How to Get Contact Lenses with Expired Prescription: A Step-by-Step Guide
It may be inconvenient for you to go for an eye exam just to renew your contact prescriptions. Life is quite busy and squeezing in a visit to the optometrist might seem like an unnecessary hassle. However, it is a necessity, or else you risk wearing contacts with an expired prescription which results in eye strain, discomfort, and other health issues. Trying to purchase contacts with your expired prescription can be very tricky and also against the law.
In this guide, we’ll explore the risks of using an expired contact lens prescription. You’ll also learn why and how you must update your current contact lens prescription.
Understanding Contact Lens Prescriptions
What is a Contact Lens Prescription?
A contact lens prescription is a medical document written by an eye doctor that specifies the correct parameters for contact lenses to correct vision. It is more than just a correction tool. See it as the blueprint for lenses that will ensure your comfort, safety, and optimal vision.
It includes the power, cylinder, axis, and add (if applicable) for each eye. Your contacts prescription also bears the expiration date. The date by which you need a new comprehensive eye exam to renew the prescription. It is usually one to two years from the issue date.
Why is a Valid Contact Lens Prescription Necessary?
Contact lenses are medical devices that require a valid prescription to ensure eye health and accurate vision correction. The eye doctor is responsible for ensuring your continuous fit through eye exams and thereby avoiding several eye issues.
A valid prescription helps prevent eye health risks and complications. Ensure you have a valid prescription before purchasing contact lenses whether from online retailers or physical stores.
It ensures that your contact lenses are tailored to your specific vision needs. Your eye doctor is responsible for your current prescription and will also help you manage your vision. However, it starts with knowing that purchasing contact lenses without a valid prescription is illegal.
Risks of Using an Expired Contact Lens Prescription
Using an expired contact lens comes with the following risks
Inappropriate Prescription
Using an expired or unsuitable prescription comes with risks, including inaccurate vision correction, eye problems, and potential infections. Your eye vision doesn’t remain stagnant, it progresses, especially if you’re in your 40s, 50s, and 60s. Using the same prescriptions while your vision changes is a step in the wrong direction.
Contact lenses may not fit properly, leading to discomfort and potential eye problems.
Eye Troubles
Inaccurate or outdated contact lens prescriptions can exacerbate or cause eye problems, including infections, discomfort, and potential vision loss. Prescriptions don’t only contain vision measurements, they contain a specific lens type and brand.
Eye doctors provide contact lens prescriptions to ensure lenses match requirements. In the United State law, you need prescriptions to purchase even cosmetic contact lenses. Ensure you go through an eye care professional for lens prescriptions.
Renewing Your Contact Lens Prescription Online
If you need an updated prescription, but the wait time is far and you need those contacts for your everyday life, do not fret. You can renew that contact lens online. There are certain websites that will allow you to input your details, answer some questions while wearing your current contacts, and possibly take pictures of your eyes.
Benefits and Limitations of Online Renewal
- Online contact prescription renewal is fast and easy, but it’s not a replacement for more comprehensive in-person eye exams. It only takes about 10 minutes and in some cases, you can also order contacts immediately.
- It’s essential to choose a reputable platform and follow all the instructions during the online vision test for optimal results. Use only platforms that connect you with a board-certified ophthalmologist who is licensed to practice in your state.
Ensuring Safety and Accuracy
- A platform that prioritizes accuracy can help ensure your renewed contact prescription is correct, giving you peace of mind and clear vision when you buy contacts.
- Look for a platform that offers features such as secure data transmission to protect your information and privacy, ensuring your experience as a lens consumer is both safe and reliable.
Obtaining a New Contact Lens Prescription
To make your contact lens prescription valid, start by visiting an eye doctor.
Can I Use an Eyeglass Prescription for Contact Lenses?
- Contact lens and glasses prescriptions are distinctly different. Therefore, it is essential to get the correct type for your needs when you buy contact lenses online.
- Contact lens fitting involves specific measurements that aren’t discernible or translatable from a glasses prescription such as the base curve and diameter. Thereby, requiring an eye exam by your eye care provider.
Do I Need a Prescription for Colored Contact Lenses?
- Yes, even colored contact lenses require a prescription since they’re also classified as medical devices, ensuring compliance with federal law and the Contact Lens Consumers Act when purchasing new contacts.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s Contact Lens Rule requires prescriptions for all contacts, including those without corrective power “non-prescription” or cosmetic contact lenses.
Getting Contact Lenses with a Valid Prescription
On our platform, you can order contacts with an expired prescription or no valid prescription. Although, we recommend you have a valid prescription to ensure your lenses fit properly. Take the following steps:
- Visit the website –https://www.contacts-4us.com/
- On the left-hand side of the page, choose either to shop by brand or category and select your most preferred.
- Select a contact lens brand
- Choose your desired quantity
- Select your power, base curve, and diameter.
- Ensure you read the detailed product description before adding it to your cart.
- Add to your cart
- Then, proceed to checkout
Note: While you can use an expired prescription to order contacts, you can’t use your eyeglass prescription.
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Conclusion
- You cannot buy contact lenses with an expired prescription in the United States. This regulation is to be met by all contact lens sellers and eye care professionals.
- A valid contact lens prescription is required to purchase contact lenses, underscoring the necessity of regular eye check-ups.
- Contact lens prescriptions expire to protect your vision and eye health. While you cannot buy contacts with an expired prescription, you have the convenience of ordering contact lenses online, provided you have an up-to-date prescription from a qualified eye care professional.
- You can order contact lenses without a prescription online for some websites but it’s best to get a prescription for your eye health.