How long is my prescription good for?

Wearing outdated lenses could lead to discomfort (or worse, blurry binge-watching sessions). Here’s the lowdown on how long your prescription is good for: 

• Most contact lens prescriptions are valid for 1 year. That’s the minimum required by federal law (shoutout to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act). 

• Some states extend validity up to 2 years — lucky you if you live in one of them. 

• Your eye care professional might set a shorter expiration if they have a medical reason, but they can’t go below 1 year without good reason. 

Because the FDA classifies contact lenses as medical devices, you need a doctor’s prescription to buy and wear them. In fact, it’s the prescription that gives you a pass to buy your lenses.  

Nobody wants to squint their way through life because their contact lens prescription is expired. How long is a prescription good for? See your state's rules below.  

Contact lens prescription expiration by state 

How long your contact lens prescription is valid for depends on the state you live in. Some give you a year, others give you two, and a couple of cheeky states set the limit to 1.5 years. Because, well, why not? 

Check out your state's rules below. 

Can you order contacts with an expired prescription? 

Nope. Contact lens prescriptions expire because your vision can change and shift faster than public opinion on Taylor Swift. As such, you can’t get new contacts without securing a new prescription first. 

Need a new contact lens prescription? 

Your prescription is expired, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend half your day flipping through waiting room magazines from 2017. You’ve got options: 

• Book an in-person exam. A solid choice if you want a full eye health check or it has been a few years since your last update. 

• Take an online vision exam. Quick, doctor-reviewed, and you don’t even have to leave the sweet comfort of your couch. 

Don’t worry, you’re not doomed to cranking up your phone’s font size until texts look like giant billboard ads while you wait for an eye appointment. An online eye appointment takes all the hassle out of getting a new pair of contacts.  

Ready to order new lenses? 

It’s never been easier to get the contact lenses you need delivered straight to your door. (Unless we invent teleportation. We’ll get back to you on that.) 

Crisis averted. Now, go see the world in HD. 

Why do contact lens prescriptions expire? 

Contact lens prescriptions expire for the sake of your precious peepers. An expired prescription means contacts that were once a perfect fit might be giving your eyes a tiny, uncomfortable squeeze. Poorly fitting lenses and outdated prescriptions can lead to infections, dry eyes, inflammation, and eye strain so intense you’ll be squinting at road signs like they personally betrayed you.  

Think of regular eye exams as mandatory eye spa days disguised as prescription renewals. It's the law, yes, but mostly, it's just good, sensible eye care. 

Glasses Prescription Expiration by State 

What about how long an eyeglasses prescription stays valid? The FTC steps back and lets each state call the shots. So, whether your script is good for 1 year, 2 years, or somewhere in between depends entirely on where you live. Bureaucracy, meet bifocals. 

Unique cases 

These guys wanted to break the mold: 

• Louisiana: Eyeglass prescriptions are valid for 1.5 years. 

• Florida: Notably, Florida stands out with a prescription validity of 5 years. 

When do contact lens prescriptions expire? 

Much like milk, gym memberships, your car’s extended warranty, and your commitment to meal prepping, contact lens prescriptions don’t last forever. And let’s clear something up. There’s a difference between validity and expiration. 

• Validity = How long your prescription is good for. Most states give you 1 to 2 years before you need a fresh one. 

• Expiration = The moment your prescription is no longer valid, meaning you legally can’t use it to order new lenses. 

How long is a prescription good for? At least 1 year in some states, 1.5 years in others, and 2 years in the rest. Why? Because your eyes are constantly evolving, even if you don’t notice it. Sticking with an expired prescription could mean wearing lenses that don’t fit quite right, leading to your vision slowly (or quickly) betraying you. 

The bottom line? Keep your prescription current and your vision sharp. Whether you book an eye exam or opt for a quick online renewal, always do your best to avoid vision-related sadness. 

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!