Wearing contact lenses can be a very expensive necessity. For me, contact lenses are more flexible and convenient than glasses. My dependence on lenses has aided my lifestyle but my pocket has definitely suffered. Monthly payouts for lenses and solution, not to mention annual check-ups, certainly add up.
In general, contact lenses fall into two main categories; soft lenses and gas permeable lenses.
Soft contact lenses
If you enjoy an active lifestyle, soft lenses are a great option as they are extremely comfortable, conforming easily to the shape of the eye. You can buy soft contact lenses in three forms: single use; daily wear and extended wear.
Single use
As the name suggests, single use contacts are packaged individually, designed to be worn only once. You put in a new pair every day, then remove and discard them before you go to sleep at night. With single use lenses you do not incur the cost of solution. Despite this saving, single use contacts are the most expensive of the soft contacts options.
Daily wear
Daily wear contacts are designed to be worn daily. They may be reused from one week to four weeks. The user will insert these lenses every morning and remove them every night. Due to the build up of bacteria on the surface of the lenses, you will also require solution to clean lenses before and after every use.
Extended wear
Extended wear lenses are designed to be worn continuously for up to seven days. These contacts are less hassle since you can wear them while sleeping. However, it is important to note that extended wear contacts have been linked to eye infections.
Gas permeable contact lenses
Gas permeable lenses provide optimum vision correction for many conditions. They are more durable than soft lenses but require a longer adjustment period. If your prescription doesn’t change and you take care of your lenses, you can go two or three years without replacing them. As a result, gas permeable lenses tend to be less expensive since they last longer than soft contact lenses.
Vision on a budget
Finding contact lenses that suit your vision and lifestyle is one problem. Finding contacts lenses that suit your budget can be even more problematic. Prices have dropped significantly since contact lenses were first introduced to the market. Yet, people are still paying a substantial amount. While you cannot substitute advice from an eye care professional, you can certainly substitute high prices with lower prices for the exact same product.
It’s worth noting that the majority of contact lenses are sourced from the same company. Often it is only the packaging and price that vary. For example, Boots’ Daily Disposables are in fact Ciba Vision Focus Dailies Basic. As a result you may be buying the same product but paying a higher price than you need to.
Buying online
More recently, people have wandered from traditional opticians in search of better value. Without doubt, best value can be found on the Internet. I did some research and looked for the exact same contact lenses in high street chain Specsavers and online provider YourLenses.ie. The price difference is huge…
|
Specsavers |
YourLenses.ie |
Saving |
|
| Daily disposables1-Day Acuvue(3 month pack) | €149 | €51.90 | €97.10 |
| Monthly disposablesPureVision(6 month pack) | €155 | €34.50 | €120.50 |
Making your decision
Evidently, there are huge savings to be made by purchasing contact lenses online. However, a savvy consumer must look at the whole picture before making up their mind. Firstly, while online providers offer lower prices, a delivery charge will be added on. Secondly, if you purchase online you will not receive any aftercare. If you buy contact lenses from high street opticians, you will automatically receive aftercare. My advice is to consider cost and care before making your decision.
Tags: money saving tips, shopping online
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Hi Grace
I am a lens wearer however more and more often I hear of people having laser surgery if anyone had any info on costs and how effective treatments are - it would be great ?
Hi Emma,
I am currently researching a feature on laser eye surgery. I am looking at the impact of surgery on finances and lifestyle. Cost and treatments available will be included. Keep an eye on the website for publication (no pun intended!).
Grace
I get my contact lenses from another site - http://www.daysoftcontactlenses.com - and it is even cheaper than yourlenses.ie! A FOUR month supply is only €47.92 delivered.
They are not the brand name, but I have never had a problem with them - thoroughly recommend them to any lens wearer.
I use yourlenses.com. I go for branded ones the same as I have used or had recommended with a lenses check up at an optician here. That way I have a better chance of them being good quality and there is no issue with no-name lenses. I still go to the optician here as usual, I just don’t order lenses from them. They cannot complain as they are the same brand. The cost difference is staggering and Lenses online is a perfect online order. I go with a european provider as I’d be worried that the lenses might be fake from asia.
Note unlike specsavers etc there is no free lenses case with them its JUST the lenses. I note that Tesco is finally selling contact lenses solution which is about 5-10 euro cheaper than the opticians/Boots. However their choice is limited and I avoid switching solutions unless starting new lenses. Mine are monthly disposable