Contact lenses are one of the items tourists buy while on vacation in Bangkok, Thailand. In Thailand, you don’t need a prescription to buy contact lenses, which means you can walk into any opticians or contact lens shop and buy them.
Top brand names like Bausch and Lomb, and Johnson and Johnson, are easy to find and usually cheaper than in the United States or Europe. If you’re in Bangkok, Thailand and need to buy contact lenses, head to these places to shop – they are the best.
Mahboonkrong Mall (MBK) – Located next to National Stadium sky train station, MBK is the place I always go first for contact lenses. On the bottom floor (basement) level of the mall, you’ll find three or four opticians selling contact lenses, all are cheap and all sell the top brands like Bausch & Lomb and Acuvue by Johnson & Johnson.
They also sell several types of contact lens solution and, if you need a new eye exam, you can get one here too. Plan on spending around 550 baht a box ($17.70), which you can get without a prescription.
Related: How to get to MBK, Bangkok’s cheapest shopping mall, and what to buy when you get there
Central Ladprao Mall – A second place I buy contact lenses is Central Ladprao mall in north Bangkok. Next to Pahonyothin underground station, it’s easy to get to and has several opticians on the top floor of the mall and a couple of small shops that sell glasses and contact lenses in the basement.
My favorite opticians here is Mister Eye, as their staff is friendly and helpful, and they usually have some of the lowest prices on contact lenses in the mall.
Siam Center – Siam Center is another mall, this one next to Siam sky train station, and also a good place to buy cheap contact lenses. The mall has several opticians, all of whom sell contact lenses for between 500 – 600 baht ($16.10-17.70) per box of six. They also carry top contact lens brands like CooperVision, and CIBA Vision.
Siam Square – Siam Square is across the street from Siam Center and is the area where Bangkok’s students hang out so, obviously, it’s cheap.
Opticians in this area, as well as small stores in the market area selling contact lenses, are cheap with, again, all the top brands.
Temporary Stalls at Area Malls – Contact lens stalls travel all over Bangkok selling cheap, brand-name contact lenses, and they pop up in shopping malls all over the city. Just look in the main public areas for small stalls setting up as, at some of them, you’ll find girls selling contact lenses.
They are a wonderful place to buy contact lenses too, as they often offer special deals. The last time I bought lenses at one of these stalls, I paid 400 baht ($12.90) for a box of 12 and, if I bought two boxes, I got the third box free. Needless to say, I bought six boxes.
Buying contact lenses in Bangkok, Thailand is cheap and easy. Any opticians will sell most or all of the brand-names you are used to and, without having to have a prescription, it is a fast way to stock up.
