1800 Contacts Review: Why This Contact Lens Retailer Has Been My Go-To for Years

Hey there, my fellow contact lens wearers and fashionistas! If you‘re like me, you want the process of buying your contact lenses to be as simple, reliable, and affordable as possible. Who has time for the hassle and uncertainty of bouncing between eye doctors and physical stores? That‘s why I‘m excited to share my full review of 1800 Contacts, the online retailer that has transformed the way I shop for and wear my contacts.

As someone who has been buying from 1800 Contacts for nearly a decade, I can confidently say this company offers an unbeatable combination of convenience, selection, and customer service. If you‘re considering making the switch to buying your contacts online or just want to find the best retailer, keep reading for my detailed insights and personal experience!

My 1800 Contacts Journey

I first discovered 1800 Contacts way back in my college days. As a busy student who was always on the go, I didn‘t have time to schedule appointments at my eye doctor‘s office or physically go to the store every time I needed new lenses. Plus, as a starving student, I was always looking for ways to save money.

When a friend told me about 1800 Contacts and how I could order my exact same contact lenses online for less, I was intrigued. I hopped on the 1800 Contacts website, typed in my prescription information, and placed my first order. I was a bit nervous about ordering something like contacts online, but when my lenses arrived promptly in perfect condition, I was hooked!

Over the years, I‘ve continued ordering from 1800 Contacts regularly. Even though I now have a full-time job and can technically afford to pay more, I‘ve found no reason to switch. The prices are still very competitive, and I love how easy the process is. I can literally re-order my contacts while sitting on the couch in my pajamas.

Why 1800 Contacts Is the Best Place to Buy Contacts Online

So what makes 1800 Contacts stand out from the competition? Aside from my great personal experience, here are a few key reasons:

Unbeatable Selection

1800 Contacts stocks virtually every brand, type, and prescription of contact lenses you could ever need. Seriously, they have over 100,000 unique products! Whether you need daily or monthly lenses, lenses for astigmatism, colored lenses, or multifocal lenses, they‘ll have plenty of options.

I personally wear Biofinity Toric lenses for my astigmatism and have never had any issues finding them in stock at 1800 Contacts. But some of the other popular brands they carry include:

• Acuvue
• Air Optix
• Biotrue
• Clariti
• Dailies
• Proclear
• PureVision

Basically, if it exists, 1800 Contacts probably sells it. I love not having to shop around or wonder if my preferred brand will be available. With such a huge selection, you‘re bound to find the perfect lenses for your unique eyes and lifestyle.

Competitive Prices & Insurance Accepted

Let‘s be real, contact lenses can get pricey, especially if you have a complex prescription or prefer premium dailies. Thankfully, 1800 Contacts helps make the cost more manageable, saving me hundreds of dollars over the years compared to what I was paying at my eye doctor‘s office.

They offer very competitive and transparent prices, often undercutting brick-and-mortar retailers. And if you happen to find your exact same lenses for a lower price elsewhere online, 1800 Contacts will match that price. Gotta love a company that‘s willing to put its money where its mouth is!

Even better, 1800 Contacts accepts most major vision insurance plans like VSP, Aetna, and EyeMed, applying your benefits directly to your order. As someone whose insurance covers a big chunk of my lens expenses, this is a huge plus.

Tip: Keep an eye out for sales, promotions, and rebate offers on the 1800 Contacts website to save even more. They often run new customer discounts, bulk order savings, and other deals.

Fast & Free Shipping

In our age of Amazon Prime, we‘re all spoiled by the idea of free and speedy shipping. 1800 Contacts gets this, and I‘ve been consistently impressed by how quickly my orders show up.

The standard free shipping typically gets my contacts to me within 5 business days, but I‘ve often received them sooner. Once I even got my lenses in just 2 days after ordering with standard shipping – no extra charges or anything!

My contacts always arrive in discreet, securely packed boxes right to my door. The prescription information is clearly labeled so I can easily tell which boxes are which if I‘ve ordered multiples.

While I usually just go with the free shipping, it‘s nice to know that expedited options are available if I ever run out of lenses unexpectedly or lose a pair while traveling. Overall, the shipping experience has been seamless.

Helpful & Reliable Customer Service

On the rare occasions when I‘ve had to reach out to 1800 Contacts customer service, I‘ve been blown away by how friendly, knowledgeable, and quick to help the reps are. There was one time when I needed to update my prescription information and another when I wanted to check the status of my order, and both times the rep went out of their way to take care of my needs.

I especially love that you can reach a real human 24/7 by phone, email, or live chat. As someone who works odd hours, this kind of availability is a game changer.

Fun fact: 1800 Contacts‘ customer service team is actually based in the USA, at the company headquarters in Utah. So anytime you reach out, you‘ll be speaking with an employee, not an outsourced call center. In my experience, this leads to so much more personal, knowledgeable service.

Generous Return Policy

The first time I ordered from 1800 Contacts, I was a bit hesitant. What if my contacts didn‘t fit right or weren‘t the correct prescription? Could I trust an online retailer with something as important as my eye health?

But then I learned about 1800 Contacts‘ super generous return policy, and my fears melted away. They allow you to return your contacts at any time for any reason – even if you‘ve already opened or worn the lenses. No time limit, no questions asked. You‘ll get a full refund or exchange, and they even cover the return shipping costs.

As someone who has sensitive eyes, this flexible return policy is such a relief. Even though I‘ve been fortunate enough not to need it, it‘s reassuring to know it‘s there.

Innovations Like the Express Exam

In recent years, 1800 Contacts has introduced some truly cutting-edge options that make buying and wearing contacts even easier. The one I‘m most excited about is their ExpressExam, an online vision test that allows you to renew your contact lens prescription from home.

The ExpressExam takes about 10 minutes and involves reading letters on your computer or smartphone screen while the camera monitors your eyes. The results are then reviewed by a licensed eye doctor who can issue your prescription. Assuming your vision hasn‘t changed too drastically, you can skip the trip to the optometrist‘s office entirely!

I tried the ExpressExam for my last prescription renewal, and I was really impressed by how simple yet professional the process was. For busy folks or those who live far from an eye doctor, this is a total lifesaver. Plus, it‘s kind of amazing to see how technology is transforming eye care as we know it.

Note: The ExpressExam isn‘t meant to completely replace comprehensive eye health exams, which you should still get regularly. But for those in-between years, it‘s an incredibly useful option.

How 1800 Contacts Compares to Other Retailers

These days, 1800 Contacts is far from the only option for buying contact lenses online. Some other well-known competitors include:

• AC Lens
• Discount Contact Lenses
• ContactsDirect
• Lens.com
• Coastal

I have personally only tried 1800 Contacts and AC Lens. I found the prices to be pretty comparable between the two, with 1800 Contacts usually coming out a bit cheaper for my specific lenses. And while AC Lens does have a slightly larger overall selection (they also sell glasses and sunglasses), I preferred the user experience and customer service of 1800 Contacts.

Compared to buying contacts from your eye doctor‘s office, online retailers like 1800 Contacts almost always come out ahead in terms of price and convenience. Unless you have vision insurance that only works with specific doctor‘s offices, you can likely save a good chunk of change by making the switch to online.

Of course, buying contacts online isn‘t for everyone. If you‘re new to contacts or have a very complex prescription, you may feel more comfortable getting fitted and purchasing lenses in person. Your eye health should always come first. That being said, if you have a stable prescription and a little tech savvy, the online route is worth considering.

The Bottom Line: Why I Recommend 1800 Contacts

After many years of happily ordering my contact lenses from 1800 Contacts, I can wholeheartedly recommend the retailer to anyone looking for a convenient, affordable, and stress-free contact lens buying experience.

The selection, prices, shipping, and customer service truly can‘t be beat. I‘ve saved so much time, money, and hassle compared to my days of buying contacts in person. It‘s hard to imagine going back!

Beyond my own positive experience, I‘m impressed by 1800 Contacts‘ industry reputation and track record. They have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, along with a 4.7 star rating from nearly 8,000 reviews on Trustpilot. Clearly, I‘m not the only satisfied customer!

Things I love:

• Huge selection of brands and lens types
• Competitive, transparent pricing and insurance acceptance
• Fast, free shipping and flexible returns
• Friendly, knowledgeable 24/7 customer service
• Advanced options like the online vision exam

Things to consider:

• May not be the best fit for those new to contacts or with especially complex prescriptions that require in-person fitting
• Slightly more expensive than some discount online retailers, but you get what you pay for in terms of service and reliability
• Some customers report frustration navigating insurance benefits or reimbursements, but 1800 Contacts reps are always willing to help

The next time you‘re due for a contact lens re-up, I highly recommend at least checking out the 1800 Contacts website. With their generous new customer discount and free shipping/returns, you‘ve got nothing to lose by giving them a try. Your eyes (and wallet) will thank you!

As a loyal customer, I know I‘ll keep coming back to 1800 Contacts for all my contact lens needs. In a busy, digital world, they make getting the vision correction I need totally seamless. I hope my honest review and experience encourages you to check them out too!