Best places to buy cheap contact lenses
To get the cheapest contact lenses, don't buy them from the opticians without checking prices from other stores online. We've compared 9 sites to help you find the best deal.
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The cost of contact lenses quickly adds up throughout the year, so any money you can save on them will help. As you can buy identical products from a range of stores, shop around to ensure you're not overpaying.
For example, we've seen a pack of 30 1-day Acuvue Moist lenses ranging in price from around £15 to £24 per box on different sites. If you buy two every month (one for each eye) and spend £9 extra per box, you'd be £216 worse off after a year!
Below you'll find the top places to buy contact lenses from, along with tips on finding them online for low prices.
9 top sites for cheap contact lenses
These are the best places to get affordable contact lenses:
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Feel Good Contacts
- Cheapest delivery – £3.99, although free Click & Collect is available from their warehouse in North-West London
- Free contact lens assessment? – No
- Free trial? – No
- Multiple brands available? – Yes
- Student discount – 20% off.
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Lenssaver
- Cheapest delivery – £3.95
- Free contact lens assessment? – No
- Free trial? – No
- Multiple brands available? – Yes
- Student discount – 5% off.
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Asda Opticians
- Cheapest delivery – Free
- Free contact lens assessment? – No
- Free trial? – No
- Multiple brands available? – Yes
- Student discount – None.
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Lenstore
- Cheapest delivery – Free for orders over £59; £3.99 for orders under £59
- Free contact lens assessment? – Yes (via Vision Express), although it's only available to customers who have previously purchased prescription lenses from Lenstore (full details)
- Free trial? – Provided if necessary with your optician (full details)
- Multiple brands available? – Yes
- Student discount – 20% off (full details).
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ContactLenses.co.uk
- Cheapest delivery – Free for orders over £35; £3.50 for orders under £35
- Free contact lens assessment? – No
- Free trial? – No
- Multiple brands available? – Yes
- Student discount – None.
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daysoft
- Cheapest delivery – Free
- Free contact lens assessment? – No
- Free trial? – No, although we have known daysoft to refund your first pack if you don't like them
- Multiple brands available? – No, daysoft only sells two types of lens: daysoft CLASSIC and daysoft SILK
- Student discount – None.
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Vision Direct
- Cheapest delivery – Free for orders of £59 or above; £3.98 for orders below £59
- Free contact lens assessment? – No
- Free trial? – Yes (see current offers)
- Multiple brands available? – Yes
- Student discount – Up to 12%.
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Vision Express
- Cheapest delivery – Free for orders over £35; £3 for orders under £35
- Free contact lens assessment? – Vision Express often runs offers for free eye tests and lens assessments – see if one is currently live
- Free trial? – Five days free trial when you book an appointment online or head in-store for a contact lens assessment (full details)
- Multiple brands available? – Yes
- Student discount – 20% off.
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Specsavers
- Cheapest delivery – Free for orders under £30; £1.99 for orders under £30
- Free contact lens assessment? – No
- Free trial? – Free trial of one pair of monthly lenses or five pairs of disposable lenses if you have a current valid prescription (if not, you'll need an eye test at the standard price). The trial is subject to suitability and availability.
- Multiple brands available? – Yes
- Student discount – 25% off.
How to buy contact lenses online
Try these tips for your next contact lens order:
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Get a contact lens assessment
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Just like when buying glasses, you'll need a valid prescription (usually from within the past two years) when you purchase contact lenses.
However, even if you have a valid prescription for glasses, you'll need a separate one for contact lenses. As contacts sit directly on your eyes, they'll need a slightly different strength lens to your glasses, which sit just off your face.
What's more, for the best fit, you'll need to know measurements like the base curve and diameter of each eye. Without these, you risk buying and wearing contact lenses that don't sit comfortably on your eye (something we'll explain a little more in the next tip).
Contact lens assessments will typically cost about £20 – £50. However, there are ways to get them for free.
For starters, in the list of contact lens websites above, we've noted whether or not each company offers a free appointment. And, if you already get contact lenses from a high street optician (such as Boots), you may get free contact lens assessments included in your plan. It may be worth taking advantage of this freebie before switching to an online retailer.
Either way, it's worth remembering that in the UK, opticians are legally obliged to give you a copy of your contact lens prescription, regardless of whether you plan to buy lenses from them or not. So, if you find a deal for a free assessment (with no strings attached), go for it!
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Beware that not all contact lenses fit all people
Everyone's eyes are slightly different shapes, so not all contact lenses fit all people.
Most contact lenses can be made to your specifications. But, even then, some lenses may only have a limited range of adjustments available.
In the case of sites like daysoft, which only sell one or two types of their own-brand lenses, you'll often find you're unable to specify any measurements other than the strength of the lens.
But that's not to say these sites won't make the right lenses for you. Each company should list the specifications of their products so check these before deciding.
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Switch to the manufacturer's brand
It's possible to save money on contact lenses by buying the manufacturer's brand rather than an optician's own-brand version.
Although Specsavers, Boots and Vision Express offer their own contact lenses (which are still relatively cheap), most of them are made by the same few companies.
Helpfully, on this page, Vision Direct lists different types of contact lenses sold by the big three high-street opticians, along with the equivalent product. Check the prices of each to get the best deal.
Do you suffer from allergies? We also have tips on how to get cheap hayfever medication – again with the same product available in different packaging for a lower price. -
Get a free contact lens trial
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Given how sensitive our eyes are, trying contact lenses can often involve a bit of trial and error – especially if you've not worn them before.
You might find a particular type of lens dries your eyes out a little too much or that the prescription is slightly off. Maybe you'll even decide contact lenses aren't for you after all.
Fortunately, many retailers have free contact lens trials, including some of the websites listed above. With try-before-you-buy offers, you don't need to worry about wasting money on a product that isn't right for you.
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Compare contact lens websites
Our list of contact lens websites features all the major players and the main points of comparison between them.
But there are other websites out there, and additional factors to consider too – such as whether the shop has the lenses you're after.
Here's a checklist to consider when comparing online contact lens retailers:
- The total cost of the contact lenses and delivery
- If the website has any voucher codes, first-order discounts, or is listed on cashback sites
- If discounts are available for buying in bulk
- Whether you can get a free contact lens trial.
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Buy in bulk for a discount
As with many things, buying contact lenses in larger quantities can cost less per unit than purchasing the same amount in smaller quantities.
The discount will vary depending on the lenses and the company you're buying from. However, buying six months' worth of lenses at once is often cheaper than buying one month's worth six times.
Buying in bulk can help if you're confident you've found the right contact lenses for your eyes. But, if you've not worn a particular lens before (or any lenses at all), it's worth buying a small quantity and trying them out.
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Decide whether you need daily or monthly contact lenses
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If you wear contacts most days, it tends to be cheaper to wear monthly lenses rather than dailies – even when factoring in the cost of lens solution (which may come included).
There's also the option of bi-weekly lenses (sometimes known as 'two-weekly disposables').
As well as being cheaper for regular wearers, it's generally thought that monthly or bi-weekly lenses are more eco-friendly as they require fewer packets.
That said, it's possible to recycle contact lenses and blister packs (you'll need to drop your waste off at a participating optician). Perfect if you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint!
As monthly and bi-weekly lenses are made from a slightly different material and can affect your eyes in ways that dailies don't, it's recommended that you visit an optician. This way, you can check if you like them and have them properly fitted.
Our guide to cheap healthcare and dentistry has tips for saving money on everything that's not always covered by the NHS – including eye tests.
