Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

10 Tips: Keep eyes open for good deals on contacts

If you use contact lenses, you may buy your supply when you visit the eye doctor. Half the respondents to a Consumer Reports survey about eye care said they do. You might be getting a fine deal there, but it can pay to shop around online.

By Laura T. Coffey, Times Correspondent
Published October 7, 2007

If you use contact lenses, you may buy your supply when you visit the eye doctor. Half the respondents to a Consumer Reports survey about eye care said they do. You might be getting a fine deal there, but it can pay to shop around online:

1 Arm yourself with necessary information. You'll need your lens prescription, and you'll need to know about special requirements you have. Get this information from your doctor.

2 Don't go with the first Web site you find. The price-comparison site www.Tjoos.com scoured the Internet and found that prices for the exact same contact lenses can vary wildly. Tjoos.com recently discovered these range of prices, which included shipping, handling and coupons: 1-Day Acuvue lowest price: $429.33; highest price: $727.75; Focus Dailies, 90-pack (lowest: $246.41; highest: $476.95); FreshLook Colorblends (lowest: $196; highest: $324.95).

3 Know where to look. Shop around on popular online sites for contact lenses, such as 1-800 CONTACTS (www.1800contacts.com) and Lens.com, or price-comparison sites such as Tjoos (www.tjoos.com), HealthPricer (www.healthpricer.com) and Lens Price (www.lensprice.com).

4 Check the math. Rather than simply comparing the cost per box as you shop around, add up what your total cost will be, including shipping and handling fees, processing fees, bulk-quantity discounts (which sometimes apply), coupons and promotions.

5 Understand how rebates work. Some Web sites will factor in manufacturers' rebates into the prices they post online. That can make their prices look lower than the competition's, but you can use those rebates regardless of where you buy your lenses.

6 Avoid shady sites. The Web sites referenced above are well established, and some lesser-known sites are reputable, too. But fly-by-night sites pop up, and you wouldn't want to buy your contacts from them. To spot a fishy site, call its customer service number and ask about product guarantees, and return and privacy policies.

7 Buy lenses in bulk if you know you'll wear them. The Consumer Reports survey found that 45 percent of respondents who attempted to wear contacts in the past decade gave up on them. If you're a dedicated contact lens wearer, consider buying a year's supply so you can save money on shipping and handling and tap into volume discounts.

8 Give your order a thorough once-over. Once your contacts arrive, check the boxes they came in to make sure they match your prescription and their expiration dates won't kick in too early. If you spot a problem, exchange them right away.

9 Increase your chances of success. Dryness and irritation are the main reasons people cite for abandoning contacts. Be meticulous about cleaning and storing your contacts.

10 Order contacts that will meet your needs. Do you want to wear contacts only when participating in sports and other outdoor activities? If so, ask your eye doctor whether you can order larger lenses that provide stability. If you're new to contacts or you're switching to a new kind of lens, ask about wearing trial lenses.

Laura T. Coffey (laura@tentips.org)

Sources: Tjoos (www.tjoos.com); Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org)

[Last modified October 5, 2007, 23:09:06]