<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2002-07-24</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001050122</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>1 800 CONTACTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ctac</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001272453</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NEWMAN STEPHEN DONALD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>139 JOO SENG ROAD #06-01 ATD CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SINGAPORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>U0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>36836</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>SINGAPORE</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Tech. Officer, ClearLab</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>324775</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>The 324,775 shares are owned by Tojo Sciences Limited, which is wholly owned by Stephen D. Newman.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to Purchase Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-07-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>360000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were registered pursuant to registration statement No. 333-109230 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">120,000 options will become exercisable on July 24, 2005; 120,000 options will become exercisable on July 24, 2006; and 120,000 options will become exercisable on July 24, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The 120,000 options that will become exercisable on July 24, 2005 are priced at $15.00 per share; the 120,000 options that will become exercisable on July 24, 2006 are priced at $25.00 per share; and the 120,000 options that will become exercisable on July 24, 2007 are priced at $35.00 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen D. Newman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

