The Best Contact Lens Subscriptions, According to Ophthalmologists
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Contact lenses are the superior vision aid for those sub-20/20, hence why the global market for contact lenses is expected to grow nearly five percent annually for the next five years. The problem is finding the right brand and ordering plenty of inventory without sinking a fortune to be able to see. The best contact lens subscription services make getting contacts easier, more convenient and more affordable than the local optometrist.
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Subscriptions mean you’re never relegated to wearing backup frames from 2012 for days in a row because you forgot to order more lenses. Getting a push notification or email reminder when supplies are running low and getting a new box in the mail with just a few taps is proof the internet can be a service for good.
Finding a contact lens subscription service takes some finesse, and the stakes are certainly high. Receiving lenses that are comfortable, safe to use, and the correct prescription is the most important thing. But factors like an easy-to-use interface, simple prescription verification, and more competitive prices are what distinguish one service from another.
What the Experts Say
Experts are quick to caution that a contact lens subscription service that doesn’t reliably deliver the right lenses is penny smart but pound foolish (and potentially dangerous). SPY spoke with Dr. Bobby Saenz, OD, MS, FAAO professor at the Rosenberg School of Optometry and Clinic Director of LASIK San Antonio; ophthalmologist Yuna Rappaport, MD, MPH of Manhattan Eye NYC; and Jeffrey Michaels, OD, FAAO, a two-time Virginia Optometrist of the Year. All three were wary about contact lens subscriptions in general.
While getting a supply of lenses from a subscription service is likely perfectly fine, each of the doctors cautioned against getting a prescription or conducting a vision test online. “Doctors of optometry work with patients to not only pinpoint the correct prescription but also identify the right type and fit for an individual’s needs,” Dr. Michaels says. “In-person visits to a doctor of optometry are the criterion standard for fitting contact lenses.” Dr. Saenz adds that online eye exams are inadequate “because they are not looking closely at how the eye is responding to the contact lens.”
The other major concern the experts echoed was with the lenses themselves.
“In general, contact lens subscription services tend to sell their own brand of contacts, and these as a whole are not as healthy for your eyes as our traditional contact lenses from brands such as Alcon, Bausch and Lomb, and Johnson & Johnson,” says Rappaport. “The oxygen permeability and quality of the material are not as good as [those] other [brands of] lenses and the cornea is then susceptible to infections.”
Dr. Michaels points out that the FDA has addressed this issue. “The FDA warns on its website to avoid serious problems when buying contact lenses by ensuring the subscription service is exactly what the doctor prescribed and not an attempt to substitute a different ‘house brand’ which online subscription services often do.”
It’s worth noting that optometrists’ financial interests could lie in selling more contacts out of their offices, but the agreement on this issue and the FDA warning on the subject — the ”correct choice of which lens is right for you should be based only on an examination by your eye care professional” — means that caution is warranted when seeking out a subscription supplier of contact lenses.
BEST OVERALL
Warby Parker
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“You want to get generic Pop-Tarts, I’m with you. Generic ketchup? Me too. But your eyes and your vision isn’t one of the areas to go cheap on,” Dr. Saenz says. His best advice is to buy contact lenses from “reputable companies,” and Warby Parker certainly fits the bill. Best known for its made-to-order glasses, Warby Parker has 241 brick-and-mortar locations and a streamlined online experience befitting one of the most successful direct-to-consumer brands of its era. It’s certainly reputable, with a best-of-both-worlds shopping experience that sets the brand apart when buying glasses and, since 2019, contact lenses.
Warby Parker does have its own brand of contact lenses, Scout, but it’s unique among the newer players in the space in that it also carries the major brands — Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Johnson & Johnson, and Alcon — that are most commonly prescribed by independent optometrists. We also like that there’s a 20 percent discount on first orders and a $50 eyewear credit when purchasing an annual supply.
BEST FOR NEW WEARERS
Discount Contact Lenses
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Why It Stands Out: Where most other online contact lens retailers offer return windows of a month or so, Discount Contact Lenses allows returns up to 365 days after the ship date. And did we mention they’re free? This makes them a great option for someone new to contacts or someone whose contact lens prescription tends to change more frequently.
Coolest Feature: The 20 percent discount on lens subscriptions is impressive, as is the huge selection of contact lenses available including less common options like colored and RGP lenses. Dr. Michaels advises that “The FDA warns on its website to avoid serious problems when buying contact lenses by ensuring the subscription service is exactly what the doctor prescribed.” This expansive selection of lenses here means that it’s very likely they’ll have the safe, reputable brand you need in stock.
BEST FOR OPTOMETRIST SUPPORT
VisionPal
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Why It Stands Out: Dr. Michaels says that “eye exams safeguard overall health by enabling the eye doctor to detect more than 270 serious health conditions including diabetes and high blood pressure.” VisionPal allows users to book in-home or in-office eye exams with real optometrists through its website or app, a more high-tech and convenient booking system than many smaller optometrists can offer.
Coolest Feature: The subscription options are robust, with month-to-month, six-month, and twelve-month plans at prices that decrease as the length of time committed increases.
MOST USER-FRIENDLY WEBSITE
AC Lens
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Why It Stands Out: The website itself is well-designed, striking the right balance between information density and ease of use. Finding the right contacts is easier without any “house brands,” that, Dr. Michaels says, are often “made of materials that were used decades ago but newer contact lens technology that is healthier and safer is now available.”
Coolest Feature: Users can fine-tune the frequency of their subscription deliveries from every two weeks to every two years, and no matter how cadence subscription contacts come with a 20 percent discount and free shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions About Contact Lenses
Can you use an HSA or FSA to pay for a contact lens subscription?
Yes, you can use an HSA or FSA card to purchase contact lenses directly or submit receipts for reimbursement from your account.
What else do I need to do after ordering contacrt lenses?
Dr. Michaels points out that even the right contact lenses can cause problems if the wearer doesn’t practice good hygiene. “The AOA found that up to 90% of contact lens wearers do not follow the proper hygiene instructions for their lenses, which can pose serious risks to eye health and vision,” said Dr. Michaels.
“The most commonly reported risky habits are sleeping while wearing lenses, not replacing lenses and storage cases when recommended, and swimming while wearing lenses. Washing your hands before you handle contact lenses is critical.”
Are contact lenses expensive?
They can be, but not looking like a total NERD? That’s priceless.
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