(Newswire.net — August 12, 2015) — Contact lenses have certainly come a long way since their creation and they are now more affordable than ever before. There are now lenses that cost only a few dollars per lens, making them a viable option for just about all contact wearers. Gas permeable lenses used to cost a few hundred dollars a pair and were stiff and uncomfortable to wear, but new disposable lenses are easy to wear and easy to buy.
Contact lenses that are purchased at the eye doctor are going to be a bit more expensive than those that you purchase online from a whole seller. There are three reasons that doctor’s offices cannot sell cheaper lenses and knowing what those reasons are may help you decide where to purchase your lenses. Knowing why popular contact lenses like Acuvue Oasys by Johnson & Johnson are going to be more costly at an office can help you decide to buy from your doctor or buy from another source.
Why Are They so Expensive?
The first reason that doctor’s offices cost more is that they have to order the lenses at a set price. Generally, this price is much lower than the price that they charge either you or your insurance when you buy the lenses. In order for the doctor’s office to make money and to recoup the cost of the lenses, they must then sell the items that they bought for a markup. This means that a box of six contact lenses that may cost $35 online or through a whole seller will cost about $50 through a doctor’s office. This is not a significant markup, but when you are on a tight budget every dollar counts, and being able to find cheaper lenses can make a huge difference.
The second reason that these lenses cost more than those that you can buy online or from whole sellers is that they are taking up space in the office. This means that doctor’s offices are going to have to charge for the space that they are taking up. Often a doctor’s office will have a room that is devoted specifically to contact lenses and to contact lens fittings. It is essential then for doctor’s offices to charge a bit more for these lenses to make up for the extra space, the upkeep, and the room itself. This means that a box of contacts that were marked up to $50 from the manufacturer’s price may then be marked up again to about $60 a box for a brand like Acuvue.
Paying for Contact Lenses with Insurance
The last issue to contend with it the fact that many people are going to be paying for their contact lenses with the help of insurance and insurance plans. Most eye insurance plans will offer to help with payment for one pair of glasses or for a supply of contacts for a certain amount of time, usually 6 months. This means that doctor’s office have a chance to make more money with an insurance provider than they would if they were depending on the individual to pay on their own. Being able to insure that they get the money they need for contact lenses through an insurance company is far better than having to depend on the buyer. Insurance companies also allow for more money to be charged. In most cases, an insurance company will put a cap on how much the lenses they pay for can cost and a doctor’s office will adjust the price accordingly. Brands like Acuvue Oasys have a set price but they may fluctuate depending on where you buy.
No matter how you choose to buy your own contact lenses it is always helpful to know just what you are getting into. Knowing why lenses cost more at a doctor’s office may be the push that you need to seek your lenses elsewhere. Contact lenses that are bought online are still going to be a bit more expensive than if you bought directly from the manufacturer, but it will certainly save you tons of money over buying from a doctor’s office.