Contact Lenses

Not all contact lenses are the same. The right type depends on your vision needs, lifestyle, and how often you want to deal with cleaning and replacing them. Here is a breakdown of what is available:

• Daily Disposable - Wear them once and throw them away at the end of the day. No cleaning, no storage, just a fresh pair every morning. Great for people with allergies or sensitive eyes.
• 1-2 Week Disposable - Replaced every one to two weeks. You will need to clean and store them nightly, but they tend to cost less than dailies over time.
• Monthly Disposable - Designed to last 30 days with proper care. A cost-effective option for people who wear contacts every day.
• Toric Lenses - Specifically designed for astigmatism. These lenses have a special shape that corrects the uneven curvature of the eye for clear, stable vision.
• Bifocal Lenses - Built for people with presbyopia who need help seeing at multiple distances. They work similarly to bifocals but without the line.
• Color Disposable - Available with or without a prescription, these lenses let you change or enhance your eye color while still correcting your vision.
• Silicone Hydrogel - Made from a breathable material that allows significantly more oxygen to reach the eye compared to traditional soft lenses, making them a great option for people who wear contacts for long hours.
• Gas Permeable - Rigid lenses made from a firm, oxygen-permeable material that holds its shape on the eye. They deliver sharp, consistent vision and can last up to a year or more with proper care.
• Vial Lenses - Specialty lenses packaged individually in small vials, typically custom-made for patients with unique prescriptions or specific eye conditions.
• Store Brands - Private label contact lenses that offer the same quality and comfort as name brands at a more affordable price point.

With so many options out there, picking the right contact lens comes down to a few key things. Your vision needs are the starting point. If you have astigmatism, you will need toric lenses. If you are over 40 and starting to struggle with reading, multifocal lenses are worth discussing. For straightforward nearsightedness or farsightedness, you have a much wider range of options to choose from.

Your lifestyle matters just as much. If you travel a lot, are active, or simply do not want to deal with a cleaning routine, daily disposables are the most convenient choice. If you wear contacts every single day and want to keep costs down over time, a monthly lens with a good cleaning solution tends to be more economical.

Most people who need vision correction can wear contact lenses. Whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, have astigmatism, or presbyopia, there is a good chance there is a lens out there that fits your prescription.

Eye doctors regularly fit teenagers, and some will prescribe lenses to younger kids depending on their maturity and why they need them. Adults in their 40s, 50s, and beyond wear contacts too, with multifocal options designed specifically for that stage of life.

Contacts are not for everybody, chronic dry eye, certain eye conditions, or a history of frequent eye infections can make wearing them more trouble than it is worth. A contact lens fitting with your eye doctor is the best way to know for sure, and it is a separate appointment from a regular eye exam.

Buying contact lenses online is straightforward once you know what you need. Here is how the process works:

• Get a valid prescription - You need a current contact lens prescription from your eye doctor before placing an order. An eyeglass prescription is not the same thing and cannot be used for contacts.
• Know your prescription details - Your prescription includes your power, base curve, and diameter. If you have astigmatism, it will also include a cylinder and axis value. You can find these on your lens packaging or by asking your doctor.
• Choose your lens type - Decide whether you want daily, biweekly, or monthly lenses, and whether you need toric, multifocal, or standard lenses.
• Place your order - Select your brand, enter your prescription details at checkout, and provide your doctor's information so Lens.com can verify your prescription directly with them.
• Get them delivered - Once your order is confirmed, your contacts ship straight to your door with no trip to the eye doctor's office required.

A contact lens prescription can look confusing at first, but each value tells your eye doctor and the retailer something specific about your eyes. Here is what each term means:

• Sphere (PWR or SPH) - Your lens power measured in diopters. A minus sign means you are nearsighted while a plus sign means you are farsighted.
• Base Curve (BC) - Tells you how the lens sits on your eye. Most soft lenses fall between 8.0 and 10.0.
• Diameter (DIA) - The overall size of the lens in millimeters, typically ranging from 13.5 to 14.5 mm.
  Cylinder (CYL) - Only appears if you have astigmatism. It indicates the degree of correction needed.
• Axis - Goes hand in hand with the cylinder value. It tells the lens where to position the correction on your eye, measured in degrees from 0 to 180.
• Add - Found on multifocal prescriptions. It indicates the extra magnification needed for reading or close-up vision.

One thing worth noting is that your contact lens prescription is separate from your eyeglass prescription, so always make sure you are using the right one when placing your order.

Taking care of your lenses is just as important as wearing the right ones. Poor lens care is one of the most common causes of eye infections and discomfort. Rub and rinse your lenses with contact lens solution every time you remove them, even if the solution says no-rub. Never use tap water since it can carry microorganisms that stick to lenses and cause serious infections. Replace your lens case every three months and always rinse it with solution after each use.

Stick to your replacement schedule since wearing lenses longer than recommended increases your risk of infection and discomfort. Unless your doctor has cleared you for extended wear, always remove your lenses before sleeping. Keep them away from water, including the shower and swimming pools, and always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses.

For most people, yes. Contact lenses are a safe and effective form of vision correction when used correctly. Millions of people wear them every day without any issues. Like any medical device, they come with some risks if not cared for properly. The most common problems include eye infections, usually caused by poor hygiene or overwearing lenses, dry eyes especially during long screen time sessions, and corneal abrasions from damaged or incorrectly inserted lenses.

Most of these issues are entirely preventable with good habits and regular eye checkups. If you notice redness, pain, blurry vision, or unusual discharge, remove your lenses right away and get in touch with your eye care provider. Seeing your eye doctor at least once a year is recommended even if your vision has not changed, just to make sure everything is still looking good.

We know you have plenty of options when shopping for contacts. So, what makes Lens.com the best place to buy contacts online?

• Options - We offer prescription contacts from leading brands such as Acuvue, Air Optix, Biofinity, and Proclear, making it easy to switch from purchasing contacts in-store to buying them online.
• Experience - We have been serving our customers since 1995, back when the Internet and disposable contact lenses were still relatively new concepts.
• Convenience and affordability - We save you a trip to the ECP's office by shipping your contacts directly to your doorstep. With a valid prescription, you can purchase contact lenses in bulk to ensure you always have a fresh pair on hand. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, we make returns just as easy, too.