Is It Safe to Buy Contact Lenses on Amazon? An Honest Risk Assessment
Is it safe to buy contact lenses on Amazon? Only from a seller that asks for and verifies your prescription. In the US, every contact lens, including colored and costume lenses, legally requires one, and federal agencies have seized about 100,000 pairs of counterfeit and illegal lenses. This honest risk assessment explains what that means for you.
Key takeaways
- Is it safe to buy contact lenses on Amazon? Only from sellers that verify your prescription.
- All contact lenses, including decorative ones, require a prescription in the US.
- The FDA-led Operation Double Vision has seized about 100,000 pairs of counterfeit, illegal and unapproved lenses.
- Tests found bacteria and toxins in seized lenses, and decorative lens dyes may contain lead.
- Overall risk: low from prescription-verifying sellers, high for lenses sold without a prescription.
In this guide, safe means four things: the lenses are genuine and FDA-cleared, they match your prescription, they're sterile and sealed, and an eye doctor has fitted you for them.
In this guide
- The short answer
- Risk scorecard
- The biggest risks
- How to cut your risk before you buy
- Where to buy contact lenses
- Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy contact lenses on Amazon? The short answer
It depends entirely on the seller. Federal law lets you fill your prescription wherever you choose, including online, but the seller must verify it. Any listing that sells lenses, especially colored ones, without asking for a prescription is a red flag.
Contact lenses on Amazon: our risk scorecard
| Risk | Our rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Illegal or counterfeit lenses | High from sellers not checking prescriptions | Federal agencies seize them in volume |
| Eye infection or injury | High for unapproved lenses | Tests found bacteria, toxins and lead dyes |
| Wrong fit or power | Moderate without a fitting | Poorly fitting lenses can damage the cornea |
| Overall | Low from prescription-verifying sellers | High for lenses sold without a prescription |
The biggest risks of buying contact lenses online
1. Lenses sold without a prescription
Federal officials warn that decorative lenses sold without a prescription, sometimes for as little as $20, can cause infections, corneal ulcers and even blindness.
2. Counterfeit and contaminated lenses
Operation Double Vision has seized about 100,000 pairs of counterfeit, illegal and unapproved lenses. Tests found infection-causing bacteria and toxins, and decorative lens coloring may contain lead.
3. Brand-name fakes
In 2012, raids in Puerto Rico seized 4,000 counterfeit FreshLook lenses worth $200,000.
For more, see our report on fake contact lenses on Amazon.
How to cut your risk before you buy
- Get an eye exam and contact lens prescription, including for colored lenses.
- Ask your eye doctor for a copy of your prescription.
- Buy only from sellers that ask for and verify it.
- Match the brand, base curve, diameter and power exactly.
- Avoid listings selling lenses without a prescription.
- Check that boxes are sealed with lot numbers and expiry dates.
- Follow your eye doctor's replacement schedule.
Where to buy contact lenses
| Where | Risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Your eye doctor | Very low | First pairs and fittings |
| Online retailers that verify prescriptions | Low | Convenient refills |
| Costume shops, beauty stores and sites without prescription checks | High | Avoid |
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy contact lenses on Amazon?
Only from sellers that verify your prescription. Lenses sold without one are a serious risk.
Do colored contacts need a prescription?
Yes. All contact lenses require a prescription in the US.
Can I buy contacts online legally?
Yes. Federal law lets you fill your prescription where you choose, if the seller verifies it.
Can illegal lenses cause blindness?
FDA officials have warned they can, through infections and corneal damage.
Are Halloween contacts safe?
Only if prescribed and fitted by an eye doctor.
How can I tell if lenses are genuine?
Check sealed packaging, lot numbers, expiry dates and whether the seller verified your prescription.
What should I do if my eyes hurt?
Remove the lenses and see an eye doctor promptly.
Can I get a refund for suspect lenses?
Request one in Your Orders, and report problems to the FDA.
The verdict: is it safe to buy contact lenses on Amazon?
Only from sellers that verify your prescription. Never buy lenses, including costume lenses, without one. For other health products, see whether it's safe to buy N95 masks on Amazon.