Finding the right contact lenses can be a real struggle. From expensive contracts to lenses that just don’t feel comfortable – when it comes to the variety of options for contact lens subscriptions in the UK – there’s a lot to look into. Here’s our guide to the top contact lens subscriptions in the UK.
You know what it’s like – you’re ready to start the day, and you’ve got yourself ready, but then you realise you’ve run out of contact lenses for the one day you really don’t want to have to wear your back-up glasses. We’ve all been there, trying to find out if you can speed up your next delivery, or work out if switching to a different provider might save you the hassle in future.
I’ll be honest and say that trying to find the right contact lens subscription for me was a real challenge. I’ve now been wearing contact lenses for about four years, and in that time, I’ve switched between some of the big names in eyecare in the UK, as well as some of the newer emerging contact lens subscription services. I have my own opinions on which ones I like best – and they’re the ones that are due to arrive in my next delivery in a couple of weeks time. It got me thinking… why isn’t there a tool to give honest opinions of the top contact lens subscription services available in the UK?
When it comes to online shopping – I think we’re all getting better at reading the various reviews, the blogs and the posts from our influencer friends that seem to suggest which contact lenses are best. I’ve found over the last couple of years that what’s great for one person, isn’t necessarily the best for everyone – so I’d like to share my thoughts on the benefits of each of the contact lens choices, and potential negatives too.
Waldo
Best Budget Contact Lens Subscription
We all know that budget can play a huge role in choosing the right contact lens subscription service, and Waldo Contact Lenses are a great budget friendly choice. UK based, Waldo was founded by Ashleigh Hinde and aims to provide customers with premium daily contact lenses at a more affordable price.
Waldo’s emphasis on quality is another distinguishing factor for the company. Waldo Contact Lenses are higher in moisture content than some other suppliers as well as providing UV protection and allowing more oxygen to the eye. Manufactured using an ultra-breathable Etafilcon A material, and containing 58% water – Waldo’s Hydra Boost Contact Lenses are the leader for the brand – with a month’s subscription coming in slightly cheaper at £24 and free home delivery.
Waldo believe in great customer experience, with registered opticians in-house and a customer service team waiting to talk to you. Eyecare should be a fun and enjoyable experience, not a chore – and that’s why it’s easy to order your lenses when you need them – with a pause and schedule function for your deliveries. You can also call the team to cancel at any time, though we had a little less luck getting through to someone as quickly as we did with other providers.
Hubble
Best All-in-one Contacts Lens Subscription Service
Hubble have been providing a cheaper subscription service for contact lenses since they were established around five years ago. Founded by Jesse Horwitz and Ben Cogan in New York – the monthly contact lens subscription service has quickly grown to be one of the market leaders in the UK and Europe with a supply of their daily lenses available for around £27 including delivery. Hubble were one of the first contact lens brands I tried after being with a high street opticians for the first year of wearing daily contacts – with a heavy social media presence, and great customer reviews.
Hubble Contact Lenses are designed to provide all-day comfort and sharp vision. Hubble lenses are made of a high-grade Methafilcon A material, which is a hydro-gel with around 55% water, as well as providing both UV-A and UV-B protection.
In terms of customer service and ease of pausing or amending your subscription with hubble, this is another area where the team at hubble do a great job. You can set your own lens delivery schedule, pause, skip or cancel deliveries by logging into your account – and I’ve found it really simple to call to completely cancel the service when I’ve switched between contact lens suppliers.
Eyebou
Most Comfortable / Sustainable Daily Contact Lenses
Eyebou have a commitment to sustainability – with their contact lenses now being fully recyclable. They have always believed that quality and affordable vision for the community should not come at the cost of our beautiful planet and have worked hard since launch to partner with reputable recycling companies to repurpose the contact lens output to ensure a fully recyclable ecosystem.
The company was set up by a family of optometrists with three generations of the family feeding in their insight and innovation in order to help create the Eyebou Contact Lens Subscription – with comfort, quality and sustainability at the heart of the product offering.
Made from high-grade Etafilcon A – with the same level of moisture and UV protection as many of the other contact lens subscription services in the UK – the difference with Eyebou is there Vitamin Lenses which are immersed in Vitamin E, B6 and B12, keeping sensitive eyes feeling fresh all day. At £33 for a month’s subscription, Eyebou contact lenses are slightly more expensive, but I think it’s a fair compromise for the added benefit, comfort and commitment to recycling with this subscription service.
Scout by Warby Parker
Best Future Contact Lens Subscription
When it comes to looking ahead to which could be the next best contact lens subscription service in the UK – I’ve taken a look at some of the emerging brands to add to the end of the list. Scout, by long term eyewear brand, Warby Parker is the newest and best emerging contact lens brand. With a dedicated focus on sustainability, and removing the need for plastic blister style packaging, Scout by Warby Parker is likely to be the best contact lens subscription brand for the future.
Scout is a comfortable, breathable, and affordable daily contact lens that comes in an innovative, space-saving flat pack. In addition to using almost 80% less packaging than a traditional blister pack, the flat pack is also more hygienic in that it presents the outer surface of the lens facing up, reducing the need to touch the inner surface.
Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective: to offer designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses. We think that’s likely to be the way that all contact lens subscription services are likely to head in the near future. While Scout by Warby Parker are not yet available here in the UK – we can see them trying to crack this market and making their way onto our list very soon!