How Much Do Contacts Cost? Prices Explained

How Much Do Contacts Cost?

Contact lenses cost about $185 to $1,000 annually for both eyes. If you wear contacts regularly, you should expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $85 monthly.

Gas permeable contact lenses being held by woman outside of photo edited

This wide range is partly due to the many types of contact lenses available. Contacts vary in price based on design and the vision problems they treat.

Types of Contact Lenses and Their Costs

Eye doctors prescribe different types of lenses based on a person’s condition. The price depends on the contact lens manufacturers, packaging, and how often you must change.

Type of Contact Lens	Average Monthly Cost	Average Annual Cost
Daily Disposable Contacts	$50 to $75	$600 to $900
Biweekly Contacts	$20 to $35	$270 to $360
Monthly Contacts	$30 to $50	$180 to $300
Yearly Contacts	—	$50 to $80
Rigid Gas Permeable Contacts	$35 to $95	$70 to $190
Extended-Wear Contacts	$45 to $65	$360 to $520
Toric Lenses	$45 to $85	$360 to $680
Multifocal Lenses	$35 to $100	$420 to $600
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses	$1,000 to $4,000 (Initial cost)	$300 to $500 (Additional)
Colored (Tinted) Contacts	$45 to $90	$500 to $1000
Decorative (Cosmetic) Contacts	$100 to $400	—

Below is an in-depth explanation of the different types of contact lenses. This includes their cost, advantages, and disadvantages.

1. Daily Disposable Contact Lenses (Dailies)

Average price: $17 to $45 per box (30-pack); $50 to $122 per box (90-pack)
Annual cost: $204 to $540 per year (30-pack); $200 to $488 per year (90-pack)

Daily disposable lenses are a type of soft contact. They are very comfortable but are less durable than other lenses. Daily contacts cost more than other types, but you pay for their convenience.

After wearing these single-use contacts, you must dispose of them on the same day. This means that a 30-pack lasts 1 month, and a 90-pack lasts 3 months.

Since you start with a fresh pair every day, there is no need to clean and disinfect them. Additionally, it’s no sweat if you lose a lens. To save money, we recommend buying 90-pack boxes.

2. Biweekly Contact Lenses

Average price: $25 to $35 per box of 6 lenses
Annual cost: $270 to $360 per year

Biweekly contacts are designed for longer use. You can wear them for up to two weeks but only during the day. You need to soak them in a case filled with saline solution overnight.

Biweekly contacts typically last 10 to 14 days and come in packs of 6. If you lose a lens, it’s not a major loss.

It’s tempting to save money by extending a pair of lenses for longer than a week or two. However, this is bad for your eyes. Be sure to follow the instructions on the contact lens box.

3. Monthly Contact Lenses

Average price: $30 to $50 per box of 6 lenses
Annual cost: $180 to $300

You can wear a pair of monthly lenses for 1 month before replacing them. It’s important to note the date you started wearing each lens to ensure you replace them when needed. They’re the most affordable disposable lenses but require more cleaning and storage commitment.

Opting for monthly contacts also means you can experience a greater loss if one gets damaged or falls out. Some retailers offer free replacements in these cases, so that’s worth checking into.

4. Yearly Contact Lenses

Average price: $50 to $80 per pair
Annual cost: $50 to $80 per year (changed yearly)

Yearly or annual disposable lenses are the toughest soft contacts. You can safely wear them each day for up to a year.

Of course, you need to clean them with a contact lens solution and soak them every night. If you’ve struggled to care for biweekly or monthly lenses in the past, this might not be the best option for you.

5. Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contacts

Average price: $35 to $95 per lens
Annual cost: $70 to $190 per pair (changed yearly)

RGP contact lenses are more durable than soft contacts. They can also correct more vision problems. Prices largely depend on the brand, lens type, and what they treat.

Specialty lenses that treat astigmatism or are used in corneal refractive therapy cost more than contacts that treat myopia. Overall, they seem cheaper than weekly and daily contacts.

However, these are custom-made contact lenses. They require a contact lens prescription, imaging tests, and fittings which can add to the total cost. If you need RGP lenses for both eyes or plan to buy tinted variants, expect to spend more.

6. Extended-Wear Contacts

Average price: $45 to $65 per box of 6 lenses
Annual cost: $360 to $520 per year (changed weekly); $90 to $130 per year (changed monthly)

Extended-wear contacts are approved for overnight use. Most are soft contacts. However, a few rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses are approved for extended wear.¹

Overnight contacts can be worn for a week or 30 days, depending on the lens type. Generally, you can wear soft contact lenses for shorter periods and RGP lenses for longer.

If you wear them consecutively, you don’t need to clean them in between uses; this can help save money on contact lens solutions. However, most eye doctors don’t recommend wearing your contact lenses to sleep, even those approved to do so. Sleeping in your contact lenses increases your risk of an eye infection.

7. Toric Lenses

Average price: $45 to $85 per box of 6 lenses (soft contacts); $95 per lens (RGP contacts)
Annual cost: $360 to $680 per year (soft, changed weekly); $180 to $340 per year (soft, changed bi-weekly); $190 per year (RGP, changed yearly)

Toric contacts are non-spherical lenses that treat astigmatism. They can be soft contact lenses or RGP lenses.

You can wear contact lenses that are toric and soft for 1 to 2 weeks and up to a year if they are RGP. Toric lenses are typically more expensive than soft contacts that treat common refractive errors like myopia and hyperopia.

8. Multifocal Lenses

Average price: $35 to $50 per box (30-pack); $90 to $120 per box (90-pack); $70 to $90 per box of 6 lenses
Annual cost: $420 to $600 per year (30-pack, changed daily); $360 to $480 per year (90-pack, changed daily); $140 to $180 (6-pack, changed monthly)

Bifocal and multifocal lenses provide clear vision at all distances. They are used to correct presbyopia in older people. Multifocal lenses are available as rigid gas-permeable, extended-wear, and disposable contacts that you can change daily or monthly.

9. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) Lenses

Initial cost: $1,000 to $4,000
Additional annual costs: $300 to $500

Orthokeratology is a refractive therapy. It corrects vision problems by slowly reshaping the cornea.

Initial costs tend to be expensive since you must get an eye exam and a corneal topography. A lens manufacturer will also make RGP contacts that fit your eyes.

Ortho-k contacts are usually worn during sleep because you must wear them until your cornea is reshaped. Afterward, you can switch to retainer contacts. Maintenance costs also tend to be pricey, and you have to visit your doctor for your replacement schedule.²

10. Colored (Tinted) Contact Lenses

Average Price: $45 to $90 monthly
Annual cost: $500 to $1000

Tinted contacts change the color of your eye while correcting your vision. These contacts are available in daily, extended, and toric lenses.

11. Decorative (Cosmetic) Contact Lenses

Average price: $100 to $400 per pair

Decorative contacts are cosmetic lenses approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.³ Cosmetic contacts are also known as Halloween, theatre, and fashion lenses. Unlike other lenses, they do not correct eyesight.

Decorative contact lens prices can vary. Colored contacts that are disposable cost more than soft lenses. But they are also cheaper than extended-wear contacts.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Contact Lenses?

The cost of contacts varies widely. Additionally, prices are always changing as new technologies and products emerge. Factors that affect the price of contact lenses include:

Eye examination: Prices can vary but generally range from $40 to $150
Type of contact lenses: Daily disposables cost more than monthly or biweekly contacts
Vision problem being treated: Contacts for astigmatism and presbyopia cost more than those for myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness)
Where you buy lenses: Retailer coupons, manufacturer rebates, and discounts offered by your optometrist’s office can help save money
Maintenance costs: You’ll need to purchase contact lens solution and cases throughout the year to keep your contact lenses safe; unless you’re using dailies
Health insurance: If you have vision coverage, your health insurance plan may pay a percentage of the cost of contact lenses

One of the biggest variables in price difference is how frequently you change your lenses. For example, you can buy daily disposable contact lenses for $45 a box, which lasts for a month. You’ll have to spend around $540 for a year’s supply.

Alternatively, biweekly disposables may cost $30 for a box of 6. One box will last a month and a half if you use them for both eyes. This winds up costing around $240 per year. Orthokeratology lenses will initially cost you $1,000 to $4,000, and ongoing treatment costs more.

Additional Cost of Wearing Contacts

Besides paying for the lenses, there are other costs to consider:

How much is a contact lens exam?

Average price range: $40 to $240

Before you can wear contacts, you have to get a prescription. The cost depends on whether you get a basic or comprehensive eye exam.

Factors such as where you get the exam also influence their prices. Some doctors charge an additional fee for procedures.

Retail Outlets and Discount Stores

These places exclusively offer prescription glasses and contact lenses. Optometrists that work in discount chains usually charge $45 to $150 for an eye exam.

You can get a discount if you buy contacts or eyeglasses with your prescription. Some popular chains include America’s Best, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Stanton Optical, and Visionworks.

Vision Centers

These are eye clinics located inside or nearby big-box retail stores. An eye exam at a vision center typically costs $80.

Some examples include:

JCPenney Optical
Target Optical
Walmart Vision Center.

Private Clinics

Optometrists with their own clinics can charge anywhere from $40 to $240, depending on your location. If you live in the Midwestern or Southern U.S., you can get a comprehensive eye exam for $90.

But if you are located in the Northern and Western U.S., an eye exam usually costs $110. An examination may cost up to $240 in some Northwest states and high-rise cities like Seattle, San Francisco, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Dilation and Imaging Tests

During an eye exam, a doctor may perform additional procedures. Most optometrists already include dilation fees with your eye examination. Retinal imaging is rarely included, however.

Doctors may perform either test. They can cost you $24 to $33 each when charged separately.

If you have vision insurance, it may cover your contact lens exam cost at an eye doctor. If you don’t have vision insurance or your plan does not cover eye exams, retailers such as America’s Best and Lenscrafters offer low-cost eye exams.

How much is a contact lens fitting?

Average price range: $25 to $250

The cost of contact lens fittings will depend on the type of lens.

Disposable Soft Contact Lenses

Optometrists usually charge less than $100 when fitting soft disposable lenses. This is for people who have never worn contact lenses before. Otherwise, you can apply them yourself. After the initial fitting, you can wear and remove them yourself. (Your doctor will teach you how).

Extended Wear Soft Contacts

Eye doctors can charge up to $140 when fitting soft contacts for continuous and overnight use. Again, you don’t have to get a fitting when changing lenses. But it’s ideal to have a professional help you the first time.

Specialty Contacts

Optometrists can charge $150 for toric lens fittings, regardless of whether they are soft lenses or RGP contacts. Rigid gas permeable lenses, multifocal lenses, and therapeutic contact lenses (TCLs) may cost up to $210 to $250 for a fitting.

How much does a contact lens solution cost?

Average price range: $5 to $20 per bottle
Annual cost: $150 to $200 per year

Contact lens solutions come in 2- to 24-oz. bottles. They can be sold individually or in packs of 2 to 6 bottles. You can save money by buying them in bulk.

Does Vision Insurance Cover Contacts?

Yes. But it depends on your insurance provider and your plan. Vision insurance and vision benefits may cover these costs:

Preventive eye care: Annual eye examinations
Prescription eyewear: Eyeglasses and contacts

You can purchase these plans directly from an insurance provider. But if you qualify, you can get them through an employer or government programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

Your insurance will cover some but not all of your expenses. The amount covered will depend on the plan you choose.

Some providers give additional benefits if you purchase contact lenses together or as an alternative to eyeglasses. Comprehensive vision plans also offer discounts for elective vision correction, such as LASIK and PRK.

Can I Use an FSA or HSA to Pay for Contacts?

Yes. If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), you can use them to help pay for contact lenses. Read more about using your FSA or HSA for glasses and contacts here.

Do Contact Lenses Cost More Than Glasses?

Most contact lenses are cheaper than the average cost of eyeglasses on a per-lens basis. But if you consider long-term costs, contacts are more expensive.

Eyeglasses are a one-time cost for vision correction that lasts a year or more. Unlike contacts, you don’t have to replace your glasses unless damaged. If your vision changes, you can keep your frames and only replace the lenses.

Contacts vs. LASIK: Which One is For You?

LASIK surgery and contact lenses correct vision problems caused by refractive errors. These include:

Myopia,
Hyperopia
Astigmatism.

The main difference is that LASIK offers a cost-effective and long-term solution. It uses a laser to reshape your cornea and improve your eyesight permanently. With LASIK, you only have to pay for follow-up eye exams.

Contact lenses have high-maintenance costs and only offer a temporary solution. You’ll have to continue wearing and replacing lenses for the rest of your life.

Each has its risks. But an ophthalmologist can make sure that whichever you choose, your treatment will be safe. Talk to your eye doctor and find out if you qualify for LASIK.

Best Places to Buy Contacts

Many stores and online retailers sell contact lenses. Some of the best places to purchase contacts include:

Your Optometrist’s Office

You’ll probably be able to buy contact lenses directly from your eye doctor’s office. This can be a convenient option if they already have your prescription in stock and you just had a contact lens fitting.

However, you may pay a higher price than you’d find online. And if the office doesn’t have your lenses in stock, you’ll likely have to return to pick them up.

Online Retailers

Online options typically provide the best prices and the widest selection of lenses. Online retailers price products competitively, so you’re guaranteed cheap contact lenses with the added convenience of home delivery.

The best places to buy contacts online include:

Big-Box Stores

Big-box retailers often sell contacts at discounted prices. You can buy contacts in-store or online at many Walmart and Costco locations.

Summary

Contact lenses for both eyes range from $185 to $1000 per year.
Many factors influence the price of contact lenses, including the vision problem they’re designed to treat and how many days each lens can be worn.
Daily disposables cost more than monthly contacts, but they’re more convenient.
Monthly or yearly contacts require more attention to proper care when it comes to cleaning and storage.
Your vision insurance, or lack thereof, also affects the overall cost of contacts.
You may try several contact lenses before finding the right type for your vision needs and lifestyle.
Contact lenses are available online, at big-box stores, and through your optometrist’s office.

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