How to Report a Contact Lens Rule Violation
Where to send it, what counts as a violation on the prescriber side and the seller side, and an honest account of what happens after you file — including why the state board is often the more useful lever.
Dr. Teresita Bollar, OD
The Eight-Hour Rule: How Online Sellers Verify Your Prescription
When you buy contacts online without uploading a prescription, nobody waits for your doctor to say yes. The law says that if your doctor stays silent for eight business hours, the prescription is verified. Here is how that actually works.
Your Right to Your Contact Lens Prescription
Federal law says your prescriber must hand you a copy when the fitting is done — without you asking, without a fee, and without buying anything. Here is exactly what the rule says and what to do if someone tells you otherwise.
How Long Is a Contact Lens Prescription Good For? State by State
Federal law sets a one-year floor. Some states give you two. Here is what we could verify for 28 states, which states we could not, and what happens when yours runs out.
Ordering Contacts With an Expired Prescription
No legitimate seller can fill an expired prescription, however long you have shopped with them. That is federal law, not store policy, and pressing the retailer will not change it. What you do have are four reasonable routes to getting lenses quickly. Why the answer is no Under the FTC Contact Lens Rule, a seller…
Is It Safe to Buy Contact Lenses Online?
Yes, from a seller that verifies your prescription. No, from one that does not. That single behaviour separates the legitimate retailers from the ones worth avoiding, and it is visible before you hand over any money. The test A legitimate US seller will ask for your prescriber’s details and contact them. That is not bureaucracy…
What Does Power Mean for Contacts A Simple Guide to Your Prescription
When you look at your contact lens box, you'll see a number next to the word "power." This isn't just a generic strength rating; it's a very specific measurement of how much the lens needs to bend light so you can see the world in sharp focus. This corrective power is measured in units called…
What Is Contact Lens Base Curve and Why It Matters
When you look at your contact lens prescription, you'll see a few key numbers. One of the most important, yet often overlooked, is the base curve, or BC. This number, measured in millimeters, defines the curvature of the back surface of your contact lens. Think of it this way: your cornea (the clear front part…
Ultimate Guide to Colored Contact Lenses with Prescription
Ever thought about changing your eye color but didn't want to give up your glasses or clear contacts? That's where prescription colored contact lenses come in. They're medical devices designed to correct your vision—just like regular contacts—but with the added fun of changing or boosting your natural eye color. These lenses offer the best of…
How to Buy Contact Lenses Online
You do not need to buy from the practice that fitted you, and they cannot require it. Federal law says your prescription is yours, handed over automatically once the fitting is complete. What follows is the practical process, and the three places it goes wrong. Step 1: get your prescription Your prescriber must give you…
- 1
- 2