Buying Color Contact Lenses Online

• An estimated 12 million Americans have dry eyes. This condition is the inability to produce enough tears to keep the surface of the eyes lubricated and comfortable

Understand your Colored Contact Lens Prescription

Color contact lenses fit over the cornea, the transparent out coat of the eye. The portion that covers the iris is colored allowing you to change the appearance of your eye. The prescription is the same as that  for regular contact lenses. 

What does a valid color contact lens prescription include?

• This depends on the state where your doctor practices. State laws often define a prescription’s requirements. In states without a legal definition, the prescribing doctor includes some minimum elements such as:
  •  include your name and the doctor’s name 
  •  the contact lens brand name and material. 
  •  lens measurements for each eye such as power, diameter and base curve.

  The right eye is abbreviated OD, the left OS and both eyes are OU.

  Power - Power on your prescription is a number, (dioptres), that starts with a + or - sign. For example, +1.50, -4.75 etc. This is to correct either your nearsightedness if it is a (-) sign or farsightedness if it is a (+) sign. 
  Base Curve - (BC) is a measure of the curvature of the contact lens. This makes the lens fit more comfortably on your cornea. Typically BC is in the range 8.3 to 9.0. 
  Diameter  - is a measure of the size of the lens. Typically Diameter is in the range of 14.0 to 14.5.
  Cylinder (Cyl) Is the strength of your astigmatism. If you have a number for cylinder on your prescription you should look at Toric Lenses. Typical numbers for cylinder are -0.75, -1.00, -1.25.
  Axis  - Is the orientation of your astigmatism on your cornea. Typical numbers for Axis are 160°, 170°, 080°.
  Addpower -  is the second power correction you need if you are wearing bifocal contact lenses. This number refers to the reading strength of the lens. Typically addpower is in the range of +1.00 to +2.50.
  Color  - is the color of color contact lenses and is only needed if you are buying colored or special effect contact lenses. The color does not affect your prescription in any way.

• More detailed prescriptions will include directions for safe use such as wearing schedule, whether lenses are for daily or extended wear, the number of refills, whether lens material substitutions are allowed and an expiration date.

• Some Internet sites ask for information about your doctor so that they may check the prescription with your doctor. State laws vary greatly concerning the kind of verification that is required. Internet sites should comply with applicable State requirements concerning verification of prescriptions for contact lenses..