Contact Lens Costs

Strain 121

So, how much would it cost to go from eyeglasses to contacts? Including the eye exam/lens fitting. How often would they need to be replaced?

The Cat

Where do you live? Its about AU$90 a quarter here, although I dare say you get a fair chunk of that back on medicare, and private health insurance might help more. A comprehensive eye test is free at most glasses shops (here, anyway), they make their money from the product.

Rook

In the UK if you get it via an optician you can expect £20 contact lens fitting appointment, and then about £13 a month for monthly lenses, £20 a month for daily disposables.

You can save a lot of money by buying your contact lenses online, but you must remember you'll have to pay for checkups.


As an aside, if you're thinking about what sort of lenses you want to wear. I've never warn hard lenses so can't comment on them. Personally I really don't like daily disposable lenses, and prefer monthly disposables. I also occasionally wear extended wear lenses (one's you can sleep in - though I find you're far more likely to pick up an eye infection with them).

ArbitraryDescriptor

How often you feel the need to replace them depends on your eyes. I can wear a contact lens for months at a time without taking it out. This is abnormal. But my optometrist agrees that 'monthly' contact lens should last well beyond than 30 days. I pay $90 for a 6 month supply, which seems comparable to the above prices. How long/far that $90 actually goes depends. You could be looking at $180/year, could be $60/year.

As for the exam, maybe $50? Shop around. They offer free exams/fittings from time to time.

EggyToast

Depends on your eyes and the type of prescription. Hard or soft contacts cost different, there are different types of soft contacts, etc. There's no way to know for sure unless you talk to your eye doc. Cheapest? About $100 a year. Most expensive, around $300 a year.

wmelon

I wear the kind of contacts that you take out nightly, but wear for a much longer time. The contacts i'm wearing right now cost about $30. In my case the main expenses comes from cleaning supplies and saline solution. I use a 12oz bottle of saline a month.

Dunadan019

my optical insurance costs 5 dollars a month. I pay 0 for 100 dollars worth of contacts (8 boxes of 8, 4 for each side) and the 20 dollar fitting.

without insurance, the contacts will still cost you about 100 bucks depending on if you go with the cheaper plastic based ones or the newer more expensive silicone ones.

the eye appointment will cost somewhere near 50-100 bucks without insurance depending on your doctor.

J

It will vary greatly depending on your prescription, as well as which lens type will provide the best fit and if you go for daily or monthly disposables. Get an appointment and your optician will be able to recommend the type of lens best suited to you.