Prescription glasses & contact lenses

Prescription glasses and contact lenses in South Africa

Updated 31 October 2026

Daily contact lenses in South Africa cost about R 429 to R 1,340 for a 90-pack, and six-pack two-week or monthly lenses about R 580 to R 1,310. Frames range from about R 334 for a basic online listing to R 3,799 for a branded full-rim design. For current offers, post the lens type, frame and your city on BlaBlaPrice, and sellers reply with their own price.

What the rules say

Prescription spectacles and contact lenses are classed as medical devices, and selling them through someone who is not registered is illegal. A lens should only be prescribed after a proper examination by an authorised practitioner, and contact lenses are restricted to optometrists and ophthalmologists. Check that the practitioner is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) before you buy. A valid prescription must state at least the optical power for spectacle lenses, so look for it before you order.

Season and the sun

Summer runs from December to February, when the sun is strongest and prescription sunglasses are most useful. Winter runs from June to August. Lens prices do not change with the season in the listings we found, so the time of year matters mainly for when you need the lenses.

How it is bought here

Contact lenses are sold by the box, so count how many months a box lasts before you order and choose the pack size to match. Lens prices depend on whether you need daily, two-week or monthly wear. Spectacles are priced as a complete pair with frame and lenses, and one optical chain offers a second pair of single-vision spectacles free when you buy a first pair with an eye examination. Orders can be sent between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Gqeberha. Ask whether the price includes VAT and delivery.

What to write in your request

Say whether you need spectacles, contact lenses or both, and give the lens type your practitioner gave you, such as single vision, multifocal, for presbyopia or for astigmatism. Give the number of boxes you want, the frame style and whether you already have a frame. Add the city where the order should be delivered and a budget in rand. Have your prescription ready in case the seller asks to check it.

Post the request on BlaBlaPrice for free and describe what you need in your own words in the chat. The AI asks for missing details, looks through sellers' websites and price lists in South Africa, and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their price and terms, and your contact details stay hidden until you choose to share them. Browse related items in Accessories.