Hubble contact lenses are daily contacts that promise to provide sharp vision and all day comfort. Find out how this startup plans to disrupt the contact lens industry today in our review.
What Are Hubble Contact Lenses?
Hubble contact lenses are daily disposable contact lenses. The lenses are available through a subscription-based service. You sign up, receive your first 30 Hubble lenses for free, and then continue to pay $30 per month (or $264 per year) for the contacts.
You can cancel your subscription at any time or modify it to suit your needs. Say, if you only wear contacts on weekdays, then you can modify your subscription to reflect that.
Hubble was created by a company named Vision Path, Inc. As of November 1, 2016, Hubble had raised $7.2 million in financing, as reported by TechCrunch. The company officially opened for business that same day.
Is this new contact lens company really disrupting the overpriced contact lens industry? Or are they just selling sub-standard contacts at inflated prices? Let’s take a closer look at how Hubble lenses work.
How Do Hubble Lenses Work?
Hubble aims to disrupt the overpriced contact lens industry by offering cheaper, functional disposable daily contacts. Today, most people wear contact lenses that need to be replaced daily, every 2 weeks, or every month.
But popular brands like Acuvue Oasys can cost hundreds of dollars per year. Many contact lens wearers pay inflated prices when buying from an optometrist or from a middleman like 1-800 CONTACTS.
That’s where Hubble wants to change things. By signing up for the company’s annual contract, you pay $264 per year. This is where the most savings occur. Hubble claims you can compare that price to up to $720 per year for traditional contact lenses.
Hubble only sells daily lenses because they feel they’re more comfortable than reusable contact lenses. They’re also healthier and reduce your risk of eye infection. So far, daily disposables are the only option offered by Hubble. However, the company plans to investigate selling reusable options in the future (assuming they can find the right manufacturer at the right price).
There isn’t really a “catch” with Hubble lenses. However, one limitation is that the company only offers prescriptions between -.75 and -8. That range covers that majority of people with sight problems. However, those with a stronger prescription, a + prescription, or those who have astigmatism will need to wait until later this year, when Hubble expands its offerings.
Hubble is, however, able to accommodate customers who have different prescriptions in either eye. You don’t need to buy two separate prescriptions if that’s the case.
About Hubble
What’s the story behind Hubble? Hubble was founded by Ben Cogan, 26, and Jesse Horwitz, 28. The pair interned together at an investment firm during college. Ben Cogan previously worked at Harry’s, the company best-known for disrupting the men’s shaving market (similar to Dollar Shave Club).
The pair realized there was an opportunity in the contact lens market: most startups had avoided the industry because they didn’t want to sell a product that had the potential to damage someone’s vision when things went wrong.
As mentioned above, the company has raised $7.2 million since being launched last year. 30 million Americans wear contact lenses every day, and investors are hoping that Hubble takes a share of that market by offering a cheaper, more convenient option. Since raising that funding, Hubble has hired 10 employees.
What Do Customers Have to Say About Hubble?
Obviously, none of the prices, features, or stories above matter if the contact lenses are uncomfortable. You don’t want to put two rigid pieces of plastic in your eyes every day.
So what do customers have to say about Hubble?
Since Hubble just launched, there are few reviews available online.
One reviewer on Mashable.com, however, received a several week supply of contact lenses from Hubble, reporting that “Hubble’s made his eyes significantly less dry” and that “his eyes were a little less sore when he took them off than when he removed his brandname lenses.”
“I felt like my eyes were less fatigued”, he reported.
We’ll keep you posted on Hubble reviews as more are posted online.
Hubble Pricing
Hubble has a very straightforward pricing model. Since Hubble offers just one type of contact lens (at different strengths), there are no pricing options or packages to choose from. You just have to choose whether you want them delivered monthly or annually:
-Monthly: $30 Per Month (Billed Monthly)
-Annually: $264 Per Year (Billed Annually)
All packages also come with your first 30 days free, although you do have to pay $3 to cover shipping and handling.
All pricing is in US dollars.
Need an eye exam before you buy new contacts? Hubble can set you up with an optometrist through the official website here: https://www.hubblecontacts.com/pages/doctors
If you fill out the form there, Hubble will schedule an appointment with a doctor in your area, then you’ll get the prescription, and you can return to Hubble to receive your free first box.
Where Do Hubble Lenses Come From?
Like most similar startups, Hubble doesn’t actually make the contact lenses themselves. Instead, they’ve partnered with a third party manufacturer to offer contact lenses at a reduced rate.
Hubble lenses are made by St. Shine Optical Co. Like most other contact lenses, they’re made from methafilcon A material. They have a base curve of 8.6 and a diameter of 14.2, which is also standard among contact lenses.
St. Shine Optical Co. was founded in 1986. The company is based in Taiwan. They make a wide variety of contact lenses, including daily lenses and color lenses. You can learn more at their official website here: http://www.stshine.com.tw/
All Hubble lenses are FDA-approved. They also come in fully recyclable, Hubble-branded packaging.
Should You Use Hubble Lenses?
If you feel you’re paying too much for contact lenses, then Hubble may offer a better solution. Hubble lenses are affordably-priced daily disposable contacts sold through a new startup company. The contacts are made by a reputable, experienced manufacturer in Taiwan. They’re FDA-approved and come in fully recyclable packaging.
More importantly, early reviews for Hubble lenses indicate that they’re as comfortable – even more comfortable – than the brand name contacts you’re wearing right now.
Priced at $30 per month or $264 per year, Hubble contact lenses are probably cheaper than your current contacts. To find out if Hubble contact lenses are the right choice for you, visit the startup company online today at HubbleContacts.com
