How to Get the Best Price on Contact Lenses

There are many types of contact lenses. The least expensive lenses are generally the single-vision soft variety, used to correct very mild prescriptions. Progressive lenses are designed with a combination of gradients in the lenses, and are more expensive. Hard, or gas permeable, and hybrid variety lenses are also more expensive than soft lenses. Finding the best prices for contact lenses involves preliminary research. Many eye-care practitioners offer discounts and may match pricing found online or at competing stores.

Instructions

Insurance Discounts

• 1

  If your eye care is covered under a medical plan, you can get discounts on services and contact lenses. Gather the information about available discounts so that you'll have it handy when you compare prices or update your prescription.

• 2

  Check local contact lens pricing. Look at newspaper ads and find information about various types of contact lens prices to get an idea of what is available in your area. Keep copies of the ads so that when you update your prescription, you can bargain with the eye-care practitioner.

• 3

  Investigate contact lens pricing online. Check pricing for various contact lenses at websites such as Discount Contact Lenses and 1-800 Contacts. Print out general pricing for contact lenses so that you can refer to it after your prescription is updated.

• 4

  Obtain a contact lens prescription. If necessary, update your contact lens prescription with your eye-care practitioner. More than likely, his or her representative will offer to match or better the price that is offered online.

  If you already have a valid prescription, find out what type of lens your eye-care professional recommends. Compare the pricing for the type of lens you will be wearing with the eye-care practitioner, their competitors and websites like Discount Contact Lenses and 1-800 Contacts.

• 5

  Bargain with your eye-care practitioner. Some eye-care practitioners offer discounts of their own and also through programs such as The Automobile Association of America (AAA), where substantial discounts are available through its provider member program. Places like Lens Crafters generally offer AAA discounts of approximately 30%.

  Many practitioners will also match or better the price found elsewhere or online when presented with it. If not, ask for a copy of your prescription and place an order with the vendor that offers the best price, whether it is another local contact lens supplier or online.