Are you looking for a cheaper place to buy contact lenses online? Have you been getting ripped off buying them through your optician for the last few years and are looking to finally start buying from the exact same place they were getting them from before adding their commission on them that you were paying for? Well we can now share, 5 of the best contact lens stores that ship directly to you.
How contact lens sites work?
You go to your optician and get your prescription, or if you know the values for your eyes, or the type of lenses you usually buy, head over to one of these 5 sites and add your measurements, before checking out and adding your delivery address. Most sites ship same day!
You can see how much money you're saving, plus most of these sites such as Clearly and LensesOnline offer a tax invoice that you can use to claim back your contact lenses insurance amount if you happen to have private health care such as NIB which offers up to 80% back on the original amount if you choose their premium extras plan.
The 5 Best Sites For Cheap Contact Lenses
1. Clearly
Clearly is a contact lenses, eyeglasses and sunglasses retailer located in Auckland, New Zealand that was launched in 2000. It began solely selling contact lenses but has since expanded to include prescription glasses and sunglasses. Customers are also able to shop online and have their items shipped to them.
They have their own ranges of glasses designed by inspired brands that bring style and sophistication to their customers as well as individualised looks. This means that each customer can find something that they not only like, but that suits their face as well.
As something you will most likely wear every day, it is important to find a pair that you love, so the design process is customised to ensure a wide range of frames, materials, lenses and styles to ensure each customer can find their fit.
As the technology for contact lenses and eyewear is continually developing, so is the range of eyewear on offer at Clearly as a way to keep up with these ever-changing optical advances.
They have just launched a ‘buy one, give one’ initiative in conjunction with the Essilor Vision Foundation where one pair of glasses for every pair purchased is donated to someone in need of vision assistance.
Customers can feel good about taking part in a program that is improving the vision of thousands across the globe, and therefore improving their quality of life.
2. Quick Lens
Quick Lens is an online supplier of contact lenses that was launched in 2003. They have successfully delivered over 150 million pairs of contact lenses and offer a wide range of different types and brands.
Types include daily lenses, fortnightly lenses, monthly lenses, coloured lenses, toric lenses and multifocal lenses. They also offer package deals that provide discounts on bulk buys, so they are a more affordable option per item.
Customers need to familiarise themselves with the directions of use for the contact lenses and ensure they follow these instructions by the manufacturers in order to guarantee their eye safety.
Customers should also only order lenses of the prescription that they have been given by a lens care professional and should continue to have regular medical examinations to ensure it remains the correct prescription. The website details a diagram of how to read your prescription to make sure you are ordering the correct lenses for your optical needs.
Standard shipping throughout New Zealand is $10.95 for every location with orders over $98 NZD eligible for free shipping. Orders generally arrive between 7 and 10 business days.
Exchanges and returns cannot be made on change of mind purchases however if customers have ordered the wrong prescription or an item arrives that is faulty, an exchange or refund will be granted. For a wrong prescription, items must be in original packaging and condition.
3. Smart Buy Glasses
Smart Buy Glasses is an online retailer of eyewear including glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses. They offer a wide range of styles and fits for men, women and children, and stock over 180 leading brands. With over 80,000 products on offer, customers are sure to find what they are after to suit their visual requirements.
Customers have a range of options on the website to assist their eyewear purchase decisions. These include shopping guides, lists of top 100 sunglasses and glasses, shopping by personality feature and a new 3D virtual try-on that allows customers to see what they will look like when wearing different eyewear.
All eyewear has a 2 year warranty and an authenticity guarantee, and orders are able to be tracked so that customers can know when to expect their delivery.
They are certain they can consistently deliver the lowest prices on contact lenses and to prove that is the case, they offer a best price guarantee where they will beat any price found cheaper online by $3 NZD up to 14 days after customers have made their purchases.
They ship New Zealand-wide and internationally and offer free standard shipping or $10.40 NZD for express shipping. Shipping times depend on whether items are prescription or in-stock. Returns are able to be made up to 100 days after purchase to ensure product satisfaction for customers.
4. LENSESONLINE
LENSESONLINE is an online contact lenses supplier that was established in 2006 in New Zealand. Two eyecare professionals collaborated to create this online store where their optometry expertise has guided the brands and lenses they stock, ensuring quality products and timely, professional service.
They offer a convenient and reliable way to have contact lenses delivered straight to your door, and affordable products that ensure customers can afford to replace contacts at appropriate times and not jeopardise their health.
Despite the optical experience of the company creators, customers should follow the recommendations from their optometrists when selecting their contact lenses online.
They stock the best contact lens brands including Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, Bausch and Lomb and Cooper Vision. Along with contact lenses, the company stocks contact lens solutions (multipurpose and peroxide-based) and eye care products such as eye drops and eye lid wipes to provide a holistic eye care approach.
Shipping within urban New Zealand is free for orders over $100 NZD, or under this amount costs $5.65 for non-signature CourierPost and $6.50 for signature CourierPost. This service aims to deliver overnight so customers can receive their products very quickly.
For rural New Zealand, orders over $100 NZD are eligible for free shipping, whereas under this amount costs $7.95 for non-signature CourierPost and $9.50 for signature CourierPost. Orders can be delivered to PO Boxes or Private Bags for no extra cost.
5. I-contacts
I-contacts is an online contact lenses retailer based in New Zealand. It was established in 2008 and offers a range of contact lenses and related products to suit a variety of optical needs from leading brands. Products on offer include disposable contact lenses (monthly, daily and fortnightly), astigmatism lenses, bifocal multifocal lenses, coloured contact lenses, cleaners and solutions, eye drops and accessories like cases, tweezers and eye compresses.
The i-contacts rewards program allows customers to acquire points with their purchases that can be redeemed on future purchases for discounts. Delivery is fast, taking only 1-3 days. Postage costs are $3.95 NZD for North Island residents, $7.50 NZD for rural North Island residents, $5.10 NZD for South Island residents and $8.50 NZD for rural South Island residents.
Delivery is available outside of New Zealand for an additional cost. For customers in Auckland, is also possible to pay $20 NZD for a point to point courier which allows for delivery within a few hours. This is perfect for those customers requiring their purchases immediately. Alternatively, customers can arrange for their own urgent courier or uber driver to pick up the order.
Tracking numbers are provided to customers so they can know when to expect their delivery. Returns are able to be made up to 10 days after receiving your items to ensure your satisfaction. However, items must be in original condition and packaging and undamaged. Refunds or a credit to your i-contacts accounts can be issued.
Why buy contact lenses online vs an optician in NZ?
There are several reasons why someone might choose to buy contact lenses online:
Convenience: Buying contact lenses online can be more convenient than going to a physical store. You can shop from the comfort of your own home, and have the lenses delivered right to your door.
Price: Online retailers often offer competitive prices on contact lenses, and you may be able to find discounts or special deals that are not available in physical stores. Nearly always cheaper to buy online vs an optician such as Specsavers, just compare the prices!
Selection: Online retailers often have a wider selection of contact lenses than physical stores, allowing you to easily compare different brands and types of lenses.
Easy reordering: If you have previously purchased contact lenses online, it can be easier to reorder from the same retailer often with one click of the mouse, as your prescription and payment information may already be on file.
Privacy: Some people may prefer the privacy of buying contact lenses online, rather than discussing their vision needs with a salesperson in a physical store who is bound to try and upsell you on stuff you blatantly don't need (eye drops, insurance etc).
Are there any risks to buying contact lenses online?
It's important to be cautious when buying contact lenses online. Make sure to purchase from a reputable retailer, and be sure to check that the retailer requires a valid prescription before selling you contact lenses.
It's also a good idea to check the return and exchange policies before making a purchase. Finally, contact lenses are not known to be knockoffs but check the reviews of the store before purchase just in case. We have done the research on these 5 stores, but there are many other eCommerce sites out there that sell lenses that we haven't researched.
Who invented contact lenses and why?
The first contact lenses were developed in the late 1800s by a German scientist named Adolf Fick. Fick's lenses were made of glass and were designed to correct vision by sitting directly on the cornea. However, these early lenses were uncomfortable to wear and could cause irritation and damage to the eye.
It wasn't until the 20th century that contact lenses became more practical and comfortable to wear. In 1936, a New York optometrist named William Feinbloom created the first soft contact lenses using a material called hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). These lenses were much more comfortable than Fick's lenses, but they were still too thick and did not transmit oxygen well, which could lead to eye irritation.
The modern contact lens as we know it today was developed in the late 1950s by a Czech chemist named Otto Wichterle. Wichterle developed a method for making contact lenses out of a soft, oxygen-permeable plastic called hydrogel. These lenses were much thinner and more comfortable than earlier versions, and they allowed oxygen to pass through to the eye, reducing the risk of irritation.
Contact lenses have been popular for decades because they offer a convenient and effective way to correct vision without the need for eyeglasses. They have also become increasingly popular as a cosmetic option, allowing people to change the appearance of their eyes or to correct certain vision problems that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses.
How much do contact lenses cost in New Zealand?
The cost of contact lenses in New Zealand can vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of lens, the brand, and the retailer. On average, you can expect to pay between $100 and $150 for a box of 90 disposable contact lenses (two boxes gets a 90 day supply), depending on the brand and the type of lens. Dailies Total One and Focal lenses, which is the most popular brand is quite expensive compared with local alternatives.
Some brands and types of lenses may be more expensive, while others may be less expensive. It's a good idea to shop around and compare prices from different retailers to find the best deal. Keep in mind that you will also need to factor in the cost of lens solution and a lens case, which can add an additional $10 to $20 to the overall cost.
It's worth noting that the cost of contact lenses may be covered by some health insurance plans in New Zealand. If you have private health insurance, it's worth checking with your insurer to see if you are covered for contact lens purchases.
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