is there a limit to how many contact lenses you can buy with a one year prescription?
- Category: Contact Lenses
I have a 1 year prescription for contact lenses. I was very surprised when i found out that my contacts expire in just one year. My grade hasn’t changed at all for 3 years so I don’t want to have to pay for another prescription in just another year. I was wondering if they keep track of how many contact lenses you buy during the prescription period. I was hoping to buy a supply to at least last me a year and a half. Would they let me?
Thanks!
Spectacle
Posted 4 months ago
Hi! Just so you know, In the US a contact lense Rx expires in a year because the FDA has dertermined that it is a medical appliance that is inserted into the body and therefore needs supervision of use by a doctor or licensed optician on a yearly basis. Whether or not your RX changes is of little consequence. The complications that can arise over time with contact lense use have to do with eye health issues and not so much with visual change. By the time an eye health issue would cause visual change, you might be in serious trouble! Complications due to contact lens wear have been known to cause blindness, and becuase of that the FDA has rules for prescribing them and monitoring them that Doctors have to follow. You can buy more than a year supply, it is not illegal. I do not believe there is any rule stating that you can not buy what you want to buy. However, do not be fooled that you are saving time and money by doing this. I have seen, in the 28 years I have been an optician, many people do this who have had stable Rx for years, and then their Rx changes just due to normal bodly changes in time and they are stuck with a supply that they can not use. It is always really the best thing to get an annual eye health exam and make sure your eyes are healthy if you are a contact lens wearer. That way you know that you can continue to enjoy contact lens use for many years in your life. If you have a complication that you are unaware of, you might not be able to wear contacts later because it went unchecked and permanently dammaged your eye without your knowledge. As I said, this can happen without a vision change. So, really, Do not be flippant with your eyes, they are the only ones you have and you can really do yourself a disservice by ignoring the imporance of taking care of them responsibly. Have a cool day!
Jenny H
Posted 4 months ago
As long as you have a valid prescription you can buy as much contact lenses in that prescription as you like. There is no law against it and they should let you do it. If your doctor if giving you a hassle about it, you can always buy it online. Buy from a well known contact lens store (like vision direct, coastal contacts, or 1-800 contacts) and you’ll get good prices and good quality contacts (not fake ones).
going to the eye doctor is like going to the dentist. it’s a pain but it’s still something you should do regularly or you might regret it down the road.
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I have a 1 year prescription for contact lenses. I was very surprised when i found out that my contacts expire in just one year. My grade hasn’t changed at all for 3 years so I don’t want to have to pay for another prescription in just another year. I was wondering if they keep track of how many contact lenses you buy during the prescription period. I was hoping to buy a supply to at least last me a year and a half. Would they let me?
Thanks!
- Do color blind people know what color things are in black and white TV shows?
- Can an optician sign an Rx for contacts for an MD???
- Where can I get a good deal on Blackout cosmetic contact lenses?
- How to become an Opthamologist after becoming an Optometrist ?
- My eyes feel slightly irritated when I remove my contact lenses?
Spectacle
Posted 4 months ago
Hi! Just so you know, In the US a contact lense Rx expires in a year because the FDA has dertermined that it is a medical appliance that is inserted into the body and therefore needs supervision of use by a doctor or licensed optician on a yearly basis. Whether or not your RX changes is of little consequence. The complications that can arise over time with contact lense use have to do with eye health issues and not so much with visual change. By the time an eye health issue would cause visual change, you might be in serious trouble! Complications due to contact lens wear have been known to cause blindness, and becuase of that the FDA has rules for prescribing them and monitoring them that Doctors have to follow. You can buy more than a year supply, it is not illegal. I do not believe there is any rule stating that you can not buy what you want to buy. However, do not be fooled that you are saving time and money by doing this. I have seen, in the 28 years I have been an optician, many people do this who have had stable Rx for years, and then their Rx changes just due to normal bodly changes in time and they are stuck with a supply that they can not use. It is always really the best thing to get an annual eye health exam and make sure your eyes are healthy if you are a contact lens wearer. That way you know that you can continue to enjoy contact lens use for many years in your life. If you have a complication that you are unaware of, you might not be able to wear contacts later because it went unchecked and permanently dammaged your eye without your knowledge. As I said, this can happen without a vision change. So, really, Do not be flippant with your eyes, they are the only ones you have and you can really do yourself a disservice by ignoring the imporance of taking care of them responsibly. Have a cool day!
Jenny H
Posted 4 months ago
As long as you have a valid prescription you can buy as much contact lenses in that prescription as you like. There is no law against it and they should let you do it. If your doctor if giving you a hassle about it, you can always buy it online. Buy from a well known contact lens store (like vision direct, coastal contacts, or 1-800 contacts) and you’ll get good prices and good quality contacts (not fake ones).
going to the eye doctor is like going to the dentist. it’s a pain but it’s still something you should do regularly or you might regret it down the road.
Other Questions
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mako
Posted 4 months ago
I am a contact lens wearer myself for a long time. I am using a monthly type contact lens, but I never throw away my pair of lens after a month of wearing is up. The trick is, every night when I take them off, I clean and disinfect them for the next morning use. I do have 2 more pairs of this monthly contact lens which I keep for stock. Only my present ones are rendered useless do I use a new pair. I don’t bother much about their expiry date. I believe even they expire I will still continue to use them. You don’t have to follow what I am doing, for I am only giving you the info on what I am doing.