Contact Lens Prescriptions Explained
By By Mike Schwartz
Don’t let the name fool you. Nonprescription contacts do require a prescription regardless of what is advertised online or in the circular you received in the mail last week. Sounds confusing? Don’t worry. I’ll explain
Nonprescription are cosmetic lenses that do not require the wearer to need contacts for vision correction. You can have perfect vision and wear nonprescription contacts. These lenses are strictly for cosmetic purposes.
However, federal law classifies (both traditional and cosmetic) as medical devices. As such, both nonprescription contacts and traditional contacts need a prescription in order to legally purchase them.
This means if you don’t require vision correction, but you want to purchase a pair of nonprescription contact lenses, you must still make an appointment with an eye doctor. Once the optician is informed of the reason for your visit, there will be an eye examination, a fitting of on your eyes, and then a prescription will be given for a pair of cosmetic lenses.
Outside of the legal ramifications, the main purpose for seeing an eye care practitioner even though you don’t have vision problems is because you need to be professionally fitted for cosmetic contacts. Not all are the same size and posses the same curvature. If you
