Ordering contacts online can seem like a daunting task full of questions and concerns. 

Fortunately, 1-800 Contacts offers a simple solution that helps you buy contact lenses more easily than ever. 

Does 1-800 Contacts Verify Prescriptions?

1-800 Contacts verifies contact lens prescriptions through your eye doctor to ensure you get the right products for your vision care needs. 

In most cases, 1 800 Contacts is able to contact your doctor’s office and verify your prescription within 24 hours.

With excellent customer service, 1-800 Contacts makes ordering contact lenses online a breeze. They even offer their Gajillion Percent Promise on all orders to ease your mind. 

How Does 1-800 Contacts Verify Prescriptions?

Before sending out your order, 1-800-Contacts will verify your contact lens prescription by contacting your eye doctor. 

They verify all prescriptions to ensure all their customers get the correct lenses for their most up-to-date prescription.

Note that contact lens prescriptions are different from eyeglasses prescriptions. 

Before you can order contacts online, you’ll need a contact lens fitting and a contact lens-specific prescription.

How Long Does the Prescription Verification Take?

As soon as you place your contact lens order, a representative from 1-800 Contacts will contact your eye doctor’s office for you. 

Different eye care professionals take different amounts of time to respond, but in most cases, it takes just 24 hours for them to approve your order.

A renewed prescription will typically go through faster than a new prescription. Depending on the date of your last exam, it might even go through immediately. 

Most eye doctors require you to renew your prescription every one to two years. 

If your prescription has expired, you will need to have another eye exam before you can order new contacts. 

Can You Get Contacts Without a Prescription?

Everyone’s eyes are shaped differently. Because of this, 1-800 Contacts will not sell you contacts before you’ve had a contact lens fitting.

Wearing contacts without a valid prescription can damage your eyes. So, before you order lenses from 1-800 Contacts, you’ll need to have a comprehensive eye exam. 

But, if you’re in a pinch, 1-800 Contacts does offer an online eye exam to save you time. It only takes 10 minutes and is much more affordable than a typical office visit.

How Long Do Contacts Prescriptions Last?

Usually, a contact lens prescription will last between one to two years from the date of your last eye exam and contact lens fitting. 

Your doctor will determine whether you need a yearly exam based on your current eye health. Having certain conditions, like diabetes, will mean your prescription only lasts one year. 

Some state laws also stipulate how long your contact lens prescription lasts. Some states that require you to renew your prescription every two years include:

  • Virginia
  • Maryland
  • California

In other states, however, prescriptions are only valid for one year. 

What Happens if Your Eye Doctor Won’t Release Your Prescription?

Some eye care professionals try to force patients to buy vision care products through their office. In this case, they may reject your 1-800 Contacts order. 

However, this is very illegal.

A federal law called the Contact Lens Consumers Act requires eye care professionals to give their patients copies of their prescription after a contacts eye exam.

If you have any trouble obtaining your prescription, or ordering contacts from 1-800 Contacts, let your doctor’s office know that you know they’re breaking the law. 

Can I Use My 1-800 Contacts Prescription Elsewhere?

Even if you get your eye exam done by the doctors at 1-800 Contacts, you don’t have to purchase contact lenses from them. 

You can use your prescription to purchase new contacts from any retailer. 

How Do I Order Contacts from 1-800 Contacts?

1-800 Contacts has thousands of brands and styles of contacts to choose from, from Acuvue to Biofinity and clear to colored lenses. 

They even have contacts that work with dry eyes and astigmatism. 

Ordering contacts from 1-800 Contacts is easy. Just follow the steps below:

  • Browse the 1-800 Contacts website and find your preferred brand of contacts.
  • Add the number of boxes you want to order to your cart and checkout.
  • Enter your prescription when prompted. You can upload a photo, enter the information manually, or have 1-800 Contacts contact your doctor directly.
  • Wait for your eye doctor to verify your prescription.

Once your prescription is verified, 1-800 Contacts will ship your order.