8 Tips for Ordering Contacts Online: A First-Time Buyer’s Guide

So your friends have held up two fingers, and you’ve guessed four, or you’re a lifetime glasses wearer looking for a more lightweight solution. Whatever brought you to this point in your eye health journey, the internet has made it easier than ever before to give contact lenses a whirl. Ordering contacts online can be quick and easy, but there are a few steps you need to follow, such as getting an eye exam and verifying your insurance from popular e-commerce retailers like 1 800 Contacts. 

Get an eye exam 

The first step you need to take is to make an appointment with your optometrist for an eye exam. You should visit your eye doctor at least once a year if you wear contacts to ensure that your eyes are healthy and your prescription is accurate.

Remember that people who wear contact lenses are more prone to eye damage and infections if they do not practice proper eye contact care. Your doctor may also give you a sample pair to show you how they feel, and they may teach you how to put the contacts in your eyes. Contacts can take a little getting used to at first, but many people find them a more comfortable solution than glasses. 

Find out your contact lens prescriptions

When you go to the eye doctor for a contact lens fitting, they will give you a contact lens prescription. This prescription lets you know what strength of contacts you need. 

The prescription will often be on the summary report that your doctor gives you at the end of your appointment, whether it is a physical piece of paper or a digital receipt. If you can’t find your prescription, you should ask your doctor where they’ve written it before you leave the office. You’ll need to know your prescription to place your online order. 

Remember that eyeglass prescriptions aren’t the same as contacts

Don’t think that you don’t have to get re-examined by an optometrist just because you already wear glasses. Eyeglass and contact prescriptions vary, so you’ll need to schedule a visit with the eye doctor before you make the switch.

Eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions function so differently because they aren’t the same distance from your eyes. Eyeglass lenses sit about twelve millimeters from your eye, while contacts are directly on the eyeball. This difference dramatically affects the prescription you’ll need, so don’t hesitate to mark yourself on the doctor’s calendar. 

Find the best brand

When looking for the best contact brand for you, you need to consider your habits and personal needs. 

Of course, you’ll want to check the price, but you also need to be sure that the brand carries the exact contacts you want. 

Most brands have both daily use and longer-term contacts, but if you are looking for a specific type of lens, like contacts for dry eyes or contacts you can sleep in, you’ll need to verify your retailer’s stock. 

Find the right retailer

You also need to choose the right retailer to ensure you receive the best product for your money.

When comparing retailers look at factors such as:

• Availability: Does this retailer have the exact contacts you want? If the retailers have to order more lenses, how long will it take?
• Price: How much are the contacts? How much will you be charged for shipping?
• Credibility: Do they ask you for a doctor’s prescription? Do they employ people who genuinely understand contacts? Do customers say good things about them?

These questions will help you distinguish the cream of the crop retailers from the rest. 

Verify that your retailer of choice accepts your vision insurance

Credible retailers will be able to quickly lookup and verify that they take your vision insurance. When done online, sellers usually only need your name, zip code, and date of birth to process your information. 

You also need to make sure that the retailer accepts your vision insurance so that you won’t have to pay the total price for the contacts yourself. 

Order early 

Depending on the retailer, brand, and type of prescription, it usually takes about one to two weeks for your contacts to reach you. Your contacts take that long to arrive because the retailer must verify that your insurance will pay for the contacts, order the lenses, and ship them through a third-party delivery service.

Overall, you should order your new contacts two to three weeks before you run out of your old supply. This way, you won’t be left in the dark if your stock runs low. 

Make sure you don’t run out of contacts or vision supplies

This step is similar to ordering early. Running out of contacts, cases, or solutions can be upsetting and significantly affect your life, especially if you have already canned your glasses. Therefore, you should buy contacts early and always have an extra solution bottle if yours runs out. 

A second contact lens case is also something you should keep around the house, so you have another if you misplace the original. Lastly, always have a pair of glasses somewhere safe just in case you need them. 

Bottom line

Buying contacts online is a faster and more convenient way to purchase your contacts. For the most part, the process is similar to buying from a store since you have to do your research before making a final decision. The main difference is that your contacts may take a bit longer to reach you. That said, with a bit of foresight, you’ll be 20/20 before 2022.