How to Buy Contact Lenses
If you buy contact lenses, especially over the phone, by mail, or through the Internet, you have to know some important things to protect yourself and your money. While such purchases are often a convenient and economical way to get lenses, Internet, phone, or mail orders require consumers to exercise some caution. I have gathered some important hints and tips to guide you when making your next purchase.
You should always have a up-to-date, correct prescription when you order contact lenses. This is a must. Never order lenses with a prescription that has expired. If you have not had a check-up in the last one to two years, you might have problems with your eyesight that you’re not immediately aware of. In these cases, your contact lenses may not correct your vision well.
Ordering lenses without a up-to-date and legitimate prescription may cause serious complications to your eyesight. This also goes for the check-up. At your check-up, your eye doctor will re-evaluate the fit of your contact lenses and observe any changes in your cornea caused by your lenses. Infections will also be avoided through regular check-ups, as they allow your doctor to look for any irregularities that can cause severe loss of vision. Furthermore, contact lenses that haven’t been fitted properly by a doctor will not work well, or worse, might do more damage to your eyesight.
The minimum elements of a legitimate prescription usually include your name and the doctor’s name along with the contact lens brand name and material. Lens measurements such as power, diameter and base curve are included. These are the minimum that should be in a prescription, but some detailed prescriptions also have directions for use, indications for daily or extended wear, the number of refills allowed, and an expiration date. These all depend on the local laws of the state you’re in, as state laws often define the requirements for a prescription.
Some Internet sites ask for information about your doctor so that they may check the prescription with your doctor. If they do check with your doctor and receive a verbal okay, they comply with the Federal prescription device regulation. If the stores do not check, then they have not obtained a legitimate prescription. Some state laws require that a written prescription be presented.
You won’t get into any legal trouble if you buy contact lenses by mail, phone, or through the Internet without a legitimate prescription. But the company is selling you a prescription device as if it were an over-the-counter device. This will be in violation of FDA regulations. Some Internet companies allow customers to fill out important details in a form, like information about your prescription, your doctor’s name and contact number.
Choose a reliable and well-established store when buying contact lenses. Request the manufacturer’s written patient information for your contact lenses, which is important for getting risk/benefit information and user instructions. Beware of attempts to substitute a different brand than you presently have. There are differences in the water content and shape between different brands. Carefully check to make sure the company gives you the exact brand, lens name, power, sphere, cylinder and axis (if any), diameter, base curve, and peripheral curve (if any). In cases where you received the incorrect lenses, contact your doctor immediately and get his approval first before using them.
Ray Hawkins is a researcher and writer working for http://www.fastcontactlens.com, which is a reliable source for high-quality and affordable contact lens. Visit us for all your contact lens needs.
- Ray Hawkins