Contact Lens Discounts
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Contact lens discounts abound, especially online. But, it's best to investigate both online and retail options. Shipping considerations, the type of prescription, and lens availability may overrule a price break.
Take Time to Compare
Before you venture out for a new supply, first consider the nature of the prescription and what’s best for your eye health. Extended wear contacts may be less expensive per box, for example, but if your eyes need contacts replaced daily, follow your script. Just as there is often a difference in the effectiveness of brand drugs over generic, certain contact lens brands or manufacturers may be better suited for your condition.
You can compare contact lens discounts on Health Pricer.com. The prices listed do not take into consideration vision plans reimbursed by insurance. Instead, you’ll see your overall options so you know how to project this cost into your monthly spending plan.
The majority of merchants featured on Health Pricer are online contact lens distributors. You can sort by brand, manufacturer, cheapest price by quantity, and price per box to aid your decision. The site also offers an evaluation on each distributor.
What the Company Should Do
No matter what contact lens distributor you choose, if they don’t ask for your prescription yet still promise you a high contact lens discount, steer clear. In 2003 and 2004, the FTC passed the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers and the Contact Lens Rule.
Ophthalmologists are required by law to provide a patient with a copy of his or her contact lens prescription. Sellers and distributors of contact lenses are also bound by law to verify the consumer’s prescription or obtain a copy of it before selling contact lenses. These laws work in favor of the consumer by allowing comparison shopping for the best contact lens discounts while simultaneously protecting the consumer’s health.
Shopping for Contact Lens Discounts
Remember, the company that advertises the most is not necessarily the one with the best contact lens discounts. Armed with your research, consider the following distributors.
Online
Most online distributors offer free shipping if a certain price point is met. For example:
- LensDiscounters.com carries many major brands, accepts all major credit cards and phone orders, usually ships the same day, and offers free shipping on orders over $99.
- Discount Contact Lenses carries many major brands; accepts all major credit cards, personal checks, and money orders; and offers free shipping on orders over $89.
- Contacts1st carries many major brands, accepts all major credit cards, and offers free shipping on orders over $60.
Retail
A vast majority of consumers report that warehouse stores such as Sam’s, Costco, and BJ’s with eyecare centers meet or beat many online distributors’ contact lens discounts, with immediate fulfillment and no worries about shipping costs.
Warehouse stores require a $25-$50 annual membership. However, if you plan on doing more in-bulk shopping, the cost of membership may be recouped in other savings.
Another Way to Save
Many companies offer a flexible spending account, designed to help employees save money on health care costs.
Usually, employees deposit a certain amount of pre-tax dollars out of every check into the company’s flexible spending account. Employees can then apply that money to health expenditures such as contact lenses, doctor visits, over-the-counter medications, and the like, without the double taxation.
Talk with your company’s human resources department to see if a flexible spending account meets your financial goals.
Free Health Samples
For rebates, coupons, and free trial offers on eye products, visit All About Vision.
Bausch and Lomb offers a free trial lens certificate for those with a new contact lens prescription and first-time contact lens wearers.
Acuvue has a special trial lens certificate that it offers in conjunction with ShopKo Eyecare centers.
Looking for some free samples of other health products? Find contact lens discounts and receive free samples for other health-related items through Quality Health.com. You must register and answer a series of questions, but then request various samples periodically.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 3,395 times. This page was last modified 13:55, 29 December 2006.
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