample pair first.
Keep in mind, when it comes to your eyes, you never want to sacrifice quality.
If paying a bit more means getting the right pair, then stick with that.
Always check with your eye doctor prior to switching to a different brand or model of contacts.
However, if you can find a cheaper pair without sacrificing quality, you could save a significant chunk of change.
Utilize insurance
On average, vision insurance plans will cover $150 for contact lenses or glasses.
Make sure you ask your lens provider what insurance providers that they accept so you can take full advantage of your benefits.
Use your flexible spending account
Did you know that you can pay less in taxes just by buying contacts?
A flexible spending account (FSA) is a special account you put money into that you use to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs.
The money that you contribute to this account reduces your taxable income.
Ask your employer or insurance provider if they offer an FSA so you can take advantage of this tax-reducing benefit on your next contacts purchase.
You could end up saving yourself hundreds of dollars.
Shop around
Check the pricing of multiple sellers. Be sure to get a quote from your local eye clinic as well as multiple online lens retailers.
Many sellers will even offer price matching. If you have a preferred seller, simply find a cheaper rate somewhere else and ask them if they will match the price.
Buy in bulk
As with most other products on the market, if you buy in bulk, the price will reduce.
Most contact lens retailers will offer a large discount when buying at least a 6-month supply.
Buy a years-worth and get an even bigger discount. There may also be higher rebates and special promotions offered with larger orders.
Not only will ordering more lenses at a time save you money, but it will save you time from having to reorder as often.
Practice good contact lens hygiene
Make the most of your existing lenses by taking good care of them.
If you don’t, you are more at risk of your lenses tearing or wearing out, which will result in having to replace them earlier.
To make your lenses last their full lifespan, be sure to thoroughly clean & store them using a high-quality disinfecting solution.
Also, don’t sleep with your contacts in.
We all know that sleeping in your contacts can be unsafe for your eyes, but it will also reduce the lifespan of your lenses.
Contact lenses are rated for a standard days’ worth of use – wear them overnight and they will wear out quicker.
Rack up points
Not many people know this, but many brands offer a points system for purchasing their contact lenses.
Upload your purchases to their website, rack up points, and get rewarded.
Bausch + Lomb and ACUVUE are among brands to offer this money-saving points system.
It is estimated that less than 5% of all contact lens wearers utilize this benefit, and that is usually because they simply don’t know about it. Now you know.
Consider LASIK
Even with finding the best deal and utilizing all the discounts available, contact lenses or glasses are still a necessary recurring expense for those with less than 20/20 vision.
That is, unless you consider eye correction surgery (LASIK). LASIK is a surgical procedure that corrects vision by permanently reshaping the cornea.
While it costs more up front, you could eliminate your contact lens expense and save in the long run.
There are many factors to consider when determining if laser eye surgery is right for you, be sure to consult with your eye doctor for more information.
The bottom line
For those not blessed with perfect 20/20 vision naturally, expenses for eye correction are an unfortunate reality.
The convenience and aesthetics of contacts make them the correction method of choice for millions of people across the globe.
The expense of these lenses can be quite the burden, but if you follow these tips and tricks, you can reduce the price tag significantly on your next purchase.