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Saturday, September 14th
2024 Contact Lens Store Reviews
LensCrafters
- 6 manufacturers and 18 brands of contacts
- Around 1,000 in-store locations nationwide
- Accepts most vision insurance plans and FSA/HSA
- Free 7-day shipping on all orders
- 30-day returns, no exchanges
LensCrafters is a well-known company specializing in eyewear, including contact lenses, glasses, and sunglasses. They have a vast network of nearly 1,000 in-person locations across the United States, making it convenient for customers to order contacts online and return in store.
Most contact types available here
LensCrafters' selection of contacts is comparable with most stores we evaluated. You'll find six different manufacturers and 18 brands, including all of today's most popular names like Acuvue and Biotrue. Finding the contacts prescribed by your optometrist is easy too: just select the type, manufacturer, category, brand, and/or price and you'll be taken right to what you need.
Discounts make prices more competitive
Pricing at LensCrafters is just average. On our comparison contacts, the Acuvue Oasys 1-Day for Astigmatism, we'd pay $51.70 for a box of 30 and $121.12 for a box of 90. Those prices were with discounts of 12% and 15%, respectively, but there was no indication of whether those savings were everyday or a limited-time promotion. As long as you're okay with 7-day shipping, your contacts will be delivered at no cost; otherwise, you can pay to upgrade for faster delivery timeframes. We could also save up to $200 when buying an annual supply or up to $75 on a 6-month supply, and those savings were available even when using insurance benefits.
Easy to use insurance and/or HSA/FSA
Speaking of insurance, this contact lens store accepts coverage from most insurers. If you're planning on using your benefits, you can go to the Insurance page through the Savings link on the site to look up your insurer. As a sampling of what you'll find, at the time of this review there were several big names that were in-network (EyeMed, Aetna, Humana, Cigna, Anthem), a few that were accepted for in-store purchases only (MES, Community Eye Care, and others), and two big names that were out-of-network only (MetLife, VSP). And, insurance or not, you can also use your FSA/HSA benefits to pay for your contacts from LensCrafters.
No exchanges, only 30 days for returns
One area where we're not fans of shopping LensCrafters for contacts is the exchange policy - or lack of it. We had to reach out to their live chat (which, by the way, connected us with customer service almost immediately) to find out that there simply are no exchanges here. If you order that annual supply to save some money and then your prescription shifts after a few months, you're just out of luck. That drops LensCrafters quite a bit on our list, when you consider that some of our top contact lens stores give you a year or more to request an exchange for a new prescription.
Reputation is a disappointment
LensCrafters' reputation also isn't anything to get excited about. The main parent company, Luxottica Retail (which is the parent company of a few other contact lens stores on our list), has a "D” rating from the Better Business Bureau for having over 750 complaints filed in the last three years, 20 of which weren't resolved or responded to. Granted, those complaints can be about any of the brands in the family and not just LensCrafters, but it's not something we like to see. It's also hard to tell how LensCrafters does when it comes to contacts, especially when ordered online: most reviews focus on in-store experiences and glasses; customers are able to leave reviews on specific contact lens options but those are few and far between.
Look at other contact lens stores first
When you get right down to it, there's nothing over-the-top horrible about using LensCrafters for buying contact lenses - but there's nothing very compelling about it either. The lack of an exchange policy could be problematic, and prices are just average on most contacts we looked at. If using your insurance is a must and you're already a fan of LensCrafters, you could give it a try, but if you're open to other options, we'd suggest looking at the higher-rated contact lens stores in our evaluation first.
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LensCrafters
Where's the Best Place to Buy Contact Lenses?
Buying contact lenses online offers several advantages that make it a convenient and cost-effective option for many people. You might feel pressured to buy them at the same time as your annual eye exam, but there's something your optometrist might not want you to know: you can probably buy the very same lenses online for up to 70% less than retail when shopping online.
Online retailers often provide a wider selection of contact lens brands, types, and prescription options compared to physical stores. This variety allows customers to find the lenses that best suit their specific needs, whether they require daily disposables, toric lenses for astigmatism, or multifocal options. Plus, you'll enjoy the convenience of doorstep delivery, all from the comfort of your home.
Continue reading below
Contact Lens Store FAQ
With nearly 45 million people in the US alone who wear contacts, the reasons are just as numerous! Some prefer the way they look, while others find them more comfortable for their everyday activities, especially spending time outdoors or exercising. Also, a small percentage of the population struggle to achieve 20/20 vision with glasses but find that contact lenses make it possible.
There are three basic types of lenses: hard, gas permeable, and soft. In the past, more rigid contacts were needed to correct astigmatism, but with advances in technology most users can get the vision correction they need with a more comfortable soft lens. Some contacts are single-use (meaning that you throw them away after you've used them for a day), while others are worn for longer periods and need to be kept in a disinfecting solution overnight. There are even fashion contact lenses to change the look of your eye color or as part of a Halloween costume!
Children can use contact lenses as early as age 8, but many doctors don't recommend them for patients younger than 12 - largely due to concerns about hygiene and injuries when putting them in and removing them. On the other end of the age spectrum, there's no such thing as "too old” for contacts, but you may find yourself needing a more specialized lens that can accommodate presbyopia (not being able to see things up close) or dry eyes
That's an easy one: to save money! Why spend more when you can get the exact same lenses for less? You'll often see new customer discounts of up to 30% off retail prices. And, your optometrist may not be fully stocked on the lenses you need, leaving you waiting for them to be delivered either way.
Most contact lens stores have a satisfaction guarantee that protects you if you somehow receive lenses that are different from your prescription. It's a good idea to check the contacts you get against the prescription you submitted: a simple mistake like changing a plus to a minus or a 3 to an 8 can easily leave you with drastically blurry vision!
In most places, it's required by law to have a prescription to dispense contact lenses. Prescriptions are typically valid for a year, so you may want to keep an eye on the calendar and reorder your new contacts right before yours expires. Some retailers have an online tool that will check your vision, send your results to an optometrist, and update your prescription - often at no charge! If you don't have a complicated prescription and don't think your vision has changed much since your last in-person exam, this could be a convenient option.
Sometimes. Not every online retailer of contacts will accept vision insurance. If you have a plan with VSP, Cigna, MetLife or another provider, you may want to choose a contact lens store that will apply your benefits to your purchase.
Absolutely. Many of them have been in business for decades. If you want extra reassurance that the retailer you're considering is a good option, be sure to look at their rating from the Better Business Bureau along with reviews from previous customers.
Continued from above...
Purchasing contact lenses online can also save you both time and money. Online retailers frequently offer competitive pricing and discounts, making it possible to find lenses at lower prices than in brick-and-mortar stores. Additionally, online shopping eliminates the need for trips to physical stores, saving you time and reducing the hassle of scheduling appointments or waiting in long lines.
The convenience of online shopping also allows customers to reorder their contact lenses with ease. Many online retailers offer subscription services, ensuring that you will receive your lenses regularly without having to remember to reorder. This helps maintain good eye health by reducing the risk of running out of lenses or wearing them for too long.
Want to know which contact lenses are best? Online retailers often provide detailed product information and customer reviews, helping you make an informed decision about which contact lenses to choose. This information helps you find the best fit and comfort for their eyes, as well as to learn about the latest lens technologies and innovations.
Curious if contact lenses suit you? Perhaps your previous attempt several years ago wasn't a comfortable fit, but fear not. Technological advancements now allow many people who need vision correction to wear contacts comfortably, even after past setbacks. Soft lenses for astigmatism and presbyopia are even available, surpassing the days of rigid or gas permeable options for corrective measures.
You can easily discover the wide array of options you have online. Are multifocal contacts as a substitute for glasses? Absolutely. Daily lenses for single-use convenience? You bet. It might take some experimentation to find your ideal prescription and lens type, but the perks of contacts can far outweigh traditional eyeglasses. There's no getting caught in the rain and feeling like you need mini windshield wipers or going blind into the ocean because you left your prescription glasses up by your towel.
If you're considering buying your contact lenses online, you'll need to decide which contact lens store to use. There are a bunch of them out there, some with more name recognition than others. Here are a few criteria you can use to evaluate both the big-name retailers and the lesser-known ones:
- Selection. Opt for stores with an extensive range of brands and lens types, especially if your prescription is complicated.
- Ease of use. Can you quickly locate your specific contacts (by brand or by style)? The best contact lens stores make it easy to verify if your selection matches your prescription.
- Price. Calculate the cost per box and look for discounts when ordering multiple boxes at once. Beware of sneaky "processing/handling" fees during checkout.
- Benefits. Some retailers go above and beyond to enhance your buying experience. Explore options like online prescription verification exams or automatic refill schedules for discounts, so you never run out of lenses.
- Returns and refunds. What if you order a year's supply of contacts and your prescription changes? The best contact lens retailers give you an ample window to return unopened boxes for an exchange or refund.
- Reputation. Check customer reviews and ratings from the Better Business Bureau and elsewhere to gauge the retailer's track record for customer service, on-time delivery, in-stock inventory, and so on.
For a comprehensive review of top-notch online contact lens retailers, check out our research here at Top Consumer Reviews. We're sure this evaluation will help you to get your contacts quickly and cost-effectively, ensuring crystal-clear and comfortable vision for the long haul!
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