{"id":538,"date":"2019-01-10T07:22:21","date_gmt":"2019-01-10T07:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lensdirect.com\/blog\/?p=538"},"modified":"2023-11-09T15:24:46","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T15:24:46","slug":"can-i-buy-contact-lenses-without-a-prescription","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/contact-lenses\/can-i-buy-contact-lenses-without-a-prescription\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Buy Contact Lenses Without a Prescription?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You know those crazy zany contacts that are all the rage around Halloween? These <\/span>nonprescription contacts<\/span> come in in a wide variety of colors and intriguing effects including cats, vampires, witches, zombies, and spider webs, to name just a few. You may have spotted them at your neighborhood convenience store or beauty salon. Well, guess what? Brick and mortar and online stores that sell these wild and colorful <\/span>contacts without a prescription<\/span> are <\/span>breaking the law<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

All Contacts are Medical Devices<\/h2>\n

Whether decorative or vision-correcting, contacts are classified as medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That means you need a valid prescription from a licensed eye care practitioner to buy them. Wearing decorative or vision-correcting contacts without a prescription can damage your site and even cause blindness. <\/span><\/p>\n

Federal Rules Governing Contact Lenses<\/h2>\n

In 2004, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued guidelines known as the <\/span>Contact Lens Rule<\/span><\/a>. These guidelines spell out and enforce provisions of the 2003 Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act. <\/span><\/p>\n

Eye care professionals need to abide by the following guidelines:<\/h2>\n