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Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Read more about our vetting process.
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1-800 Contacts, Warby Parker, and GlassesUSA make our vetted list of the best places to buy contacts online. See which others make the cut.
Best overall for buying contacts online: 1-800 Contacts|Skip to review
Best for saving on top brands: Warby Parker for Contacts|Skip to review
Best for specialized lenses: ContactsDirect|Skip to review
Best for quality customer service: Lens.com|Skip to review
Best for reusable contact lenses: LensCrafters|Skip to review
Best for worldwide shipping: ContactLensKing.com|Skip to review
Best for a large selection : Walmart Contacts|Skip to review
Around
The reasons for this vary but include:
- affordability
- convenience
- fast delivery
- wide selection
Whatever your reason is, we’ve rounded up the best online purchasing brands to help make your selection easier.
| Online retailer | Free standard shipping |
|---|---|
| 1-800 Contactsins | yes |
| Warby Parkerins | yes |
| ContactsDirectins | yes |
| GlassesUSA.comins | yes |
| Lens.com | no |
| LensCraftersins | yes |
| ContactLensKing.com | no |
| Walmart Contacts | yes |
ins= accepts vision insurance
Here’s what we looked for to find the best places to buy contacts online:
- Solid reputations: We omitted retailers with an extensive history of complaints across multiple areas, including customer service and product quality. We omitted those with low ratings or a history of fraudulent practices. We checked out consumer reports on sites, such as Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
- Quality and selection: We chose sites that offer a wide variety of contact lens brands from trusted manufacturers using modern lens materials.
- Ease of mind: We looked for those that offer money-back guarantees and price-match guarantees.
Are contact lenses medical devices?
Yes, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers contact lenses medical devices and regulates them for safety and effectiveness for vision correction. Contact lenses should only be purchased from reputable sources and manufacturers, such as those listed in this article.
Keep in mind that some eye doctors and people who wear contact lenses advise against using online retailers to buy contacts, citing experiences with incorrect contacts and low quality products.
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Check the seller’s reputation
Even the best business is bound to have some poor reviews. However, if reviews are consistently negative, particularly about a specific issue, it can be a red flag. Also, try to look for the most recent reviews for a better picture of what to expect from the company now.
Check out sites like Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau (BBB) for user-submitted reviews.
Consider quality and cost
Price comparison shopping is a good idea, but some deeply discounted contact lens retailers also have bad reputations. Less expensive products can sometimes wind up costing you more in the long run, such as in contact lenses that come ripped, in unsealed boxes, or made of lower quality.
To avoid this, always choose to buy from a retailer that offers a money-back guarantee or a price-match guarantee.
Words to the wiseIt’s important to keep in mind that contact lens prescriptions are brand specific and can’t be substituted. Your eye doctor will include which brand they prescribe on your prescription.
Buying in batches or subscriptions
On most sites, the best way to get a good deal is to buy in bulk. Using a monthly prescription service can be a viable way to save money on your current prescription. Choose a service that lets you opt out at any time without penalty.
Checking in with an eye doctor
Some online sites offer prescription checks. These are fine to use, if you wish to extend the time between your doctor’s visits. However, it’s very important to get your eyes checked regularly. An online prescription check doesn’t include overall eye health and won’t identify conditions, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma.
Even sites with great chat features won’t offer much support when it comes to deciding what’s best for your eye health.
Buying online isn’t for everyone. If it’s not for you, consider purchasing directly through your optometrist or ophthalmologist. Some offices partner with suppliers to have your prescriptions mailed to you.
The American Optometric Society recommends an annual comprehensive eye exam for all contact lens wearers, so be sure to get checked out if you haven’t done so recently.
Buying where your vision insurance is accepted
Not every site accepts vision insurance. If you do have coverage, you can buy from a retailer that accepts it. This can wind up saving you hundreds of dollars annually.
Yes. When you get your eye exam, the prescriber is required to give you a copy of your contact lens prescription when the fitting is complete. It’s very important that you only use this prescription to order contacts, otherwise you can hurt your eyes.
If you aren’t wearing disposable contacts, you can use fresh contact solution every night and replace your contacts every 3 months. Each type of contacts has its own guidelines, so be sure to follow them.
No. But be sure to use your prescription when purchasing contact lenses online to ensure you’re getting the right fit for your eyes.
No. But it’s important to take proper care of your contact lenses and your eyes.
You can learn some best practices for contact lens care, here.
There are many great websites to order contacts from, including 1-800 Contacts and ContactsDirect. When choosing the best online retailer for you, consider features like acceptance of vision insurance, selection, cost, and free shipping.
A verified prescription is necessary to purchase contact lenses. You can get a prescription from an optometrist rather than an ophthalmologist if you choose. Optometrists are vision professionals, but they’re not medical doctors. Some online retailers also supply their own opticians.
Yes. However, it’s important to choose a reputable retailer. You may also want to look for one that offers warranties and free returns to ensure it’s the right fit for you.
There are many online contact lens retailers, but many come up short when it comes to customer service and product guarantees.
The sites on this list have a consistent record of customer satisfaction. Many take vision insurance or offer monthly payment plans. Many also provide price-match guarantees and free shipping on returns.
