Selling Unused Contacts from a Focus Dailies 90 Pk

Bessie · #1 (**permalink**) 04-18-2008, 11:34 AM

Can you sell unused contacts from a 90 Pack of Focus Dalies? Could I just come on to Lens 101 and say "Hey, I've got 84 of a 90 pack of Focus Dailies with such-and-such prescription. I'll sell them to you cheap!"
Is that legal?

rkeinc · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 09:28 AM

I have 2 boxes of unused focus dailies that have never been opened and don't expire until 2012. What should I do with them?

Lens 101 - Administrator · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2009, 09:43 AM

Because there are legalities and specific guidelines in selling contact lenses, this is not the place to sell your unused lenses.

Contact lenses are medical devices and sales are strictly regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).

The FDA also requires a valid prescription and without FDA approval it’s against the law to sell or distribute contact lenses.

I hope this information is helpful for you.
Lens 101 - Administrator

Ricardo · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lens 101 - Administrator

The FDA also requires a valid prescription and without FDA approval it’s against the law to sell or distribute contact lenses.

Thanks for the information. Regarding the requirement of a prescription, I wonder if it's possible to do damage to the eyes with an improper set of lenses?

My first impression is that an improper prescription probably wouldn't give the wearer better vision, and the improper lenses probably wouldn't be worn.

Maybe it's more of a general FDA regulation.

Joeyrosschandler · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricardo

Thanks for the information. Regarding the requirement of a prescription, I wonder if it's possible to do damage to the eyes with an improper set of lenses?

My first impression is that an improper prescription probably wouldn't give the wearer better vision, and the improper lenses probably wouldn't be worn.

Maybe it's more of a general FDA regulation.

Me, myself, personally, I would be very reluctant to buy something like contact lenses from someone who is not a doctor. I wouldn't trust them not to contaminate them in some way for whatever twisted reason. Remember the poisoned Tylenol about twenty years ago?

Nope. Buying contact lenses from some random stranger on the Internet is far too risky for me. I'll just get them from my eye doctor.

Bessie · #6 (**permalink**) 04-22-2009, 10:49 AM

I think we've made it clear that buying contacts on line from a non-medical source is a bad idea, and probably illegal. Joeyrosschandler, I like the skull and crossbones.

Rkeinc asks a valid question, too. What do you do with unopened, unused contacts that you can't use, presumably because your prescription has changed? Any chance your eye doctor will take them?

petlover1 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 07:36 PM

I have read many posts from people who have perfectly good sealed but no longer needed contact lenses due to having had surgery or prescription change etc. and though there were some agencies that initially accepted and were grateful to receive such donations they were very short lived because of regulations and the lens being a medical device. I do know that the Lions Club has always and continues to accept used eye glasses for donation to a needy person with the same or at least close prescription but then again eye glasses are not considered medical devices it is possible to purchase readers or sunglasses in stores. The only option I came up with for unused lenses when my rx changed was to donate them to my eye doctors office as they can certainly use them as samples but then they would still be prescribed or given to a person with supervision of an eye care professional with instructions for use. Why waste them!

Bessie · #8 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover1

The only option I came up with for unused lenses when my rx changed was to donate them to my eye doctors office as they can certainly use them as samples but then they would still be prescribed or given to a person with supervision of an eye care professional with instructions for use. Why waste them!

That's a pretty good idea, petlover1. It makes sense to give sealed packages of contact lenses to your doctor. I'd like to hear from someone whose eye doctor has accepted their donation.

petlover1 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 07:21 PM

I did donate my unused lenses to my optician at the eye doctors office and they were very happy and thanked me for them. They thought I was looking for a rebate but that was not the case as I had not even purchased them through the eye doctors opticical shop and it was longer than one month since I purchased the lenses online so they were not returnable for credit to the online source either. But at least they are able to use them as samples or maybe they can even sell completely unopened boxes I don't know but I don't like to see perfectly good things go to waste!

Zoey · #10 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover1

I did donate my unused lenses to my optician at the eye doctors office and they were very happy and thanked me for them. They thought I was looking for a rebate but that was not the case as I had not even purchased them through the eye doctors opticical shop and it was longer than one month since I purchased the lenses online so they were not returnable for credit to the online source either. But at least they are able to use them as samples or maybe they can even sell completely unopened boxes I don't know but I don't like to see perfectly good things go to waste!

Nice work, petlover. I don't like to waste things either, and I'm glad to see someone helping people to be smart with their contact lenses, even if they don't need them any more.

Joeyrosschandler · #11 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover1

I did donate my unused lenses to my optician at the eye doctors office and they were very happy and thanked me for them. They thought I was looking for a rebate but that was not the case as I had not even purchased them through the eye doctors opticical shop and it was longer than one month since I purchased the lenses online so they were not returnable for credit to the online source either. But at least they are able to use them as samples or maybe they can even sell completely unopened boxes I don't know but I don't like to see perfectly good things go to waste!

That's a great idea, petlover1. Your eye doctor's office can check and make sure the packages are unopened, and they have a vested interest in making sure the contacts they get from you are safe to give to someone else. This is one case where a middleman is a good idea.

Bessie · #12 (**permalink**) 01-25-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover1

I did donate my unused lenses to my optician at the eye doctors office and they were very happy and thanked me for them. They thought I was looking for a rebate but that was not the case as I had not even purchased them through the eye doctors opticical shop and it was longer than one month since I purchased the lenses online so they were not returnable for credit to the online source either. But at least they are able to use them as samples or maybe they can even sell completely unopened boxes I don't know but I don't like to see perfectly good things go to waste!

Good work Petlver1. I hate to throw things away too, when they can still be useful. I hope your posting helps save a lot of contact lenses from the garbage can before they're used.

After they're used, I hope they do get thrown away.

Zoey · #13 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bessie

Good work Petlver1. I hate to throw things away too, when they can still be useful. I hope your posting helps save a lot of contact lenses from the garbage can before they're used.

After they're used, I hope they do get thrown away.

Indeed, Bessie. I certainly wouldn't want used contact lenses.

Joeyrosschandler · #14 (**permalink**) 03-01-2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petlover1

I did donate my unused lenses to my optician at the eye doctors office and they were very happy and thanked me for them. They thought I was looking for a rebate but that was not the case as I had not even purchased them through the eye doctors optical shop and it was longer than one month since I purchased the lenses online so they were not returnable for credit to the online source either. But at least they are able to use them as samples or maybe they can even sell completely unopened boxes I don't know but I don't like to see perfectly good things go to waste!

Good for you. It looks like you've helped a lot of people with those donated contacts. The one who got the lenses (Maybe it was more than one person.) as well as the people who come here and read these posts.