Contact Lenses

There was a time when shopping on the internet was considered to be a very risky affair. People were not comfortable in purchasing something which they could not touch, feel and try.  Find Optometrists.

In case of eyeglasses and contact lenses, they were not comfortable with the idea of something so delicate being delivered by post. However, online shopping has managed to win over all its critics.  Read Shop for Contact Lenses Online

Contact Lens Prescription

As defined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations, a prescription should contain sufficient information for a seller to completely and accurately fill the prescription. This includes the following items:

  • Patient’s name
  • Examination date
  • Date patient receives prescription after a contact lens fitting (issue date) and expiration date of prescription
  • Name, address, phone number and fax number of prescriber
  • Power
  • Material and/or manufacturer of the prescribed contact lens
  • Base curve or appropriate designation of the prescribed contact lens
  • Diameter, when appropriate, of the prescribed contact lens
  • For a private label contact lens, the name of the manufacturer, trade name of the private label brand, and if applicable, trade name of equivalent brand name

The FTC enforces the requirement that eye care professionals are to give patients a copy of their contact lens prescriptions.

Buying Contact Lenses

Contact lens sales are regulated by both the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). With a valid contact lens prescription, it is possible to purchase your contact lenses from stores, the Internet, over the phone or by mail, The following questions and answers should help you take simple precautions to make your purchase safe and effective.

What do I need to consider when buying contact lenses?

  • Is your contact lens prescription current? You should always have a current, valid prescription when you order contact lenses.
  • If you have not had a check-up in the last one to two years, you may have problems with your eyes that you are not aware of, or your contact lenses may not correct your vision well.
  • The expiration date for your prescription is currently set by your state. Some require a one-year renewal, some a two-year renewal. If your state has not set a minimum expiration date, Federal regulation sets a one year date unless your eye care professional determines that there’s a medical reason for less than one year.
  • To be sure that your eyes remain healthy you should not order lenses with a prescription that has expired or stock up on lenses right before the prescription is about to expire. It’s safer to be re-checked by your eye care professional.

Types of Contact Lenses

Soft Contact Lenses

Soft contact lenses are made of soft, flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. Soft contact lenses may be easier to adjust to and are more comfortable than rigid gas permeable lenses. Newer soft lens materials include silicone-hydrogels to provide more oxygen to your eye while you wear your lenses.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) Contact Lenses

Rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPs) are more durable and resistant to deposit buildup, and generally give a clearer, crisper vision. They tend to be less expensive over the life of the lens since they last longer than soft contact lenses. They are easier to handle and less likely to tear. However, they are not as comfortable initially as soft contacts and it may take a few weeks to get used to wearing RGPs, compared to several days for soft contacts.

Extended Wear Contact Lenses

Extended wear contact lenses are available for overnight or continuous wear ranging from one to six nights or up to 30 days. Extended wear contact lenses are usually soft contact lenses. They are made of flexible plastics that allow oxygen to pass through to the cornea. There are also a very few rigid gas permeable lenses that are designed and approved for overnight wear. Length of continuous wear depends on lens type and your eye care professional’s evaluation of your tolerance for overnight wear. It’s important for the eyes to have a rest without lenses for at least one night following each scheduled removal.

Disposable (Replacement Schedule) Contact Lenses

The majority of soft contact lens wearers are prescribed some type of frequent replacement schedule. “Disposable,” as defined by the FDA, means used once and discarded. With a true daily wear disposable schedule, a brand new pair of lenses is used each day.

Some soft contact lenses are referred to as “disposable” by contact lens sellers, but actually, they are for frequent/planned replacement. With extended wear lenses, the lenses may be worn continuously for the prescribed wearing period (for example, 7 days to 30 days) and then thrown away. When you remove your lenses, make sure to clean and disinfect them properly before reinserting.

Contact Lenses may be an option for those who can’t have laser eye surgery or LASIK surgery. Find a LASIK surgeon in your area.