Need New Contact Lenses? Warehouse Clubs Offer Better Deals
You'll find deeper discounts at Costco and Sam's Club compared to traditional eyewear retailers and drugstore pharmacies.
If you're buying contact lenses from anywhere except Costco or Sam's Club, you're probably paying too much. For example, we shopped for ClearSight 1 Day daily disposable soft contact lenses, by Cooper Vision, at the websites of pharmacies, opticians and the optical departments of large retailers. Costco and Sam's Club charged $35 for a box of 90, compared with a range of $48 per box at CVS Pharmacy (regularly $60) to $72 per box on sale at Lenscrafters (regularly $85). The price differentials for other brands of contact lenses are similar.
If your middle-aged eyes need correction for close or distant vision, your eye doctor may prescribe more expensive "multifocal" contact lenses. Costco and Sam's Club sell Proclear 1 Day Multifocal daily disposable lenses, by Cooper Vision, for $75 per box of 90 lenses. At other retailers, the price ranged from $70 on sale (regularly $88) at CVS to $100 at Lenscrafters (discounted from $118 per box if you order eight boxes).
Keep in mind that the cheapest lenses may not work best for you, and your eye doctor may offer recommendations of the type and brand you need. If your eyes are changing, you may not want to buy more than six months' worth of lenses, even if you would get a deeper discount. When you order, be prepared to present or upload a copy of your current prescription (depending on the state, they expire after a year or two).
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
Retire Abroad Before 55: Eight Expert Tips
Can't afford early retirement in the U.S.? You really can retire abroad before 55 if you plan carefully. The strong dollar helps, but consider your long-term strategy.
By Jacob Schroeder Published
-
The Rule of $1,000: Is This Retirement Rule Right for You?
The rule of $1,000 a month can estimate how much you need to save for retirement. But it assumes an aggressive withdrawal rate.
By Adam Shell Published
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024 and 2025
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up. Here's what you need to know.
By Jackie Stewart Last updated
-
Costco Cyber Monday Deals Are Here
Costco has rolled out dozens of Cyber Monday deals. Shop and save now through December 2.
By Kathryn Pomroy Last updated
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
By Miriam Cross Published
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
By Vaishali Varu Last updated
-
How to Figure Out How Much Life Insurance You Need
insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life insurance needs.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime Day
Smart Buying Think twice before getting lured into buying a bunch of stuff you don't need just because it's on sale.
By Andrea Browne Taylor Last updated
-
Amazon Big Deal Days Is Coming! We’ve Got All the Details
Amazon Prime To kick off the holiday season with a bang, Amazon Big Deal Days runs Tuesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 9.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Steps
insurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
By Kaitlin Pitsker Published