Hacker News Reader

Comment by bckygldstn | Hacker News Reader

* I had an optometrist only give me a prescription for glasses, even though I indicated I wear contact lenses on my intake form and was wearing them at the appointment! When I realised a few days later after being denied trying to buy contacts with a glasses prescription, the optometrist said I would have to come in again and pay for a full consultation (out of pocket as my insurance only covers one per year).

* I've tried to buy contacts online in the US with an expired prescription, the retailers say their hands are tied, they need a current dated one.

I now just buy contacts online from Europe or New Zealand. No BS, same price, the EU company I buy from includes a mini bag of haribo gummies :)

View on HN

I’ve successfully bought contacts online from multiple vendors by putting down a disconnected number as my optometrist.

My contact prescription hasn't changed in 10+ years and I've been tired of having to go across town somewhere to get an eye exam, 1-800-contacts has an online exam you can take and don't need to drive anywhere and it's all digital. I've used this the last 2 times I've renewed and gotten new contacts and what I'll keep doing from here on out.

>I now just buy contacts online from Europe or New Zealand.

I would love to do that, could you share which vendors you use?

I usually just search for "contact lenses EU", check they ship to US (most will list this in their FAQ) and pick the cheapest.

Looking through my email receipts, I've used:

lenstore.co.uk

visiondirect.co.uk

contactsexpress.ca

specsavers.co.nz

I've had a good experience from vision direct. A student I know says it's the recommended option for foreign students at the university in the UK they go to.

I found it amusing that none of those are in the EU.

Yeah, I mean EU as in EUrope, not EU as in The European Union.

Neither Canada nor New Zealand are in EUrope.

Just got my contacts without an RX from contactsexpress.ca. Thank you!

i'm pretty sure us based online don't require a formal verification... i only have experience with coastal though and only for glasses.

The law only applies to contact lenses, not glasses.

I've used Vision Direct (someone linked them, above) for contacts, with an "expired" subscription. Entered whatever numbers I liked (so, the ones from my existing contacts boxes), paid, and received contacts. Only slightly cheaper than buying at my optometrist's office, but saved me pointless visits resulting in "yep, looks like your eyes haven't changed... yet again". Reckon I'll stretch those to every 3-4 years rather than annually, assuming I don't notice problems sooner.

I've used Coastal and Zenni for glasses. No problems.

i see... any clue why it's only contacts?

edit thinking about it a little bit i could see it being harmful to not have someone go through the "you don't want to do this or else you could potentially lose your eyesight" talk at least once.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com