Where Should I Buy My Contact Lenses?

Online internet shopping means that there are now a host of options for buying contact lenses.  So how do you choose?  The following are some excerpts from an American consumer publication discussing internet contact lens purchasing.

> Some Important Concepts
Start with three important concepts when deciding where to buy your contact lenses:
* Ignore any pre-conceived ideas you may have about who's better or cheaper.
* Buying anything on the internet involves risk, and this is especially true with contact lenses.  That doesn't mean that buying contact lenses over the internet is a bad idea, you just need to know who you're buying from and what you're doing.
* Whether buying online or offline, you should focus on value and not just price. Overall value is affected by factors such as availability of both lenses and professional services, customer service, convenience, price, returns policies and insurance.

But before you can buy contact lenses, you need a contact lens prescription.

> Why you need a Contact Lens Prescription
A contact lens is a medical device.  If it's not properly prescribed, you may not see well.  But even more importantly, a poorly fitting lens or one made from a material not well-suited to your eyes could result in discomfort, swelling, abrasion or (less frequently) other problems that could result in permanent eye tissue damage.  That and the risk of infection are also why it's unwise to share contact lenses with other wearers.

> Prescription Expiry
When your prescription expires, usually after 12 months, you won't be able to buy any more lenses until it has been renewed.

> Do I Really Need Another Examination?
Just because your eyes feel good and your contact lenses seem to be working well doesn't necessarily mean that your eye health is OK.  You may be having problems that can only be seen at a microscopic level.  Your eyes do change over time, and just because your lenses were fitting appropriately 12 months ago is no guarantee that they are still doing so now.

> "Shopping" for Contact Lenses
With any type of purchase, most people who are "looking for the best price" are really looking for the best overall value.  In contact lenses, where a combination of products and professional services are involved, this is especially true.  Don't ignore the issues of convenience, availability and professional expertise; the best price won't mean much if the product is out of stock, out-dated or a threat to the health of your eyes.

Consider also the value of your time.  Since there are many places you can purchase contact lenses, you could spend hours online comparison shopping, or driving somewhere to pick up lenses.  Be certain to consider the time you invest in relation to the savings.

> Where's the Best Price?
To get the best price on contact lenses, you have to comparison shop.  Don't assume you'll find a significantly better price on the internet than you will from an optical chain or an independent optometrist.  Also don't assume that a provider who is cheaper for one particular lens will be cheaper for all lenses.

> When to buy from your Optometrist
Pricing of contact lenses from optometrists varies widely.  Many people assume that lenses from an optometrist will be more expensive, but this is not always the case.  Some optometrists will sell larger quantities of lenses - a year's supply, for example - at prices that are competitive with other sources.  Then there's the issue of convenience.  Today many optometrists offer internet or email ordering facilities.  And they'll mail their lenses to you.

> Evaluating Mail-order Retailers
Mail-order can be very convenient.  It takes a few clicks of your mouse, or a toll-free call.  But there are literally hundreds of these sellers, and it's crucial to remember that not all are created equal.  Mail-order companies range from large, publicly-listed companies to back-room operations with no full-time staff.  Although smaller operators may publicise attractive prices on their websites, they may not offer the service and selection you're looking for.

Put any company you're thinking of ordering from to the following tests:
* Will your order ship ASAP? Smaller, low-volume companies might stock only the most common prescriptions.  If they have to obtain the lenses after you order them, delivery time may be longer than you expect.
* A mail-order seller must by law sight a valid copy of your prescription before supplying you with lenses.  Think about how this is to be arranged.
* Do I trust this company with my credit-card information? There's always some risk in buying from companies you have no experience with, and never heard of.
* Is customer service readily available?  Is there a telephone number you can call if you need to?  If there's a problem with your order, it's nice to know that you can easily access a customer service representative to handle it.
* Will the company be in business tomorrow? For example, if there's a billing error, such as an accidental double-billing of your credit card, you'll want to be confident in the integrity of the company, and a quick resolution.
* What's the return policy? If you buy a large amount of lenses and your prescription changes, make sure the company will accept the unopened boxes for credit.
* If prices seem "too good to be true", consider why this might be the case.  Consider what short-cuts the supplier might be taking in order to provide lenses at unbelievable prices.  Will the company be able to stay in business in the longer term?

> "Bricks and Mortar" Providers
Some outlets, typically independent optometrists and some chain stores, generally have optometrists either on the premises or in adjacent affiliated locations.  Such outlets offer the advantage of being able to provide eye examinations and fit contact lenses, as well as sell a supply of lenses.  If you have a common prescription, already have a valid copy of this prescription and need more contact lenses quickly, such a location may be a good option because there's little or no waiting for your lenses.

Some people also appreciate the "trust factor" of a personal transaction, as opposed to mail-order sellers that can only be contacted by internet and (sometimes) by phone.

> Our Advice - A Final Word from Specsavers Collins Place
It is vital that contact lens wearers have their priorities right, and in our view safe wear and eye health must top this list.  Unfortunately some retailers see lenses as little more than a commodity like soap powder, rather than a therapeutic item with implications for the wearer's eye health.  This arises at least partly from a lack of understanding of the effects of contact lens wear, yet these people will happily dispense advice about wearing lenses when they have no qualification or knowledge base to do so.

We believe that it is clearly in your interest for your contact lenses to be supplied by the same person who prescribes them. This way, if there are any contact lens-related problems, one person is clearly responsible for the performance of the lenses and for solving these problems.  There can be no buck-passing between prescriber and supplier.

Equally important is the issue of the prescriber being fully in control.  Unless we supply your lenses, we cannot be sure that you are wearing what we have prescribed, and not a "close substitute".  By buying your lenses from where they are prescribed you avoid receiving conflicting, confusing or simply wrong advice about your lens wear from another, less qualified, source.

If you wish to purchase your lenses elsewhere, it is our firm policy to advise you also seek your care from that same supplier.  We do not provide clinical care nor take responsibility for lenses that we have not supplied (with the exception a few circumstances such as lenses purchased while interstate or overseas).  Nor do we provide a "prescription-only" service.

From time to time you may find yourself tempted by offers of even cheaper disposable lenses from direct mail-order, chemists and the like.  The main reason that lenses from these outlets are cheap is that the sellers provide no back-up care, take no responsibility for their performance and offer no warranties.  In the case of contact lenses, using price alone is a very poor method for judging where to obtain your care and lenses, instead of comparing the quality of care and professional advice you receive.

Our website now offers you the convenience and cost savings of online purchasing.  We don't pretend that our prices are absolutely the cheapest on the internet but they are certainly competitive.  When put together with factors such as our professional back-up, "trust factor", physical presence, returns policies and expertise, however, we believe that we offer as good overall value as you will find on the web.