How much contacts

Common brands and prices of daily disposable contacts, from lowest to highest, are outlined below:. Prices for contact lenses go up as the refractive error or specialty needs increase. The most expensive lenses are bifocal or multifocal lenses or those correcting for astigmatism irregular corneal shape or presbyopia farsightedness related to age. More expensive lenses may also have newer technology that claim to be more oxygen-permeable or moist to prevent dry eyes. Contacts that have tints for color or ultraviolet UV light protection often cost a bit more as well.

Disposable contacts that are designed to be reused on a weekly, monthly, or set replacement schedule also come in boxes of varying amounts. These contacts are taken out each night, disinfected, and used up to the recommended number of uses before disposal. Often, buying a box with more lenses can be more cost-efficient. Common weekly disposable contact brands and types, with costs from lowest to highest, are outlined below:.

Just like with daily disposable contacts, correcting for more significant refractive errors can mean specialty contacts are needed, which can cost a little more per box. Lenses that offer cosmetic eye color choices also typically cost more. Daily use contacts that are designed to last a month to three months before replacement also come in boxes with multiple lenses.

Common brands and costs for monthly disposable contacts, from lowest to highest, are as follows:. In general, daily use soft contact lenses are most cost-efficient when buying boxes of lenses that are replaced on a monthly or so basis. Daily disposable contact lenses are convenient. They often offer the healthiest and most hygienic option, the American Optometric Association AOA publishes, but they will cost a little more.

There are some contacts that are approved for extended-wear, which means that you may be able to leave them in your eyes overnight for up to a week or even a month, depending on the type.

These contacts are meant to be more breathable than daily use contacts. Mayo Clinic warns that wearing contacts overnight, even if they are approved for this use, can increase the risk for eye infections. Some extended wear contacts are meant to be changed once every six or seven days, like the Biofinity, while others are approved for monthly wear.

Other factors that can affect your contact lens costs include manufacturer rebates, discounts for buying a year's supply at once and how frequently you replace your lenses. Because many factors affect contact lens cost and prices frequently change, it's difficult to describe lens costs accurately.

The following contact lenses price data was updated in June before rebates, special discounts, shipping, etc. If you replace your contacts approximately every two weeks, this means you need about five boxes 30 lenses per eye, or a total of 10 boxes per year. Contact lenses that correct astigmatism cost more than soft contacts that only correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. In some cases, eye doctors recommend replacing toric lenses less frequently, which lowers this cost.

Colored contacts. Tinted soft contact lenses to enhance or change your eye color are more expensive than clear lenses or lenses with only a faint handling tint which helps you see the lens in your storage case or helps you find the lens if you drop it. Colored contacts that correct astigmatism can cost significantly more.

Special-effect contact lenses. Special-effect contacts also called theatrical contact lenses, costume contacts and gothic contact lenses are popular for Halloween and costume parties. Beware of low-cost, special-effect contacts sold online. Dailies typically come in a box of Make sure to not use dailies for more than a day.

If you need to stretch a box, you can instead take some days off from wearing your contacts and switch to your glasses. However, you still need to soak them overnight in a saline solution.

Typically, weekly or biweekly contacts come in a pack of six. Theoretically, contacts that last for 2 weeks would cost half as much as ones that last for 1 week.

Instead, try to switch to your glasses for a few days per week. However, this also means that it can be a bigger issue if your contacts break. Also, keep in mind that some people feel that monthly contacts make them more vulnerable to dry eyes.

Be ready to pop on your glasses if your eyes start to feel dry or irritated. Thus, they require a lot of care and commitment. Keep in mind that while the per-box cost for yearly contact lenses might be higher than that of other types, you only need one box to lasts an entire year.

However, they may take some getting used to. You should also keep in mind that if they end up breaking, the replacement cost can be significant. For example, lenses that last you months to a year may end up cheaper in the long run, but they also require a larger commitment to daily cleaning and proper storage. Ultimately, the best way to determine the cost of contact lenses that suit your eyes and lifestyle is to talk with your eye doctor.

Typical prices of contact lenses vary depending on the type of lens and the prescription required. For example, if your vision requires you to wear a contact lens to correct astigmatism, your lenses will be called toric lenses. Toric lenses are to be replaced twice monthly. However, some doctors will tell you that these lenses can safely be replaced less frequently to lower the monthly cost.

If you are over the age of 40 and require a bifocal contact lens, expect to pay more than regular soft contacts. To give you an idea of the price ranges, here are some average contact lens prices taken from commercial opticals, online contact lens retailers , and private doctors' offices.

Keep in mind that some or all of the contact lens fees may be covered under your insurance plan. If you are considering ordering contact lenses online, pay particular attention to the shipping charges and volume discounts. Typically, prices are extremely competitive in private optometrists offices and they often have manufacturer rebates that are not available online. Online retailers may have slightly lower prices but longer shipping periods one to two weeks, on average.

It may also be more difficult to order custom-designed lenses online. Federal law prohibits dispensing contact lenses without a valid prescription. Unfortunately, there are a few online contact lens retailers that sell contact lenses without a prescription. The Federal Trade Commission has recently shut down many of these illegal websites. Remember that contact lenses are a safe and convenient correction option, but they are also medical devices that must be cared for properly in order to maintain healthy vision.

Certain hygiene measures should be taken to avoid possible eye infections or serious eye problems. Washing your hands before handling your contacts is extremely important for safe contact lens wear.

A serious risk associated with contact lens wear is a corneal infection.