Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a prescription for color contact lenses? If you live in the United States, the answer is yes. “Non prescription” color contacts are a myth there, and anyone telling you otherwise is being less than truthful. “Plano” (no power) contacts are available for people who do not need vision correction. But in the United States, all contact lenses are classified as medical devices and you need a valid prescription from an eye doctor to purchase them – even if your vision is perfect and you want them only for cosmetic reasons. If you are a U.S. customer, you need to certify to us that you have a valid contact lens prescription and supply us with the name and telephone number of your eye care provider. This certification is optional for customers in Canada, where regulation of “cosmetic” contact lenses is less stringent.

Are color contact lenses safe to wear? Yes, under the following conditions: the lenses are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or Health Canada; you have been professionally fitted for contact lenses by an eye care provider and are already wearing them successfully; your prescription, if required, is valid (i.e. written within the last year or two); and you follow the manufacturer’s handling and care instructions.

But I’ve heard that color contacts can damage your vision. What about that? There has been considerable publicity about gas stations, convenience stores and flea market vendors being caught selling non government-approved “cosmetic” contact lenses to anyone who wanted them, without a prescription. In some of these cases, buyers developed corneal ulcers and eye infections, generally because they had never been fitted for contacts and had no experience wearing them. We sell only FDA and Health Canada approved color contacts, fill every order under the supervision of a licensed doctor of optometry, and ask our customers to certify that they have valid contact lens prescriptions. Because contact lenses are regulated differently in the two countries, the certification is required for U.S. customers and optional for customers in Canada.

Is it safe for people to share color contact lenses? No. It's not a good idea at all and we urge you to never do it. We realize that trying on different colors can be fun, but it is also very risky. Sharing contact lenses spreads micro-organisms that can cause eye infections or lead to other serious vision problems.

The blister pack vials my contacts came in are labeled “not to be sold individually.” What does that mean? The contact lenses we sell are disposables. They should be worn for about two weeks, and then replaced. Because they are frequent-replacement lenses, they are typically sold in boxes of six. Some unscrupulous retailers break up these boxes and try to pass off individual pairs as annual replacement contacts. Manufacturers add the “not to be sold individually” disclaimer to discourage this practice, but some retailers continue to do it anyway. You deserve better than to be misled like that, which is why we want to be very clear about this. We sell disposable color contacts by the individual pair so you can give them a try or wear them for a special occasion without making a major investment.

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