Need new contacts, but can't see my doctor?

Question

I really need a new contact prescription, because mine has expired and I am down to my last pair of contacts. I can't get an appointment with my regular doctor for about 3 weeks. Can I go see another doctor who can give me a prescription without doing a complete eye exam?? Does lens crafters or costco do something like that??

Answer 1

When you go to places like Costco, Walmart, and Lenscrafters they give you a full comprehensive exam, which is the same thing your regular doctor will do.  I would recommend Walmart because most of their doctors are independent, so they aren't paid by Walmart, and Walmart purchases the most up to date equipment for the doctors that work in the vision center, which most private od's can't afford. Plus their prices for their exams are very competitive. They do the glacoma screening and check for eye diseases and if they see anything wrong with your eye health, they will refer you to an opthamologist ( the eye doctors that do surgery). Also they can usually give you a trial pair so that you aren't without contacts while you wait for you contacts to come in.

Answer 2

Hey!

do you mean your optician? because you cannot get an optical prescription from a doctor.

Anyway to get new contact lenses you need to have a contact lens check which is in date (and you said yours isnt) an you also need an eye test which is is at maximum in 1 year of date.

An eye test is where they find out your prescription and check the health at the back of your eyes etc, a contact lens check is checking your eyes are ok with the lenses you are wearing, the fit of the lenses are still ok, and your prescription is also ok. (your glasses and contact lens prescription may not always be the same because glasses sit away from your eyes and lenses sit on your eye)

If you just need a contact lens check this will take about 10-15 mins and you should be able to get or order your lenses that day, if you need an eye test as well as a contact lens check this will take about 40 mins.

You can see any optician it doesnt have to be your own, they will have your details on record in that paticular store. If your store only had one optician and its him you cant get to see and you want to goto another opticians you can but it will be a farse.

you will need to take with you a copy of your eye test prescription and a copy of your contact lens prescription (even if these are out of date) they will then do the renewel of the tests there, and fir you with some of their contact lenses as they may not do the same ones that your wearing now so you will have to do a trial with them again like when you first ever started wearing lenses and go from there.

Hope this helps

remember you should also have a back up pair of glasses as you should be wearing your lenses 7 days a week!

xx

Answer 3

Wow, crouching doggie, that might be the worst answer ever.

Answer 4

if you live in the United States, most contact lens prescriptions expire in a year.  Some places will provide only the portion of the exam required to provide a contact lense prescription.  Other doctors don't feel comfortable assuming liability for your eye health without examing you thoroughly.  If you explain to your doctor that you are on the last pair, he/she may give you a few sample pairs (if you wear disposable) to tide you over until your appointment.  I do that regularly for my patients.

Answer 5

I know my doctor will let you get one extra pack of contacts after a prescripition has ran out.

  If you have a appointment already, call them and tell them the problem. If you don't have a appointment,call them and make one and then tell them the problem and they should let you pick up a pack.