With prescription in hand, an individual can purchase contact lenses anywhere he or she chooses. That's an important point because by law, an eye doctor is required to give patients copies of their prescriptions upon request.

At the office

Very often, contact lenses can be purchased right at the optometrist's (or ophthalmologist's) office. The eye specialist will generally recommend this since it provides an opportunity to have the patient return. Once back in the office, the patient can put in the newly purchased lenses enabling the eye specialist to review the fit and talk about other issues as necessary such as proper care and follow-up appointments.

The biggest advantage of buying contact lenses directly from the eye doctor is convenience. Should the prescription not be right, the problem prescription can be remedied right away. While such a scenario isn't common, it does happen. The downside is that you generally won't get the best deal price-wise. The costs of such personalized attention likely will be built into the cost of the contact lenses. So what's really most important to judge is the overall value of shopping at the office.

Retail outlets and Internet

Many retail and discounted outlets sell contact lenses, and the most common prescriptions likely will be available without having to place special orders. Individuals with common prescriptions and/or who have been wearing the same prescription for years already know that fit won't be an issue so they are more likely to look for sources offering the best price and quickest availability. Besides competitive prices and quick availability, retail outlets offer convenience. Some have eye care specialists working on site so assistance is never far away. Be sure to check the return policy just in case there's a problem.

Purchasing contact lenses via the Internet is very popular nowadays. Ordering is easy and so is comparing prices. Once you've located an Internet outlet, you'll need to fax a copy of the prescription along with your order. The prescription will need validation, but this generally won't take long. Buying contact lenses via the Internet is fast, convenient and the price will be right, but be sure of your source before ordering. It should reputable and secure and ideally it should offer access to customer service should assistance be needed. Also check out the costs of shipping and handling before ordering as they can add quite a bit to the order total.