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Discount Contact Lenses is an online retailer of contact lenses. It also sells other eyewear and eye care products.

This article explores the Discount Contact Lenses brand, its products and services, how to order from the company, some alternative brands, and some information about contact lens health.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

Discount Contact Lenses has the following advantages and disadvantages:

Pros

  • stocks over 30 brands of contact lenses
  • the company aims to keep costs low and offers discounts when a person reorders
  • offers more affordable pricing than some competitors
  • has a 1-year return policy
  • offers subscription services

Cons

  • has a low average customer rating on Trustpilot of 2.3 out of 5 stars
  • some customers mention poor customer service, slow and missing deliveries, and lack of communication
  • free shipping is only available on orders over $99
  • does not accept insurance
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Discount Contact Lenses, or Discount Contacts, is an Ohio-based company. Established in 1998, it also has a sister company called Discount Glasses, which sells glasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses.

Discount Contacts sells a large variety of contact lenses, carrying products from 31 contact lens brands. Additionally, it claims to keep its cost low, helping people avoid unexpected additional charges.

Discount Contact Lenses also offers automatic refills of contact lenses. People get 20% off all future orders if they sign up for this feature.

People who are looking for a more affordable contact lens provider may wish to use Discount Contact Lenses. The company states that it offers the lowest possible price, and people can benefit from a 20% discount if they choose automatic contact lens refills.

The website lets people filter by contact lens brands, making it suitable for people who know which brand and type of lens they require.

Additionally, the company offers colored lenses, which may suit those who wish to change their eye color to match their personal style.

Learn more about the best colored contacts.

Discount Contact Lenses states that it sells the largest selection of brand-name contact lenses at the lowest prices. It also says that it ships items quicker than most eye doctors.

Discount Contacts offers the following types of contact lenses:

  • daily disposable
  • weekly disposable
  • monthly disposable
  • colored lenses
  • toric astigmatism lenses
  • bifocal and multifocal presbyopia lenses
  • rigid gas permeable (RGP) custom lenses

The company also offers eye care products, such as eye drops for dry and red eyes, contact lens solutions and cleaners, devices that help people insert and remove their contact lenses, and contact lens cases.

Learn more about the best contact lens solutions.

People can view customer reviews of these products underneath each product listing on the brand’s website.

People must have a current copy of their contact lens prescription to order from Discount Contact Lenses. If they do not have a current prescription, the company can contact a person’s eye doctor.

For safety and legal reasons, the company also states it will not allow a person to purchase contact lenses that differ from their prescription.

The following step-by-step guide provides guidance on ordering from Discount Contacts:

  1. Find the contact lens type and brand on the prescription.
  2. If applicable, choose the number of contact lens boxes a person requires.
  3. Enter the prescription information in the boxes on the product page.
  4. If a person wishes, they can opt into automatic refills.
  5. Add the lenses to the cart.
  6. Pay for the product.
  7. Receive the contact lenses in around 7–10 business days.

Mobile app

Discount Contact Lenses has a mobile app available that people can use to place an order. The app also sends reminders when it thinks that a person may need to reorder.

Subscription

A person can sign up for automatic shipments of contact lenses and choose how frequently they would like to receive them.

Individuals who subscribe will receive regular email updates and can change or cancel their subscriptions anytime.

Discount Contact Lenses offers 20% off and free shipping if a person subscribes.

Discount Contacts sells a range of contact lenses, all of which have varying price ranges:

Daily disposable lenses$23.99–148.99 per box
Weekly disposable lenses$24.99–107.99 per box
Monthly disposable lenses$31.99–156.99 per box
Colored lenses$32.99–104.99 per box
Toric astigmatism lenses$33.99–156.99 per box
Bifocal and multifocal lenses$38.99–156.99 per box
RGP custom lenses$33.99–$74.99 per box

Shipping is free for orders of over $99. Otherwise, shipping is $6.99.

Discount Contact Lenses states that it is an out-of-network provider for most insurance plans, including:

  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed
  • Spectra/United Healthcare
  • VSP

As the company is an out-of-network provider, people will need to file for reimbursement. This means a person must contact their insurance provider for a reimbursement form, fill it out, and attach an itemized receipt.

People can also pay using FSA or HSA accounts.

Discount Contact Lenses offers free standard shipping in the United States on orders over $99. The company also ships to Canada and nearly 100 other countries for an additional charge.

It offers free returns within 1 year of the shipping date, but a person cannot return custom contact lenses unless they are faulty.

The company does not provide information on product warranties.

Discount Contact Lenses offers an online vision test that takes around 15 minutes and requires 10 feet of space.

An individual will need a computer and a smartphone to complete the test. An eye doctor will review the results and, if approved, a person will receive their new prescription within 24 hours.

However, the online eye test is not available for:

  • RGP prescriptions
  • novelty prescriptions
  • discontinued contact lenses
  • people who require a prescription for only one eye
  • people aged under 18 years or over 55 years
  • people who require more than one prescription
  • people who have higher prescription parameters

Discount Contact Lenses has an average customer rating on Trustpilot of 2.3 out of 5 stars, based on over 30 reviews.

Positive comments include good experiences with customer service and affordable prices. Negative comments include slow and missing deliveries, lack of communication, and poor customer service.

The following table compares Discount Contacts with some competitors on products, brands, and more.

Products availableBrandsShipping costAccepts insurance?
Discount Contact Lensescontact lensesover 30 brandsfree for orders over $99, otherwise $6.99out-of-network provider
Warby Parkerglasses and contact lenses12 brandsfree shipping on every orderin- and out-of-network provider
1-800 Contactscontact lenses11 brandsfree shipping in- and out-of-network provider
Lens.comcontact lenses24 brands$9.95 for standard shippingout-of-network provider

It is essential that people correctly care for their contact lenses.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology state that if a person does not properly care for their contact lenses, wears them for too long, or sleeps in them, they may develop bacterial keratitis. Without treatment, this infection of the cornea can lead to blindness.

One 2020 study found that taking a shower while wearing contact lenses was the most significant risk factor for contact lens-related microbial keratitis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following advice for contact lens wearers:

  • Remove contact lenses before sleeping.
  • Wash hands before handling contact lenses.
  • Keep contact lenses away from water.
  • Always clean contact lenses with the correct solution, and never use water.
  • Replace contact lenses regularly and as directed.

Here we answer some common questions about this company.

Is Discount Contact Lenses a good site?

Discount Contacts has a simple-to-use website that may make ordering contact lenses easier for most people.

However, the company has a rather low average rating on Trustpilot, with an average of 2.3 out of 5 stars. People may wish to carefully read customer reviews before committing to a purchase.

Are cheap contact lenses safe?

There is nothing unsafe about choosing the best priced contact lenses from reputable contact lens providers.

However, people should only purchase from companies that require a current prescription. People should avoid websites that promise very cheap contact lenses with no prescription required.

Does Discount Contact Lenses verify prescription?

Discount Contact Lenses requires a copy of a person’s prescription from their eye doctor to verify the information before shipping the order.

Is there a difference between cheap and expensive contact lenses?

Cheaper contact lenses tend to be daily lenses, meaning people need to dispose of them after wearing them once.

More expensive contact lenses are usually weeklies or monthlies, which means a person can wear them for longer.

While daily contact lenses are initially cheaper, people who wear contact lenses every day may find weekly or monthly versions better value for their money.

Discount Contact Lenses are an online store that offers popular brands of contact lenses and other contact lens- and eye care-related products.

A person must have a prescription from their eye doctor before they can complete a purchase using this service.

It might be possible for some people to use the website’s online vision test to receive a new prescription from a licensed eye doctor.

Caring for contact lenses, using them correctly, and undergoing regular eye exams can help people maintain their eye health.