Order Contact Lenses

What are Contact Lenses?

Contact Lenses are a medical device that is given by prescription and should be treated as any other prescription for medication. Contact lenses can make your daily life more convenient, but if not used properly can lead to serious eye damage.

Can I receive Contact Lenses during my regular eye exam?

A contact lens exam is different than a regular eye exam

During a regular eye exam several tests are conducted, the overall health of your eyes is evaluated and, if necessary, a prescription is written for glasses. If you want contact lenses, different measurements need to be taken. These measurements may require different instruments and take more time. You should always tell us in advance if you want contact lenses so we can be prepared to spend the time with you. Due to the complexity of the contact lens exam, there is an additional fee assessed, called a Contact Lens Evaluation Fee. This is in addition to the fee charged for your regular exam.

Types of Contact Lenses

Depending upon your prescription, your doctor will determine which lenses are best for you. Some people can use lenses that are mass-produced; others require contact lenses that are specially made only for your eyes.

Contact Lens Evaluation

After the doctor determines which lenses are best for you, we can usually give you trial lenses to check your fit and vision. Often, we have these temporary lenses in stock. If you are new to wearing contact lenses, one of our staff members will teach you about the insertion, removal, and care of your lenses. A follow-up appointment may be made to see the doctor.

All patients new to our practice, even if you are currently wearing contact lenses, will be cared for as new contact lens wearers. A Contact Lens Evaluation fee will be assessed in addition to the cost of a regular exam and are based on the complexity and type of lenses being fit.

The Contact Lens Evaluation Fee includes instructions on insertion and removal of your lenses, starter solutions and three months of contact lens follow-up care.

Established Contact Lens Patients

If you are already wearing contact lenses that our practice fit you with, you are still required to have a contact lens exam annually for us to renew your contact lens prescription.

Health Insurance and Discounts

Most health insurance covers medical eye care, not routine care or contact lens fitting. However, many large employers offer vision insurance which may pay for all, or part, of your examination, and the cost of eyeglasses and contact lenses. We will be pleased to review your coverage to see if any benefits or discounts are available to you.

Releasing your prescription to others (K.R.S. 367)

If you purchase contact lenses from an online retailer or other source, we are still responsible for your eye health. Often lower price advertising can be misleading – the final cost may be much higher than it appears.  Please ask our Contact Lens Department to review your insurance coverage as well as manufacturer rebates or discounts that may be available.

If you take trial lenses from our practice but don’t keep your follow-up appointment, your prescription is not complete, and we cannot release it.  If you do not schedule a contact lens visit with our doctor annually, Kentucky law does not allow us to renew your contact lens prescription, whether you buy your contact lenses from us or someone else.

Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act (FCLCA)

On February 4, 2004, President Bush signed into federal law the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act. This law specifically states the physician and the consumer responsibilities regarding contact lenses. As a patient you have the right to automatically receive a copy of your specific prescription without asking. However, the prescription can only be given upon the completion of the exam and the contact lens evaluation. The FCLCA is written in conjunction with the current K.R.S. 367. It is not to be used as a replacement and therefore, all state requirements must be adhered to.

How to order Contact Lenses from Us

• Order your contact lenses directly from our website. You will receive a confirmation once the order has been placed.

• Email us at Contacts@EyeCareInstitute.com and our Contact Lens department will reach out to you to complete your order.

• Call or text our office at (502) 589-1500

Our Refund Policy

• Disposable contact lenses are non-refundable

• Bifocal Rigid Gas Permeable (RPG) lenses, hybrid lenses and Scleral contact lenses carry a 60 day refund

Your Satisfaction

We want you to be happy. If you have any questions, please call our office at 502-589-1500 and ask to speak with our Contact Lens Specialist. Our specialist probably already knows you and will ask the doctor if they cannot answer your questions.

The Eye Care Institute is dedicated to helping reduce waste and recycle whenever possible. We are proud to participate in two programs to help meet that goal.

Donate Your Unused Contacts

DonateContacts is a non-profit based in Florida and is focused on reducing contact lens waste by collecting unopened (boxes and loose) and UNEXPIRED contacts, sorting by prescription, and then sending to Feed The Children which distributes to those in need through their network of eye care facilities.

This non-profit was started by teenagers and has donated over 4 million contact lenses, 110,000 bottles of contact lens solution and 20, 000 contact lens cases as of 9/1/22!  If you wish to donate your unopened, unexpired contacts, please bring your donations to our front desk.

See more info here.

Recycle Your Contact Lens Packaging

Bausch & Lomb has the only sponsored contact lens recycling program in the US.  Their One by One Program has partnered with Terracycle to designate drop off locations throughout the country.

Used contacts as well as blister packs and separated top foils can be dropped off at our office. There is a collection box in our inner lobby outside of our contact lens room.

See more info here: https://www.bauschrecycles.com/