With over 17 million hits for the search phrase ‘contact lenses’ in Google, buying contact lenses online can seem like a daunting task. On top of that, there’s all the talk of prescriptions and return policies, and it’s no wonder if you’re feeling dizzy. But don’t fret. Buying contact lenses online should be easy, and by following this step-by-step guide you can be sure that nothing will go wrong.
The first and most important thing to establish is that contact lenses are medical devices and should be respected as such. Treat them the way you would treat any medications prescribed by your doctor; they will do wonders for you, but you just cannot play guessing games if you are hoping to find the product that’s right for you.
As a contact lens wearer, it is your responsibility to get regular check-ups. The contact lenses that suited you last year might not suit you today – just like the rest of your body changes, so does your eye sight. Visit an optician for a prescription before you think about online shopping.
A contact lens supplier should ask you for your optician’s details. Some don’t, and that is a bad sign. According to UK law, an optician is obliged to give you a copy of your prescription by the end of your contact lens check-up, and an online supplier must check that your prescription is actually valid. This law is there to protect you, as wearing the wrong contact lenses can cause serious damage to your eyes.
In finding the online contact lens supplier that suits you best, invest some time into comparing prices and browsing consumer forums. Read testimonials – they exist for a reason. Some people put little trust in testimonials, but let’s be honest, you wouldn’t take the time to sit down and rave about how amazing an online contact lens supplier is if you weren’t blown away by their service, would you? Thought so.
Keep an eye out for the VeriSign logo. This way, you can be sure that your card details are treated professionally and the payment process is completely safe. A help line number is also a good sign. You will probably never use it, but if worst comes to worst it’s good to know who to turn to. A good help line will provide both technical support if the website appears to be playing up and optical advice if the numbers on your contact lens prescription are confusing.
Funnily enough, it’s nearly always the same business that provide a good help line that also have a no questions asked refund policy – and we don’t need to spell out why that’s a good thing. If you’re lucky, you can also find a supplier with a flat shipping fee, so that you can order a couple of 90-packs of contact lenses without having to worry about the weight.
A good contact lens supplier’s website doesn’t require you to think much at all. The ordering process should be very straight-forward, and once you have registered you shouldn’t need to do much at all to order the same batch of contact lenses again. The responsible contact lens supplier will send you an e-mail when it’s time to think about the ‘refill my order’ button, and likewise when your prescription is about to run out.
Finally, there is an eternity of myths out there about buying contact lenses online. Don’t listen to them. The contact lenses you buy online are exactly the same as those you get from your high street optician. They are the same brand, the same quality, and made from the same materials by the same manufacturers. They’re just cheaper. Now go order them!