Contact lenses offer a modern solution for vision correction, combining comfort, convenience, and cosmetic flexibility that glasses can sometimes lack. These thin, curved lenses sit directly on the tear film covering your eyes, providing a wider field of view and unobstructed vision. Whether you’re engaging in sports, exploring fashion options, or simply enjoying everyday activities without the physical restrictions of glasses, contact lenses can enhance your lifestyle significantly.
However, the benefits of contacts go hand-in-hand with the necessity of obtaining a proper prescription. The precision in fitting contact lenses not only optimizes vision correction but also ensures the health and safety of your eyes. A professional eye examination determines the specific parameters required, making sure your lenses provide maximum comfort and effectiveness. This step is crucial in preventing the risks associated with ill-fitting lenses or substandard products, safeguarding your vision health in the long run. By consulting with a qualified optometrist, you ensure that your contact lenses are not only effective but also tailored to meet your individual needs and lifestyle.
Contact Prescription: Why You Need One
According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, contact lenses are regulated medical devices requiring wearers to follow prescribed processes to get them. What’s more, misusing contacts can put you at risk of allergic reactions, eye infections, dry eyes, and in extreme cases, vision loss. (1)
While you can get contacts today online and in many stores without a prescription, we highly advice against it. You actually need a prescription to safeguard yourself from the risks associated with wrong prescriptions and counterfeit contact lenses.
Most importantly, the Canadian Association of Optometrists stresses the importance of working with an optometrist to conduct a comprehensive eye exam and ensure you get a contact lens prescription that accurately matches your needs.
Furthermore, you should buy contacts that have been approved by Health Canada to avoid serious risks associated with many unapproved overseas contact lenses on sale today. (2)
What is Wrong with Buying Contact Lenses Without a Prescription?
Before a contact lenses prescription is issued, your optometrist must consider your visual needs, that is, the underlying refractive error being corrected. They will also consider factors like lens curvature, fit, diameter, coating, deposit resistance, oxygen permeability, etc. If you get contacts without seeing an optometrist first and securing a prescription, you risk suffering from:
- Dry eyes
- Itching
- Burning
- Excessive tearing
- Light sensitivity
- Slight/occasional blurry vision or distorted distance vision
Serious Dangers of Getting Contacts Without a Prescription
The above side effects are common among people who get contacts that don’t match their needs and fit. What’s more, the effects can worsen because of improper contact lens care. Serious effects include:
- Eye infections
- Serious eye conditions like ulcerative keratitis (corneal ulcers) and limbal stem cell deficiency.(3) Corneal ulcers scar the cornea and can cause permanent scars and blindness in severe cases.(4) Limbal stem cell deficiency is a condition that causes the stem cells located on the border of the eye and cornea to stop producing enough new cells to replace old ones. The condition (linked to extended-wear lenses) can lead to cornea inflammation and scarring, which causes vision loss in serious cases. (5)
Converting Eyeglass Prescription to Contacts: Is It Possible?
NO! You need a unique prescription for contact lenses that is different from your eyeglasses prescription. While both correct similar vision problems, they are tailored to a unique lens type. Since contact lenses rest directly on your eyes and glasses sit further from the eyes, your optometrist needs additional measurements to ensure proper contact fitting.
They need to measure the base curve (BC) that determines how curved your contacts should be based on the steepness/flatness of your cornea. They also need to determine your ideal contact width (diameter measurements) to ensure the lens covers the cornea properly. Other important measurements include corrective lens power, which usually differs from that of your glasses prescription.
Further considerations for a valid prescription include contact lens materials, types of contact lenses (soft contact lenses, disposable contact lenses, multifocal contact lenses, toric contact lenses, etc.), and the brands of contacts (based on specific requirements and patient preferences).
Pitfall of Buying Contact Lenses Online
There are many contact sellers online today. However, they are not always the most reliable and safe options out there. To find reliable contacts visit an eye health professional clinic.
The common cons of buying contacts online include:
- You can receive the wrong prescription, which will come with the risks discussed above. It can be hard to verify if you are getting a valid contact lens prescription when buying online.
- You may be dealing with unauthorized contact lens dealers. Remember, all medical device sellers, including corrective contact lens sellers, must be licensed before they import and sell contacts in Canada. This regulation ensures the highest standard of quality and safety of all medical devices to be sold. It’s a challenge trying to establish the authenticity of online suppliers including where they are getting their contacts from.
- You won’t get a comprehensive warranty. Most online sellers won’t change your contacts at ZERO cost if your prescription changes within a year. Also, damage such as torn or ripped contacts isn’t covered under warranty.
How To Get Contact Lenses in Toronto: Regular & Coloured Contacts
Even if you have eyeglass prescriptions you still need a separate prescription for your contacts before considering them a safe and effective alternative to eyeglasses. Luckily, Toronto is home to a leading independent locally-owned optometric clinic – St Lawrence Eye Care situated at St. Lawrence market. The optometric clinic is renowned for offering a variety of services including comprehensive contact lens eye exams and new contact lens prescriptions.
Schedule an appointment with highly experienced optometrists at St Lawrence Eye Care – Dr. Ronald Nhan or Dr. Austin Ly and get a contact lens prescription from certified eye care professionals. Optometrists at St Lawrence Eye Care will ensure you get the best contact lens design and modality for your prescription and lifestyle. You can even get specialty contact lenses perfect for irregular cornea, keratoconus, and corneal transplant patients.
If you looking for decorative contact lenses i.e. colored contact lenses to enhance your eye colour, change eye shade, or simply have fun with different options,I talk to optometrists at St. Lawrence Eye Care for a wide selection of contact lenses.
Final Thoughts
St. Lawrence Eye Care saves contact lens wearers from the above risks and offers numerous benefits such as new wearer refunds that save you money with repeated purchases (6-month/annual supply contacts) and no extra costs on prescription changes and common damage.
Most importantly, if you are going to wear a medical device like contact lenses, you are better off getting them from medical professionals. Book an appointment, call: 416.504.7532 or email: contact@stlawrenceeyecare.com for all your contact lens solutions.
References
[1] Canadian Association of Optometrists: https://opto.ca/eye-health-library/buying-contact-lenses-online
[2] Canadian Association of Optometrists: https://opto.ca/eye-health-library/buying-contact-lenses-online
[3] Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/medical-information/contact-lenses.html
[4] Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22524-corneal-ulcer
[5] National Library of Science: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5065783/