|
Article
Sample
|
buying contact lenses online -- Words: 659
Buying Contact Lenses Online
How to Safely Buy Contact Lenses Online
One of the questions we are often asked is whether
buying contact lenses online is allowed. Federal legislation
passed in 2004 requires that the eye doctor give you
a written copy of your prescription, which guarantees
everyone's right to buying contact lenses online from
any supplier they like.
Buying Online
When buying contact lenses online, keep the following
suggestions in mind.
- Have regular checkups. The presence of
a foreign object on the cornea (the contact lens)
could cause changes to your eye. With regular checkups,
your eye doctor will determine whether there have
been changes, and take corrective action.
- Understand the prescription laws in your
state. Some states do not specify the maximum duration
of the prescription, some specify two years, others
specify one year.
- Have your current prescription at hand
when buying contact lenses online. The laws by state
vary regarding prescription verification procedures
One common practice is for the manufacturer to call
your eye doctor to verify the information on the
prescription.
- Give all the information on the prescription,
including your name, doctor's name, and the doctor's
phone number. The US Food and Drug Administration
lists the following information that lens manufacturer
may need in order to create your lenses: brand,
lens name, power (including sphere, cylinder if
any, and axis if any), diameter, base curve, and
peripheral curves (if any). The actual requirements
vary by state.
- Accept no substitutes. We suggest that
you not accept brand substitutions without the approval
of your eye doctor. There are differences in the
shape and the amount of water within the lens. If
the doctor selected a particular lens for you, only
he or she should change it.
- Understand your prescription fully and
discuss preferred brands with your doctor. Ideally,
your physician will tell you whether it is allowable
to substitute other materials or brands, the number
of refills the prescription is good for, and the
wear schedule.
- Order from companies you can trust when
buying contact lenses online. You will find links
to reputable suppliers on this site.
- Check your insurance coverage. If you
are buying contact lenses online cosmetic lenses
for therapeutic reasons (such as covering an eye
injury), your insurance company will often cover
the charge. Have your doctor submit a letter of
explanation to your insurance company. Most online
retailers will not take insurance company payment,
so you may want to pay in advance and then request
reimbursement from your insurance company.
Lens Types
You should understand the lenses buying contact lenses
online. The brief descriptions below about hard lenses,
soft lenses, and cosmetic lenses will counter some of
the confusion created by marketing materials.
- Hard lenses: Today, hard lenses are gas
permeable (GP), which allows oxygen to pass through
the lens to the cornea. It can take several weeks
for the wearer to adjust.
- Soft lenses: The amount of water
contained within a soft contact lens, the thickness
of the lens, and your doctor's advice determines
how long a lens can be worn.
- Daily wear: 30 to 50 percent water; wear
up to 12 hours daily.
- Flexible wear lenses: "Mid-water content"
and thin, worn while awake and occasionally
while asleep.
- Extended wear: High water content for wear
over several days. Concerns over long-term impact
make these our least favorite option.
- Cosmetic lenses: Soft lenses with decorative
designs along the iris, to alter eye color, display
a "painted" special effect, or for therapeutic
reasons such as covering an eye injury.
You will find more information about each of these
lenses in the "Contact Lenses" and "Cosmetic
Contact Lenses " articles on this site.
Next Steps
Now you can start buying contact lenses online with
confidence. Follow the practices outlined above, regularly
visit your eye doctor for an up-to-date prescription,
and stay informed of the various types of contact lenses
available. Visit the links to various contact lens manufacturers
on this site, and soon you will be buying contact lenses
online.
Web: www.netveyance.com/elance
e-Mail: elance@netveyance.com
Voice / Fax: 1-877-619-8646 (toll free)
All content Copyright 2003-2005 Phillip E. Honstein, except where copyright
by Namo Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Work samples are provided
for educational use by prospective employers and clients and may not be
duplicated or distributed in any format, electronic or otherwise.
|
