Acuvue Contact Lens Machine

OrganicPete · #1 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008, 09:31 AM

I saw a picture that someone took at Tegel Airport in Berlin. It was a picture of a contact lens vending machine.
Have ever seen one of these? I've never been to Berlin, so this is something new to me. Isn't it insanely dangerous to buy contact lenses out of a vending machine? What's next? Kidneys?

guru · #2 (**permalink**) 07-05-2008, 01:04 PM

I have also seen it.I think it was superb.

JTKirk · #3 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrganicPete

I saw a picture that someone took at Tegel Airport in Berlin. It was a picture of a contact lens vending machine.
Have ever seen one of these? I've never been to Berlin, so this is something new to me. Isn't it insanely dangerous to buy contact lenses out of a vending machine? What's next? Kidneys?

I think you're right. This does seem "insanely dangerous", to use your words. Unlike Guru, I don't think I'd use the word "superb."

I certainly wouldn't want to take something out of a non-sterile machine in an airport and put it in my eyes.

petlover1 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2009, 08:45 PM

I think the lens would be contained in a sterile blister package like they are when we purchase them from an optical shop or eye doc's office but in the USA that would be illegal because lenses are medical devices but in other countries they are available without a prescription so its just like a vending machine selling anything like aspirin in the little packets of two aspirin, or any thing available without a prescription.

OrganicPete · #5 (**permalink**) 09-25-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover1

I think the lens would be contained in a sterile blister package like they are when we purchase them from an optical shop or eye doc's office but in the USA that would be illegal because lenses are medical devices but in other countries they are available without a prescription so its just like a vending machine selling anything like aspirin in the little packets of two aspirin, or any thing available without a prescription.

It would appear that in Berlin at least that you don't need a prescription for contact lenses. Apparently all you need is change for the machine.

I wonder how much a pair of Acuvue contacts would cost from a German vending machine and what would be the equivalent in American dollars? How would you know what prescription to get? What a crazy idea.

Still, it could be worse . . .

Dude! Hands off my Kit Kat.

petlover1 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-25-2009, 10:51 PM

Funny you should mention Berlin as one place where the contact lenses or Kontact Linzen I believe they are called in German, are available from vending machines. I wear Ciba vision dailies with aqua comfort plus and one of my lenses for the left eye was actually manufactured in Germany it said "made in Germany" on the back of each strip of five lenses and the other box for the right eye was made in the USA. Both are the same brand just different strengths so they were two different boxes. I can't say I noticed any difference in the wear or comfort of the two! The USA is stricter in regards to medical devices and medications than most countries, in some countries one can purchase cough syrup with codeine without a prescription too but not in the USA. On the other hand my relatives who live in Germany can not purchase melatonin with out a prescription in Germany but its available in stores vitamin section in USA! Sorry I am getting off topic now!

petlover1 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-25-2009, 10:57 PM

I got completely off topic in my above message! The point I wanted to make was that the prescription parameters are the same in Germany as here, like I wear a Ciba dailies aqua comfort plus in the right eye plus 3, and the base curve and diameter are set for that particular lens so if I were to purchase them in Germany I would buy the exact same prescription as I wear here. I did not know that our brands were the same as in other countries, I thought they would have their own common brands but maybe they do and the vending machines are likely found in airports! Or train stations? Maybe they are the same all over the world?

OrganicPete · #8 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 09:03 AM

I found this picture of one of the contact lens vending machines. If you look closely you see that you can buy novelty contact lenses here. (The box in the upper right just below the picture of the cute girl looks like a novelty brand.) The person who posted it said something like "Isn't it strange that they give you the opportunity to change your appearance at the airport?" Although I would wish you good luck trying to stroll past security in an American airport wearing zombie contact lenses.

I still don't see how you can know what size or brand to even order without a prescription, except maybe to just get another box that's just like the one you ran out of if you take it with you.

petlover1 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 06:37 PM

I suppose the intent in providing contact lens vending machines is "to provide a convenience" for those who just happened to forget to bring along or pack their lenses and naturally to make a huge profit! I wonder what they do charge for a pack of lenses and are they credit card only payments? Maybe the assumption is that no body other than a person who already wears lenses would buy them from an airport vending machine and surely they would only purchase the brand they are used to wearing. Of course what is assumed isn't always what is practised and I did notice the one box on the vending machine was for freshlook colored contact lenses so one who wants to alter their appearance has an opportunity to do so! Maybe there are stores at the airport where one can purchase a wig too! I found the colored lenses aren't that dramatic a change!

Rosetyler · #10 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover1

I suppose the intent in providing contact lens vending machines is "to provide a convenience" for those who just happened to forget to bring along or pack their lenses and naturally to make a huge profit! I wonder what they do charge for a pack of lenses and are they credit card only payments? Maybe the assumption is that no body other than a person who already wears lenses would buy them from an airport vending machine and surely they would only purchase the brand they are used to wearing. Of course what is assumed isn't always what is practised and I did notice the one box on the vending machine was for freshlook colored contact lenses so one who wants to alter their appearance has an opportunity to do so! Maybe there are stores at the airport where one can purchase a wig too! I found the colored lenses aren't that dramatic a change!

Does it disturb anyone else that you could go to an airport and buy colored contact lenses and (maybe) a wig? If the authorities have been alerted to be on the lookout for someone with brown hair and brown eyes, they can go on their merry way, couldn't they?

OrganicPete · #11 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosetyler

Does it disturb anyone else that you could go to an airport and buy colored contact lenses and (maybe) a wig? If the authorities have been alerted to be on the lookout for someone with brown hair and brown eyes, they can go on their merry way, couldn't they?

Not if they looked like Benny Hill in drag.

Great picture, Rosetyler.

Rosetyler · #12 (**permalink**) 11-13-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrganicPete

It would appear that in Berlin at least that you don't need a prescription for contact lenses. Apparently all you need is change for the machine.

I wonder how much a pair of Acuvue contacts would cost from a German vending machine and what would be the equivalent in American dollars? How would you know what prescription to get? What a crazy idea.

Still, it could be worse . . .

Dude! Hands off my Kit Kat.

That's such a weird picture. Judging by the prices of the candy I'd say this machine was in England, or at least one of the many countries that are part of the vast British Empire.

JTKirk · #13 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009, 03:46 PM

I still think contact lenses out of a vending machine is a bad idea. Weird at best, dangerous at worst. What if someone decides to taint the contacts somehow? It just seems too risky.

Knotlob · #14 (**permalink**) 12-08-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTKirk

I still think contact lenses out of a vending machine is a bad idea. Weird at best, dangerous at worst. What if someone decides to taint the contacts somehow? It just seems too risky.

Well I haven't seen Contact lens Vending machines at any other German (or for that matter any other airport worldwide). Never been to Tegel.

But, I don't really see a problem there. I can go to my local Supermarket (formerly WalMart) and buy Contact Lenses there without any prescription or questions.

I don't think the argument/worry on tainted lenses or non-sterile packaging is of concern. I go to the Supermarket and buy food and drink and then eat that when I get home. I hope that that is at least reasonably fresh (it won't be sterile of course, unless perhaps it is tinned). Of course someone can come along and swap a packet of food or perhaps some fruit for one which they have injected with cyanide, thallium, or botulism bacteria, etc. but how often does that happen? I could buy a First Aid Kit at a Pharmacy Supermarket type shop and that would contain sterile dressings in it, but unless the package is damaged, I don't think I am going to be worrying that it is not sterile.

I would think that the reason that the contact lenses are reported to be available at Tegel Airport is that travellers may have forgotten to pack spares with them. I don't think anyone is going to buy clear ones without knowing their prescription. Look at the threads here where new CL wearers express fear about learning to insert contact lenses in their eyes. Only existing contact lens wearers are likely to buy such lenses.

I damaged a lens last year in Madeira (Canary Islands) and had left my spare lenses at my Mother's house, so I bought some Daily lenses to get me home. I always have my prescription details with me so that wasn't a problem and I wasn't asked for a Doctor's prescription by the shop either.

knotlob

Klingons4Peace · #15 (**permalink**) 12-09-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotlob

Well I haven't seen Contact lens Vending machines at any other German (or for that matter any other airport worldwide). Never been to Tegel.

But, I don't really see a problem there. I can go to my local Supermarket (formerly WalMart) and buy Contact Lenses there without any prescription or questions.

I don't think the argument/worry on tainted lenses or non-sterile packaging is of concern. I go to the Supermarket and buy food and drink and then eat that when I get home. I hope that that is at least reasonably fresh (it won't be sterile of course, unless perhaps it is tinned). Of course someone can come along and swap a packet of food or perhaps some fruit for one which they have injected with cyanide, thallium, or botulism bacteria, etc. but how often does that happen? I could buy a First Aid Kit at a Pharmacy Supermarket type shop and that would contain sterile dressings in it, but unless the package is damaged, I don't think I am going to be worrying that it is not sterile.

I would think that the reason that the contact lenses are reported to be available at Tegel Airport is that travellers may have forgotten to pack spares with them. I don't think anyone is going to buy clear ones without knowing their prescription. Look at the threads here where new CL wearers express fear about learning to insert contact lenses in their eyes. Only existing contact lens wearers are likely to buy such lenses.

I damaged a lens last year in Madeira (Canary Islands) and had left my spare lenses at my Mother's house, so I bought some Daily lenses to get me home. I always have my prescription details with me so that wasn't a problem and I wasn't asked for a Doctor's prescription by the shop either.

knotlob

I dunno . . . I think I'd agree with JTKirk. If I were going to get contact lenses, I'd get them from a doctor's office with a prescription. At least in a doctor's office I'd have a human being who could check and make sure the right lenses are in the box, and if for some reason they weren't right, I could just trade them rather than have to put more money in the machine. If I took a trip and realized I'd forgotten my contact lenses, I'd either try to get a hold of my doctor or just do without them for the duration of the trip.

Maybe I'm just paranoid.

JTKirk · #16 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klingons4Peace

I dunno . . . I think I'd agree with JTKirk. If I were going to get contact lenses, I'd get them from a doctor's office with a prescription. At least in a doctor's office I'd have a human being who could check and make sure the right lenses are in the box, and if for some reason they weren't right, I could just trade them rather than have to put more money in the machine. If I took a trip and realized I'd forgotten my contact lenses, I'd either try to get a hold of my doctor or just do without them for the duration of the trip.

Maybe I'm just paranoid.

Maybe you are a little paranoid, but in today's world, who can blame you? I think I'd be especially paranoid in an airport.