Can You Order Contacts Without a Prescription in Canada?

Many Canadians are surprised to learn they can purchase prescription contact lenses online without retailers checking your prescription upfront.

With that in mind, while online retailers won’t stop you from ordering that box of Acuvue or Biofinity lenses, skipping a proper contact lens fitting is like buying shoes without trying them on, except the consequences can go beyond a little discomfort.

Whether you’re considering daily contacts for convenience or monthly lenses for cost savings, the smart approach is always the same: get your contacts professionally fitted first, then enjoy the convenience and savings of buying contact lenses online. In this guide, we’ll walk you through why a contact lens fitting is your best investment before clicking “add to cart” and how to purchase contact lenses online the right way.

What Are The Contact Lens Laws in Canada?

Canada takes a different approach to contact lens sales compared to the United States. Since 2010, Canadian regulations have allowed online retailers to sell contacts without being required to verify your prescription. While this makes it easier to order contacts, it also puts the responsibility squarely on your shoulders. When you order contacts online in Canada, you’re essentially telling the retailer, “I know what I’m doing, and I’ll take full responsibility for any problems that arise.”

The United States, by contrast, has the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, which requires retailers to verify every valid prescription before completing a sale. Canadian consumers don’t have this safety net.

Responsible online retailers understand that while they can fill your order, it’s important that customers get a proper contact lens fitting with a valid contact lens prescription before ordering. It’s not about creating barriers to sales. It’s about protecting your vision and ensuring you get lenses that actually work for your eyes.

What Is a Contact Lens Fitting, and Why Does It Matter?

A contact lens fitting isn’t the same as a regular contact lens exam. While your annual eye checkup focuses on your overall eye health and your best vision correction solution, a contact lens fitting is specifically about finding lenses that work with the unique shape and characteristics of your eyes. Here’s what happens during a professional contact lens fitting:

1. Precise eye measurements: Your eye care professional measures your cornea’s curvature and checks your tear film quality to determine which lens specifications will work best.
2. Determining the right lens type for your needs: Based on your lifestyle and vision requirements, your provider will recommend daily contacts, weekly contacts, or monthly contacts. If you have astigmatism, you’ll need toric contacts. For presbyopia, multifocal lenses may be necessary.
3. Material and brand testing: You’ll try different lens materials and brands because what works perfectly for your friend might feel terrible on your eyes. Your provider may test you with options from major manufacturers, such as Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, Coopervision, and Johnson & Johnson, to find what works best for your eyes. This is also when any special requirements, like coloured contact lenses, would be properly fitted.
4. Proper technique training: You’ll learn insertion, removal, and care techniques tailored to your specific lenses. Improper handling is one of the leading causes of eye infections.
5. Real-world trial period: During the trial period, you’ll wear the recommended lenses every day, so your eye care professional can assess how they move on your eyes and whether your vision stays sharp.
6. Follow-up assessment: Your provider evaluates comfort, vision quality, and lens movement to ensure everything is working properly before you commit to a larger supply.

This comprehensive process is impossible to replicate when ordering online without professional guidance, which is why we encourage anyone ordering contacts online to get a professional fitting first.

The Hidden Costs of Skipping a Professional Fitting

While ordering contacts online without a fitting might seem like you’re saving money upfront, it can cost significantly more in the long run. Here’s why the “cheap” approach can get expensive fast.

• You can’t return opened contact lens boxes. Once you break the seal on a contact lens package, it’s yours, even if the lenses are completely wrong for your eyes.
• Comfort problems lead to multiple purchases. Without proper fitting, you might experience persistent dryness, irritation, or lenses that move around when you blink. Each attempt to fix these problems means buying another box of different lenses.
• Vision issues require more trial and error. Blurred vision, halos around lights, or inconsistent correction throughout the day are signs of poorly fitted lenses.
• Potential eye damage creates medical costs. Ill-fitting lenses can scratch your cornea, cause infections, or lead to more serious complications. Emergency eye care visits and prescription medications can quickly cost more than several years’ worth of contact lenses.

The math is simple. A contact lens fitting typically costs between $100 and $200. Compare that to potentially buying three or four boxes of wrong lenses at $50 to $80 each, plus possible medical costs. A professional fitting pays for itself after just one avoided mistake.

When It’s OK to Order Without a Prescription

While we strongly recommend professional eye exams and fittings for everyone, there are specific situations where ordering contacts online without prescription verification can be done safely.

• You’re reordering the exact same lenses you were professionally fitted for. If you’ve had a proper contact lens fitting within the past two years and are ordering the identical brand, power, base curve, and diameter, you can confidently reorder online.
• Your prescription hasn’t expired, and your vision hasn’t changed. Contact lens prescriptions are typically valid for one to two years. As long as you’re within this timeframe, the prescription hasn’t expired, and you haven’t noticed any vision changes, discomfort, or eye health issues, reordering your proven specifications is safe.
• You’re an experienced contact lens wearer. This approach is only safe for people who have successfully worn contacts for an extended period, not first-time users who are still learning proper techniques and recognizing potential problems.
• You have no history of contact lens complications. If you’ve never experienced infections, allergic reactions, or other contact lens-related problems, you’re at lower risk when reordering proven specifications.
• You understand and accept full responsibility. When you order without prescription verification, you’re taking complete responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of your prescription details. This means double-checking every specification and being certain you haven’t made any data entry errors.
• You have access to your eye care provider if problems arise. You should maintain a relationship with an eye care professional who can address any issues that develop, even when ordering online.
• You’re knowledgeable about proper contact lens hygiene and care. Safe reordering requires understanding proper insertion, removal, cleaning, and storage techniques for your specific lens type.

How to Order Contacts Online the Right Way

Once you’ve completed a professional contact lens fitting, ordering online becomes straightforward and safe. Here’s the smart process that protects your vision while saving you money.

1. Get a professional contact lens fitting. This is your foundation. Work with a licensed eye doctor to determine the right brand, specifications, and replacement schedule for your eyes.
2. Complete the full trial period. Don’t rush this step. Wear your trial lenses for the recommended period, usually one to two weeks, to ensure they’re comfortable and provide clear vision throughout your normal daily activities.
3. Confirm everything works with your eye care provider. Before committing to a larger supply, have your follow-up appointment to verify the lenses are fitting properly and meeting your vision needs.
4. Get your complete prescription details. Make sure you have all the specifications, including brand name, power, base curve, diameter, and any special requirements for astigmatism or presbyopia.
5. Find a reputable online retailer with competitive prices. Look for retailers that prioritize customer safety, offer authentic products, and provide excellent customer service. 
6. Order online with confidence. Now you can safely buy contacts online, comparing prices and taking advantage of bulk discounts. Stick exactly to your prescribed specifications — no substitutions or “equivalent” products.
7. Reorder the same specifications. For future orders, use the exact brand and specifications that were professionally fitted. Don’t experiment with different brands or types without consulting your eye care provider first.

This approach gives you the best of both worlds: professional safety with online convenience and savings.

Get Fitted First, Then Shop Online With Confidence

Yes, you can legally buy contact lenses without a prescription in Canada, but the small upfront investment in a professional contact lens fitting saves you money, protects your vision, and ensures you actually get lenses that work for your eyes. More importantly, it gives you the confidence to enjoy all the benefits of online shopping-better prices, convenience, and bulk discounts-without any of the risks.

Your eyes deserve professional fitting and premium products at unbeatable prices. Get professionally fitted, receive your prescription for contact lenses, then choose Contacts For Less for all your contact lens needs. We offer the lowest prices on authentic contact lenses from all major brands, with fast shipping across Canada and exceptional customer service. We look forward to your business.