Is It Safe To Purchase Color Contact Lenses Abroad?

Many people have become fascinated with the color contact brands from other countries, like Brazil, Argentina and Italy. Brands like Magic Top, Solotica, Waicon, and Adore are very popular now a days. It can sometimes be puzzling for Americans (since we always think our country is the best at everything) why the color contact lenses from other countries are so much better than the ones here. Of course there are brands here that are just as good, such as FXEyes and 9MM, as well as other custom contact lens designers. But when it comes to commercial brands, the US falls VERY short in quality and comfort. Freshlooks, Acuvue, etc. do not offer the same amazing color changing contacts that we can find in the foreign commercial brands. That is because the commercial brands in the US have lenses that are 1) too thin, making them move around too much, come out too easily (e.g. when one blinks), and dry out the eyes, 2) have huge pupil openings, which make the natural color too visible and the color contact too obvious, 3) not opaque enough, which means that the color of the contact is not going to be the same in your eye as it looks in the vile, and 4) are made by machines - not painted by hand as most foreign lenses are - making them very artificial looking. They look like they were printed by the computer. It usually looks obviously fake.

The FDA does not authorize the purchase of foreign lenses unless you are a citizen of that country, but we are able to do so anyway via the internet. Although it is comprehensible that our government would try to protect us from untested medical devices (which contact lenses, whether or not for cosmetic use, clearly are). However, maybe instead of trying to ban those lenses from coming in, they should realize that they are much better than the ones we have here and test them to approve them.

So, the question is, it is safe to purchase foreign lenses? The answer is, for the most part, yes. At least when it comes to the websites like Viallure and WRLens, these companies are reputable, accept paypal so you have buyer protection, and the lenses are great quality, even better than the ones here. If you are worried about the fact that you are not being "properly fitted" by a medical doctor, you have to remember that you can get the lenses and then go to an eye doctor to see if they see air bubbles under the lens or whether they think the lenses move around in your eye too much. After all, many people buy American lenses online without prescription too. I will post an entry regarding the "proper fitting" of lenses next to better explain what that means. I may have an old entry on the subject as well.