This calculator gives estimates for education and planning. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; for decisions about your own situation, talk to a qualified financial professional.
Contact lenses and glasses both correct vision, but their costs work very differently: glasses are a larger purchase every few years, while lenses are a steady expense. This calculator compares the yearly cost of each.
The math
Monthly lenses worn every day need a new pair every 30 days, which rounds up to 13 pairs a year. At $22 a pair, that is $286. Adding $10 a month of cleaning solution gives about $406 a year.
Glasses at $250 replaced every 2 years cost $125 a year. Here lenses cost about $281 more per year. Many lens wearers also keep a pair of glasses as a backup, so their total is both.
Lens types
- Daily disposables: a fresh pair every day, no cleaning solution, convenient and hygienic, but usually the most expensive per year if worn daily. Cheapest for occasional wear, such as sports or weekends.
- Two-week lenses: replaced every 14 days, cleaned and stored every night.
- Monthly lenses: the lowest lens cost per day, with solution to buy.
Wearing lenses only a few days a week can make dailies the cheapest choice, since you only open a pair when you wear them.
Costs to include
- Eye exams and lens fittings: contact lens fittings often cost more than a standard eye exam.
- Solution and cases: replace the case regularly.
- Insurance: vision plans often cover an allowance for glasses or lenses, but not both in the same year.
Eye health
- Follow the replacement schedule; overwearing lenses raises the risk of eye infections.
- Do not sleep in lenses unless they are approved for it and your eye doctor agrees.
- Never rinse lenses or cases with tap water.
- Remove lenses and see an eye doctor if your eye becomes red, painful or your vision blurs.
The best choice depends on comfort, lifestyle and your prescription as much as on cost; ask your eye doctor which options suit you.