When I run out of contact lenses, ordering a box feels like a quick trip to the store. If I wear contact lenses, I often search online for a new box, spot the brand I usually buy, and wonder: Do I really need a prescription to buy contact lenses?
In the United States, the answer is yes. Contact lenses are devices that require a prescription. Therefore I need a contact lens prescription to buy contact lenses, even if they are daily disposable contact lenses.
The good news is that a prescription does not restrict where I can shop. Once I know exactly which contact lenses were prescribed for me, I can compare retailers, different pack sizes, and prices online.
Why Do Daily Disposable Contacts Require a Prescription?
It is easy to think of contact lenses as another way to correct your vision. They do vision but there is more to choosing a contact lens than the strength of the prescription.
A contact lens sits directly on the surface of your eye. Your prescription can include details such as the lens power, brand or manufacturer, base curve, and diameter when applicable. Those details help identify the lens that was fitted for you.
That is also why you should not assume that your glasses prescription can be used to order contacts. They are prescriptions for different forms of vision correction. If you are not sure what information you need before ordering it can help to review contact lens prescription information before shopping.
What Are One-Day Disposable Contact Lenses?
One-day disposable lenses are what their name suggests: you use a fresh pair for the day and then discard them after use.
Unlike lenses, there is no expectation that you will clean the pair and place it back in your case for another day.
The FDA describes disposable lenses as lenses meant to be discarded after a single day of use.
For someone who likes a routine that can be appealing. Open a pair in the morning, wear them according to your prescribed schedule, and discard them afterward.
It also means that buying a lens is not the same as buying a monthly lens and replacing it every day. The lens has been prescribed for a particular replacement schedule.
Daily Disposable vs. Daily Wear: Are They the Same?
These contact lens terms can be confusing. I find daily can be tricky. Daily disposable means the lens is used once and then discarded. Daily wear means the lens is worn during waking hours and removed before sleep. Some daily-wear lenses can be. Have a longer replacement schedule, so cleaning and storage are needed. So daily does not always mean throw each night. When ordering online look at the product and replacement instructions instead of just the word daily.
Are Daily Disposable Soft Contact Lenses Made With Silicone Hydrogel?
Daily disposable soft contact lenses come in materials and designs. Silicone hydrogel is a material used in modern soft contact lenses. The FDA notes that silicone hydrogel materials let more oxygen reach the eye than some soft lens materials.
Daily disposable lenses are also made with silicone hydrogel materials. However silicone hydrogel alone should not be the reason you pick a particular lens.
A lens must still match your prescription. Fit correctly. Comfort can also differ from person, to person. If you are thinking about switching from your lens to a silicone hydrogel option, it is best to talk with your eye-care professional first.
How Much Do Daily Wear Contact Lenses Cost?
When you search for the cost of daily wear contact lenses the results can be a little confusing because there is no standard price.
The amount you pay for daily wear contact lenses can depend on the brand, prescription lens material the number of lenses in a box, where you buy them and how often you wear them.
Daily disposable lenses may seem expensive when you compare one box to a box of monthly lenses. However the box sizes and the replacement schedules are different. The better comparison is the cost over the time you actually plan to wear daily wear contact lenses.
For example a person who wears daily wear contact lenses every day of the week will use lenses much faster, than a person who only wears them on weekends while traveling or for occasional activities.
Before you choose daily wear contact lenses based on price think about how often you wear them and what you value most: convenience lens material, the replacement schedule or the overall cost.
Can I Buy Daily Disposable Contacts Online?
Yes. You can buy contact lenses online when you have a prescription.
The FDA says people can use their prescription to order contact lenses from another seller, including online sellers.
This gives you the chance to look at prices without necessarily changing the lens your eye-care professional prescribed.
When making a purchase, don't just pick a lens because the name seems familiar. Check the product against your prescription. The brand, lens type, power, and other details should all match. The FDA also tells people not to accept substitutes that have not been approved by their eye-care professional.
What Should You Check Before Ordering?
A few minutes of looking over the details can help you avoid getting the product.
Look at your prescription. Make sure it is up to date and still valid.
Check the name of the lens. Two different lenses can both say they are for use but could have different materials, different shapes, or different times when they need to be replaced.
Look at the details of your prescription. Compare the strength and any other information that is written on your prescription.
Check the time between replacements. A lens that is thrown away every day and a lens that can be used every day but needs to be replaced after a while should not be seen as the same thing.
Think before you accept a lens. If the lens you normally use is not available, ask your eye doctor if another lens is okay, or don't change it on your own.
This is very helpful when you are ordering things online because web pages can have a lot of information that is easy to mix up.
Are Daily Disposable Lenses a Good Choice?
For some people, lenses are an option. There is no lens to store overnight. The user does not need to keep a reusable-lens cleaning routine between uses.
Convenience does not make one lens automatically better than another. The prescription, eye health, lens fit, wearing habits, and professional recommendation all matter.
If the current lenses work well and the user wants to switch brands or materials only because another product's cheaper the user should check with the eye-care professional before making the change.
You can definitely buy disposable contact lenses online but you can't get around the need for a prescription.
If you are just starting with contacts switching brands or thinking about a type of lens material, like silicone hydrogel you should talk to your eye doctor first. Once you have the prescription you can look at different lenses and their prices with a lot more confidence.
The easiest way is also the secure one: know your prescription order the exact lens that was prescribed and stick to the suggested wearing and replacement schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy daily disposable contact lenses without a prescription?
No. In the U.S., you need a valid contact lens prescription to purchase daily disposable contact lenses. The prescription identifies the lens and the vision correction that has been prescribed for you.
What are one-day disposable contact lenses?
One-day disposable contact lenses are designed to be used once and discarded after the prescribed wearing period. A new pair is used the next time you wear contacts.
Are daily disposable soft contact lenses made from silicone hydrogel?
Some daily disposable soft contact lenses are made from silicone hydrogel, but not all of them are. Silicone hydrogel is a type of soft lens material designed to allow oxygen to reach the eye.
What affects daily wear contact lenses cost?
The daily wear contact lenses cost can depend on the brand, material, pack size, prescription, retailer, and how often you wear your lenses. Comparing the estimated monthly or yearly cost can be more useful than comparing individual boxes.
Can I order daily disposable contact lenses online?
Yes. You can order daily disposable contact lenses online with a valid prescription. Before purchasing, check that the lens and prescription information match what your eye-care professional prescribed.
Can I reuse one-day disposable contact lenses?
No. One-day disposable lenses are intended for single use and should be discarded after use. They should not be cleaned and saved for another day.
Are daily wear and daily disposable contact lenses different?
Yes. Daily wear refers to a lens-wearing schedule, while daily disposable refers to a lens designed to be discarded after one day. A daily-wear lens can be reusable, depending on the specific product.
