(This information can also be found of the contact lens box).

Here is the information a prescription should contain:

» OD = right eye
» OS = left eye
» Brand name (for example Soflens)
» BC / Base Curve (a number between 8.0 and 10.0)
» DIA / Diameter(a number between 13.0 and 15.0)
» Power / Sphere / Rx (a number between -20 and +20)

For astigmatic patients, we also need:
» Cylinder (a number between -4.00 and +4.00)
» Axis (a number between 0 and 180)
Cylinder and Axis are usually separated by × and read as "times"

A contact lens prescription is not the same as an eyeglass prescription.
In addition to lens power, a contact lens prescription contains other information related to the size of the lens.

The power of the contact lenses is generally not the same power as in your eyeglass prescription. This is because the contact lens is located on the surface of your eye, while your eyeglasses are located about 10-14 mm in front of your eye.

You can read more about how to read your prescription by clicking here: Read more...

No, it is not neccessary.

Also, we do not verify if a client has a valid prescription.

We have clients all over the world, and in principle we ship to all countries.

Only a qualified optician examing you should advice you about which lenses are good for your eyes.

We can only supply you with lenses, that are the same type as the contact lenses you currently use.

We accept:
» VISA
» MasterCard
» Discover
» American Express

We use PayPal to process Credit Card payments. Note, that you do not need to have a PayPal account to make a credit card payment to us.

When you fill out the payment information, a secure connection is set up between your browser and the payment page. 128 bit encryption technology is used to securely encrypt your card details while they are being transferred.

We do not have any access to your Credit Card or PayPal data, because your payment takes place on a secure server belonging to the company that process the payment.

The only payment information we receive, is regarding if your payment has been made, or not.

We protect your privacy and your account data will not be given to any third party.

When you fill out the payment information, a secure connection is set up between your browser and the payment page. 128 bit encryption technology is used to securely encrypt your card details while they are being transferred.

We do not have any access to your Credit Card or PayPal data, because your payment takes place on a secure server belonging to the company that process the payment.

The only payment information we receive, is regarding if your payment has been made, or not.

This option is available for clients in Portugal only. 
Pls. note the following if you order from us by mail or fax: 1). Your payment will always be Payment On Delivery, and 2) as this is more expensive for us, there will be an additional handling fee of €3,- to your order.

You will immediately receive an e-mail confirming the receipt of your order.

1.  Standard products: The majority of daily, 1-2 week and monthly lenses:

The majority of the orders are shipped between 1-3 days.

2. Special lenses: Lenses in "+" Powers, Toric lenses, colored lenses, hard/RGP lenses, annual lenses, "fun" lenses and any product that is a made-to-order product:

These products are always ordered directly from the manufacturer. 
Iin general, the delivery time of standard lenses from the manufacturer to us is usually only 1-2 days.  Delivery time for other lenses depends on the lens type/model (variable).

Delivery time is the estimated time from we send the lenses and until you should receive them.

Estimated delivery times
Destination	Delivery Method	Estimated Delivery Time
Portugal	Registered Mail	1-3 business day
Rest of Europe	Registered Mail	2-7 business days
USA & Canada, etc.	Registered Mail	6-14 business days

Total time (the time from you order and until you receive the products) is dependent on the availability of the item/s in your order. A total delivery date can in principle not be guaranteed, since we have no influence on delays in delivery by the manufacturer and/or the shipping partners or force majeure.

Delivery Costs and Further Delivery Time Information

We ship with registered mail. Our shipping expenses depend on which payment method you select, but are independent of the quantity ordered:

Delivery costs (in EUR.   1 EUR = approximately 1.4 US$)
	If payment with credit card or PayPal	If pre-payment by deposit to our bank account	If payment at delivery
Portugal & Spain	3.95	2.95	4.95
Rest of Europe	5.95	5.95	N.A.
USA & Canada	8.35	8.35	N.A.

Note, mainly for non-EU countries: To avoid unexpected customs fees or duties, check with the customs department in your country about its importation policies.
We are NOT responsible for any sales taxes, customs duties or other taxes charged by your country.

As soon as your product leaves the warehouse, you will receive an e-mail confirmation of your shipment that will include a tracking number and ship date.

You find the link to our "Track & Trace" page in the menu on the left side.

You can change your account information by clicking on My Account and updating your information at any time you are logged into the site.
If you are not logged in already, you can login by clicking here

Click on Login in the upper right corner, then click on "Lost Password?". Just type in your Username and e-mail address you registered under - then click on the Send Password button.  Your password will be e-mailed to you within minutes.

We will most probably be able to help you. Send us an email, where you specify Manufacturer + Lens name + that you want a quotation. We will then reply back to you, informing you if we can deliver the lenses, and at which price. Now, if you decide that you would like to order these lenses from us, just return this email last email from us with the specifications filled in (strenght, etc.). Easy!

Return policy.
1. Standard contact lenses can be returned to us.

You must contact us first, to receive a return-number. Without this return-number, we will not accept your return. Just send the lenses to us

- unopened (unopened containers / boxes or packaging)
- in the original packaging, and suitable for re-sale again
- with the return-number you have received from us
- with a copy of the order or invoice
- the reason for the return
- within 14 days after reception of the lenses

and we will exchange your lenses, or refund your money within 30 days. Refunds will normally be made by re-crediting the payment card account from which the money was originally debited, or by transfer to your bank account.

Note:
Disposable lenses in soft secondary packaging - so-called blisters, can not be returned, since these are not suitable for resale.

You are responsible for the shipping and shipping costs to us. Please keep a "proof of postage" when returning goods.

2. Non-standard contact lenses - "Made-to-order" lenses - can not be exchanged, returned or cancelled.

Defective lenses can be exchanged for the same product if the manufacturer confirms the defect. Just send the defective lens to us + the original packaging within 14 days after the invoice date. Please include your name, order number, and the reason for the return. When the lens manufacturer agrees that the lens is defective, a replacement lens will be sent to you at no cost.

We cannot issue refunds for defective items.

Professional bodies, such as the American Optometric Association, recommend replacing your lens case every three months.

The cleaner case used to keep and to maintain the contact lenses is as important as the contact lenses themselves.
Once a contact lens is placed in the eye, it is subjected to aggressions from microorganisms like physiological substances (fat, proteins, calcium, etc.) that can deteriorate the lens progressively.

These substances can also contaminate the cleaning case. If the cleaning case is not washed properly, and air-dried, the contamination will grow.
The contamination of the case is a risk factor in the contact lens user's visual health.

In general all contact lenses (except 1-day disposable lenses), whether soft of rigid type, will require a cleaning, disinfecting and rinsing solution.

Enzymatic agents (protein remover) may also be required to reduce build up of protein on the lens surface.
Contact lenses are exposed to a complex environment whilst on the eye. The tearfilm contains a number of different proteins which potentially adhere to the surface of the contact lens. The buildup of protein reduces the wettability of the surface of the contact lens which causes a "smeary" or "fogginess" to vision. A protein cleaner, often an enzymatic agent, will help in reducing the potential for protein to adhere to the contact lens surface.

What is dry eye?
You shed tears every day. They are natural tears that protect the eyes and give them moisture that is necessary for clear and comfortable vision. Not everyone produce enough  tears, leaving the eyes dry and easily irritated. In this case, blinking does not leave a moist “tear film” to wash and soothe the eye. The resulting irritation and discomfort  may make a difference in your ability to see. In rare cases, dry eye can become serious or even blinding — without proper care and treatment.

Who gets dry eyes?
Dry eyes affects millions of persons. Ninety percent of them are women and most are adults. It is more common in pregnant and post-menopausal women.

The causes.
It is not fully understood why some people do not produce enough natural tears. Dry eye may be caused by other eye diseases, certain medications, and as a side effect of refractive surgery or long term contact lens wear.  It may be connected with menopause and arthritis. Another cause of dry eye is Sjogren’s Syndrome, a disease involving mild to extreme dryness in both the eyes and the mouth.

The symptoms.
A feeling of burning or stinging, "sand" in the eye, redness and inflammation, of particles in the eye, itchiness, and extreme sensitivity, especially to cigarette smoke. Note that these symptoms don’t always mean you have dry eye.

How to relieve the discomfort?
You can use over-the-counter tear replacements, which may provide proper lubrication and moist for normal eye functioning. Tear replacements exist in various brands and with different ingredients, including preservatives. These products can also can be used before bedtime, in which case they help your eyes stay moist during the night.
Tear replacements are not a treatment for dry eye, but they can lessen the symptoms.

What can I do to avoid irritation?
Use a humidifier to keep natural moisture in the air. Avoid overly warm rooms, cigarette smoke, hair dryers, harsh winds whenever possible.  Drops of artificial tears may be needed in cars or airplanes when the heater or defroster is on, when the humidity is low, and in buildings with air conditioning.

Yes! You can wear a special type of soft contact lens called a toric lens which will correct your astigmatism. Toric lenses are normally more expensive and there are fewer types and colors to chose from compared with regular (spherical) lenses.

No! The 2 weeks period refers to the actual time you wear the lenses, so they can last longer than 2 weeks if you are not wearing them every day.

We do not recommend that. The advantage of using disposable lenses is that you start using a new pair of lenses every 2 weeks. And, the cleaning procedure of disposable lenses is normally only good enough for a 2 week wearing period.

You should follow your eye care professional's advice, and have regular exams of your eyes. Contact lenses may cause damage to your eyes without necessarily causing any obvious symptoms.

Yes! These lenses are called opaque contacts. Colored contact lenses for light colored eyes are called enhancer tints. Opaque contact lenses are available in many different colors and shades.

We do not recommend it, but it is possible. Because water contains bacterias that can adhere to your lenses and cause infections. If you do choose to swim with your lenses, we recommend that you wear goggles and that you disinfect the lenses immediately afterwards.

Don't share your contact lenses with anyone. Sharing contact lenses may spread micro-organisms that may result in serious eye health problems.
Contact lenses, even if worn for cosmetic reasons, should only be worn under the supervision of an eye care professional.

There are many different types of contact lenses, which means there are also many different methods of caring for them.
You need to clean and desinfect your lenses on a regular basis, unless you have chosen disposable lenses that does not require cleaning and maintenance.

There are many advantages to wearing contact lenses instead of glasses when participating in sports;
» they always stay in place.
» they will not steam up from perspiration.
» they will not fog up if you move from cold to warm temperatures.
» they provide better peripheral vision and depth perception.
» they eliminate the risk of injury caused by wearing glasses.
» they make it easier to wear protective goggles.

You should ask your eye care professional. It depends on what type of lenses you are wearing, and other factors.
You should not sleep with your contact lenses until you have discussed this with your eye care professional.

This depends upon the type of contact lenses you wear. Replacement periods varies from 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, or longer.

Because of hormonal changes, dry eyes and water retention, your vision may be affected and altered. The following problems are common: Increased
dryness, spots, blurred vision, distorted vision, and sometimes even hemorrhages in the eye.
You can lessen these problems by reducing the time you wear your contact lenses, or you can chose to stop using lenses during pregnancy.
You may want to discuss these possible problems with your eyecare professional, and find another solution for your visual correction needs during pregnancy.

There is no answer. Physically the eyes can tolerate contact lenses at a very young age.

The question is more "is the child mature enough to wear contact lenses?" Children are naturally great contact lens wearers if they accept the responsibility for them.
Parents must look at how the child handles other responsibilities, like does the child take out the trash, care for the dog or follow through with school or other projects? If the child needs frequent reminders for everyday chores, the child may not be ready for the responsibility of wearing and caring for contact lenses.

Talk with your eyecare practitioner as well if you feel your child is not handling the switch from glasses to contactlenses well. Contact lenses can always be tried again at a later date.

RGP lenses are smaller. They are also made of a harder, less flexible material than soft lenses. This initially makes them less comfortable. RGP contact lenses correct astigmatism whereas soft (spherical) lenses do not.

This depends on the individual, but in general the adjustment period is 2-3 weeks.

There are two methods of storing your RGP lenses which should ensure that the lenses are properly disinfected and hydrated prior to wearing.
Use a clean, dry closed rigid lens case. Four hours prior to wearing, disinfect and soak your lenses until you are ready to insert them.
You can store your lenses in a contact lens solution recommended by your eye care professional, and replace the solution every 30 days.
Be sure to soak and disinfect your lenses for at least 4 hours before wearing.

Very few patients who have laser surgery achieve 20/20 vision, so you may still need your glasses or contact lenses after the operation.
Your eye care professional will provide you with more information.

In the first instance, stop wearing them. If you have any doubts, or discomfort that does not improve upon removing the lens consult your eye care professional as soon as possible.

WHAT TO DO IF A PROBLEM OCCURS:
• IMMEDIATELY remove the lens
• Occasional dryness may be relieved by the use of lubricating and wetting drops. If dryness persists consult your eye care professional
• If a lens sticks (stops moving), apply several drops of a lubricating solution and wait until the lens begins to move freely on the eye before attempting to remove it. If the lens continues to stick, IMMEDIATELY consult your eye care professional.

The organization "Prevent Blindness America" urges everyone to make an eye appointment immediately if they have the following symptoms:

• Unusual trouble adjusting to dark rooms.
• Difficulty focusing on near or distant objects.
• Squinting or blinking due to unusual sensitivity to light or glare.
• Change in color of iris.
• Red-rimmed, encrusted or swollen lids.
• Recurrent pain in or around eyes.
• Double vision.
• Dark spot at the center of viewing.
• Lines and edges appear distorted or wavy.
• Excess tearing or "watery eyes".
• Dry eyes with itching or burning (You can find a selection of lubricating and wetting drops by clicking here: Eye drops).
• Seeing spots or ghost-like images.