All About Buying Contact Lenses Online

Online contact retailers are quite common nowadays. That makes it incredibly simple for you to find the best deal, but there are also some important topics to consider when you are looking to buy contacts online.

Importance of an Updated Contact Lens Prescription

Depending on which state you live in, your contact lens prescription is legally required to be updated annually or every two years. If your state has yet to address the issue with their own law, then the federal requirement of once per year becomes the standard when updating your contact lens prescription. 

If you already wear contact lenses, you may wonder why your eye doctor has to check your eyes so frequently. The answer is simple—the health of your eyes. Your eyes and vision are constantly changing—even if only in small ways—and during the course of two years, that could mean significant changes to your vision. Long-term use of the wrong contact lens or eyeglass prescription contributes to even further degradation of the quality of your vision. 

Plus, as physical features of your eyes change over time, the contacts that once fit properly could become dangerous to your eyes. You might even need a new contact lens material based on your eyes’ moisture content. 

The point is, your visit to the eye doctor has an important purpose. It’s to prevent you from experiencing more severe vision and eye problems down the road. 

What does a contact lens prescription consist of?

Online eyewear and contact lens retailers are legally required to have the information contained within an updated prescription to fill your contact lens orders. This information typically includes: 

  • Your name
  • Date your doctor examined your eyes (examination date)
  • Date you receive the contact lens prescription (issue date)
  • Expiration date of your prescription
  • Contact details of the prescriber (name, address, phone number, etc.)
  • Power of prescription
  • Manufacturer and material of the lenses
  • Base curve specification
  • Diameter

Compare Online Retailers and Costs When Buying Contacts Online

It is possible to save money on your contact lenses when you buy them online. Larger, well-known online retailers, like Eyeconic, offer a wide selection of contact lenses and are more likely to have efficient processing times and shipping, lower prices for higher volume, and an extensive inventory should you have a very rare prescription. Most importantly, they are generally the most reputable suppliers of your medical devices. But if you shop around a bit, even the smaller retailers might offer your prescription at a great price. 

Buying contacts in bulk can also help you save. For example, try purchasing your contacts for the entire year after receiving an updated prescription from your eye doctor. But don’t stockpile beyond the date the prescription expires. As wearing outdated contact lenses could pose serious risks to your eyes. 

Staying safe after buying contacts 

Most online retailers are respectable businesses, but not all follow regulations. Remember— it’s illegal to sell prescription contact lenses without a valid prescription that is then verified by the retailer with the prescriber.  

Don’t accept substitutions for your prescription, especially for lens materials or brands. When you receive your new lenses, verify that all of the information on the box is exactly the same as specified in your prescription. If you’re ever in doubt, contact your eye doctor and have him or her verify their legitimacy. 

If you’re in the market for new contact lenses, consider purchasing a VSP® Individual Vision Plan. If you need to get a new contact lens prescription, schedule an eye exam with your doctor. If you don’t have vision insurance, find out how VSP can help you save on your next eye exam and contact lenses.

Disclaimer: Information received through VSP Individual Vision Plans’ social media channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

 

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