Value Of Prescriptions For Contact Lenses

By Author: John Lugo
Total Articles: 40
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Contact lenses cannot be sold without the valid prescriptions issued by certified eye care professionals. For those who are not yet aware of the law governing these medical devices for the eyes, contact lens sales are regulated by both the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission. Be very careful in purchasing contact lenses from distributors other than your eye care professional. Government regulatory agencies advise all consumers to be prudent.

With a valid contact lens prescription, you can easily purchase your contact lenses from commercial outlets, online dealers, over the telephone or by mail. Review the following guidelines to assist you in buying the right contact lenses.
Is your contact lens prescription updated? The advice of the FDA is to have a current and legitimate prescription when you order contact lenses.
Remember that if you have not undergone a check-up during the last two years, you may have issues with your eyes that you do not know of. There is a possibility that your contact lenses may not be capable of rectifying your vision.
State governments ...
... prescribe the expiration date of your prescription which can either be a one or two-year renewal period. If the state has not yet decided on an expiration date, federal law will set a one year date unless the eye doctor says that there is a medical reason for less than one year.
It is not advised that you order lenses with a prescription that has already expired to ensure that your eyes are not adversely affected. The bottom line is that the eye doctor is there to check your eyes and make sure that the lenses fit you well.

Information Contained in Prescriptions

The Federal Trade Commission mandates that a prescription should contain enough information which the seller needs to fill up. This includes the name of the patient; date that the patient obtained the prescription following the lens fitting; expiration date; name, address and contact details of ECP; lens manufacturer and material; base curve or designation of the lens; diameter of the lens; and, trade name of the private label brand such as purevision contacts (if applicable).

There are some complications that you also need to be aware of. In case you did not bring a copy of the prescription when you buy the device, no law is broken. Nonetheless, the company sells you a prescription commodity just like an over-the-counter product. This means that the company goes against FTC regulations by selling you contact lenses without the prescription. Cheap prescription contact lenses require your full care and attention. This is due to the fact that these materials attract germs and other microorganisms because of the damp surfaces. These bacteria can be a big threat to the eye. In fact, some of these germs and contaminants may lead to bigger problems with your eyesight. Cleaning your contact lenses with the proper solutions regularly will prevent germs and foreign articles from resting on them.