What to do with contact lenses I can't use?

[pjlla]

After I placed a large order of contacts for my DD, she developed an allergy to that particular brand.... but of course, it was too late to return them. Is there a way to resell or donate unopened and unexpired boxes of contact lenses? TIA.....................P

 

[Marionnette]

After I placed a large order of contacts for my DD, she developed an allergy to that particular brand.... but of course, it was too late to return them. Is there a way to resell or donate unopened and unexpired boxes of contact lenses? TIA.....................P

Legally, you cannot resell them. Donating them is problematic because they are a prescription and not usable by others in the USA. Even agencies that accept old eyeglasses will not take your unused contact lenses. If your doctor will not take back the unopened boxes to be returned for a credit, then you might as well throw them out.

 

[disfanforlife]

Perhaps the place that your ordered them from would take them back in exchange for you buying a different brand for your daughter. I know that when I ordered contacts for my daughters they told me that I could return them if their prescription changed before we ran out of contacts.

 

[KKB]

Donating them is problematic because they are a prescription and not usable by others in the USA.

Contact lenses are created in "stock" sizes--how else could I walk into America's Best & get contact the right size at any time? Many people are given the same prescription--my children have often changed prescription & often one is able to "hand me down" a too-weak lens that is the right one for a sibling.

 

[Marionnette]

Contact lenses are created in "stock" sizes--how else could I walk into America's Best & get contact the right size at any time? Many people are given the same prescription--my children have often changed prescription & often one is able to "hand me down" a too-weak lens that is the right one for a sibling.

It is against the law to redistribute prescription medical devices. You cannot sell or donate your unused birth control pills, even if the package is unexpired and unopened. The same is true of contact lenses. It's illegal.

Eyeglasses that are collected by the Lions Club International are not reused inside of the USA. They are prohibited from doing so. However, they can take those eyeglasses to another country where the restrictions are not in place. The reason that they don't accept contact lenses is because of the short usefulness of disposable lenses and the lack of sanitary conditions needed for safe contact lens use.

It has nothing to do with what you refer to as "stock" lenses.

If you want to hand down unused lenses from one sibling to another, then that's between you and your eye doctor. There's a big difference between sharing lenses within a family and reselling or donating those lenses.

 

[georgina]

We have had no problem returning unopened boxes of contact lenses to Costco when the prescription was changed.

 

[KKB]

It is against the law to redistribute prescription medical devices. You cannot sell or donate your unused birth control pills, even if the package is unexpired and unopened. The same is true of contact lenses. It's illegal.

Eyeglasses that are collected by the Lions Club International are not reused inside of the USA. They are prohibited from doing so. However, they can take those eyeglasses to another country where the restrictions are not in place. The reason that they don't accept contact lenses is because of the short usefulness of disposable lenses and the lack of sanitary conditions needed for safe contact lens use.

It has nothing to do with what you refer to as "stock" lenses.

If you want to hand down unused lenses from one sibling to another, then that's between you and your eye doctor. There's a big difference between sharing lenses within a family and reselling or donating those lenses.

Yes, you may donate them for distribution outside the US.

DH's cousin is our optomitrist; he was the one to share this info.

Some Lion's Clubs will take care of this. Just ask. You could also get them to a church mission that is heading out of the country, or Doctors without borders, etc.

 

[Marionnette]

Yes, you may donate them for distribution outside the US.

DH's cousin is our optomitrist; he was the one to share this info.

Some Lion's Clubs will take care of this. Just ask. You could also get them to a church mission that is heading out of the country, or Doctors without borders, etc.

The Lions Club International no longer accepts contact lens donations, for the reasons that I stated. Doctors Without Borders has the same issue with donated contact lenses. Contacts are a short-term solution to a permanent problem. People who have no access to replacement lenses will over-wear them, causing problems which are much more serious than simple refractive corrections. Neither of those charities wants to invite those kinds of problems for the people they serve.

 

[Fire14]

I was able to return unopened boxes for credit towards ones I needed.

 

[PrincessGrownUp]

Maybe you can try contacting the manufacturer? Maybe they could do something if you had a doctors not. Wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Just out of curiousity, what brand? I've developed allergies in the past to certain brands. Right now, the lens that works best is pretty much the cheapest lens you can buy which makes me happy. $14 a box 2 week disposable equate by walmart. They are really made by Bosch & lomb.

If you post the strength, diameter, and base curve you might fine someone with a match wiling to take them.

 

[Marionnette]

Just out of curiousity, what brand? I've developed allergies in the past to certain brands. Right now, the lens that works best is pretty much the cheapest lens you can buy which makes me happy. $14 a box 2 week disposable equate by walmart. They are really made by Bosch & lomb.

If you post the strength, diameter, and base curve you might fine someone with a match wiling to take them.

What part of illegal do people just not comprehend?

You cannot redistribute medical prescriptive devices, whether you charge for them or give them away. It would be no different than me posting that I have 15 40-mg. Lasix pills that I no longer take and don't want to see them go to waste. (Which, by the way, I don't have. So don't ask for them.)

 

[disney1990]

I would contact your local Lions Club - I know that they collect glasses for people that cannot afford them.

 

[disney1990]

What part of illegal do people just not comprehend?

You cannot redistribute medical prescriptive devices, whether you charge for them or give them away. It would be no different than me posting that I have 15 40-mg. Lasix pills that I no longer take and don't want to see them go to waste. (Which, by the way, I don't have. So don't ask for them.)

Maybe it is illegal where you are. However, here is a link about donating them.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5711980_donate-unused-contact-lenses.html

 

[Marionnette]

Maybe it is illegal where you are. However, here is a link about donating them.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5711980_donate-unused-contact-lenses.html

That's outdated information. ehow articles are not the best source if you want current information. Check the websites for each of those organizations that they list. None of them accept contact lens donations anymore, not because donated lenses are illegal to use in foreign countries but because they create more problems than they solve for people who do not have ready access to sanitary handling conditions or replacement lenses.

 

[disney1990]

That's outdated information. ehow articles are not the best source if you want current information. Check the websites for each of those organizations that they list. None of them accept contact lens donations anymore, not because donated lenses are illegal to use in foreign countries but because they create more problems than they solve for people who do not have ready access to sanitary handling conditions or replacement lenses.

Here's one from November 2014. They can be donated.

http://www.providenceeye.com/blog/recycle_and_donate_contact_lenses

http://www.smartspecsoptical.com/blog/uncategorized/donate-unused-contact-lenses-eyeglasses