Ordering contacts online is a cost-effective and convenient way to purchase them. And it’s popular, too. An estimated 23% of all contact lenses purchased worldwide are bought online. But buying contacts online is a little different than buying a sweater or a bulk pack of your favorite candy. To buy contact lenses online, you’ll need to do more than just click “add to cart.”
In this guide, we’ll explain how to order contact lenses online in four steps, from gathering what you need—including a prescription—to checking out.
Step 1: Get Your Contact Lens Prescription
There’s no way around it. To order contacts online, you’ll need a prescription from an eye doctor. If you already have a valid, unexpired prescription for contact lenses, great! If not, you’ll need to get one.
This goes for any contact lenses, no matter the type, purpose, or whether or not you need them for vision correction. It’s illegal in the United States to sell contacts without a prescription, so any reputable seller will require one. Note that a contact lens prescription is not the same as a glasses prescription.
Even if you want contacts for cosmetic reasons, like colored contacts to change your eye color or novelty (“decorative”) contacts to make your human peepers look like cat eyes, you need a prescription.
Why? A contact lens prescription helps make sure your contacts are safe and effective. It includes important details, such as the power needed to correct your vision and the measurements required for a proper fit. If you have astigmatism, a specification related to toric lenses will probably be on your prescription. If you need contacts to correct your vision at different distances, your prescription will indicate either monovision or multifocal contacts.
How To Get a Contact Lens Prescription
Whether you need a brand-new prescription or want to renew one that’s working fine for you, the process is easy.
If you need a brand-new prescription: If it’s your first time ordering contacts or you’re having vision issues and need a new prescription, you’ll want to get a contact lens exam. During the exam, an eye doctor checks your vision, measures your eyes, and does a contact lens fitting. Many times, a contact lens exam can be added onto a comprehensive eye exam.
If you have an expired or nearly expired prescription: Most contact prescriptions expire after a year. If it’s been a year or close to a year since you got your prescription, you may want to get another contact lens exam.
What if you already have a prescription for contacts that’s working well for you, but it’s expired? In this case, you may be able to renew your prescription online. During the renewal process, your eye doctor will test your vision and verify your prescription.
What if I Can’t Find My Prescription?
If you’ve misplaced your current contact lens prescription, you can contact your eye doctor for either a paper or electronic replacement copy. You’re entitled to it by federal law.
Additionally, online retailers can reach out to your doctor to obtain the prescription. (Warby Parker has an option for this in checkout.) You’ll need to know your prescription values from a past order, box of contacts, or individual lens pack.
Step 2: Check Your Vision Insurance and HSA or FSA
Usually, you can save money by using vision insurance to purchase contact lenses online. Many online contacts retailers take vision insurance. (Contacts aren’t typically covered by regular health insurance plans.) But you’ll probably want to check your vision plan to be sure of what’s covered or partially covered.
Plus, if your contacts are for vision correction, they’re generally qualified health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) expenses, meaning you can purchase them with pre-tax dollars.
Warby Parker accepts many vision plans for contact lenses and offers benefits for some out-of-network plans, too. You can check if your insurance provider is in network. We can also let you know what your insurance will cover right when you order.
Be sure to also check the shipping and return policies before ordering. Warby Parker has free shipping and a hassle-free 30-day return policy for most items, including prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses in the original, unopened package.
Step 3: Where To Buy Contacts Online
You can order contacts online from Warby Parker (we’ve got five good reasons why). Or ask your eye doctor to recommend a reputable online seller of contact lenses.
If you have vision insurance, your insurance plan might also have a list of online retailers who accept their insurance benefits. Or you can find out directly from the retailer whether or not they’ll accept your plan.
Step 4: Place Your Order
Each retailer will have its own contact lens ordering procedure. But generally, the process will look similar to this:
- Choose your lens brand. This information will appear on your prescription. If you’re reordering contact lenses, you may be able to scan the box your lenses are in.
- Choose your contact lens type. If applicable, once you click the brand of contacts, you’ll be able to choose the type, such as daily disposable or monthly wear. If you’re getting colored contacts, you’ll be able to select the color.
- Pick the quantity you want. Pay attention to how many individual contacts are in each box.
- Select or fill in the requested power and eye measurement information. You should be able to find what you need on your prescription. Or if you’re reordering the same contacts you already have, it may be on the box. This information usually includes the sphere or power (SPH/PWR/D), cylinder (CYL), base curve (BC), and diameter (DIA). Not sure what all those letters and numbers mean? Check out our guide on how to read your contact lens prescription.
- Provide a copy of your prescription. You may have options for how to give your prescription to the retailer, such as uploading a photo, providing your eye doctor’s contact information, or emailing your prescription.
- Check out. In general, you’ll be asked to provide payment, your mailing address, and some of your other contact information, like an email and phone number. You may also be able to choose between regular and expedited or overnight delivery options.
- Wait for it. Based on your shipping preference, you should be able to estimate when your order will arrive.
Questions About How to Order Contacts Online? Ask.
A good retailer will provide you with an easy way to ask questions about how to order contact lenses online or about an order in progress. At Warby Parker, we’re happy to help—check out our FAQs or get in touch by phone, text, chat or email.
