You’ve had a test sometime in the past, you’ve worn lenses before so you know what you need. But when you try to buy contacts online you find that no one will sell them without an up to date prescription.

You can buy contacts online without a prescription but there’s a good chance that someone will be breaking the law, even if you are not.

It depends where you are, of course. In the US you cannot buy contact lenses without a prescription and the same is true of the UK. What about Canada? Canada is often cited as the place to go but here the same rules apply, althought there is one major difference.

In Canada it is legal to sell and buy cosmetic contact lenses without a prescription, provided that they are plano lenses (lenses which provide no corrective function).

If you’re after contact lenses to correct your vision then you will almost certainly find that no providers where you live are legally able to sell you lenses if you don’t have a current prescription.

That said, the internet is a big place and it’s pretty easy to find websites which will sell you prescription lenses without seeing any prescription.

I would not recommend doing this. The laws exist for a reason and it makes more sense to get your eyes tested and to get an up to date prescription than to take any risks with your eyes. Even if there were no laws, don’t risk it. Get a prescription. It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s making sure that your eyes are healthy and that there are no problems.

Related posts:

1. Contacts Without A Current Prescription