Cheap contact lenses: How to save money without compromising eye health

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Quick Answer: Are Cheap Contact Lenses Safe?

Yes. Lower-priced contact lenses can be safe to wear when they have been properly fitted for your eyes and are worn, replaced and cared for correctly. A lower price doesn't automatically mean a lower-quality or less safe contact lens.

Contact lens prices vary for many reasons, including lens material and design, manufacturing technology, brand, pack size and where you buy them.

What matters is whether the contact lens is suitable for your eyes and prescription. In the UK, powered contact lenses are supplied against a valid contact lens specification following a contact lens fitting.

You should also attend your regular contact lens check-ups and follow the recommended replacement schedule rather than trying to reduce costs by extending the life of your lenses.

What Makes Some Contact Lenses Cheaper Than Others?

The price of contact lenses can vary considerably, but a higher price doesn't necessarily mean a lens is better for your eyes. There are several reasons why one contact lens may cost more than another.

Lens Material and Technology

Contact lenses use different materials and technologies. Some premium lenses incorporate features designed to improve characteristics such as moisture retention, surface wettability, or oxygen transmission, which can add to their cost.

Brand and Marketing

Well-known contact lens manufacturers such as Johnson & Johnson and Alcon invest heavily in research, product development and marketing. Brand recognition can form part of the price you pay, while less heavily marketed or own-brand lenses may be available at a lower price.

Lens Design

More complex prescriptions can cost more. Toric lenses for astigmatism and multifocal lenses for presbyopia have more specialised designs than standard spherical lenses and are generally more expensive.

Replacement Schedule

Daily disposable lenses give you a fresh pair each day, while monthly lenses are replaced less frequently. This can make monthly lenses cheaper for some full-time wearers, although the cost of contact lens solution and cases also needs to be considered.

Pack Size and Where You Buy

The price per lens can change depending on the pack size and retailer. Comparing the cost per day for both eyes rather than simply the price of the box can give you a much better idea of which option represents good value.

Does Paying More Mean You're Getting a Better Contact Lens?

Not necessarily. A more expensive contact lens may offer features that are valuable to some wearers, but that doesn't automatically make it the better choice for everyone.

A lower-cost lens that has been properly fitted, provides good vision, and is comfortable for your wearing needs may represent excellent value. Equally, spending more can be worthwhile if a particular material, design or feature better suits your eyes, prescription or lifestyle.

The best-value contact lens isn't necessarily the cheapest or the most expensive — it's one that works well for your eyes at a price you're comfortable paying.

Our Best Cheap Contact Lenses

You don't have to choose the most expensive contact lens to get good vision and comfortable wear. There are affordable options among both own-brand and well-known manufacturers.

For this guide, we've looked beyond the box price and considered cost for two eyes, lens type, material, and what each lens offers for the money. The right lens still needs to be suitable for your prescription and fitted for your eyes.

*Prices checked September 2026 and may change. Promotional prices may vary.
**Monthly daily-cost figures are based on lens cost over a 30-day month for two eyes and do not include contact lens solution or lens cases.

What is the Cheapest Brand of Daily Contact Lenses?

At the time of writing, Crystal 1 Day is our lowest-priced daily disposable contact lens, costing £9.99 for a box of 30 lenses.

A box contains 30 individual lenses, rather than 30 pairs. If you wear contact lenses in both eyes, you'll need two boxes for 30 days of daily wear, bringing the lens cost to £19.98 per month, or approximately 67p per day.

Crystal 1 Day is a hydrogel daily disposable lens designed to provide a straightforward, affordable option for everyday contact lens wear.

For someone looking for an affordable silicone hydrogel daily disposable, Live Daily is another option. At its current price, it works out to approximately £1.13 per day for two eyes. It costs more than Crystal 1 Day but provides a silicone hydrogel option for wearers for whom that lens is suitable.

What is the Cheapest Brand of Monthly Contact Lenses?

Crystal Monthly is currently our lowest-priced monthly contact lens, costing £15 for a box of six lenses.

For someone wearing contact lenses in both eyes, six lenses provide approximately three months' supply. That works out at £5 per month, or around 17p per day in lens costs.

Monthly contact lenses can therefore have a considerably lower daily lens cost than daily disposables for someone who wears lenses regularly. 

However, monthly lenses need to be cleaned, disinfected and stored correctly, so they also require contact lens solution and a suitable case. A bottle of multipurpose solution can cost around £10 and typically lasts about a month, with many solutions including a replacement lens case. Using our Crystal Monthly example, adding approximately £10 a month for solution would bring the overall cost from around 17p per day in lenses alone to approximately 50p per day for two eyes.

For someone wanting an affordable silicone hydrogel monthly, Biofinity currently works out at around 42p per day for two eyes in lens costs. It costs more than Crystal Monthly, but it illustrates why the lowest-priced lens and the best-value lens for an individual aren't necessarily the same thing.

Are Own-Brand Contact Lenses Safe?

Yes. An own-brand contact lens can be just as safe to wear as a well-known branded lens, provided it meets the appropriate medical-device requirements, has been properly fitted for your eyes and is worn and cared for correctly.

The name on the box — or how much you paid for it — isn't what determines whether a contact lens is safe or suitable for your eyes. Your prescription, lens material and design, how the lens fits and moves on your eye, your wearing needs, and correct lens care are all more important considerations.

An own-brand lens such as Crystal can therefore provide a lower-cost option for someone who has been appropriately fitted with that lens. Equally, you shouldn't choose an own-brand lens simply because its power, base curve or diameter appears similar to the branded lens you currently wear.

Contact lenses are regulated medical devices in the UK. Check the packaging for the appropriate CE or UKCA conformity marking and buy from a reputable supplier.

Are Own-Brand and Rebranded Contact Lenses the Same Thing?

Not always.

Some contact lenses are rebranded or private-label lenses — an identical lens made by the same manufacturer but sold under a different name.

An own-brand contact lens, however, shouldn't automatically be assumed to be a renamed version of a well-known branded lens. It may be a distinct product with its own material, design and specifications.

So if you see an own-brand lens that appears similar to your usual contact lens, don't assume they're interchangeable. Check with your optometrist if you're considering changing lenses.

7 Ways to Save Money on Contact Lenses Without Cutting Corners

Cheap contact lenses doesn't have to mean compromising on how you look after your eyes. A few sensible choices can reduce the cost of wearing lenses while still following your prescribed replacement schedule and recommended care routine.

1. Compare the Real Cost Per Day, Not Just the Box Price

A cheaper box of contact lenses isn't necessarily the cheapest contact lenses. Pack sizes vary, so compare how much your lenses actually cost per day for both eyes, rather than looking only at the price on the box.

If you're comparing daily disposables with reusable monthly lenses, remember to include the cost of contact lens solution and replacement cases too. Monthly lenses may have a much lower daily lens cost, but the box price alone doesn't show the full cost of wearing and caring for them.

2. Consider a Lower-Cost Lens That Suits Your Eyes

If the cost of your current lenses is becoming difficult to justify, ask your optometrist whether there is a more affordable lens that could suit your prescription and wearing needs.

Don't simply switch brands because the power, BC or DIA look similar. Different materials and lens designs can fit and behave differently on the eye, so an alternative lens may need to be fitted and assessed before you change.

3. Choose the Right Replacement Schedule for How Often You Wear Lenses

The cheapest option depends partly on how often you actually wear contact lenses.

For someone wearing lenses most days, monthly lenses can have a much lower daily lens cost. But if you only wear contacts occasionally — perhaps for sport, social occasions or weekends — daily disposables can make better financial sense because you only open a fresh pair when you need them.

4. Look at Larger Pack Sizes

Larger packs can sometimes reduce the cost per lens, and you may get free shipping on large purchases, compared with repeatedly buying smaller boxes.

But only buy the quantity you're likely to use while your contact lens specification remains valid. A larger pack isn't a saving if your prescription changes or you end up with lenses you can't use.

5. Don't Try to Save Money by Overwearing Your Lenses

Making a daily disposable last another day or wearing a monthly lens beyond its recommended replacement schedule isn't a sensible way to reduce costs.

Stretching the life of a lens may save pennies, but it can increase the risk of discomfort and eye-health problems. Replace your lenses according to their prescribed schedule.

6. Don't Pay for Features You Don't Need

Contact lenses are available with a wide range of materials, designs, and technologies, and some of these can increase the price.

A premium lens may be worth paying more for if its particular features benefit your eyes or wearing needs, but the most expensive option isn't automatically necessary for everyone. If you're looking to reduce your costs, ask your optometrist whether a simpler or lower-cost lens could meet your needs just as well.

7. Buy From a Reputable Supplier — and Don't Skip Your Check-Ups

A very low online price isn't a bargain if you can't be confident about where the lenses came from or whether they meet the appropriate standards. Buy from a reputable supplier and check the packaging for the appropriate CE or UKCA marking.

Regular contact lens check-ups are also part of safe lens wear. Skipping them to save money can mean changes in your eyes, prescription or lens fit aren't identified when they should be.

What About Spreading the Cost?

Spreading a payment doesn't reduce the overall price of your contact lenses, but it can make a larger purchase easier to manage.

If an instalment option such as PayPal Pay in 3 is available at checkout, it may allow you to divide the cost into smaller payments rather than paying the full amount upfront. Always check the terms and make sure the repayments fit comfortably within your budget.

Cheap Daily or Monthly Contact Lenses: Which Costs Less?

If you wear contact lenses most days, monthly lenses will often have a lower lens cost per day than daily disposables. Using the affordable lenses in our comparison table above, Crystal Monthly works out at around 17p per day for both eyes, compared with approximately 67p per day for Crystal 1 Day.

However, monthly lenses also require contact lens solution and a suitable case. A bottle of multipurpose solution can cost around £10 and typically lasts about a month, with many solutions including a replacement lens case. Using our Crystal Monthly example, adding approximately £10 a month for solution would bring the overall cost from around 17p per day in lenses alone to approximately 50p per day for two eyes.

How often you wear contact lenses matters too. If you only wear them occasionally — perhaps at weekends, for sport or on nights out — daily disposables can offer better value because you only use a fresh pair when you need them.

So the cheapest option isn't necessarily daily or monthly — it's the replacement schedule that makes the most financial sense for how often you actually wear your lenses.

For a full comparison, see our Daily vs Monthly Contact Lenses: Which Should You Choose? guide.

Can I Switch to a Cheaper Contact Lens Brand?

Possibly, but don't switch contact lenses simply because another brand has the same power, base curve or diameter printed on the box.

A contact lens specification contains more than just the lens power. Material, design and fitting characteristics can all affect how a lens sits, moves and performs on your eye.

If you would like to reduce what you're spending, ask your optometrist whether there is a more affordable alternative suitable for your eyes and prescription. If an alternative lens doesn't meet your existing contact lens specification, changing to it may require a refit.

The exception may be an identical lens made by the same manufacturer and sold under another name.

So there may well be a cheaper option available — just make the change with professional advice rather than trying to match the numbers on the box yourself.

For more information about the numbers and measurements on your lenses, see our How to Read Your Contact Lens Prescription guide.

When Is It Best Not to Choose the Cheapest Contact Lens?

Price is important, but there are times when choosing the cheapest lens available may not give you the best value.

If you have astigmatism, presbyopia, dry or sensitive eyes, a more complex prescription, long wearing days or particular comfort requirements, you may benefit from a specific lens material, design or technology. In those circumstances, paying more for a lens that better meets your individual needs can be worthwhile.

The same applies if you've tried a lower-cost lens but aren't getting the vision, comfort or wearing time you need. A cheap contact lens isn't good value if you can't comfortably or successfully wear it for as long as you need.

Ultimately, the aim isn't to find the cheapest contact lens at any cost. It's to find an appropriately fitted lens that works well for your eyes without paying more than you need to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Are Contact Lenses Cheaper Online?

Online contact lens retailers may have different operating costs, pricing structures and promotions from high-street practices.

However, price shouldn't be your only consideration. Buy from a reputable supplier, make sure your contact lens specification is valid, and check that the lenses supplied are the correct product and carry the appropriate conformity marking.

Is it Cheaper to Buy Contact Lenses Online or From an Optician?

Online prices can sometimes be lower, but compare like for like. An optician's contact lens plan may include check-ups, aftercare or other services that aren't included in the price of lenses bought separately online.

Look at the overall cost and what is included, rather than comparing box prices alone.

How Much Should I Expect to Spend on Contact Lenses Each Month?

There isn't one typical monthly cost. It depends on the lens you wear, whether you use daily disposables or reusable lenses, how often you wear them, and whether you need a specialist design such as toric or multifocal lenses.

With reusable lenses, remember to include solution and lens cases when working out your monthly cost.

Are Cheap Contact Lenses Suitable for Dry Eyes?

They can be. Price alone doesn't determine how comfortable a contact lens will be for someone with dry eyes.

Lens material, design, fit, wearing time, and the cause of your symptoms can all matter. If your lenses regularly feel dry or uncomfortable, speak to your optometrist rather than assuming that simply buying a more expensive lens will solve the problem.

Do Expensive Contact Lenses Last Longer?

No. The price of a contact lens doesn't determine how long you should wear it.

A daily disposable lens should be discarded after 1 use, while two-weekly and monthly lenses should be replaced according to their prescribed replacement schedule. Never extend the life of a lens simply because it was expensive.

Can I Save Money by Wearing Contact Lenses Only on Certain Days?

Yes. If you don't need contact lenses every day, part-time wear can reduce how much you spend.

Daily disposables can be particularly convenient for occasional wear because you open a fresh pair only when required and don't need cleaning solution or a storage case between wears.

Helpful Guides

• Daily vs Monthly Contact Lenses: Which Should You Choose? — compare replacement schedules, care, convenience and cost.
• The Complete Contact Lens Buying Guide UK (2026 Edition) — explore the wider range of daily, monthly, toric and multifocal contact lens options.
• How to Read Your Contact Lens Prescription — understand the power, base curve, diameter and other measurements on your lenses.
• Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes — explore lens choices when dryness or comfort is a concern.

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