Best Places to Buy Colored Contacts for a Whole New Look

Contact lenses can make tasks easier, compared to clunky glasses that slip and slide on your face while trying to do daily activities. Convenience aside, contacts can even give you a completely new look if you explore the world of prescription colored contacts—there’s a wide range of shades on the market that can enhance your natural eye color, or give you a bold new look with tints like teal and amethyst. As long as you choose quality products that won’t damage or scratch your eye (more on this below), and that require a prescription and an eye exam screened by a doctor, contacts can be a fun way to spice up your appearance. Below, you’ll find our selections for the absolute best places to buy colored contacts.

Our top picks for the best places to buy colored contacts

Read, Also: The Best Places to Buy Contacts Online: Our Top Recommendations

Walmart Contacts

What doesn’t Walmart have? You can buy toys, books, crafts, electronics, furniture, sports gear, groceries, clothes and more, in addition to proper eyewear in stores and online. To spice up your look with colored contacts, get a prescription from a professional and order your colored contact lenses online.

What you should know:

• Number of colors: 12
• Customer service: Phone, fax, and email
• Shipping: Free shipping
• Return policy: Free returns from U.S. customers up to 365 days from the shipping date
• Virtual exam: No
• Price on publish: $41.86 - $109

What we like:

• Great return policy
• Free shipping

What we don’t like:

• No virtual exams

The bottom line:

Walmart has everything, so expect its eyewear selection to be great. There are a range of colored contacts to bring out your natural eye color, or give you a completely new look.

How we selected the best places to buy colored contacts

After scouring the internet, reading reviews, and looking for what each company offers their customers, we created a list of the best places to buy colored contacts with a prescription from your doctor. Some websites even offer online eye tests verified by a doctor to make it that much more convenient for you, if that’s something that you need.

What to consider when buying colored contacts

There are a few things to keep in mind to help you make the right choice:

Quality prescription

The most important thing is to avoid buying contacts without a prescription, as you risk damaging or scratching your eyes if you buy products that aren’t vetted or prescribed by an eye doctor. Even if you have perfect vision, you can obtain a prescription for lenses that are non-corrective.

“A contact lens, even if it has no corrective power and is worn for a cosmetic purpose, still needs to be applied to the front surface of the eye, and this comes with risks,” warns Bhavin Shah, a London, U.K.-based behavioral optometrist and contact lens specialist. “The most serious is a risk of infection. The shape of the lens may not suit the shape of the front of your eye and cause excessive movement of the lens, which can lead to damage to the ocular surface. Or, the lens may not allow adequate oxygen or moisture to the eye.”

“The only way to be sure is to have a fitting by a registered practitioner,” Shah continues. “They have the equipment to ensure the fitting is suitable and they can prescribe a lens brand that is suitable and tailored for the unique measurements of your eyes. It’s impossible to tell if a lens would be safe unless a practitioner examines you.”

Lens materials

“Some contact lens materials are much better than others,” says Shah. “Also, one material might suit one person better, while a different material would be more appropriate for someone else. Some companies spend a lot of time and research developing better materials, while other companies use older materials–some of the lens materials on the market that people use are older than the first iPhone, yet you would never see them using a first generation iPhone!”

In terms of the actual materials used, modern soft contact lenses tend to be made from either hydrogel or silicone hydrogel, with the latter being much more commonly prescribed. Both are flexible and comfortable, but silicone hydrogel lenses generally have better oxygen permeation, which reduces the risk of corneal hypoxia (a condition that occurs when your cornea doesn’t receive enough oxygen). This is why silicone hydrogel is normally used for lenses intended to be worn for extended periods, or overnight, too.

Variety

You can get anything from transparent lenses meant to enhance your natural lighter eye color, to bold, bright colored tints to make a statement. Whether you’re looking for a small change or something striking, there are a variety of options, so make sure you’re buying quality products and have a prescription.

Customer service

Customer service is often overlooked and is an important factor to consider when you’re buying from a specific company or website. Good customer service can make a difference in your experience, and guide you toward the right product.

Shipping and return policies

Whenever you’re buying online it’s always a plus if there’s a reliable return policy and free shipping. If it’s not free, go for inexpensive, at least–you don’t always know what will work for you until you try it, so it’s good to have that insurance policy.

Price

Price is a big factor. Make sure you’re getting a great deal, as some companies offer a first-time buyer discount on your initial order or free shipping to sweeten the deal.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is it safe to buy colored contact lenses online?

As previously mentioned, it’s perfectly okay to buy colored contact lenses online, as long as you have been cleared by your doctor and have a prescription. You wouldn’t want to buy low quality products or contacts that are not suited for your eyes because you risk potentially scratching or damaging your eyes.

What are the disadvantages of colored contacts?

As long as they are cleared by your eye doctor and prescribed, colored contacts are fine to use. Avoid any kind of contacts from costume stores or websites that don’t require a prescription.

Is it okay to wear unprescribed colored contacts?

Colored contacts can be a fun way to switch up your look or enhance your natural eye color, as long as it’s done safely. As previously mentioned, you should never wear colored contacts that have not been prescribed by a professional eye doctor. Wearing unprescribed colored contacts can lead to potential problems like infection, or cuts on your eye, and can even potentially cause permanent damage. You should always have a prescription from a medical professional when purchasing contacts online.