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How To Choose The Best Contact Lenses
Don’t get me wrong. The perfect type of glasses can do wonders in sparking up a new look. From the iconic Zoey Deschanel lenses to the famous Harry Potter frames, we often take inspiration from pop culture to help create a certain aesthetic.
With that being said, the everyday pair of specs are hard to take care of. Between rain, dust, scratches, and the ever-so-fatal moment of accidentally sitting on one, it’s usually best to opt for contact lenses.
Offered as a better alternative for those who’d rather leave their glasses at home, contact lenses are sometimes less of a hassle to take care of.
Not only does it save you from the worry of matching your spectacles to your outfit, but it keeps the vision clear in case of thunderstorms and dusty winds.
With advantages like these, it’s no wonder that this product market is booming today. Coupled with increasing cases of myopia and rapid urbanization, the contact lenses industry is reported to reach $11 billion by 2025, as indicated by Business Wire.
If you’re in the market to buy a new set of contact lenses, you’re probably wondering—what should I look out for to find the best contact lenses brands?
Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Contacts Lenses Brands
If you’re familiar with buying glasses online, it’s relatively the same experience for contact lenses. But for those new to the eyewear marketplace, there’s a couple of things you should look out for.
When it comes to the best brands to shop for contacts lenses online, a good company will provide worldwide shipping, affordable prices, lots of information around prescriptions, and ease of shopping. In addition, it’s also very important to look at the customer feedback attributed to each brand.
Affordability is usually the dealbreaker with most optical companies. It’s a good idea to compare a chosen brand with other competitive prices, as it will give customers a good guess as to its estimated ballpark.
You should also take note of how much each pack of contact lenses costs. Some companies, like Eyeconic, only sell their contacts in bulk while brands like Perfect Lens offer them individually.
The amount of detail offered in each product description is also an indicator of a good company. Usually, the best brands to shop for contacts lenses online will offer a bunch of information related to prescription, packaging, weight, and its manufacturer.
Plus, websites that organize their lenses by material type, color, and vision grade acts as a tell-tale sign of a business that cares. Nobody likes online shopping with no direction. There must be some coordination involved.
Positive customer feedback is also an important asset to have. While some companies offer free shipping and returns, it ultimately means nothing if most reviewers report a poor shopping experience.
It’s also a major red flag if the brand in question has a few concerning testimonials about product quality. Unlike a pair of shoes, the way contact lenses are made requires safety and precision. After all, you are applying them to your eyes.
Lastly, customers should also look for a company that offers some customer perks. This may include international shipping, online consultations, and warranties. Some of the best brands to shop for contacts lenses online only ship to certain countries. As a result, it’s best to head over to their delivery policy first to avoid disappointment.
8 Best Contact Lenses Brands
So, with that out of the way, let’s take a short glance at some of the best brands to shop for contacts lenses online. We’re hoping that you keep these few pointers in mind when you decide to support a certain company.
1. AC Lens
Gone are the days when buying contacts meant you had to wait 6 weeks for them to be ordered from your oculist. Of course, cutting out the middleman (your eye doctors and their practice) and choosing an eCommerce shop like AC Lens means you’ll pay way less too.
Known for its incredible prices and wide selection, AC Lens has been offering popular ocular products since 1995. In fact, it was one of the first to solely offer its selection online. Talk about an OG brand.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, AC Lens was launched by Dr. Peter Clarkson. I don’t know about you, but I always feel better when an actual doctor is behind a brand. He strengthened his supply chain and tapped long-time partnerships with contact lens manufacturers to bring you the prices and selection he has today.
Coupled with an organized website that’s super easy to use, and professional customer service, AC Lens has become one of the largest online sources for contact. Browse through a roster of top brands like Acuvue, Biofinity, and Bausch & Lomb and pick the quantity that’s right for you.
Keep in mind that you will need to have your prescription handy for ordering. A quick call to your optometrist is all that’s needed to get it.
So what do folks think about the brand? Well, Very Well Health scored it 4.7/5 stars, and Top Ten Reviews awarded it 4.5/5 stars. Here’s what they both had to say:
“AC Lens is an excellent choice for buying contact lenses. While it doesn’t offer frills or fancy marketing, it does offer a quick, hassle-free ordering process, a money-back guarantee, and significantly lower prices than the competition,” read the review on. Very Well Health.
“AC Lens is a great budget contact lens site, with plenty of choice, and an easy-to-use site,” the conclusion on Top Ten Reviews read.
2. Discount Contacts
I don’t know about you, but my contacts get expensive. A name like Discount Contacts is obviously a major draw for folks like me, and it turns out they’re one of the few that truly make good on their promises—the kind of good that offers 70% off, to be exact.
Not only do they make it easy to find what you need, but Discount Contacts has even more fantastic discounts to go with their guaranteed lower prices. How do they do it? By forming relationships with the suppliers—networking is key here guys!—and moving large amounts of products has mutual benefits.
Now that you’re in on the how, let’s tackle the why. Discount Contacts was founded in 1996 in Columbus, Ohio as an alternative to pricey alternatives. Being based outside of expensive cities means they spend less on costs, and those savings get passed right down to you.
Found a price that’s lower? Discount Contacts will match it and they even offer free online vision tests to assess your sight. With tons of ways to save and a generous return policy, if you need cheap contacts fast, this company is here for you.
Top Ten Reviews gave it 4.5/5 stars and said, “Discount Contact Lenses holds good levels of stock and sells direct to the customer to save on costs. The site is one of the clearest and best arranged we’ve seen, and doesn’t slow you down with additional info or distractions.”
On Reseller Ratings, a 5/5-star review read, “This was my first time ordering contacts online & I was nervous. Customer service was TOP NOTCH & had my order in less than a week. Also, I didn’t enter my prescription right & they contacted me & then my eye dr to correct it. They went above & beyond & it didn’t go unnoticed.”
3. PerfectLens
Contact lens shopping should never feel expensive or confusing. Thankfully, PerfectLens offers customers an affordable way to purchase their prescriptions. Operating solely online, this e-commerce company provides dozens of brands for buyers to choose from, including Acuvue and FreshLook.
Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, PerfectLens is somewhat of an unknown brand within the contact lens industry. They do not have much of a following on social media, nor are they featured in any reputable publications. In addition, its founder and backstory are relatively hidden from the public. What we do know is that they were established in 2012.
Fortunately, its shopping experience isn’t clouded in mystery. Instead, it’s offered in a straightforward manner. By opting for PerfectLens, customers can narrow down their searches by category, including brand, duration, and color.
It’s worth clarifying that this company doesn’t produce their own contact lenses, and that instead they provide numerous brands for customers to pick from.
Related: Read our Perfect Lens Review for a full analysis.
In terms of specifics, shoppers can choose the strength and quantity of their chosen contact lens. Each product description will also showcase the amount they will get—alongside the given content of the packaging, which includes water and etafilcon A levels.
You should also know that you can’t place an order without a prescription. This is mainly due to laws in Canada.
So far, it seems that PerfectLens could be the best place to buy contacts lenses online. We found thousands of rave reviews on websites such as Trustpilot, ResellerRatings, and Facebook.
Buyers are singing high praises for quick delivery and excellent customer service. We’ll provide their respective ratings down below:
- Trustpilot: 2,991 reviews with 4.6/5 stars
- ResellerRatings: 4,747 reviews with 4.7/5 stars
- Facebook: 43 votes with 4.9/5 stars
“PerfectLens is where I always go to buy my contacts, shipping is quick and I’m always happy with my order. I definitely recommend it,” one Trustpilot reviewer wrote.
“The website made it easy to place an order,” one customer wrote on ResellerRatings. “The price was very competitive, if not better than other online sites. The delivery was quick and seamless.”
4. Clearly
Founded by Roger Hardy in 2000, Clearly wanted to offer customers a luxurious shopping experience regarding eyewear—which was relatively unheard of at that time.
They’re best known for their collection of designer frames, ranging from brands like Kam Dhillon and Derek Cardigan. This Vancouver-based company ensures that each pair of glasses or contact lenses is made with precision and care. So far, they manage to strike a good balance between style and substance.
With a following of over 31.4k on Instagram, this is ‘clearly’ one of the best brands to shop for contacts lenses online. They also have a sizable audience on Facebook and Twitter as well.
From Biofinity to Splash, there are dozens of contact brands to choose from when shopping at Clearly. Thankfully, there’s no need to weed through each company individually, as customers can peruse through different categories.
Related: Read our Clearly Eyewear Review to learn more.
This includes by duration, multifocal, bifocal, color, or RGP. As an added complement to your purchase, Clearly also offers lens care products such as eye drops and cases.
Each product description provides a bunch of information—which usually includes the parameters, packaging, and offered prescriptions for the chosen contact lenses. It also comes with a price match guarantee if you happen to find a competitive brand while shopping.
So far, it seems that these little details put Clearly in a good light concerning customer feedback. There are thousands of positive reviews on websites like Trustpilot, Sitejabber, and ResellerRatings. We’ll let the numbers speak for themselves:
- Trustpilot: 20k reviews with 4.7/5 stars
- Sitejabber: 3,535 reviews with 4.7/5 stars
- ResellerRatings: 23.8k reviews with 4.1/5 stars
From positive customer service to fast delivery, buyers are giving their full recommendations towards Clearly.com.
“Always a great experience ordered from Clearly! My number one place to order contacts for my astigmatism,” one Trustpilot user wrote.
“I’m really happy that I purchased my contacts with Clearly, instead of through my Optometrist. Great selection and prices,” a reviewer wrote on Sitejabber.
5. Hubble
Like the NASA spacecraft, Hubble is on a mission to expand the eyewear horizon by offering its own version of affordable contact lenses. This online company prioritizes quality, safety, and comfort throughout its products, while also ensuring that customers can easily buy their prescriptions without breaking the bank.
Co-founded by owners Jesse Horwitz and Ben Cogan, Hubble seems to be a viable candidate in the best brands to shop for contact lenses online debate, which is notably shown in its 116k following on Instagram.
Today, with its headquarters based in New York City, Hubble continues to be a front-leader in the contact lens market. Since its establishment in 2016, this company has been featured in several media outlets, including Healthline, Forbes, and Rolling Stone magazine.
Related: Read our Hubble Contacts Review for more information.
Compared to the brands we’ve covered so far, Hubble seems to be one of a few companies producing its own contact lenses line. Fortunately, first-time customers are treated to a 15-set box of prescriptive contacts for only $1. In addition, they’re also entitled to an extra 60% off. This is applied to outsider brands like Acuvue and Biofinity.
It’s worth noting that the company offers various prescriptions and models, including daily lenses, multi-focal, and bifocal contacts. By ordering a set of Hubble lenses, customers are automatically enrolled in a $39 monthly subscription. Afterwards, you’re free to edit your memberships as you please.
Regarding buyer reviews, it seems that Hubble is definitely a great place to buy contacts lenses online. There are thousands of rave reviews on websites such as Trustpilot, Highya, and Consumer Affairs. We’ll provide the ratings in a point-form list down below:
- Trustpilot: 7,156 reviews with 3.2/5 stars
- Consumer Affairs: 404 reviews with 3.8/5 stars
- Highya: 1,464 reviews with 4.1/5 stars
These reviews are reflective of Hubble’s helpful customer service team and the comfort offered on each prescriptive lens. This Best Brands to Shop for Contacts Lenses Online review also found a few reports about subscription cancellations. We’ll illustrate what we encountered through one customer comment below:
“The process was easy breezy, I just sent my prescription to Hubble, and they sent a monthly supply. I can believe how wonderful it is to just take them out at night and have fresh ones in the morning,” one Highya reviewer wrote.
6. For Eyes
Let’s face it. The world of prescriptive eyewear is a confusing mess. With dozens of brands out there, it’s quite difficult to separate memorable from the mediocre. The folks at For Eyes recognize the frustrations of shopping for contacts online.
Founded by Robert Messa in 1972, this Philadelphia-based company looks to provide customers with quality brands at an affordable rate. For Eyes owns hundreds of stores across America, operated by parent company GrandVision now. Unfortunately, their success is only limited to their various locations, as they don’t have much a following on social media.
Despite its less-than-avid internet presence, perhaps For Eyes is one of those hidden gems in the contact lens marketplace. Just by visiting its home page, customers aren’t bombarded with flashing deals or memberships, and they can simply start by narrowing down their searches.
All contacts are organized into price, design, brand, producer, duration, and material type. It’s worth noting that this also extends to its glasses selection as well.
Related: Read our For Eyes Optical Review for a full analysis.
What’s especially unique about For Eyes is the amount of detail that goes into prescriptions. For each product description, customers are to input details such as the base curve, power, axis, and cylinder of their vision types. You can also send a JPEG or PDF of your doctoral notice to keep the shopping process simple.
As we mentioned, there’s not much to learn from customer feedback, as most websites only hold a few dozen testimonials. But for now, we’ll provide some of the ratings we were able to gather:
- Yelp for the Berkely, California location: 124 reviews with 4/5 stars
- Yelp for the Burlington, Massachusetts location: 25 reviews with 3/5 stars
“Excellent service! The sales people couldn’t have been nicer and went out of their way to find me the best discount I was eligible for. Quick turnaround time too! I couldn’t have had a better experience,” one Yelp reviewer wrote for the Burlington location.
7. Lensabl
Long gone are the days of in-person shopping—for the eyewear marketplace, that is. Established in 2015 by co-founders Andy Bilinsky and Mike Rahimzadeh, Lensabl looks towards the future of contact lenses and glasses. This Los Angeles-based company works solely online, as customers can shop for high-quality vision care in the comfort of their own homes.
According to the brand, buyers save 70% compared to other leading optician companies. So far, it seems that their leniency towards convenience and affordability has earned them a top place to buy contact lenses online.
Garnering a following of over 12.7k on Instagram, Lensabl is also featured in several media outlets, including Healthline, the New York Magazine, and PopSugar.
So far, there are two ways to shop for lenses on Lensabl. One, customers can sign up for Plus membership, which includes contacts and glasses starting at $22 per month. By filling out a short questionnaire, the company will customize a plan tailored to their needs and preferences.
As another option, buyers can choose to purchase their lenses separately on their website. It’s worth noting that users will still need to sign up for a subscription plan, which varies from a yearly supply to a 3-month program.
Related: Read our Lensable Eyewear Review for a full analysis.
In terms of product variation, Lensabl offers a variety of contacts for customers to choose from. This includes lenses designed by duration, toric, astigmatism, multi-focal, and presbyopia. If you’re keen on a certain brand, this company provides several different labels on its website, such as Proclear and Biofinity.
So, is Lensabl one of the best brands to shop for contacts lenses online? Unfortunately, there are only a few reviews posted online. As a result, it’s hard to pinpoint where they land in terms of customer service and product quality. But so far, it seems that they harbor positive responses on websites like Sitejabber.
To keep things easy to read, this Best Brands to Shop for Contacts Lenses review will provide the ratings in a point-form list for readers to compare:
- Sitejabber: 3,656 reviews with 4.1/5 stars
- Better Business Bureau: 75 reviews with 2.8/5 stars
- Trustpilot: 18 reviews with 2/5 stars
“The processing time was fantastically quick. My frames came back to me in a beautiful case as well. Customer service was almost instantaneous in answering all of my questions,” one Sitejabber reviewer detailed.
8. Eyeconic
Founded in 2011, Eyeconic offers its users a trendy way to purchase prescription eyewear online. This not-for-profit organization sources the hippest designer frames on the market, including finds like Calvin Klein and Gucci.
Led by parent company VSP, this Californian-based company upholds several customer values to ensure an excellent shopping experience, with pillars such as integrity, transparency, and inclusivity.
With a following of over 15.9k on Instagram, it should come as no surprise that Eyeconic is definitely one of the best brands to shop for contacts lenses online. They’re also headlined by several reputable media outlets, including Healthline, Seventeen Magazine, and Vogue.
Related: Read our full Eyeconic Eyewear Review to learn more.
When it comes to Eyeconic, it’s all a matter of click, grab and go. This optical company offers a broad assortment of brands on its website, including popular names like Dailies, Clariti, and FreshLook. In addition, all contact lenses are organized by type, which contains prescriptions for multi-focal, bifocal, toric, astigmatism, color, single vision, and more.
It’s worth noting that customers will need to buy their products in bulk, as some contact solutions come in sets of 6 or 10. Once you’ve selected a brand, buyers are required to fill out their prescriptions.
This will include details such as the power, cylinder, and axes of your current vision grade. Buyers should also know that all contact lenses come with a one-year warranty in case of defects.
Do You Need A Prescription To Order Contacts?
To purchase contacts online, customers will need to provide a prescription upon ordering. Not only will it help the brand find the right fit for you, but it’s a mandatory law under Canadian and American jurisdiction. Lenses are filed as medical devices in both countries, so it falls within the same line of buying pharmaceutical drugs off the internet.
Prescriptions will usually vary on how far you can see. On most occasions, customers will need two doctoral recommendations for the left and right eyes.
Depending on how blurry your vision is, the optician will usually diagnose you with farsightedness or nearsightedness. It’s also common to have astigmatism, as most best brands to shop for contacts lenses online offer lenses designed for this condition.
Based on your results, the optician will write down a few key values, including the axis, cylinder, base curve, and strength of your prescription. It’s worth noting that vision grades will change over time, so it’s best to have an updated recommendation when possible.
In addition, some brands will take extra care to eliminate expired prescriptions when presented. Fortunately, the best brands to shop for contacts lenses online will offer customers a chance to book a doctor’s appointment online. This includes companies like Eyeconic and Hubble.
How Often Should You Replace Your Contacts?
Unlike a pair of eyeglasses that need a yearly change in prescription, contacts need to be switched out on an occasional basis. This will ultimately depend on the type of lens you have—as this can differ from daily, weekly, b-weekly, or monthly varieties.
Some models can be worn past the 24 hour period, while others are designed to last for a couple more days. There are even some contacts that are optimized for sleeping.
If you’re a novice contact user, by now, you’re probably thinking, “Why does it matter that I should replace my lenses?” Generally speaking, it’s for safety reasons. By extending its given usage time, wearers are at risk of developing ulcers, eye damage, and general discomfort.
In severe cases, corneal hypoxia may develop, which is a condition that wipes out the oxygen created in your eye. As a result, you’re looking at possible blindness.
To avoid this from happening, it’s recommended that you bathe them in a fresh solution after removal to help preserve their quality. In addition, you should clean your contact case regularly. Finally, most opticians suggest following a replacement schedule to help wearers keep track of their lens.
And as general no-nos, contacts should not be dipped in water or be worn overnight. It’s also a good idea to wash your hands before application to help prevent irritation or infections. If anything, the best brands to shop for contact lenses online will usually provide some valuable resources on how to take care of your lens.
We hope this helped you on your quest to find the best brand to shop for your contact lenses!
Looking for other top brands? Check out these curated lists below:
10 Best Places To Buy Glasses Online
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