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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy color or special effect contact lenses
without a prescription?
If you mean even if your vision is perfect, yes. All the lenses we sell
are available in plano (no power). So, even if you don't need vision
correction, you can still change the color or appearance of your eyes for
any occasion. However, even if you want them for cosmetic reasons alone,
contact lenses are considered medical devices and should only be worn
under the supervision of an eye care professional. That's why, when you
buy lenses from EyeColor.com, we request the name and telephone number of
your eye doctor or optical shop. You still need to
be fitted for the lenses even if you don't need vision
correction. This is for your own safety.
Is it okay to wear someone else's contact lenses?
Sharing or swapping contact lenses is never a good idea. In fact, it's
downright dangerous. So, please follow this simple advice: Don't do it.
Ever. Sharing contact lenses can spread micro-organisms that cause
infections and other serious eye problems. We don't think changing the
color or appearance of your eyes is worth the risk of long-term vision
damage, and we hope you agree.
Can I wear soft contact lenses if I have
astigmatism?
Yes, you can wear a special type of soft contact lens called a toric
lens which will correct your astigmatism. However, these lenses are
typically more expensive and there are fewer types and colors available
than there are with regular (spherical) lenses. Recently, Wesley-Jessen
introduced a 2-week disposable toric lens, the Freshlook
Toric. Several manufacturers including Ciba
(Focus) and Coopervision
(Preference) produce 1-3 month frequent replacement toric lenses.
Is a contact lens prescription different than a glasses prescription?
Yes. When you order contact lenses, you must have a current contact
lens prescription which specifies the power of the lenses, the size of the
lens, the type and brand of lens. See below.
Here is a typical contact lens prescription:
|
Eye
|
Power
(sphere)
|
BC
|
Dia
|
Brand
|
|
OD (Right)
|
-2.25
|
8.8
|
14.0
|
Acuvue
|
|
OS (Left)
|
-3.00
|
8.8
|
14.0
|
Acuvue
|
Here are the definitions of the symbols used:
-
OD - Right Eye
-
OS - Left Eye
-
OU - Both Eyes
-
BC - Base Curve
-
Dia - Diameter
Toric (Astigmatism correcting) lenses will also contain two
additional numbers:
Bifocal contact lenses generally contain one additional number
which is the add power. A special field will be given for this number.
Notes
-
A contact lens prescription is not the same as an eyeglass
prescription. In addition to the lens power, your contact lens
prescription contains several other pieces of information related to
the size of the lens.
-
Your prescription will also contain an expiration date. This is
typically two years from the date that the contact lenses were fitted.
-
BC values range from about 8.0 to 9.5. The doctor fits the lens with
the curvature most appropriate for your eye. Most lenses come in
several different BC values. If your prescription does not contain a
BC value, this is likely because your brand of lens only comes in one
base curve.
-
BC values are a bit like clothes sizes - just because you are a BC
8.6 in one brand doesn't mean you will be in another.
-
If you are in a toric lens your prescription will contain two
additional columns entitled cylinder and axis. These numbers related
to the correction of your astigmatism.
-
Even the power of the lenses is generally not the same as in your
eyeglass prescription. This is because:
-
The contact lens sits on the surface of your eye, while your
eyeglasses sit about 12 mm in front of your eye
-
Regular soft contacts do not correct for your astigmatism, but
your eye doctor will typically try to partially correct for it by
changing the power of the lens.
If my 2 week disposable lenses are still comfortable and in good
condition beyond 2 weeks, can I continue to wear the same pair?
In order to maintain optimal eye health and comfort, it is important to
adhere to the wearing schedule prescribed by your doctor. The main
advantage of wearing disposable lenses is that you are putting a fresh new
pair of lenses in your eyes every 2 weeks. Also, the convenient cleaning
regimen of a disposable lens is only adequate for a 2 week wearing
schedule.
If I only wear my 2 week disposable contacts part time, do I still have
to replace them every 2 weeks?
No, the 2 weeks refers to the actual amount of wearing time so they can
last longer than 2 weeks if you are not wearing them full time.
What's the difference between rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses and
soft lenses?
RGPs are smaller and made out of a harder, less pliable material than
soft lenses which makes them less comfortable initially. RGPs correct
astigmatism whereas soft spherical lenses do not.
Can I swim with my contact lenses in?
It is best if you don't because there are bacteria in the water that
can adhere to your lenses and cause infections. If you do swim in your
lenses, you should wear goggles over them and you should disinfect them
immediately afterwards.
Why is it necessary for contact lens wearers to have regular eye exams
even if their prescription hasn't changed?
Regular eye exams are important not only to check your prescription but
also to evaluate the health of your eyes. This is especially important for
contact lens wearers because the contacts could be causing damage to your
eyes without necessarily causing any obvious symptoms.
Is my doctor required by law to release my contact lens prescription.
The laws vary from state to state, but in most places the doctor is
required to release your prescription once the fitting is complete (this
may include the initial exam and one or more follow-up visits). Your
doctor is not required to release an expired prescription and in any case
we would be unable to dispense contacts from an expired prescription. Some
doctors are more ready to comply with local laws than others.
I wear contact lenses and in order for me to read, I have to wear
reading glasses over them. Are there any other alternatives whereby I
don't have to wear glasses at all?
Yes, the most common option is called monovision where one eye
is corrected for viewing distant objects and the other eye is corrected
for reading and close work. Monovision is a good solution for some people,
but not everbody can successfully adapt to the arrangement. Another
alternative is bifocal contact lenses which are available in both rigid
gas permeable or soft lens designs. However, these are typically very
expensive. Recently, however, Johnson and Johnson have released the Acuvue
Bifocal which is a two-week disposable lens and is more reasonably
priced.
Do colored contact lenses work on dark eyes?
Yes, they are called opaque contacts as opposed to enhancer
tints which work only on light colored eyes. Year-long (daily wear and
extended wear) opaque contacts are available in many different colors and
shades but there is currently only one brand that offers a 2 week
disposable opaque lens. These are Freshlook Opaques by Wesley-Jessen.
Are the contacts the same quality as purchased
from my eye care provider?
Yes, customers receive the exact same contact lenses as they do from their
eye care provider, including all of the major brands like Acuvue, Optima,
Focus and Biomedics, as well as hard-to-find specialty lenses such as
toric, colored, multifocal and disposable lenses.
What kind of savings can a customer expect?
On average, customers save from 20% to 50% on their replacement contact
lens orders depending on the brand of contact lens they wear.
How can you offer savings compared to most eye
care providers?
It's pretty simple – high volume and low overhead.
High Volume:
The average eye care provider’s retail store usually sees only a few
contact lens wearers every day. The typical store usually has to save up
orders for a few days or even a couple of weeks in order to get any
quantity discounts from distributors or manufacturers.
We delivers approximately two tons of contacts every day (about 150,000
lenses). We don't wait around to order your contacts. We already have
them. In fact, we stock more than 20 million contact lenses and by
purchasing lenses in such large quantities, we are able to pass the
savings on to the customer.
Low overhead:
It would take more than 2,000 retail optical locations to sell as many
contacts as us. Rent isn't cheap and someone has to pay for it. Until now,
that someone was the customer.
Does a customer need his/her prescription to place an order?
Yes. We require a valid prescription for every customer's order. Customers
can obtain a copy from their eye care provider and forward it to us or
they can simply give us their prescription information. After the customer
provides us with the prescription information, we will then attempt to
contact the eye care provider to verify that the prescription is accurate
and has not expired.
How does a customer know if his/her prescription
is still valid?
Most prescriptions are valid for one year or two years depending on the
state one lives in. We are an advocate of proper eye health and encourages
its customers to receive regular eye examinations. If a customer's
prescription is expiring or has already expired, a customer service agent
will remind the customer to visit his/her eye care provider for an exam
and to receive a new or updated prescription.
Can the lenses be returned?
If a customer orders a supply of lenses, but his/her prescription changes,
he/she may return the unused lenses, as long as they are sealed in their
original packaging. Once we verify the new prescription, the lenses are
replaced with the new prescription and resent to the customer. Torn lenses
can also be replaced.
Do replacement lenses need to be fitted?
Once a customer has received an initial eye examination and fitting for
contact lenses, the replacement lenses will follow the initial
prescription. It is only necessary to be refitted if the prescription
changes.
What is a replacement contact lens?
A replacement contact lens is a contact lens that
you are already wearing successfully and has been prescribed to you by a
licensed eye care professional. Lensmart can only provide you with
replacement lenses and suggests that you consult with your eye care
professional on a regular basis.
Can I purchase one brand if I
have a prescription for another?
Contact lenses come in different sizes and must
be fit to your eye by an optometrist or opthalmologist. As a replacement
center, we cannot sell you contact lenses that you are not already
successfully wearing. You will need to consult your eye doctor and get a
new prescription before changing your brand.
Is my information kept confidential?
We will only use your customer information to
better serve you. The information is maintained to make it easier for
you to reorder lenses and to keep you informed about price and
availability changes. If you do not want to receive information updates
or notices of specials, simply check off that option in your profile and
we will not contact you. We will not share your personal information
with any other third party.
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