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Contact lenses can make tasks easier, compared to clunky glasses that slip and slide on your face while trying to do daily activities. Convenience aside, contacts can even give you a completely new look if you explore the world of prescription colored contacts—there’s a wide range of shades on the market that can enhance your natural eye color, or give you a bold new look with tints like teal and amethyst. As long as you choose quality products that won’t damage or scratch your eye (more on this below), and that require a prescription and an eye exam screened by a doctor, contacts can be a fun way to spice up your appearance. Below, you’ll find our selections for the absolute best places to buy colored contacts.
AC Lens has free shipping for U.S.-based customers and a variety of colored contact shades available. They offer 20% off for new customers, a great first-time deal, and virtual eye exams if you’re looking to cover that from the comfort of your own home.
If you’re looking to complete your eye exam and get your colored contacts online for just $20,1-800 Contacts even offers 30% off your first order.
1-800 Contacts has a great reputation for a reason: New customers get 30% off their first order and the retailer sells a selection of colored contacts in 12 shades. They also offer express online eye exams that can be done in about ten minutes for just $20—much easier, quicker, and generally cheaper than running to the eye doctor.
Lens.Me offers stunning shades of colored contacts. If you’re looking for a few options, Lens.Me can accommodate a variety of prescriptions, and their customer service is available 24/7 to help buyers through any questions or issues.
WebEyeCare has many colored contacts available, with 12 color options for a new, bold look. If you haven’t already visited your optometrist, the website offers digital eye exams for your convenience to ensure you’re getting the right prescription, in addition to free shipping on orders over $89 and a convenient 60-day return policy.
Read, Also: The Best Places to Buy Contacts Online: Our Top Recommendations
EzContacts is a heavy hitter in the digital eyewear world, and offers 12 colored contact shades. Buyers can get a virtual exam online, so there’s no need to worry about making a doctor's appointment in order to purchase your colored contacts. EZContacts is also currently offering free shipping with no minimum purchase, and has excellent customer service.
Target always makes our lives easier, so it’s no surprise they also have Target Optical to assist with eyewear needs, including colored contacts. They don’t offer the convenience of a virtual eye exam, but they do have a great selection and free shipping on orders over $35, in addition to free, same-day pick-up.
Though the name says “glasses” (and they’ve made our lists for the best places to buy glasses online and the best places to buy sunglasses online), GlassesUSA has a small selection of colored contact lenses as well. The benefit of shopping at this online retailer though, is the generous discounts (returning customers can get 30% off their order, for example) and excellent customer service. There’s a 100% money back guarantee, 365-day warranty, free shipping, and free returns. Plus, if you need to talk to customer service, their phone line is staffed from 7 am-midnight ET.
Discount Contacts aims to provide its buyers with a huge selection of contacts, including colored contacts. In addition to a nice assortment and working to provide buyers with great prices, Discount Contacts offers a free online vision test (if requirements are met) to renew your prescription with any purchase, reviewed by a licensed optometrist within 24 hours.
Colored contacts are a fun way to switch up your look, whether it’s for an event, or for long-term use. Lenscrafters has a reliable reputation and an array of colored contact choices in 12 colors. Lenscrafters offers free shipping, and they pride themselves on their excellent customer support.
CVS has a selection of colored contacts, with 12 colors to brighten your natural eye color or completely change it for something new. In addition to a diverse selection, they offer redness checks, vision tests, free shipping, a great return policy if you find that a product is not right for you, and a wide range of brands.
What doesn’t Walmart have? You can buy toys, books, crafts, electronics, furniture, sports gear, groceries, clothes and more, in addition to proper eyewear in stores and online. To spice up your look with colored contacts, get a prescription from a professional and order your colored contact lenses online.
Walmart has everything, so expect its eyewear selection to be great. There are a range of colored contacts to bring out your natural eye color, or give you a completely new look.
After scouring the internet, reading reviews, and looking for what each company offers their customers, we created a list of the best places to buy colored contacts with a prescription from your doctor. Some websites even offer online eye tests verified by a doctor to make it that much more convenient for you, if that’s something that you need.
There are a few things to keep in mind to help you make the right choice:
The most important thing is to avoid buying contacts without a prescription, as you risk damaging or scratching your eyes if you buy products that aren’t vetted or prescribed by an eye doctor. Even if you have perfect vision, you can obtain a prescription for lenses that are non-corrective.
“A contact lens, even if it has no corrective power and is worn for a cosmetic purpose, still needs to be applied to the front surface of the eye, and this comes with risks,” warns Bhavin Shah, a London, U.K.-based behavioral optometrist and contact lens specialist. “The most serious is a risk of infection. The shape of the lens may not suit the shape of the front of your eye and cause excessive movement of the lens, which can lead to damage to the ocular surface. Or, the lens may not allow adequate oxygen or moisture to the eye.”
“The only way to be sure is to have a fitting by a registered practitioner,” Shah continues. “They have the equipment to ensure the fitting is suitable and they can prescribe a lens brand that is suitable and tailored for the unique measurements of your eyes. It’s impossible to tell if a lens would be safe unless a practitioner examines you.”
“Some contact lens materials are much better than others,” says Shah. “Also, one material might suit one person better, while a different material would be more appropriate for someone else. Some companies spend a lot of time and research developing better materials, while other companies use older materials–some of the lens materials on the market that people use are older than the first iPhone, yet you would never see them using a first generation iPhone!”
In terms of the actual materials used, modern soft contact lenses tend to be made from either hydrogel or silicone hydrogel, with the latter being much more commonly prescribed. Both are flexible and comfortable, but silicone hydrogel lenses generally have better oxygen permeation, which reduces the risk of corneal hypoxia (a condition that occurs when your cornea doesn’t receive enough oxygen). This is why silicone hydrogel is normally used for lenses intended to be worn for extended periods, or overnight, too.
You can get anything from transparent lenses meant to enhance your natural lighter eye color, to bold, bright colored tints to make a statement. Whether you’re looking for a small change or something striking, there are a variety of options, so make sure you’re buying quality products and have a prescription.
Customer service is often overlooked and is an important factor to consider when you’re buying from a specific company or website. Good customer service can make a difference in your experience, and guide you toward the right product.
Whenever you’re buying online it’s always a plus if there’s a reliable return policy and free shipping. If it’s not free, go for inexpensive, at least–you don’t always know what will work for you until you try it, so it’s good to have that insurance policy.
Price is a big factor. Make sure you’re getting a great deal, as some companies offer a first-time buyer discount on your initial order or free shipping to sweeten the deal.
As previously mentioned, it’s perfectly okay to buy colored contact lenses online, as long as you have been cleared by your doctor and have a prescription. You wouldn’t want to buy low quality products or contacts that are not suited for your eyes because you risk potentially scratching or damaging your eyes.
As long as they are cleared by your eye doctor and prescribed, colored contacts are fine to use. Avoid any kind of contacts from costume stores or websites that don’t require a prescription.
Colored contacts can be a fun way to switch up your look or enhance your natural eye color, as long as it’s done safely. As previously mentioned, you should never wear colored contacts that have not been prescribed by a professional eye doctor. Wearing unprescribed colored contacts can lead to potential problems like infection, or cuts on your eye, and can even potentially cause permanent damage. You should always have a prescription from a medical professional when purchasing contacts online.
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