Where to buy contacts without prescription?

T&A08

Anyone buy contact lenses without a prescription?  My prescription is the same every year and I don't want to go to the doc right now to renew my prescription, but I need contacts. TIA

BrittBritt22

I don't think you can.  Even 1-800-contacts will call your doctor to confirm the prescription is less than a year old.

KappaUCF20

Contact lens prescriptions expire after one year (I'm pretty sure that's the law in most states... more info here: http://vision.about.com/od/contactlenses/f/Contacts_Expire.htm).  Whenever I ordered contacts online in the past, the company contacted my doctor to make sure I had a valid current Rx on file.  I go to the optical department at Sam's Club for my eye exams because they have the lowest prices, and the level of care is excellent. 

Erin2903

I don't think you can. Companies that you can order from always confirm with your doctor.

Also, for the sake of your eye health it's important to go for your checkup even if you think your prescription will be the same. It can change.

T&A08

I'm reading online that it is illegal for a company to sell them without a prescription...grr.  Sam's club is a great suggestion though, I didn't realize they had an optical center, but I'm a member so I'll check it out. thank you.

amber_tynan

You can usually ask for a sample pack to get you enough to last until your next appointment.  Just tell them you're all out- but you'll need to make an appt. in order to get the sample packs, they won't just give them to you if you're due for an exam.

SparrowSong

It's illegal to get contacts without a prescription for a reason. They can seriously effect the health of your eyes and a doctor needs to make sure your corneas are still ok.

Contacts are a privilege, not a right.  If you can't afford an exam, wear your glasses.

 

jepperson

Hm... well... I haven't been to the eye doctor in probably 5 years, and I've been able to refill my prescription a handful of times online. I think I've been using Vision Direct. (there's several companies like Vision Direct that are all very similar). I just gave them the info of the last eye doctor I used and I've had no problems at all.

I have no insurance at the moment so getting another exam when my vision has basically been the same for the last 8 years isn't really an option. I had no idea it was "illegal", neither does the place I'm ordering from apparently.

KappaUCF20

jepperson:

I have no insurance at the moment so getting another exam when my vision has basically been the same for the last 8 years isn't really an option. I had no idea it was "illegal", neither does the place I'm ordering from apparently.

It is illegal.  For the first 8 years that I wore contacts, I didn't have vision insurance either, but I still managed to scrape up $80 to go to the doctor for an exam.  It really doesn't cost that much money (most women pay more than that just to get their hair done), and in the long run it's worth it to protect your vision and the health of your eyes.  Trust me, after several personal experiences, I can tell you that it's not something you want to mess around with!  Just from wearing contact lenses, I've contracted staph infections, herpetic eye disease, etc. etc.  Everyone should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist every single year regardless because when you have your eyes dilated, they can tell if you have diabetes, skin cancer inside your eye, and a myriad of other things.  It's about priorities.

Erin2903

KappaUCF20:

jepperson:

I have no insurance at the moment so getting another exam when my vision has basically been the same for the last 8 years isn't really an option. I had no idea it was "illegal", neither does the place I'm ordering from apparently.

It is illegal.  For the first 8 years that I wore contacts, I didn't have vision insurance either, but I still managed to scrape up $80 to go to the doctor for an exam.  It really doesn't cost that much money (most women pay more than that just to get their hair done), and in the long run it's worth it to protect your vision and the health of your eyes.  Trust me, after several personal experiences, I can tell you that it's not something you want to mess around with!  Just from wearing contact lenses, I've contracted staph infections, herpetic eye disease, etc. etc.  Everyone should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist every single year regardless because when you have your eyes dilated, they can tell if you have diabetes, skin cancer inside your eye, and a myriad of other things.  It's about priorities.

Oh my goodness, how awful. I totally agree with everything you said. I've also been without insurance and still found the money to go for an exam. Your vision is too important!

jepperson

KappaUCF20:

jepperson:

I have no insurance at the moment so getting another exam when my vision has basically been the same for the last 8 years isn't really an option. I had no idea it was "illegal", neither does the place I'm ordering from apparently.

It is illegal.  For the first 8 years that I wore contacts, I didn't have vision insurance either, but I still managed to scrape up $80 to go to the doctor for an exam.  It really doesn't cost that much money (most women pay more than that just to get their hair done), and in the long run it's worth it to protect your vision and the health of your eyes.  Trust me, after several personal experiences, I can tell you that it's not something you want to mess around with!  Just from wearing contact lenses, I've contracted staph infections, herpetic eye disease, etc. etc.  Everyone should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist every single year regardless because when you have your eyes dilated, they can tell if you have diabetes, skin cancer inside your eye, and a myriad of other things.  It's about priorities.

 

Yeah, I fully intend to make an appointment when I get insurance (hopefully next month). I've just been putting it off because my eyes have always felt and operated fine and have always been healthy at my exams.

It's odd though that I've always been able to get my prescriptions refilled without an issue.

KappaUCF20

jepperson:

KappaUCF20:

jepperson:

I have no insurance at the moment so getting another exam when my vision has basically been the same for the last 8 years isn't really an option. I had no idea it was "illegal", neither does the place I'm ordering from apparently.

It is illegal.  For the first 8 years that I wore contacts, I didn't have vision insurance either, but I still managed to scrape up $80 to go to the doctor for an exam.  It really doesn't cost that much money (most women pay more than that just to get their hair done), and in the long run it's worth it to protect your vision and the health of your eyes.  Trust me, after several personal experiences, I can tell you that it's not something you want to mess around with!  Just from wearing contact lenses, I've contracted staph infections, herpetic eye disease, etc. etc.  Everyone should see an optometrist or ophthalmologist every single year regardless because when you have your eyes dilated, they can tell if you have diabetes, skin cancer inside your eye, and a myriad of other things.  It's about priorities.

 

Yeah, I fully intend to make an appointment when I get insurance (hopefully next month). I've just been putting it off because my eyes have always felt and operated fine and have always been healthy at my exams.

It's odd though that I've always been able to get my prescriptions refilled without an issue.

That is strange.  I didn't mean to go all crazy on ya... lol.  It's just something that too many people take for granted.  I'm a total germaphobe so I wash my hands constantly but despite that, I still got a nasty stubborn staph infection that took forever to get rid of.  I had to see the eye doctor 3 or 4 times in the span of a few weeks.  Not fun lol. 

jepperson

KappaUCF20:

That is strange.  I didn't mean to go all crazy on ya... lol.  It's just something that too many people take for granted.  I'm a total germaphobe so I wash my hands constantly but despite that, I still got a nasty stubborn staph infection that took forever to get rid of.  I had to see the eye doctor 3 or 4 times in the span of a few weeks.  Not fun lol. 

 

Not at all! It motivated me to make my appt sooner rather than later, actually, so thank you. I should know my luck probably won't last forever

iheartkeith

I started ordering from 1800Contacts like 7 years ago... I didn't visit the eye doc for a couple years at a time and I never had any issues with them verifying the prescription. Now I go to a new eye doc but 1800Contacts still has my old doc listed and I still don't have an issue when I place my order every 2 months. Luckily my prescription hasn't changed over the years. I would try ordering from them and list your doc you visited last and see if it goes through. HTH.

nettie

I have used 1800contacts plenty of times to order contacts with my prescription being a couple years old and have never had a problem. I get an eye exam about every 2 years and this works for me..

SparrowSong

I'm an eye doctor and I see contact lens abusers every day. I've taken three patients off contacts this week due to poor hygiene. And corneal ulcers (the most serious contact-related infection) costs hundreds to treat, plus a scar in the central cornea means permanent vision loss. It's just so frustrating to see people not take care of their eyes because a $100 eye exam annoys them. (And then they turn around and drop hundreds on a new sweater, or cell phone, or Sephora makeup....) Priorities people. VISION.

aleesh19

*Disclaimer* I am in no way shape or form condoning NOT going to the eye doctor.

But I *believe* when I ordered from 1-800Contacts that they require you to give your docs information to verify your prescription, but if they don't hear back to confirm they will fill it anyway.

Once again I strongly believe in going to all kinds of docs regularly including eye.

SebastianA

You should definitely visit an optometrist to get a new contact lens prescription. That said, I've bought my contact lenses from here before cause they already had it on file: http://www.canadiancontactlenses.com