Eye Society

Can you renew toric lenses online?

Jul 11, 2025

Can you renew toric lenses online? Well, can you? Yes—you absolutely can renew toric lenses online (cue the confetti cannons and virtual high-fives). But—there’s a "but"—you do need a valid prescription first. If you've already been diagnosed with astigmatism and you're rocking toric lenses, the online renewal process is pretty straightforward. You won’t need to brave the waiting room playlist or awkwardly read eye charts out loud in front of strangers. Instead, you can renew your toric lens prescription online from your couch, in your pajamas, with your dog judging your screen-time habits.

So, how does it work? Here's what you’ll need:

An existing astigmatism diagnosis. You’ve already been told by an eye care professional that your eyeballs are shaped more like a football than a basketball.
A current or expired toric lens prescription. This proves your eyes have been officially measured and matched with the right contacts.
An online vision test provider. (Hi, yes, we happen to know a good one... more on that later).
A few quiet minutes and a screen. The online test is simple and painless, no needles or eye puffers required. Pajamas optional.
A review by a licensed eye care professional. Yes, a real human. No AI robots handing out prescriptions here.
Your fresh prescription. Once that gets approved, you’re good to go.
New toric contacts, incoming. You can order them right away. (Spoiler: we deliver.)

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Do You Need A Prescription For Toric Lenses?

As it happens, you do need a solid prescription for your new lenses. If you're hoping to just guess your way to the perfect toric lens—maybe by licking your finger, pointing at a prescription pad, and shouting “That one!”—we hate to break it to you, but that's not how it works.

Toric lenses are specifically designed to correct astigmatism, which involves some slightly fancier optics than standard contact lenses. That means they’re prescription only. You can’t just grab a box off the shelf like a pack of gum at checkout.

Now, if you’re thinking, "Wait, can’t I just take one of those online vision tests for astigmatism?"—great question! Yes, there are online vision tests that can give you a general idea of how your vision is doing, even if you have astigmatism. However (and this is a big however), they usually don’t provide a prescription.

To actually get a prescription for toric lenses, you'll need an in-person exam. But once you have that prescription in hand, can you renew it online? Oh yeah. That’s your time to shine.

So let’s talk more about what’s involved in getting diagnosed vs. just renewing.

Astigmatism Diagnosis Vs. Toric Lens Renewal

This is where things get juicy (well, as juicy as contact lens logistics can get). Let’s break down the difference between getting diagnosed with astigmatism and just refreshing your current toric lens prescription.

In-person eye exam

What it is: A comprehensive eye exam performed by an eye care professional in an office.
What it does: Diagnoses your level of astigmatism (and a bunch of other stuff, like how your retinas are doing and whether you’ve been lying about your screen time).
Required for: Your first toric lens prescription.
Bonus points: You get to play guess-the-letters on that chart and possibly take home a lollipop (no promises).

Online vision test

What it is: A digital test you can take at home using your phone or computer.
What it does: Checks if your current prescription still works for you. Think of it as the oil change of the vision world.
Required for: Renewing existing prescriptions.
Bonus points: No pants required.

Online vision test for astigmatism

What it is: Like a regular online vision test, but designed to accommodate folks with astigmatism.
What it does: Helps confirm whether your current toric lenses still correct your vision properly.
But wait: It’s not a full diagnostic tool. If you’ve never been told you have astigmatism, this test can’t officially diagnose you.
Best for: People with a known prescription who just want to renew and keep it moving.

Quick Recap (Because Your Eyes Deserve It)

If you're wondering how to get started with toric contact lenses—or just need a quick refresher—here’s a straightforward summary.

Getting diagnosed with astigmatism

If you suspect you have astigmatism, the first step is to schedule an in-person eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Astigmatism occurs when the shape of your cornea or lens isn't perfectly round, which can cause blurry or distorted vision at all distances. Diagnosing astigmatism requires specialized equipment to measure the curvature of your eye and assess how it affects your vision. This can’t be done online—at least not yet. So, to get an accurate diagnosis and initial toric lens prescription, seeing an eye care professional face-to-face is essential.

Renewing a toric lens prescription

Once you've been diagnosed and have a valid prescription for toric lenses, renewals are often much easier. Many telehealth platforms and online vision services now offer prescription renewals from the comfort of your home—as long as your vision hasn't significantly changed and your previous prescription is still eligible for renewal. These services typically include a brief vision test and review by a licensed eye care provider. It’s a convenient way to stay up-to-date without another trip to the clinic.

In short:

First-time diagnosis? Go in person.

Renewal? Online is fine.

Contact Prescription For Astigmatism Online

Okay, now that we’ve walked through the whole journey—diagnosis vs. renewal, eye charts vs. pajama testing—it’s time for the final takeaway.

Here’s the big picture:

If you’re wondering "Can you renew toric lenses online?" the answer is yes (provided you already have a valid prescription).
If you’re wondering "Do I need a prescription for toric lenses?" also yes (and you’ll need to get that via an in-person eye exam).
If you’re curious about online vision tests for astigmatism, they’re real, they’re helpful, and they can keep your current prescription up to date—but they aren’t for diagnosing astigmatism for the first time.

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So what’s next?

If you’ve already been prescribed toric lenses and just need to renew your prescription without the hassle of scheduling an in-person appointment (we see you, introverts and busy bees), you can take an online vision test for free.

It’s simple, it’s fast, and it doesn’t require a trip anywhere. Your results will be reviewed by a licensed eye care professional, and if all checks out, you’ll get a renewed prescription for toric lenses—aka contacts made specifically for astigmatism—without leaving your house.

And if you need new contacts? We’ve got those too (obviously). We’ll even remind you when it’s time to renew again, because honestly, who remembers that stuff? That’s what friends (and contact lens companies) are for.

Did you know you can order contacts online?

Say goodbye to trips to the eye doctor and hello to convenience! With 1-800 Contacts, you can easily order your contact lenses online and have them delivered straight to your door. Plus, our online vision exam makes it simple to get the prescription you need without leaving home. And the best part? You’ll save money on your first order with 1-800 Contacts. It’s never been easier to get your contacts!

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