We're in the age of technology which means online retailers are popping up left and right. How to know which are safe and legal is becoming a huge problem in the U.S.. Contact Lens resellers are bound by Federal Law to upkeep the safety of the people.
The only similarity between online retailers and retail stores is the products, and even that isn't very similar. Retailers like Hubble and websites based in other countries are supposed to follow Federal Guidelines for contacting the prescribing doctor and giving them information on the patient so we can verify it and approve it.
Some online retailers skip this step and automatically give the patient whatever contacts they feel like. A patients eye is almost like a fingerprint, what works for one won't work for the other. There is an enormous amount of math and science your optometrist takes into consideration when picking a contact for you. Some of these include your tear film, diameter of your cornea, how curved your cornea is, etc. When a reseller doesn't verify this information, it could mean going blind for the patient!
Why should you purchase from a retail location?
Retail locations HAVE to verify all information at risk of losing not only the license to sell contacts, but the doctors license to practice in the US/State. Yes, the prices may be higher, but knowing that your vision will be safe for years to come and the professionals who are selling you contacts will help you and explain to you the safety for inserting and removing contacts is priceless.