Color Contacts Without a Prescription

Eyeofharmony · #1 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 01:26 PM

Let me start out by saying that buying contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous and quite possibly illegal. Still, it happens.

My question is: is it easy in the United States to buy colored contact lenses without a prescription? Is it some kind of super-secret black market thing with passwords, secret handshakes, and guys named Vinnie, or can you just stroll into the beauty salon down the street and they'll sell you some FreshLook ColorBlends cheap?

#2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 03:42 AM

Used to be fairly easy a few years back -- no more! They seem to have really cracked down -- to the point of being almost "anal" about a yearly prescription. Therefore, I do not shop online for lens any longer. I see my local optician who merely orders and dispenses them. My eye sight (thank God) has not changed for quite some time. Lucky Moi!!!

Eyeofharmony · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catt

Used to be fairly easy a few years back -- no more! They seem to have really cracked down -- to the point of being almost "anal" about a yearly prescription. Therefore, I do not shop online for lens any longer. I see my local optician who merely orders and dispenses them. My eye sight (thank God) has not changed for quite some time. Lucky Moi!!!

I catt. I was about to welcome you to Lens 101, but then I noticed that you've got 62 posts on here, so I guess you've been welcomed already.

I guess I'm a little confused about your not ordering your contacts on line any more because they are insisting on a new prescription every year. Aren't you glad they're doing that?

#4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyeofharmony

I catt. I was about to welcome you to Lens 101, but then I noticed that you've got 62 posts on here, so I guess you've been welcomed already.

I guess I'm a little confused about your not ordering your contacts on line any more because they are insisting on a new prescription every year. Aren't you glad they're doing that?

Yeah, I was pretty bored one night when I posted most of those 62 answers; but thanks anyway for the welcoming.

Actually, No. I don't see the need for a yearly eye exam, especially if you are having no problems. I feel this way about doctors in general though. Will tell you this. Just recently (last month) had an eye exam; discovered I had a slight astigmatism; put me on toric lenses and now I am stuck with two boxes of Blue FreshLook Colorblend Toric Lenses THAT I CANNOT USE!!!!! I hate them. They are almost immediately unconfortable; can't see as well as with non-toric lenses; have to carry a thick re-wetting solution with me at all times when I do try and wear them. And . . . since my current prescriprtion is only for toric lenses, I can't even go back to my old FreshLook Colors -1.75 prescription (online at least). My optician will get them for me.

Now do you see why some people preferd to leave well enough alone. I am TOTALLY FORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Lens Crafters!!!!!

Eyeofharmony · #5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catt

Yeah, I was pretty bored one night when I posted most of those 62 answers; but thanks anyway for the welcoming.

Actually, No. I don't see the need for a yearly eye exam, especially if you are having no problems. I feel this way about doctors in general though. Will tell you this. Just recently (last month) had an eye exam; discovered I had a slight astigmatism; put me on toric lenses and now I am stuck with two boxes of Blue FreshLook Colorblend Toric Lenses THAT I CANNOT USE!!!!! I hate them. They are almost immediately unconfortable; can't see as well as with non-toric lenses; have to carry a thick re-wetting solution with me at all times when I do try and wear them. And . . . since my current prescriprtion is only for toric lenses, I can't even go back to my old FreshLook Colors -1.75 prescription (online at least). My optician will get them for me.

Now do you see why some people prefer to leave well enough alone. I am TOTALLY FORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Lens Crafters!!!!!

In the last post I meant to say "Hi catt," not "I catt." I wasn't trying to steal your identity . . .

What a bummer. Sorry about your trouble. Now let me see if I can reply to your reply.

In your opening comment, "I don't see the need for a yearly eye exam, especially if you are having no problems" How do you know you're not having problems? There are things that can happen with your health that can sneak up on you, and wouldn't you rather have it be detected eleven months after is starts than a year and eleven months? That's why doctors of all kinds schedule regular checkups instead of saying "Come back if you wake up and can't see anything. Take care now!"

Secondly, if you have only a slight astigmatism, can't you keep wearing your non-toric -1.75 contacts? If your eye doctor refuses to give you your former prescription, it may be time to see someone else. Or it might just be a matter of giving the toric lenses a little more time.

Then there's your final shot at Lens Crafters. I've never gone there, but if you look around this site, you'll see that you're not the only one to have trouble with them.

Well, I'm afraid that's all I can do from here. I hope you don't hate me for contradicting your opinions. I just want to make sure you're taken care of, catt. Please let us here at Lens 101 know how this turns out for you, okay?

Peace,

Eyeofharmony

#6 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 03:40 PM

"I hope you don't hate me for contradicting your opinions. I just want to make sure you're taken care of, catt. Please let us here at Lens 101 know how this turns out for you, okay?"

OMG, I could never hate anyone for contradicting anything I say. To each his own, et al., ya know? Thanks for your comments and I will let the forum know my on going toric, non-toric; colored, non-colored lens trials and tribulations.
meow

Eyeofharmony · #7 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catt

Thanks for your comments and I will let the forum know my on going toric, non-toric; colored, non-colored lens trials and tribulations.
meow

Anything new, catt? With all your "toric, non-toric; colored, non-colored" contact lenses experience, it's good to have you here on Lens 101.

gamblinglord · #8 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 09:07 PM

I agree with you, Eyeofharmony. It's quite dangerous to buy contacts without the doctor's prescription. How do we know that the contact lens that we buy is fake or not? I just want to know some information.

#9 (**permalink**) 09-04-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamblinglord

I agree with you, Eyeofharmony. It's quite dangerous to buy contacts without the doctor's prescription. How do we know that the contact lens that we buy is fake or not? I just want to know some information.

Am not sure what you mean when you say "How do we know that the contact lens that we buy is fake or not?" All contacts come in boxes with the name of the manufacturer and inside the box are individual lenses with your prescription, the B.C., and the Diameter printed on every lens. The REAL test, is when you insert them into your eyes, are they comfortable and can you see clearly!!!!

Eyeofharmony · #10 (**permalink**) 02-10-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catt

Am not sure what you mean when you say "How do we know that the contact lens that we buy is fake or not?" All contacts come in boxes with the name of the manufacturer and inside the box are individual lenses with your prescription, the B.C., and the Diameter printed on every lens. The REAL test, is when you insert them into your eyes, are they comfortable and can you see clearly!!!!

I think maybe gamblinglord is saying that companies can be very sneaky about the products they sell. Some may not be exactly up to standards and you have to be very careful about what you're buying. They may look good, but upon closer inspection, they turn out to be something else . . .