Prescription Contact Lenses

Prescription contact lenses are usually grouped by the vision problem they correct. Your prescription should point you to the right lens type before you compare brands, box sizes, or replacement schedules.

Spherical Contact Lenses

Spherical contacts correct nearsightedness or farsightedness. These prescriptions usually list power or sphere for each eye. If your prescription does not include cylinder, axis, or add power, your eye doctor may have prescribed a standard spherical lens.

Toric Contact Lenses

Toric contacts correct astigmatism. These lenses use cylinder and axis values to keep vision clear when the eye has uneven curvature.

When ordering toric contacts, match the cylinder and axis for each eye. A spherical contact lens should not replace a toric lens unless your eye doctor changes the prescription.

Multifocal Contact Lenses

Multifocal contacts correct presbyopia, which affects near vision with age. These lenses combine distance and near-vision correction in one lens.

A multifocal prescription includes add power. Some brands also use labels such as low, medium, or high add. Enter the add value exactly as written on your prescription.

Color Prescription Contact Lenses

Color prescription contacts correct vision while changing or defining eye color. They still need a valid contact lens prescription because the lens sits directly on the eye.

If your prescription lists a color, match the shade along with the brand, power, base curve, and diameter. Plano color contacts, which have no vision correction, still require a prescription and proper fit.

Daily, Two-Week, and Monthly Prescription Contacts

Prescription contacts also come in different replacement schedules. Daily contacts are worn once, then thrown away. Two-week and monthly contacts are reused for the schedule written by your eye doctor.

Do not stretch the replacement schedule. A monthly lens does not mean 30 wears spread across several months, and a daily lens should not be stored for another day.

An expired contact lens prescription means you'll need an updated prescription before ordering more contacts. Contact lens prescriptions expire because your vision, eye shape, tear film, and lens fit can change over time.

An updated exam also checks how your current lenses sit on your eyes. If your contacts have started feeling dry, blurry, tight, or uncomfortable, your eye doctor can check whether the brand, material, fit, or replacement schedule still works for you.

Don't keep ordering from an old box after your prescription expires. The box can help you identify the product name, but it doesn't replace a current prescription.

Can I Renew My Prescription at Lens.com?

Lens.com has an online vision test for eligible contact lens wearers who need to renew a prescription. It's meant for renewal, not for first-time contact lens fittings or new eye health concerns.

You may still need an in-person eye exam if your prescription has changed, your contacts feel uncomfortable, you have eye pain or redness, or you haven't had your eye health checked recently. An online renewal checks vision, but it doesn't replace a full eye exam with an eye doctor.

Before ordering, make sure your renewed prescription matches the exact contact lens brand, power, base curve, diameter, and lens type you plan to buy.

A contact lens prescription has more details than an eyeglass prescription because the lens sits directly on your eye. Start by checking the product name, then review the values for your right eye and left eye.

Common prescription terms include:

• OD: Right eye
• OS: Left eye
• PWR or SPH: Lens power for nearsightedness or farsightedness
• BC: Base curve, or the lens curve
• DIA: Diameter, or the lens width
• CYL: Cylinder value for astigmatism
• AXIS: The angle of astigmatism correction
• ADD: Near-vision power for multifocal contacts
• Color: The lens shade, if prescribed
• Brand: The exact contact lens product
• Replacement schedule: Daily, two-week, monthly, or another wear cycle

Enter each value exactly as written on your prescription. If your right and left eyes have different numbers, order each eye separately. Do not use a glasses prescription or an old contact lens box unless the details match your current contact lens prescription.

You don't have to upload a copy of your prescription to place an order. If you don't have it with you, Lens.com can verify your prescription with your eye doctor before your contacts ship.

During checkout, you can enter your prescription details, upload a copy, or share your eye doctor's name and contact information. Lens.com then checks the order against your prescription.

This helps catch wrong product versions, expired prescriptions, missing values, or mismatched right-eye and left-eye entries before the order moves forward.

Prescription contacts can add up across the year, especially if you wear toric, multifocal, or daily lenses. Before ordering, look past the box price and compare the cost by wear, box count, and rebate terms.

Try these savings moves before checkout:

• Check for rebates on the product page. Some rebates require a certain number of boxes, so review the terms before choosing a smaller order.
• Compare 30-pack and 90-pack boxes. A larger box costs more upfront, but the per-lens price can be lower.
• Order enough for both eyes. Contact lens boxes are usually sold per eye, so one box often covers only one eye for that wear period.
• Reorder before you run out. Last-minute orders can lead to rush shipping costs or buying locally at a higher price.
• Use your current prescription. Ordering the wrong brand, power, base curve, or lens type can lead to returns, delays, or wasted boxes.
• Check vision insurance or FSA/HSA eligibility. Some plans reimburse contact lens purchases, and many FSA/HSA cards cover prescription contacts.
• Don't stretch your replacement schedule to save money. Wearing lenses past their schedule can cause discomfort, buildup, and eye irritation.

The cheaper box isn't always the cheaper routine. A larger supply, valid rebate, or lower cost per wear can save more than choosing the lowest upfront price.

Vision insurance can help pay for prescription contacts, depending on your plan. Some plans cover part of the cost, while others use reimbursement after you buy.

Before checkout, review your benefits for contact lens coverage, yearly limits, and any brand or retailer rules. If your plan uses reimbursement, keep your order receipt, prescription details, and itemized invoice so you can submit a claim.

FSA and HSA funds can also be used for prescription contact lenses. If you have an FSA or HSA card, check whether it's accepted at checkout or whether you'll need to submit the purchase for reimbursement.

Get refitted for contacts when your lenses no longer feel right, even if your prescription power hasn't changed. Fit problems can show up as dryness, blurry vision, redness, scratchiness, lenses that shift around, or discomfort before the day ends.

You should also get refitted before switching brands, changing materials, moving from glasses to contacts, trying toric or multifocal lenses, or changing from monthly contacts to daily disposables. A different lens can have a different base curve, diameter, thickness, edge shape, or material.

A refit gives your eye doctor a chance to check how the lens sits on your eye and how your eyes respond after wear. That check matters before you buy several boxes of a new lens.

Yes. Parents and guardians can buy prescription contacts for a child or teen as long as they have a valid contact lens prescription for that wearer.

Order the exact brand, power, base curve, diameter, and lens type listed on the prescription. Don't guess from an old box, especially if the child recently had an eye exam or switched lens types.

For younger wearers, the replacement schedule matters. Daily disposables can be easier for many kids and teens because there's no overnight cleaning routine. Reusable lenses need more care, including fresh solution, clean storage, and timely replacement.

Yes. Reordering before your last pair gives you time for prescription verification, shipping, and any order corrections. It also helps you avoid rush shipping or buying a small emergency supply at a higher price.

Check your prescription expiration date before stocking up. If it expires soon, renew it before placing a larger order. You should also confirm that your current lenses still feel comfortable and that the product name matches your prescription.

For regular wear, ordering ahead can make the routine easier. Keep unopened boxes sealed, store them in a clean dry place, and check the expiration date before wearing a lens.

Lens.com helps you order the exact prescription contacts your eye doctor approved. You can browse by brand, lens type, replacement schedule, and box size, then match your order to your current prescription.

Savings on Prescribed Contact Lenses

Prescription contacts can get expensive, especially if you wear daily, toric, multifocal, or color lenses. Select products have savings of up to 70%, and some brands include rebates that lower the final cost.

Before checkout, compare the box count, rebate terms, and cost per wear. A larger box can cost more upfront, but bring down the price per lens.

Popular Brands in One Place

You can browse many major prescription contact lens brands from one page, including options for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia, and color correction.

Check the product name closely before ordering. A similar-looking brand name isn't always the same lens.

Reordering Without Starting Over

Once you know the exact lens your eye doctor prescribed, reordering becomes faster. Return to the same product, choose your box size, and enter the right-eye and left-eye values from your current prescription.

Reorder before your last pair so there's time for prescription verification and shipping. That helps you avoid rush shipping or buying emergency boxes elsewhere.

AutoRefill for Regular Wearers

If you wear contacts every day, AutoRefill keeps your supply on a set schedule. It works well for wearers who don't want to wait until the last box is almost empty before placing another order.

Before using AutoRefill, check your prescription expiration date and make sure the lens still feels right. If your vision, comfort, or eye health changes, see your eye doctor before continuing with the same lens.