The NCOA Adviser Reviews Team researches these products & services and may earn a commission from qualified purchases made through links included.
The NCOA Adviser Reviews Team extensively researches and tests the products & services shared and may earn a commission from qualified purchases made. Learn more about how we test products and write reviews. NCOA does not receive a commission for purchases. If you find these resources useful, consider donating to NCOA.
In addition to shopping for eyeglasses online, you can order prescription contact lenses online and have them delivered to your home. Online contact lens retailers often sell contacts at lower prices than if you order through your eye doctor. Many online retailers also accept vision insurance to pay for your contacts. It’s important to know that original Medicare does not cover costs for contact lenses, but certain Medicare Advantage plans might cover these costs.
Finding convenient and affordable options to help maintain your vision is important. According to the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, visual impairments are one of the leading reasons people 65 and older lose their independence.1 Impaired vision can also impact your social life, employment, mental health, and physical health.
In this article, our Reviews Team offers a guide on how to order contacts online and reviews of the best online contacts brands.
Our Reviews Team recommends products and services we believe provide value in the lives of our readers. We have performed in-depth, independent research to help inform your online search for contacts. To make our selections, we:
| Costs start at | $20 | $27 | $24 | $27 | $30 |
| Accepts vision insurance | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription service | Yes | Vista Plus only | Yes | No | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Online vision test | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Buying contacts online can be easy. You’ll need a current prescription with the brand prescribed to you. Once you find your brand of lenses, you will enter your prescription information, choose the number of boxes you want, and select your shipping preference.
Obtain a prescription: All contact lenses, even purely cosmetic ones, are considered medical devices and require a prescription.2 Unlike a prescription for eyeglasses, a prescription for contacts will include the brand name and type of contact lens you need. This is determined by you and your eye doctor at the time of your appointment.
If you are happy with your current prescription, you may use a retailer’s online vision test in order to renew your prescription. Although getting a prescription without an office visit is convenient, it may not be the best option for older adults who are at higher risk for medical eye problems. About one in four older adults (27%) reported being diagnosed with cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic eye disease.3 It is recommended that adults over 65 receive annual medical eye exams in person. A thorough, in-person eye exam, with dilation, can not only help diagnose such conditions as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, but doctors can even diagnose other health problems such as diabetes through an eye exam.
Find your brand: Search your preferred retailer’s website for the brand prescribed to you. Some retailers carry a larger selection of brands than others, while providers like Warby Parker and GlassesUSA carry their own in-house brands that cannot be found anywhere else.
Enter your prescription information: Most retailers require that you upload a copy of your prescription for verification before your order is shipped.
Select shipping: Many retailers offer free standard shipping, while some also offer expedited shipping for an additional cost. Some retailers offer a subscription service that will keep contacts coming to you on a regular schedule so that you never have to worry about running out.
Returns: Most retailers accept returns, but the length of the return acceptance window varies by provider, as does the refund policy. Some retailers provide a full refund with no questions asked while others will only offer a store credit.
The price of contact lenses will depend on your prescription. You’ll want to discuss pricing with your eye doctor at the time of your vision exam. In general, a one-year supply of contact lenses can range from $170–$1,000, depending on the type of vision being corrected, the brand, lifespan per pair, and retailer.
A one-year supply of standard soft contact lenses can range from $170–$800. One-month lenses will run on the lower end of this range, and one-day lenses will be on the higher end.
A one-year supply of multifocal or astigmatism contact lenses is more expensive, and can range from $400–$1,000 per year. Pricing is also affected by vision insurance coverage, shipping costs, and available discounts or rebates.
Every U.S. state and territory offers free or low-cost services to help people over age 55 adjust to vision loss. If you need help with the cost of vision services, visit the Time To Be Bold campaign.
Our Reviews Team conducted extensive research when exploring where to find the best contacts online. We mystery-shopped big and small brands, interviewed experts, and researched the user experience.
We rated the brands based on the following factors to help you find the best contacts online:
Contact lenses are a great option for correcting vision impairments, especially if you prefer to not wear glasses. Purchasing your contacts online is an excellent way to save money and schedule regular deliveries so you never run out of lenses.
We researched the top five places to buy contacts online and named 1-800 Contacts our “Editor’s Pick” due to their large selection, easy-to-use website, fast and free delivery, free returns and exchanges, and affordable prices with price matching. GlassesUSA carries 19 brands and has the best selection, including its own in-house brand. Warby Parker is a great option if you want to use vision insurance because the company walks you through the process and automatically applies any discounts if you are in-network. Discount Contacts has the most affordable options, and even offers a 105% price match guarantee that gives you an extra 5% off your order. LenCrafters is the best option if you need contact lenses delivered quickly, thanks to its one-day shipping option. It also offers a green shipping option, which offsets the carbon footprint of your delivery.
Yes, all you need is a prescription from an eye doctor specifically written for contacts.
To buy contacts online, you will need to obtain a prescription, locate the brand prescribed to you on your preferred website, enter your prescription information, choose the number of lenses you want to order, select your shipping option, and pay for your order.
1-800 Contacts is our Reviews Team’s “Editor’s Pick,” with a large selection, easy-to-use website, free delivery, free returns and exchanges, and affordable prices with price matching. Warby Parker is a great option if you’ll be using vision insurance. Discount Contacts has the most affordable options and best price match guarantee. LenCrafters offers one-day shipping and green shipping. GlassesUSA has the best selection with 19 brands of contact lenses.
Yes, many online retailers accept vision insurance. Of the retailers in our review, we recommend Warby Parker, 1-800 Contacts, LensCrafters, and GlassesUSA if you will be using vision insurance.
You can renew an existing contact lens prescription online. Some retailers offer an online vision test that will renew your current contact prescription. 1-800 Contacts, Discount Contact Lenses, and Warby Parker all offer online prescriptions options. This is not recommended if your prescription is more than a year old and you cannot get a new prescription online.
Online retailers often offer more affordable prices and discounts than doctors’ offices.
Of the retailers in our review, Warby Parker, 1-800 Contacts, LensCrafters, and GlassesUSA all accept vision insurance.
Online contacts ordered from a reputable retailer come straight from the manufacturer in sealed boxes, so they are just as safe as the lenses you get from a doctor’s office.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
