The Great Contact Prescription Scam
by Antone Roundy | 31 Comments | Issues/Problems
My wife has been putting off replacing her contact lenses because not only will she need to pay for new contacts, but she'll have to pay for a new eye exam (I've said to go ahead and do it, but I guess she figures she can live with her old contacts a little longer). Can anybody out there explain why she can't just get new contacts with the same prescription without paying someone to say "yup, you need this prescription"?
Sure, her eyes may have changed slightly. But so what? If she's satisfied with how well she can see with her current prescription, how is it anybody else's business to tell her that she can't keep using it? Nobody smashes my glasses every year to force me to get updated lenses -- I decide on my own whether I can see well enough with what I've got, or whether I want an adjustment. (Okay -- that's not 100% true -- when I moved to Nebraska, the local DMV did check to ensure that I can see well enough to drive with my old lenses, which I could, but they're the only one's who've checked.)
Is there some eye health issue here? Even if there is, which would be worse -- continuing to wear a pair of contacts long beyond their intended "expiration" date, or getting a new pair of the same model, even if it's not exactly perfect?
It seems pretty clear that not allowing people to buy contacts with a prescription over a year old is nothing more than the industry's way of squeezing more money out of the consumer. It makes me want to file a class action lawsuit.
December 14th, 2007 at 4:25 am
Antone, add me to your list when you do the class action lawsuit. I just had a battle with Walmart Vision on that same issue. They denied selling me another supply of my contacts because my prescription was two days over the expiration date. I asked the lady if my eyes had gotten so bad for the past two days that it I can no longer use the same grade of contacts? She said, maybe, that's why I need to get an eye exam. It is the law, said she. I almost lost it and had to hang up the phone before i say something my mother shouldn't hear. Anyway, I am fed up with our government controlling every aspect of our lives. Did our country just become communist while I was sleeping? Oh maybe that's not too bad, because you don't need to have prescription to get glasses or eye contact in China. Seriously, I understand that a prescription is needed if you want to increase grade, but staying with your grade should be your right - not some do-gooder governnment who wants to be your doctor. Let's start a grass root to repel this idiotic law
December 31st, 2007 at 1:34 am
Funny, we can order prescription painkillers online, but not contacts. Whatever, jerk politician that spearheaded the contact prescription campaign needs a swift kick to the groin. God forbid a politician should put any work towards making things simpler for the people they represent. The FDA argument is that people will use contacts irresponsibly if the don't see a doctor... What a frikin' joke... What about the millions of contact users that can't afford to pay double the price (contacts+doctor's visit) for contacts? Is it safe for them to wear contacts twice is long while they save up money?
Nestor/Antone - you said it.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
it makes even less sense when you consider most people wear disposable lenses and therefor replace them every couple weeks. and then, miraculously, one year later, you may need a new prescription. it's a life or death matter. feel free to pick up a pair of reading glass for a couple bucks at the drug store, no prescription needed. thanks uncle sam. can anyone say "optometry lobby"?
April 17th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
So I need to see - I like contacts because they don't give me headaches like glasses do.
1. Go to the doctor to get a prescription for contacts. My choice = $100
2. Buy the contacts $50 for both eyes. My choice.
3. One year passes and then I need to go back to the doctor. Forced choice = $100
4. Buy the same contacts again.
5. Another year passes. Go to the doctor to get the same RX. Forced choice = $100.
SO the pattern continues, each year spending $100+. Thank you law makers for creating the very health care problem you say needs fixed. What's next? Will the government require I get a physical every time I need new shoes? I might not be smart enough to tell if my feet have grown!!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Technically, the contact seller does not need to verify the prescription. It must only *try* to verify the prescription and if it cannot contact the doctor, it can assume the prescription is correct (this is called "passive" verification. I used to just supply incorrect doctor's information online to get my contacts, but now it seems like vendors are becoming more strict. I suspect there is some very aggressive optometrist trade association that wants to make sure you have to go to an optometrist every year for no good reason. Add me to the list of pissed off consumers.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
You need to have a contact exam every year because you are wearing a medical device on your eye. The risks for infections, ulcers, inflammation for contact lens wearers is over double that of someone that does not wear contacts. It's not as much a concern for the prescription for contacts as it is for the health of the eye. Contact overwear and abuse can do long term damage to the eye and that is why there are regulations. By the way, you could not refill your painkiller prescription on line with an expired prescription either!
October 1st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Mandy, you're wrong.
I could list a dozen sites online where I can order virtually any medication I wish, WITHOUT a prescription, so to claim that you can't is a serious oversight on your part.
My wife has been wearing the same set of disposable contacts for like 6 months now, because, due to an injury to her left eye when she was a teenage, it's difficult to find a doctor that is even comfortable prescribing her contacts. Their fear is that the contact will damage her remaining good eye. When we moved to Arizona at the first of the year, she lost her longtime eye doctor who would.
Now her prescription is expired, she can't order online, and has been wearing the same set of extended wear for 6 months, simply because she hasn't yet been able to FIND a doctor who will prescribe them.
Which do YOU think is doing more damage?
April 22nd, 2010 at 9:49 am
Fight back! A two minute photoshop job renews expired prescriptions, how about that!
December 9th, 2011 at 8:23 am
I totally agree with your article. I am so tired of having to have a new eye exam just so I can get my prescription renewed. My prescription has more or less stayed the same for the past 20 years. Yes, I said 20 years! It is completely ridiculous to be told you must go through this process year after year! It is totally unnecessary.
December 9th, 2011 at 8:25 am
Mandy, that is a crock about needing an exam every year. You must work for an eye doctor. This is about money. Nothing more, nothing less!!!
April 19th, 2013 at 7:35 am
You can get new glasses with an old persription in another country like Spain, Italy, China, Hong Kong, Sinapore...I'm going to try Canada next month..let you know.
April 29th, 2013 at 8:06 am
I have had the exact contact lens and glasses prescription since I was 13 years old. I'm now 35 and I know my eyes pretty well at this point. The poster, Mandy was very wrong and can be assumed to work for an Optometrist/Optician. I think the annual eye exam is a racket. I have had to "doctor" a paper prescription to make it current once when my glasses and contact lenses were stolen. I had 2 pair of new glasses and a year supply I purchased the last month my prescription was valid. Luckily the optical manager of my warehouse club was a decent enough fellow with common sense to make an exception and sell me a few boxes of disposable lenses to get by since the paper prescription expired only 6 weeks prior. Knowing I had spent $1200 on eyewear for the year made another $100 exam impossible at the time. There are some eye care providers who also think the annual prescription is a racket and will help customers in a bind. The laws need to be changed.
May 23rd, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Im right w/ you! I'm also a diabetic that wears contacts and have had my thyroid removed. Guess what! Every time I turn around, they "have to see me" to renew my prescriptions. I've been a diabetic for 20 years. I go to the doctor and they spend 10 minutes w/ me and say, "yep, you're still a diabetic, guess u need insulin" No shit! Then they hand my insurance company a bill for $300 and me a bill for $75. And all the do gooders, when I complain, say, well, you need to see the Dr. and get a checkup because it's good for you. Well my empty wallet isnt good for me and who are you to tell me I have to pay because you think it's good for me. Then they complain the healthcare cost to much!
July 12th, 2013 at 12:07 am
We lived in Russia and we bought our lenses from a vending machine. We never wore them longer than recommended because it was so easy to get new ones. In the states I always stretch my 6 month supply to 2 years because its such a chore to buy lenses. Of corse you can buy most drugs without a prescription. Their government assumes that each person will look out for their own best interest. I'm surprised that we can buy knives in the U.S. because our leaders may be afraid we will stab ourselves in the eye. Come on. I'm an adult, no one will take better care of me than me. Tell me the risks and let me govern myself. It's a principle called freedom.
August 18th, 2013 at 7:50 am
In the UK, if I supply contact lenses to someone who has not got a recent prescription (whether written by me or from elsewhere), I am breaking the law (the purchaser wouldn't be) and I could lose my license to practice. The law was made to protect the public from themselves; I am merely complying with it. Personally, I would not want to supply anyone with lenses that did not value the eyecare service we offer. Frankly, I'm not that desperate for the business and want no part in the rare but serious ocular consequences of inappropriate supply of product. You're all entitled to your opinions, but so am I.
July 31st, 2014 at 5:54 pm
You should experience the Doc's attitude when you tell them that you do not throw away the lens after 2 weeks. I wear my lenses until I feel that they need to be replaced. When my doc asked how long I wear them until I throw them out I said 3-4 months depending on to what I expose them. Of course I use a rub cleaner like I used with the soft lenses before disposables. That cleaner works just fine and saves some money and inconvenience of having to go and buy more lenses. My doc moaned about the oxygen to my eyes but he couldn't determine any damage to my eyes. The staff were pissed that I wasn't replacing my lenses per the recommendation. I laughed (and that's what go them) telling them I was pretty in tune with my body and could ell if I needed a new lens or not. BTW, the reason it came up the first time is that they wanted to know if I needed to purchase new lenses. I said no I had plenty. That raised questions. Then they asked how long I go between changes. Like I am supposed to keep the eye doctor in the upper lifestyle bracket! All the equipment they use is fully amortized and paid off and automated and they still charge and arm and a leg for a check up. Same thing with those dilating drops. I never get them because they give me a headache and wipe out my entire day. Said this to my doc and he tried shaming me saying old people and children do it all the time. I asked if he could inspect my eye without it and the answer is "Yes". they just have to use a hand lens and it takes a little of work on their part to simply look through the lens. Tough stuff guys! Plus those drops are like liquid gold for the price they charge! Calling the Optometrist a doctor is another charade! Another faux title to boost the price of services.
August 8th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
I love this post and most all the comments.
I too have worn the same contact prescription for over 3 years straight. I have only just now ordered new contacts because I was able to find an online source from Canada that only makes you agree to the terms and conditions of "saying" that your prescription is valid.
I had the extended eye exam a few months back for the eye glasses, and they checked my overall eye health and it was fine.
NOTE: I take extreme care with my eyes....If rub clean, use the peroxide based cleaners, and also go a couple of days or weeks, (it depends on how long i wore the contacts straight) wearing only my glasses, so as to give my eyes time to breath.
But when i say the same contacts for 3 years i mean it...... The same 1 pair of contact for the last 3 years.
I have mixed feelings on the issue. I know I'm personally responsible enough to take proper care of my eyes. But also know the general public are idiots at best....only concerned with the here and now.
So YES it sis about money, but not as much as it is for the USA as a whole. If the working class die to early then who will be here to work off all the debt created by the ruling elite. In much the same way that insurance companies can care less about you individually they care only about you living long enough not to bankrupt their companies/industries.
August 19th, 2014 at 7:59 am
Thanks for the post and all the great comments. I tried to buy my daughter contacts today and was told that I would need a new eye exam for her...When I expressed my displeasure, the Walmart woman on the phone explained indignantly that it was Federal Law.
Politicians and doctors running a racket. Makes me sick and sad for my county. I think the thing that bothers me the most is the fact that the doctors and the politicians think they are right, they actually believe that they are protecting and encouraging public health. Of course, to some small degree, this is true. But mostly this law is about commerce, not health. My healthcare choices are between me and my doctors when I decide they are between me and my doctor. Other times, my healthcare choices are between ME and ME!!!
August 19th, 2014 at 12:59 pm
Buy them through the mail from Canada. Problem solved. Google canada contact lens. I used visionpros.
August 21st, 2014 at 6:32 am
Just so you know. Walmart discontinued their service with 1-800-Contacts because they will fill a prescription that is 2 years old! Yup! I only go once every 2 or 3 years now to the eye doctor and buy a huge supply from them and they are delivered right to my door. You just have to work the system! He this helps!
September 16th, 2014 at 3:18 pm
I am certified by the American Board of National Contact Lens Fitters and have been for 20 years. I work in ophthalmology rather than optometry. Ophthalmologists are board certified medical doctors. The ignorance of the above statements astound me. The human eye is a complex and delicate organ. I have seen horrific mis-use of contact lenses and the devistating results. Contact lenses are a medical device on living tissue. I have seen many infections and ulcers related to contact lens wear that have resulted in the need for a corneal transplant. Not only is the contact lens examination to determine an RX, but to assess the entire eye heatlh. The Dr can find glaucoma (an asymptomatic disease that causes blindness), diabetes, even brain tumors in a routine eye exam. I once had a patient that came in (reluctantly because she "just needed contact lenses, her vision is fine"), where a rare form of cancer in her eye was found and she was sucessfully treated by an oncologist. If the cancer had spread, she told me she would not have lasted 2 years.
When asked if you had to lose one of your senses which would it be, eyesight is usually not the chosen sense to lose.
I fit contacts and educate my patients on the dangers of mis-use of their devices. I do not sell contacts, I give the finalized RX to the patient. The question I ask to those in favor of no prescriptions for contact lenses is: who will your class action lawsuit be against when you suffer a devistating infection and have to pay for numerous office visits and for corneal transplantation surgery?
September 16th, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Laurie, before anyone else jumps on here and attacks you, let me just say thank you from stopping by and commenting. Your views on the issue are appreciated.
Ideally, yes, everyone would have a qualified person check their eyes regularly. The unfortunate reality, however, is that the cost of getting an eye exam results in many people wearing old contacts far longer than they should, probably leading to some of the problems you see. So, while the prescription requirement helps some, it hurts others -- probably those least able to bear the cost of the harm is does them.
September 26th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
it's not the government, it's lobbyists for optometrists
We're lucky our contact prescriptions are even valid for a year, Bush signed a law saying they had to give it to us and it has to be valid for a year
these doctors are scum
September 26th, 2014 at 5:10 pm
laurie, all of those eye health checks are covered by insurance
a contact lens fitting has NOTHING to do with checking for glaucoma, or overall eye health
It's a way that you FORCE consumers into price gouging them on a yearly basis for contact lens prescriptions that rarely change
Considering the fact that some people need contact lenses, those with various eye conditions and those who do lots of work on computers, it's incredibly unethical to charge double for a contact lens exam and to treat them as some sort of frivolous expenditure that someone is purchasing based on vanity.
October 31st, 2014 at 2:42 pm
I guess all of the countries that allow people to purchase contacts without a prescription must have optometrists and other eye related doctors that just don't care about their patients, along with lawmakers. I understand the cases presented by those here that are in the field of eyecare, but I also understand that money is a powerful thing, along with lobbying, along with unions, along with politicians. We have so many laws and regulations that really amount to nothing more than the padding of pockets of individuals who have used the power of money equaling persuasion to have laws and regulations put into place that benefit themselves. These scenarios are justified as being in the best interest of people, when often that is simply just not true. Remember a time when cigarette makers used to advertise cigarettes saying they were good for people? It's also kind of like service departments preaching that everyone needs to change the oil in their vehicle every 3000 miles which is the biggest load of BS ever published and the only ones that benefit are the companies providing the lube service and the companies providing the oil. It's the same thing just the opposite now with many regulations and laws that are shoved down our throats in the area of healthcare.
November 16th, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Such BS. I don't have my prescription (which isnt even expired!) so nobody will sell me the contacts. The place where I got the prescription and bought my contacts in the past does not keep them in stock. They cannot give me a pair because only the doctor can give someone a pair and she is not in until Tuesday. They cannot give me a copy of my prescription that they have on file because only the doctor can give it out. They can't send the electronic copy because only a doctor can send it.
But I found this site
visionpros.com
In Canada a prescription is not required (its not in most countries).
It's like the Canadian 1-800-Contacts. Prices are pretty competitive too. I doubt I'll see an optometrist for a very long time with this website in my back pocket.
November 25th, 2014 at 11:31 am
Just had an experience with the Executive Director for the Manitoba Optometrists here in Canada. She spoke of some "some North American Bylaw" book that she was going to get and began quoting to me how is it law that a fitting be done. I told her I would quote her on that and read back to her what she told me and she got very startled and I stated that I would be calling the Canadian Taxpayers Federation as I want a copy of that book She again very flustered stated she might have misspoke and she was speaking from a "best practices" style booklet she had. These people cannot be trusted. Its very sad that they lie to you.
I called Pearl Vision Opticals CS line and was told that this is a Company thing and by no way a law to have it done. I had a 150 dollar eye test done so this would be in no way helpful at all period. I know for me it would only be 30 dollar to pay but I cant digest paying for a scam knowingly.
December 13th, 2014 at 1:03 pm
You guys are talking about contacts but it is the same for ANY prescription eyewear, it must be renewed after one year to get any new eyewear that requires a Rx. My question by whom and when was that rule,regulation or law made?
April 11th, 2015 at 9:38 pm
I think that this is bs too... just profiteers engineering our government to best suit their pocket books. I'm sure some optometrist union out there is spending millions to ensure that this law is kept on the books... maybe before communistic government healthcare, we should try to fix stupid stuff like this... just a thought
April 28th, 2015 at 1:11 pm
I just think it's ridiculous that I have to pay $100+ for a doctor visit, then about $25+ per month's supply (which, of course, I make last much longer than a month), if I want to fricken' SEE. This should be something that I can buy on my own as long as I know the prescription I need. If I screw my eyes, it's my own body, leave me alone. I'm not hurting anybody else by putting the wrong contacts into my eyes. Just myself. It's the same way I believe that we shouldn't HAVE to wear a seatbelt if we don't want to (though, I do WANT to.). It's my life. My body. Stay out of it.
April 28th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Edward, you're right about this applying to glasses too. The main difference is that glasses can last a long time. Contacts need to be replaced much sooner, and get dangerous to the eye as they age. So putting up this barrier to getting them replaced probably causes more problems than are caused by people renewing their prescriptions without getting another exam.