Vitality News Health Articles

Be a wise consumer if you buy contact lenses on the Internet, over the phone or by mail. While such purchases are often a convenient and economical way to get lenses, Internet, phone, or mail orders require consumers to exercise some caution. The following questions and answers should help you take simple precautions to make your Internet, phone or mail purchase safe and effective for you.

You should always have a current, correct prescription when you order contact lenses. This is a must. Never buy or order contact lenses with an expired prescription. 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. In these cases, your contact lenses may not correct your vision well.

Ordering lenses without a current and valid 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 valid prescription usually include your name and the doctor’s name along with the contact lens brand name and material. Other lens information such as power, diameter, and base curves should also be included. These are the minimum that should be in a prescription, but more detailed prescriptions will include directions for safe use, indications for daily or extended wear, the number of refills , and an expiration date. This depends on the state where your doctor practices, 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 valid 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 valid prescription. This means, however, that the store is selling you those contact lenses as if they were an OTC (over the counter) product. This is a violation of the Federal prescription device regulation. Some Internet sites will allow you to fill out a chart with the ordering information about your contact lenses, your doctor’s name and contact number.

Choose a reliable and well-established store when buying contact lenses. Get the manufacturer’s written patient information for the lenses you buy, which will give you important risk/benefit information, as well as instructions for use. Beware of attempts to substitute a different brand than you presently have. Different brands of contact lenses have different water content and shapes. When you get the lenses, check to see if the store gave you the exact brand, lens name, power, sphere, cylinder and axis (if any), diameter, base curve, and peripheral curve (if any). If you think you have gotten an incorrect lens, 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