It’s not so much a question of why but should you order contact lenses without a prescription? This question looms large, especially in the world of color contacts, where people who don’t need vision correction just want to try out a few different colors for fun and make a bold statement.
“Why do I need a prescription? I don’t wear glasses, I’ve got 20/20 vision.”
The reasons are twofold. One is that the shape of your eyes are unique and the only way you will know the right base curve and diameter of lens to order is by having a thorough eye exam. The base curve (BC) is a number between 7.0 and 10.0 that describes the curvature of the eye. The diameter is the width of the eye in millimeters.
Even if you order lenses with 0.00 powers or Plano (no vision correction), your lenses will be uncomfortable, even painful, to wear if you don’t have the other measurements right.
The other oh-so-obvious reason is that an eye exam measures the overall health of your eyes, and screens you for different eye conditions, potential problems, and changing visual acuity as you get older. Based on all this information, your optometrist can then recommend contact lens brands and products that are best suited to you. These are your eyes we’re talking about here. It’s worth it to have regular checkups by a professional.
If this sounds too much like your Mom talking, consider that it’s also the law. In the U.S., contact lens retailers are required by law to verify the doctor’s prescription before filling the order. On the other side, eye care professionals are also required to provide you with a written prescription for contacts.
The loopholes in this system are that in Canada and other countries, there are no similar laws. In trying to cut corners, some people avoid getting prescriptions by ordering their lenses from Canadian, European, or Asian sites. However, by the time you’ve factored in the overseas shipping charges, other duties, and long wait times, you might as well just go see your local optometrist, have an eye exam, and walk out with your prescription.
With your prescription in hand, ordering contact lenses is fast and efficient. Large online retailers such as CoastalContacts.com and VisionDirect.com keep millions of lenses in stock. Once ordered, your contacts will be at your door in just a few days.
Leanne Tremblay is a successful freelance technical writer and publisher of several successful web sites specializing in colored contact lenses, including Halloween contacts and ACUVUE contact lenses