Can You Order Contact Lenses Without a Prescription?

Updated on April 9, 2021

Are you looking to buy contact lenses without a prescription? Earlier, it was almost impossible to buy contacts without presenting a valid prescription. However, things have changed considerably now. Today, you’ll find stores that will allow you to order contact lenses without making you undergo the trouble of obtaining a prescription. 

The only thing you must be careful about when buying contacts without a prescription is that you are placing your order at a store with a good reputation. This will ensure that the pair you purchase will not cause any harm to your eyes or vision. If you are looking for quality pieces but don’t have a prescription, one store you can rely on is contactlenses4us.com

Read on to know about different types of contact lenses you can buy without a prescription: 

Categorization Based on Materials 

Soft lenses: These pieces are made using water-containing, gel-like plastics known as hydrogels. The soft lenses are characterized by thin, pliable surfaces and will conform to your eye’s front surface. 

Soft lenses can again be categorized as:

  • Daily disposable contact lenses: You’ll need to discard them after wearing them for a day.
  • Disposable contact lenses: You’ll need to discard them after wearing them for a maximum of a couple of weeks. 
  • Frequent replacement contact lenses: You’ll need to discard them after wearing them for a month or a quarter (depending on their quality).
  • Reusable or traditional contact lenses: You can wear them continuously for six months or even longer than that. 

Silicon lenses: The silicon lenses are made using hydrogels of higher quality. The amount of oxygen passing through silicon lenses and reaching the outer surface of the eyes is more than the basic soft lenses. 

Gas permeable contact lenses: These sturdy lenses don’t change their shape even after being implanted into the eyes. This makes them ideal for correcting refractive errors such as astigmatism. 

As their name suggests, the gas permeable lenses are made using materials that allow a large amount of oxygen to pass through them. You might need to wait for a few days for your eyes to adjust to these lenses. However, after wearing the lenses for a certain period, you will find them extremely comfortable. 

Another characteristic of the GP lenses is their small diameter. Gas permeable lenses are smaller than soft lenses. 

PMMA Lenses: Their appearance is significantly similar to that of the GP lenses. However, the PMMA lenses have plastic surfaces and are not gas permeable. 

Categorization Based on Wearing Time 

Daily wear: These are lenses you’ll wear all through the but remove at night before going to bed. 

Extended wear: You can wear these pieces overnight for a certain period (usually not more than 30 days). These lenses are often referred to as continuous wear contact lenses. 

Categorization Based on Designs

If you are looking for a contact lens without a prescription at a top store, you will also get to choose from lenses of different designs. Examples include toric lenses, spherical lenses, colored lenses (usually worn for cosmetic purposes), multifocal lenses, and more. 

It would be wise to avoid wearing lenses made just for cosmetic purposes like making you look more attractive or helping you to transform your look for a fancy-dress party if you have any major eye disorder. For instance, if you have hyperopia (farsightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness), it would be good for you to stick to spherical contact lenses. 

The multifocal lenses, on the other hand, are meant for individuals with presbyopia. However, they can also be worn by people with hyperopia or myopia. 

Final Words 

Always read the description of the product well before placing your order. You should also have detailed knowledge about your eye’s health before you start wearing contact lenses. 

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.