Contact lenses can cost a fortune, but they don’t have to! Maintain the gift of sight without wreaking havoc on your bank account with our savings tips.

What Type of Contact Lenses should I buy?

Your prescription is everything…

Like anything, the best way to secure a deal is to shop around and make sure you’re getting the most for your money. Comparing prices for prescription lenses isn’t quick as easy, however, as hunting for the best deal on a new telly. The key here is knowing your prescription.

When you go to the opticians to get your eyes checked (which FYI you should be doing every two years) your eyes will get rated with a prescription. That prescription has measure for how long or shortsighted each of your eyes are so that a lens can be fitted accordingly to correct your sight. You have a right to get a copy of your prescription from your opticians even if you aren’t buying contact lenses from them- and we really advise you to do so! Whilst it might be most convenient to buy contact lenses from your opticians, they might not be the best value and you have no opportunity to shop around if you don’t know what you’re buying! It’s also important to note that you are unlikely to be able to buy lenses elsewhere without confirming your prescription.

Buying Contact Lenses Online

Buying online is an easy way for you to save money! You can often get discounts buying in bulk and by purchasing from an online retailer (who won’t have the same overhead costs as high street competitors), you can easily price check to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

When it comes to personal products like contact lenses, there are obvious concerns about quality and risk. To make sure the seller you’re buying from is legitimate and abiding by UK regulations, ask who their registered optician is. According to the General Optical Council, regulations in the UK dictate that contact lens sellers must have a registered optician or optical professional involved in their business. The General Optical Council has a handy register of all optical professionals, and you can check any names against it here.

How Often can I Use my Contact Lenses?

Monthlies vs Dailies

Depending on how often you use them, it could be more cost effective for you to buy monthly lenses. If you wear your contact lenses full-time or very regularly then monthly lenses could be the best option, despite the added cost of lens solution. If you prefer switching between contact lenses and glasses or just don’t need to wear your lenses all the time, then disposable dailies are probably your best bet!

A quick warning though, if you’re considering switching from dailies to monthlies, you’re going to need to get a new prescription!

How to take care of your contact lenses?

Get your eyes checked

As a general rule, you should get your eyes checked every two years anyway. Not only are eye exams needed to make sure your prescription is up-to-date but opticians can help detect and prevent serious and potentially sight-debilitating conditions like macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. Even conditions like diabetes can be detected from your eyes!

For contact lens wearers more specifically, it’s super important to get regular aftercare both to check your eye health and to make sure your lenses are right for you. If you’re buying online you’re going to have to go back to an in-store optician to get that aftercare separately which can cost anywhere from £10 to £40. If you’re sticking with your optician as your contact lens supplier, that aftercare will often be included.