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Comment by amf12 | Hacker News Reader

I hate this so much. Why can't I buy contact lenses with an expired prescription? I have a prescription, I feel my vision is fine. But I still have to go to an optometrist to get a new prescription, just to be told the power hasn't changed.

/rant

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Someone Who Isn't Me may have been long buying contacts 'from Canada' online with an expired prescription. They're supposed to check prescription for US customers before shipment, but...

Way OT (but related): The state of Virginia prohibits liquor purchases from outside Virginia.

However — I have ordered and received such items from out of state vendors with home delivery without incident.

1-800-Contacts will auto-renew your existing prescription in some states via a eye exam you can do on your phone. I think optometrists consistently sue them over that sort of tech to try to keep their useless glasses monopoly in an era where they really don't need to exist anymore.

Else order from Canada or the UK. Still cheaper to get a new exam at Costco in most cases.

Do you mean you have to pay for this? In India, this is a free service offered by anyone who sells glasses / contact lens!

Yep. The prescriptions are only good for one year, and it's usually $50-$100 to get tested. Most places won't sell you more than a year's supply of lenses at a time either.

FWIW weekly and biweekly lenses are functionally identical to monthlies (dailies are different). The only difference is FDA rules meant to preserve artificial market segmentation. You can buy a years supply of weekly lenses and wear them longer.

The Land of the Free often ain't so.

Wait until you hear that Kinder Surprise are banned there, too.

If the land were truly free people wouldn't have to keep shouting it from their EPA regulated lifted trucks while listening to the FTC regulated radio for their favorite country star who uses copyright to keep people from freely playing their music.

I'm not sure what you are trying to say here?

You can. I've done it multiple times. Go read how the law is written. Companies have 24 hours to attempt to verify your prescription. If they can't get in contact with the doctor you listed they are allowed to sell you them anyway

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