Canada, that almost mythical land where the streets are paved with gold rimmed glasses and contact lenses hang from every tree.

So what exactly is the truth? Why do people think that you can get contacts from Canada with no prescription?

I spoke to the Canadian health department to find out the truth and this is what I was told.

If you are a Canadian resident then it is illegal to buy contact lenses without an up to date prescription, whether from inside Canada or outside. No Canadian business is allowed to sell you contact lenses if you don’t have a current prescription.

These same rules apply if a Canadian business is selling contact lenses to someone outside Canada. They are not allowed to do it if the buyer does not have a valid prescription.

Now, the above rules only apply to prescription contact lenses, that is, contact lenses with power, designed to correct vision. They do NOT apply to the sale or purchase of colored contact lenses.

In Canada, cosmetic contacts are not classed as medical devices, at the moment anyway, and so you can buy coloured contact lenses from Canada without a prescription.

Of course, there may or may not be laws in your own country governing whether or not you are allowed to buy contacts without prescription.

As usual, it is worth asking the question, why do you want to buy lenses without prescription? It isn’t difficult to get an eye exam and this will tell you if there are any problems in your eyes, which is always good to know. You will also find out if your eyes are suitable for contact lenses and you will find out the correct size.

Rather than spend time trying to find somewhere where you can buy contact lenses without a prescription, just go and get one. You know it makes sense.

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Colored lenses have a tint meaning that you can effectively change the color of your eyes by wearing them.  Colored contacts are also available in prescription format for people who would normally wear glasses or contact lenses.

The fact that colored lenses with zero power are non-prescription does not, however, mean that you do not need a prescription to get hold of them.

This makes sense because the only difference (apart from color) between these lenses and ‘normal’ lenses is essentially the power.  It is still something you are putting into your eyes and the same precautions should still apply.

You should still check that your eyes are suitable for wearing lenses and you still need a lens which fits your eye.  You need to observe the same strict regime of cleanliness as which any other lens.

It’s not worth taking chances with your eyes so you should look upon colored lenses, including non prescription colored lenses, as if they were normal contact lenses.

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1. Colored Contact Lenses Without Prescription

Prescription contact lenses means that the lenses are designed to correct a problem with sight.  In other words, if you have perfect eyesight and you put in a prescription contact lenses, you will not be able to see properly.  Just like putting on someone else’s glasses.

Non-prescription contact lenses are the contact lens equivalent of  a clear piece of glass, that is, they are not designed to correct defective vision.

Colored contact lenses can be prescription or non-prescription, in the same way that it is possible to buy prescription sunglasses.

Buying colored contact lenses without prescription, whether they are prescription lenses or not, will raise the same problems as buying any contact lenses without a prescription.  Some countries will allow this and others will not.

Extreme caution is recommended if you are considering wearing colored contact lenses, especially non-prescription colored lenses.  Putting anything in your eye is risky and putting something in your eye when you really do not need to is leaving yourself open to the possibility of infection.

Extreme cleanliness is essential at all times when handling any contact lens.  Colored contact lenses contain dye and there is always the possibility of this dye leaking and coming into contact with your eye.  This is clearly not a good idea and you should ask yourself if it is really worth taking risks with your eyes for the sake of vanity or a bit of fun;  or whatever your reasons for wanting to wear colored contact lenses without prescription is.

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1. Non Prescription Colored Lenses

If you have no prescription then you should be very wary.  The eye is a delicate organ and not one you want to take chances with.  If you have no prescription then how do you know what strength lens to order?  Or are you trying to get cosmetic contact lenses without prescription?  Even if you don’t want lenses to correct your vision, you still need lenses to fit the curvature of your eye and so a prescription of some sort is sensible.

Perhaps you do have a prescription but it is a few years old.  It seems reasonable in these circumstances that you should be able to buy contact lenses without prescription if you feel that your eyes haven’t changed, but unfortunately, and certainly in the UK,US and Canada, an up to date prescription is required to buy contact lenses online.  This might be annoying but it does make sense as your eye curvature might have changed since your last prescription.  An eye test will also pick up on any possible problems in your eyes.

In the end, however much you believe that it’s your right to do what you like with your eyes, it does make sense to have regular check ups and you will find it hard, if not impossible, to buy contact lenses wihtout prescription.

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1. Buy Contact Lenses Online Without Prescription