AC Lens Review

We purchased the AC Lens so our reviewer could thoroughly test the website, delivery, customer service, and contacts. Keep reading for our full product review.

I can only see an inch in front of my face without contact lenses, so having a reliable source to buy them is something I take very seriously. Even still, it usually comes as a surprise to me when I’m “suddenly” running low. This is where the convenience of online ordering is key, as getting into (and ordering from) the eye doctor can be a lengthy and expensive experience. 

Reputable online contact lens retailers sell the same high-quality products and can often get them to you in less time for less money. In this review, I try out the ordering process with AC Lens, which has been in the online contact lens (and glasses) business since 1996. Keep reading to find out if this website could quickly replenish my contacts supply without any hiccups.

Website: Simply perfect

The AC Lens website is frill-free but gets the job done, with simple font and blue and white colors that are perfectly pleasant and a streamlined, easy-to-navigate design. I was able to quickly go through the ordering process by clicking contacts and then choosing either a brand or a contact lens type. The site sells a wide variety of contact lens brands—42, to be exact—including Boston, Focus, ACUVUE, Clariti, and Bausch + Lomb. 

The types on offer are disposables (daily, weekly, or monthly), colored, toric astigmatism, multifocal presbyopia, rigid gas permeable (RGP), and vial conventional. On each brand or type page, you can sort alphabetically, by top seller, and by price (low to high or high to low). Each individual product page includes a description, photos, and customer ratings and reviews. There’s also a “related lenses” column that could be helpful.

Once I found and chose my lenses, I filled out my prescription information and selected a supply level (six months or 12 months). Next, I uploaded a copy of the actual prescription I got from my eye doctor by dragging a photo of it into the box. You can also submit it via text, fax, or email. Finally, I filled in my billing and shipping information, and I was done. 

Note that in addition to contact lenses, AC Lens offers eyeglasses, sunglasses, readers, and eye care (think solutions, dry and red-eye treatments, protective gear, and more).

Ordering: Easy and efficient

The ordering process on AC Lens is super quick and easy. It took under three minutes, including taking a photo of the prescription and emailing it to myself to get it on my laptop. 

I received emails notifying me of each step in the process: when I created my account, when I input my order, when the box was confirmed to be in stock when my prescription was verified, and finally when it shipped. 

I opted for standard shipping, which was free since my order exceeded $99; anything under that is $5.99 for standard shipping (five to seven business days depending on how long it takes to verify prescriptions), while expedited shipping (three to four business days) costs $8.99 and overnight shipping (one business day) is $19.99.

I submitted my order in the evening, and by the time I woke up the next morning, I had the in-stock email confirmation and a notification that AC Lens was confirming my prescription with my doctor. Hours later, I saw that my order had already shipped and was given an expected date. 

The estimated delivery was listed in all the emails and adjusted as each step was completed. My original delivery was expected to take around 10 days from the order date, but it was then unexpectedly cut down to seven days (consistent with the aforementioned standard shipping time the site quotes for most contact orders). Even better, I ended up getting my contacts much sooner. This tells me that the site modifies the delivery estimate based on specific orders—not just based on a general estimate. 

I found the emails to be clear and concise—and AC Lens didn’t send me superfluous correspondence that clogged up my inbox. Even better, my contacts ended up arriving in just three days. Yes, that’s within the expedited window—and yet, I only paid for standard. 

Both the contacts and the simple packaging (which comes with a handy new contacts case and “R” and “L” stickers to place on lens packets and/or your case) were extremely high-quality—just like what I’d get at the doctor’s office or any other reputable online retailer.

Customer Service: Available and helpful

AC Lens boasts a quality customer service team that is knowledgeable and helpful. I got my questions answered quickly via email and on the phone. When I called, I was only on hold for a few minutes before I got to speak with an actual person. Emails were also responded to promptly. AC Lens doesn’t have 24-hour access to representatives like some of its competitors (such as 1-800 Contacts) but I didn’t have any questions that were so urgent that I couldn’t wait. 

There’s also an extensive FAQ section with just about every question I could think of, including “Can I swim with my contact lenses?” “What’s the difference between RGP lenses and soft lenses?” and “If I only wear my two-week disposable contacts part-time, do I still have to replace them every two weeks?” With the exception of specialty and made-to-order lenses like RGP and other custom contacts, the company’s products carry a money-back guarantee and can be returned for one year from purchase for any reason.

Price: Unbeatable

AC Lens has the best prices I have found. For my 24-pack of Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus, 1-800 Contacts charges $152, ContactsDirect $141, Walmart $140, Lens.com $110, and Simple Contacts $120. I got them at AC Lens for just $96. 

Plus, many of these retailers tack on extra service fees that increase the price even more. AC Lens does not have any “hidden” fees, and it offers a 20% discount to new customers. This brought my order of $192 (for two boxes, one for each eye) down to just $154. Even better, I didn’t have to sign up for a subscription service, mail anything in, or jump through any hoops to get the discount. I just typed in the code offered at the top of the page, and presto, my total due was lowered.

If desired, you can sign up for a subscription service, though: There’s a checkbox on each product page that asks the site to send you a box for a recurring date range. This gets you free shipping and 10% off all future orders, and it can be edited or canceled at any time. AC Lens will also price match and give a bonus 5% discount on any other competitor’s prices you find within seven days of purchase.

You can also recoup the price of your contact lenses (up to your yearly maximum allowance) by submitting a vision plan form. All you need to do is print and fill out the out-of-network reimbursement form. Then submit it to your insurance plan along with a copy of your AC Lens receipt.

AC Lens vs. 1-800 Contacts

I tested both of these online retailers and found that they’re both reliable, high-quality sources for contact lenses. 1-800 Contacts excels at fast delivery and carries the largest stockpile of available lenses. It also has a cheeky website design that gives it personality. The biggest perk of 1-800 Contacts is its online vision exam. 

The AC Lens site is simpler, and it provides a quick, easy experience and a much less expensive price for the same products. Between the price difference and applied newcomer code, I saved $56 by ordering on AC Lens, and I actually got my lenses two days quicker. So, unless you need to use the vision exam feature to renew your prescription online, AC Lens is the clear winner in the budget department.