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Cost of Contacts in 2022: How Expensive Are They?

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Contact lenses can cost anywhere from $150 to $1,500 a year, depending on the brand, type, and your insurance coverage.

Generally, they cost between $20 and $30 a box. Most people with average prescriptions should be able to get a year’s worth of contact lenses for $200 to $500.

The price range for contacts can feel broad, but they have a highly variable price tag depending on a lot of factors. Specialty contacts that require a higher or uncommon prescription may cost more than those designed for mild to moderate myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).

Cost of Contacts

There are also many different types and brands of contacts, which can impact price. Rigid gas permeable (RGP), or hard contacts, are approved for daily use for up to a year. They can provide a high quality of visual clarity and refractive error correction.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes that the vast majority of people in the United States who wear contacts (about 90 percent) wear soft contact lenses. Soft contacts are intended for daily use. They can either be daily disposable or meant for reuse for a week or a month, depending on the type and brand.

There are also contacts that have been approved for long-term and extended use. These extended wear contacts can have a variable price tag as well, depending on type and brand.

How Much Are Contact Lenses?

The cost of contact lenses can vary widely based on several factors, including the type of lens, brand, prescription needs, and even where you choose to buy them. Here’s a general idea of how much contacts are:

  • Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Lenses: These hard lenses offer excellent clarity and are reusable for up to a year. They generally range from $100 to $200 per pair.
  • Daily Wear Contacts: These include daily disposable contacts and those designed for reuse on a weekly or monthly basis. The cost can range from $17 to $50 per box for daily disposables and $25 to $88 for weekly or monthly disposables.
  • Extended Wear Contacts: These lenses are designed to be worn overnight for up to a week or even a month. The prices generally fall around $45 to $65 per box for six lenses.
  • Specialty Contacts: Lenses for specific needs such as astigmatism, multifocal lenses, or those with special features like color tints may cost more. Expect a wider price range depending on the unique requirements.
  • Insurance and Bulk Discounts: Your insurance coverage may offset some costs, and buying in bulk often offers savings. Discount retailers may provide lenses at a lower price point.
  • Fitting Costs: Fitting fees can also vary, typically ranging from $25 to over $250, depending on the complexity of your prescription and the care provider’s pricing structure.

Remember, the cost of contact lenses is not just about the price tag. Considerations such as comfort, quality, the health of your eyes, and the guidance of an eye care professional should all factor into your decision. Always consult with an optometrist or eye care specialist to understand the best options for your specific needs and budget.

Whether you’re looking for convenience with daily disposables or specialized lenses for unique eye needs, there is a wide range of options available to fit different budgets and preferences. By understanding your options and working with an eye care provider, you can find the lenses that are both suitable for your eyes and your wallet.

Factors that Determine Contact Lens Cost

Rigid Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses Costs

Rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses are hard lenses made from plastic. They are less flexible than the softer contacts and can often offer clearer vision.

Most do not contain water, so they often carry less risk for bacterial buildup. They can become dislodged more easily than soft contacts, and debris can get caught underneath them.

rigid permeable contact lens

RGP contacts typically cost more than disposable contacts, as they are approved to be reused daily for up to a year. The average cost of RGP contacts is about $100 per lens, so $200 for a pair. Discount retailers may be able to offer these lenses for as low as $30 per lens, and they often offer incentives and lower prices for buying in bulk. Insurance may help to offset these costs.

Costs can vary from brand to brand and for specialty lenses. Contacts designed to treat astigmatism or corneal refractive therapy may cost more than those correcting for myopia.

Boston XO2 RGP contacts by Bausch and Lomb cost around $35 to $50 per lens retail, adding about $95 per lens for non-spherical lenses, such as a toric lens that corrects for astigmatism or hyperopia. By comparison, Fluoroperm 30 RGP contact lenses by Paragon Vision Sciences are about $90 per lens retail price with the same additional cost for non-spherical lenses. These lenses are typically more expensive as they are designed for special eye needs.

RGP contact lenses are less common. They can therefore be harder to find and purchase, which can make them more expensive. If you take care of them properly, you will not need to buy another pair for a year, which can save you money.

How Much are Daily Use Contacts?

daily contact lenses
Daily use contacts are soft, flexible, and common, so there are a lot of options. There are daily disposal contacts, daily reusable contacts that are disposed of weekly, and daily reusable contacts that are disposed of monthly. Daily disposable contacts typically come in a box with 30 or 90 pairs of lenses.

Common brands and prices of daily disposable contacts, from lowest to highest, are outlined below:

  • DAILIES AquaComfort Plus 30 pack by Aclon: average retail price of $17 a box for a month’s supply, about $204 annually
  • Proclear 1 Day 90 pack by CooperVision: average retail price of $50 per box for a three-month supply, about $200 annually
  • Biotrue ONEday (30 pack) by Bausch + Lomb: average retail price of $25 a box for a month’s supply, about $300 annually
  • SofLens Daily Disposable Toric for Astigmatism 30 pack by Bausch + Lomb: average retail price of $25 a box for a month’s supply, about $300 annually
  • 1-Day Acuvue Moist 30 pack by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care: average retail price of $32 a box for a month’s supply, about $384 annually
  • 1-Day Acuvue Moist for Astigmatism 90 pack by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care: average retail price of $100 a box for a three-month supply, about $400 annually
  • Clariti 1-day Multifocal 90 pack by CooperVision: average retail price of $80 a box for a three-month supply, about $320 annually
  • Extreme H2O Daily 30 pack by X-Cel Specialty Contacts: average retail price of $40 per box for a month’s supply, about $480 annually
  • Biotrue ONEday for Presbyopia (90 pack) by Bausch + Lomb: average retail price of $122 a box for a three-month supply, about $488 annually
  • 1-Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal 30 pack by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care: average retail price of $45 a box for a month’s supply, about $540 annually

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:

  • Avaira Vitality by CooperVision: average retail price of $25 for a box of six lenses
  • Acuvue 2 by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care: average retail price of $28 a box for six lenses
  • SofLens 38 by Bausch + Lomb: average retail price of $28 a box for six lenses
  • Extreme H2O 59 Thin by X-Cel Specialty Contacts: average retail price of $40 a box for six lenses
  • Biomedics 55 Premier by CooperVision: average retail price of $30 a box for six lenses to be replaced every two weeks
  • Freshlook COLORBLENDS by Alcon: average retail price of $88 a box for six lenses

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:

  • Extreme H2O 54 by X-Cel Specialty Contacts: average retail price of $35 a box for six lenses
  • Biofinity by CooperVision: average retail price of $18 for a box of six lenses
  • Air Optix Aqua by Alcon: average retail price of $18 for a box of six lenses
  • Bausch + Lomb Ultra by Bausch + Lomb: average retail price of $39 for a box of six lenses
  • PureVision 2 by Bausch + Lomb: average retail price of $37 for a box of six lenses
  • Acuvue Vita by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care: average retail price of $32 for a box of six lenses

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.

Costs of Extended Wear Contacts

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.

Orthokeratology contact lenses

Extended wear contact brands and types include brands, such as Air Optix Night & Day by Aclon, which retail for around $45 a box for six lenses, and Biofinity by CooperVision, which retails for around $65 for a box containing six lenses.

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. Again, the more customized and specialized the contacts and prescription need to be, the more money they are likely to cost.

In general, you get what you pay for. High-end contact lenses may offer more convenience, more customization, and have more features, such as color tint or UV protection. Your eye care professional can help you navigate the landscape and decide which type of contact will be optimal for your eyes and lifestyle.

History of Contact Lens Prices

The price of contact lenses has gone down over time due to an increasing number of sellers and less expensive manufacturing processes.

The average price of a pair of soft contact lenses in 1971 was $65, whereas this had dropped to $30 in 1982. Likewise, the cost of contact lens fittings has dropped over time, from an average of $550 in 1971 to $275 in 1982. Today, the average cost of a fitting is $25 to over $250.

Where to Buy Contact Lenses

The availability of contact lenses is widespread, ranging from local optometrists’ offices to big-box retailers and even various online platforms. The choice largely depends on the convenience, price, and personal preference of the buyers.

  • Optometrists’ offices: Contact lenses can be ordered directly from most optometrists’ offices. This is particularly handy if you’ve just had a contact lens fitting or consultation. Prices at these locations may vary.
  • Big-box retailers: Many big-box retailers, like Walmart and Costco, sell contact lenses, often at discount prices. You can order these contacts in store or online.
  • Online options: There is a wide range of online retailers selling contacts. While they may come with the benefit of convenience, there’s always a risk. The absence of professional guidance might lead to purchasing incorrect or counterfeit lenses. Always verify your prescription and ensure the authenticity of the product.

Remember, the cost of contact lenses is not just about the price tag. It’s about the health of your eyes, comfort, quality, and the expertise of an eye care professional. Always make informed decisions and regularly consult with an optometrist for your eye care needs.

References

  1. Fast Facts. (July 2018). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. Boston XO2. (2019). Bausch & Lomb.
  3. The Paragon HDS Technology. Paragon Vision Sciences.
  4. DAILIES Brand Lenses. (2018). Novartis.
  5. Proclear 1 Day Contacts. (2019). CooperVision.
  6. Biotrue ONEday Contact Lenses. (2019). Bausch & Lomb.
  7. SofLens Daily Disposable Toric for Astigmatism. (2019). Bausch & Lomb.
  8. 1-Day Acuvue Moist. (2017). Johnson & Johnson.
  9. 1-Day Acuvue Moist Brand Contact Lenses for Astigmatism. (2017). Johnson & Johnson.
  10. Clariti 1-day Multifocal. (2019). CooperVision.
  11. Extreme H2O Daily. (2019). Extreme H2O Contact Lenses.
  12. Biotrue ONEday Lenses. (2019). Bausch & Lomb.
  13. Acuvue Brand Contact Lenses. (2017). Johnson & Johnson.
  14. Avaira Vitality. (2019). CooperVision.
  15. Acuvue 2 2- Week Contact Lenses. (2017). Johnson & Johnson.
  16. SofLens 38 Contact Lenses. (2019). Bausch & Lomb.
  17. Biomedics 55 Premier. (2019). CooperVision.
  18. FreshLook Color Contacts. (2016). Novartis.
  19. Extreme H2O 54. (2019). Extreme H2O Contact Lenses.
  20. Biofinity Family. (2019). CooperVision.
  21. Air Optix Aqua. (2018). Novartis.
  22. Bausch & Lomb ULTRA Contact Lenses With MoistureSeal Technology. (2019). Bausch & Lomb.
  23. PureVision2 Contact Lenses. (2019). Bausch & Lomb.
  24. Acuvue Vita Monthly Contact Lenses. (2017). Johnson & Johnson.
  25. Healthy Vision and Contact Lenses. (2019). American Optometric Association.
  26. Contact Lenses: What to Know Before You Buy. (October 2015). Mayo Clinic.
  27. Air Optix Night & Day. (2018). Novartis.

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