Cheap Contact Lenses

Is there such a thing as cheap contact lenses? The answer to that question depends on what you mean by cheap. Some contact lenses cost less than others, but whether or not you consider them cheap depends on your perspective. What most people are looking for is the best value — contact lenses that correct their vision well, are safe for their eyes and within their budgets. For some people, cheap contact lenses may actually cost more per lens, but because they can be worn for a longer period of time, the overall cost per year is less. Some people believe that lenses you throw away every day are not necessarily cheap contact lenses, but if you consider the cost of the lens care products that are required for traditional lenses, the daily disposable lenses may be almost comparable in price.

If your search for cheap contact lenses takes you to flea markets or tag sales, beware. In fact, any vendor that doesn’t require a current prescription should be avoided. The lenses they’re selling may be outdated or worse. Opened boxes could have been exposed to the elements and the lenses contaminated. One temptation, especially during the Halloween season, is to buy novelty contact lenses in crazy designs, such as cat’s eyes, through unauthorized vendors, advertising cheap contact lenses. Even though these are fun accessories, they’re still FDA-regulated medical devices and need to be prescribed by an eye doctor, even if you don’t need vision correction. They must be properly fitted so they don’t irritate your eyes, and you need to be educated about how to take care of them, especially if you’re new to contact lens wear. Even lenses without a prescription – called “plano” – have to be cleaned and disinfected to avoid infection.