Contact Lenses Prescription Are Indispensable
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios

Introduction

The first step to wearing lenses is visiting a certified optometrist for proper lens fitting, even if you don’t suffer from vision deficiency and just want to change the color of your eyes, using cosmetic lenses. Lenses are manufactured in diverse sizes and for varied eye defects, ranging from myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Typically, during an eye examination the ophthalmologist will measure your eyes to determine which size is suitable for you. If you are already wearing lenses but want shift to a different brand, you will still need to consult your eye-care professional to establish your suitability for that particular brand. Once you have determined your lens size and have the contact lenses prescription, you are ready to purchase from any optician or online.

When you plan your eye test, it is important to ask the optometrist, whether he or she will provide you a copy of your contact lenses prescription after the test. Many eye care professionals are unwilling to release contact lenses prescription. Even though this may seem irrational, there is a very simple logic behind this motive. Unlike most physicians, the eye-care professionals usually sell the products they advise. As a result, many ophthalmologists consider that withholding your contact lenses prescription will compel you to procure lenses only from them.

If your eye-care professional’s clinic will not release the contact lenses prescription, you should approach another optometrist who will give you your contact lenses prescription. Having a copy of your contact lenses prescription allows you buy lenses from any place you prefer and gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best available prices.

What the Law Says

The “Fairness To Contact Lens Consumers Act” was signed by President Bush on December 6th, 2003 and became effective from February 6, 2004. Eye care providers nationwide are now obligated, when a contact lens fitting is complete, and whether or not requested by the patient, to provide him/her with a copy of the contact lenses prescription. The details of the Act can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/ under HR 3140.

You should know your Rights and once your eye examination and lens fitting is completed successfully, your doctor must provide you with a copy of your contact lenses prescription, whether you request or not, and without levying any additional charges or the need to sign a waiver.

The Last Word

Prescription for lenses and spectacles are poles apart. A contact lenses prescription contains crucial details like brand name, base curve and diameter. Prior to your eye-test, be sure to tell your optometrist you will need a copy of the prescription.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.