# Is it possible to get contact lenses cheaper online? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296 "2016-10-21T23:19:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296/1 "2016-10-21T23:19:01Z")
I am getting an eye exam next week and for the first time in 10 years, I am getting new lenses and frames. I have extended my current glasses beyond their years and I really need a new pair. My insurance only covers contacts OR glasses. And I need more contact lenses. Will I be able to get my prescription from the doctor and order online and if so, is that cheaper? ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296/2 "2016-10-22T01:41:04Z")
I can answer for the glasses; Zenni Optical, for one. This is a Chinese firm and it takes a couple of weeks, sometimes, to get the finished product, but I have ordered several pairs of glasses with differing prescriptions over the years. They have a good selection of frames and make both single and multi-vision glasses (including progressive lenses). They are quite inexpensive compared to a local optometrist and the only real problem is that there is no try on/adujst phase and if they don’t fit exactly right you would need to go to a local optometrist. Zenni is only one of many glasses manufacturers online. Bob ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296/3 "2016-10-22T15:28:58Z")
I’m in Canada so I m not sure how much my experience will transfer but around here Costco is about the cheapest place for contacts. It is on par or a little less than online stores I’ve seen. I’m in about your situation when it comes to glasses/contacts. My insurance gives me $250 every two years for eye correction. I usually spend that on contacts and get glasses through Zenni as the Zenni glasses are much cheaper than any contact lenses I’ve seen (between $20 and $80 depending on your Rx). ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296/4 "2016-10-22T16:18:53Z")
I’ve used a couple of online contacts, and the price is generally a good bit less expensive than at my optometrist and on par with (occasionally slightly more than) Costco. The two I’ve used are 1800contacts and VisionDirect. I get email coupons from vision direct fairly often as well (when I go to the site now, not signed in, I see they have 25% off for new customers’ first orders, with the code 25NEW). ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296/5 "2016-10-22T17:46:31Z")
My experience with Zenni was bad. Cheap beyond belief, poorly aligned glasses. Those are glasses, I can’t imagine ordering contact lenses from them. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296/7 "2016-10-22T18:51:51Z")
Reported as possible spam. ( **Zaxoza** ) ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296/8 "2016-10-22T18:56:36Z")
Cheaper online, but check your vision insurance if you have it. Mine reimburses you up to a certain amount but you have to get the contacts through the eye doctor to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-get-contact-lenses-cheaper-online/769296/9 "2016-10-23T01:26:43Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Cheaper online, but check your vision insurance if you have it. Mine reimburses you up to a certain amount but you have to get the contacts through the eye doctor to get it. My rather poor eye insurance covers glasses OR contacts. I need glasses this time for sure.