New law makes buying contacts online easier
In 2010 significant changes were made to B.C. regulations regarding the sale of prescription spectacles and contact lenses. These changes remain highly controversial, with the Canadian Association of Optometrists opposing the changes on health and safety grounds.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about the changes, and what they mean to you (this applies to residents of B.C. only):
Can I buy contacts or glasses online without a prescription?
Residents of B.C. are no longer required to show their prescription when ordering contacts online. However, your should still have a recent prescription, an it’s recommended that you receive periodic full eye exams by an optometrist, which will screen for serious eye disease.
Is my prescription from another province valid in B.C.?
Yes, now eye prescriptions from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and other provinces and territories can be filled in B.C. without a re-examination.
Can I get glasses or contacts with my doctor’s prescription?
Yes, your general practitioner(GP) can now issue you a prescription for new glasses or contacts.
Do I need to know my pupil distance to get glasses?
Opticians and optometrists are no longer required to include in a prescription or sight-test assessment your inter-pupil distance measurement. This is an important measurement and you should know it if you plan to get glasses online.
How do I get a prescription in B.C.?
Opticians and optometrists in B.C. are now required to give clients a free copy of their prescription, sight-test assessment or contact-lens specifications. They must do this even if you don’t ask, and they will send a copy to an online glasses/contacts retailer if you ask them.
How do I get contacts for the first time?
An initial fitting of contacts is required to determine the lens specifications, based on your current prescription. This must be done with a Canadian optometrist or optician.
Where can I get a sight test?
You can get a vision test and prescription from an optician or optometrist. This is a recent change, but you must be healthy and between 19 and 65 years. A health screening may be required. Contact your local optometrist.
Popular Searches:
- can optician give pd in ontario
- how long are glasses prescription valid
- how do i get my pd from my optician in british columbia
- pupil distance british columbia
- british columbia eyeglasses online
- ontario law are optometrists required to give you your pupillary distance number?
- ontario online prescription lenses legal
- ontario optician will they give pd number for a
- ontario prescription good in bc
- what to do to get pupil distance bc?
