Search thousands of topics on CostHelper

BROWSE ALL TOPICS >> babies & children  cars  consumer electronics health & personal care home & garden personal finance  pets  schools small business sports weddings
CostHelper > Health & Personal Care  > Opthamology & Optometry > Contact Lenses

Contact Lenses Cost


How Much Do Contact Lenses Cost?

 
low costWith Insurance: Copays of $25-$120+ a year average costNon-Disposables, Without Insurance: $150-$375 a year high costDisposables, Without Insurance: $170-$400 a year

A welcome alternative to eyeglasses for many people with vision problems, contact lenses are a corrective lens placed directly on the cornea of the eye to enhance vision. Talk to an eye doctor before making a purchase, because some vision problems cannot be corrected with contact lenses.

Typical costs:

  • Prices for contact lenses vary tremendously depending upon the type of lens. Disposable lenses, which are worn once and then thrown away, cost between $70 and $100 for a 90-day supply. For example, 1-Day Acuvue[1] lenses cost $89 for a 90-day supply via an online retailer.
  • Extended-wear contact lenses are also disposable, but can be worn for up to three months before needing to be replaced. For a year's supply of lenses, the cost can range from $170 to more than $300. For example, Acuvue Advance[2] lenses need to be replaced every two weeks and cost about $200 annually, while Preference Toric lenses are replaced quarterly and cost about $300 a year.
  • Some contact lenses can be worn for up to one year, ranging in price from about $150 to $375. More expensive lenses, such as Optima Toric Contact Lenses by Bausch and Lomb, are designed to treat specialized eye conditions, like astigmatism.
  • Most vision insurance plans cover buying contact lenses. Copays and coinsurance rates vary by plan and can range from $25 per year to $10 per box of lenses.
  • Experts recommend that patients always have a contact lens fitting at a reputable clinic. Cost for these fittings, which are often not covered by insurance, can range from $25 to more than $210. See How Much Do Contact Lens Fittings Cost.
Related articles: Contact Lens Fitting, Colored Contacts, Eye Exam, Eyeglasses, Prescription Sunglasses, LASIK Eye Surgery

What should be included:
  • Contact lens purchases include the lenses and packaging material for the lenses. In some cases, this packaging material will be a vial with saline solution or another preservative. For disposable lenses, the lenses are typically packaged separately in plastic. In addition, most manufacturers include information about the lenses.
  • At some eye care clinics, an eye exam will be included if the customer purchases lenses through the clinic.
Additional costs:
  • Patients must have an annual eye exam and a valid prescription to purchase contact lenses through a U.S. retailer. Most experts recommend that patients purchase lenses through a U.S. retailer because overseas merchants are not bound by Food and Drug Administration regulations. Prescriptions for contact lenses are valid for 12 months. The average national cost for an eye exam is $114, but the cost will vary depending upon the retailer. Many insurance companies completely cover the cost of an annual eye exam. In some cases a $10 to $30 copay may apply. See How Much Does An Eye Exam Cost
  • If a patient has problems with the contact lenses, another visit to an eye care professional may be necessary. The average clinic charges about $40 for follow-up visits. For example, Lakewood Family Eye Care[3] charges $45 for a follow-up contact lens visit. However, some clinics, such as Cheyenne Eye Clinic[4] in Wyoming, include three months worth of follow-up visits in the sitting fee.
Discounts:
  • Discounted and free eye exams are available through a variety of programs and foundations. The National Eye Institute[5] maintains a list of many of these programs.
Shopping for contact lenses:
  • Patients with a personal or family history of eye conditions should consider seeing an ophthalmologist instead of an optometrist for their eye exam. Find a list of ophthalmologists through theAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology[6] or search for an optometrist through the Optometrist Network.[7]
  • Become familiar with the various types of contact lenses available. All About Vision.com[8] offers a primer on contact lens basics.
  • Those who have insurance should check their coverage options. Some companies only cover contact lenses provided through an eye clinic, such as an ophthalmologist's office or a specialty provider like LensCrafters.
  • For face-to-face interaction and an establishment to visit if there are questions, an eye care clinic or boutique might be best. Discount retailers, like LensCrafters[9] and Pearle Vision[10] , offer consumers face-to-face interaction and specialized care, and can be cheaper than a doctor's office. These merchants may not, however, be able to handle more serious medical needs.
  • Buying online can be cheapest, but patients should investigate the company first. Check if the company only markets FDA-approved lenses and is able to process most major insurance carriers.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
 
post Post   Comments (1)  
CostHelper News


7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013


7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013

‣ All CostHelper Blog Posts


What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
More expensive for Silicone Hydrogel daily contact lenses
Amount: $530.00
Posted by: daily lens wearer in Los Gatos, CA.Posted: July 2nd, 2019 04:07AM
Manufacturer: CooperVisionStyle: MyDay
Store: from my eye dr
A couple years ago, I switched to Acuvue Moist daily disposable contacts from weekly lenses.
But during my last eye exam, I complained to my doctor that the daily disposable lenses seemed to bother my eyes more, and my doctor recommended silicone hydrogel daily lenses.
The two negatives about the silicone hydrogel lenses were (1) when I got the trial pair for a week, those lenses seemed great, but when I ordered contacts that were supposed to be the same or similar, they weren't as super-comfy, but were still nice. (2) they cost a lot more, and for some reason, Costco doesn't carry the name brand (they only have some sort of Kirkland Signature version of Silicone Hydrogel lenses).
Overall, I'm happy with them. They are more comfortable, and after 3 months, they've never torn, and my eyes don't feel as dry. But I spent $530 for a year's supply even with the mfg year-supply discount and VSP ($170 for 180 lenses * 2 eyes * 2)=$680-150 (VSP contribution) for $530 out-of-pocket.
Was this post helpful to you?   yes     no Report prohibited or spam


 

Comment On Your Experience With Contact Lenses
 
Subject:  *
Amount Spent:  *
Manufacturer: Style: 
Store:   
Comments: 
Purchased:  Year: 
City:  * State:  *
 
Information about you:
Email:  * Email addresses are not displayed.
Name:  This is the name we'll display with your post.
me on this computer
*=required field.
 



External Resources:
  1.  www.acuvue.com/products-1day-acuvue?tabId=2
  2.  www.acuvue.com/products-acuvue-advance-hydraclear
  3.  /lakewoodeyes.com/
  4.  cheyenneeyeclinic.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=57
  5.  www.nei.nih.gov/Health/financialaid.asp
  6.  www.aao.org/find_eyemd.cfm/
  7.  www.optometrists.org/eye_doctors.html
  8.  www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/contact_lenses.htm
  9.  www.lenscrafters.com/lc-us/eyeglasses
  10.  www.pearlevision.com/pv-us/eye-care-center-locator
More Health & Personal Care Topics
Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care How Much Do Braces Cost? How Much Does Hip Replacement Cost? How Much Does a Mammogram Cost?

Search Thousands of Topics on CostHelper.com

 
Today's Featured Cost Articles

About CostHelper
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community
UTI urgent care visit
Paid: 147.00
Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more]
-nervouschomper
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Cost
Spanish Medical Interpreter
Paid: 150.00
I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more]
-Gregory Richardson
Interpreter Cost
Dat
Paid: 495.00
This is how much I am paying... [more]
-Calista Christian
Dental Admission Test Cost
Shingrix
Paid: 48.00
... [more]
-Not that BB
Shingles Vaccine Cost
Skin prick allergy test
Paid: 573.00
Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more]
-D’s mom
Allergy Testing Cost
Estimate for Teeth Cleaning Cat
Paid: 0.00
13 year old cat …teeth extractions, X-rays, blood work, anesthetic, cleaning estimate 2 to 3 thousand... [more]
-Terrimarie
Cat Teeth Cleaning Cost