There’s nothing wrong with trying to save money on the things you need. But when it comes to your eye care, saving a buck can have negative consequences.
You may be able to handle no-name foods from your local grocery store, but you can’t risk placing poor-quality products on your eyeballs.
While there are many online contact lens retailers out there that sell good-quality lenses, many will offer “cheap” alternatives as a way of drawing in your business.
Even though your bank account may appreciate the savings, it will be your vision that suffers.
Keep reading to find out why you should buy your contact lenses locally instead of online:
Expiration Dates
When you order contacts online, you never know what you’re going to get and this includes expired lenses.
Some websites will sell products with a short expiry date or products that are beyond the expiration date.
It’s important to adhere to the expiration date of contact lenses since wearing expired contacts can lead to issues such as ulcers and infections.
An Optometrist Can Ensure Prescription and Fit Accuracy
Not all eyes are the same size and shape and ensuring greatest comfort when wearing contact lenses requires a proper measurement of your eye.
Plus, when you order contact lenses online, you can’t be guaranteed that the prescription was properly processed.
At an optometrist’s office, the prescription is checked thoroughly to make sure your order is correct.
Your Eye Doctor Knows Your Eyes
Your optometrist plays an important role in the health of your eyes and your visual comfort. They do this by getting to know you as a patient and having conversations about your needs and visual health.
When you order contact lenses online, you are missing out on this important connection. At other end of your online order is a customer service rep who is likely not trained in eye care and knows nothing about your eye health.
You Can Easily Sample Different Brands
Not all contact lenses are made equally, so when you buy your contact lenses locally instead of online, you have an opportunity to sample different brands to see which one works best for you.
Optometrists carry a wide range of contact lens brands and can explore these options with you to see which ones are best suited for your eyes, your comfort, and your bank account.
Some Online Contact Lens Companies Sell Counterfeits
Speaking of brands, online retailers will often substitute well-known brands with cheap knock-offs – and sometimes these products are counterfeits or “copies”.
Cheap contact lenses often don’t have the proper curvature or are made of poor-quality materials.
When you buy your contact lenses locally, you are receiving a high-quality product from a reputable manufacturer. Online retailers often offer no transparency when it comes to the lenses they are selling.
Some Online Contact Lenses Are Not Approved By Health Canada
Contact lenses are considered to be a medical device when it comes to Health Canada. Some lenses sold online are not approved by Health Canada which means they may not have been tested to ensure that they are safe to wear.
Along with selling old contacts and counterfeits, online retailers will offer unapproved lenses in order to offer you “cheap prices”.
In the end, the price difference is minimal and lenses that are not approved by Health Canada can cause serious damage to your eyes such as injury or infection.
Other Risks Associated With Buying Contact Lenses Online
There are many other risks when it comes to buying contact lenses online, such as:
- In order to ensure the safety and durability of contact lenses, they need to be stored properly and protected from extreme temperatures. When it comes to online retailers, there’s no guarantee that the contacts have been stored correctly.
- Just like any product in the world, contact lenses can be recalled due to safety concerns. When you buy your contact lenses online instead of locally, you may be using a product that has been recalled and not be notified.
- Wearing contact lenses involves placing a piece of plastic on your eyes, so there are always risks. When you regularly visit your optometrist, they can examine your eyes and ensure that the lens you are using is right for you.
Overall, it’s important to visit your optometrist to monitor any changes in your vision. It’s possible that you may need to change the prescription and fit of your contact lenses. Failing to do so can lead to irritated eyes, poor vision, dizziness, and headaches.
Contact Lens Exams and Fittings
The best way to make sure you are using the best contact lenses for your health and comfort is to book an appointment for an exam and fitting.
At The Eye Clinic, we offer contact lens exams and fittings to ensure that the lenses fit your eyes properly and do not affect your vision health.
We also offer a variety of reputable brands and will take the time to teach you how to properly wear your contact lenses.
Don’t risk your eye health by ordering online!
Book your appointment today by giving us a call at (780)761-0080 or contacting us through our website.