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updated 4/22/2008
Are prescriptions required?Yes. As of November 9, 2005, the FDA considers cosmetic contact lenses to be medical devices and must be sold only with the involvement of a Eye Care Professional. That means a valid doctor's prescription is required for all lenses including plano (non-powered lenses) because it tells us that you've been fitted for contacts and have received instruction in lens usage and care. Please fax or e-mail your prescription with your contact lens order. If you can not locate your prescription, please tell us your doctor's name and fax number and we will contact them on your behalf. How do I send you my prescription?Your or your doctor may fax to us at (866) 268-2546, or you can e-mail a scan of it to us. We'll send you an order confirmation after we receive your prescription. If you don't get a confirmation within 8 hours of sending your prescription, please notify us. No confirmation = no progress on your order. Once we have your prescription, we'll keep it on file until it expires so you don't need to resend it while it remains valid for re-orders. Why didn't I get a confirmation?Either we didn't receive your prescription, or our message to you got caught by one of your filters. Your system may not recognize our address so check to make sure we're not being blocked. How long will it take to get my order?Orders for Idol Eyes and Cosmic Eyes styles ship the next business day (Monday-Friday) after we receive your completed order and prescription. For standard UPS Ground shipping, please allow one week from the time you place your order for your lenses to arrive. Orders placed on Thursdays or Fridays with 2nd Day or Overnight shipping will not arrive until the following week. Orders for Immortal Eyes and powered custom lenses require 3-4 weeks for manufacturing and shipping because each pair is hand painted. Expedited shipping will *not* shorten the manufacturing time which cannot be rushed. It will only move your package faster once the lenses are complete. What do I do when I receive my order?When you receive your custom lenses, you must inspect them as carefully as possible *prior* to opening the vials. (The label can make this somewhat tricky, but you can usually see the lenses through the bottom of the vial.) Check for things such as wrong color or design, discoloration, deformed shape, and cuts or tears. Problems are rare, but if you notice anything unusual, keep the vials sealed, and immediately contact us to explain the problem. We will work to resolve the issue and make sure you are a happy cosplayer. Keeping the vials sealed is very important because once they've been opened, it's harder to say whether the problem was pre-existing or user inflicted. If no issue is apparent, open the vials and try your lenses. Wash your hands, and pour the lens into your palm instead of trying to "dig" it out of the vial which can damage the lens. See "How long will these lenses last?" for more info. Do I have to be fitted for these contacts?Contacts cannot be purchased in the United States without a current prescription. We recommend that you consult your eye care professional for a fitting, especially if you've never worn contact lenses. Your doctor will instruct you in wearing and caring for your lenses which is crucial for the health of your eyes and for maximizing the lifespan of your contacts. Mishandling the lenses can easily result in damaging them. (See: How long will these lenses last?) Our Idol Eyes and Cosmic Eyes (stock) contacts are all median base curve like most national brands. They fit 98% of people. Immortal Eyes can be made within a small range of base curves, and the scleral designs come only in base curve 10. Do these lenses come in powered versions?Some lenses are available in powered versions and are indicated by a purple text link. We cannot fill toric or other highly specialized needs because our supplier carries only spherical lenses. You must fax ((866) 268-2546) or e-mail your current contact lens prescription with doctor's signature to us to have your order processed; scans of the labels on your contact lens boxes will not suffice. Cosmic and Idol Eyes are stocked in powers up to -6.00 with a base curve of 8.6. Most Immortal Eyes designs can be made in a range of powers up to -10 in base curve 8.6 or 9.0. Be aware that some designs/colors don't take well to some prescription lenses, and we'd notify you if our supplier informs us that something won't work. I need a power in order to see properly. Can I wear these lenses over my own contacts?Eye care professionals recommend against layering (piggybacking) contact lenses for health and safety reasons. If you choose to do it, you do so at your own risk, and we will not assume any liability. How are these contact lenses different from regular ones?Theatrical lenses are painted with special pigments to disguise the color of your own eyes. Some styles can be translucent while others are opaque. Because of the dyes, theatrical lenses tend to be thicker than normal, unpainted ones. Unless otherwise noted, each style has a small area in the center with no pigment so that you can see. The area doesn't change size in response to light like your own pupils do so the lenses can affect your vision with what is described as a "haze" depending on the lighting situation. A few designs have a very tiny pupil which increases the haze factor so be extra cautious of your surroundings if you choose to wear one of these styles. I want to get sclera lenses. How are they different from regular ones?Regular contact lenses cover only the colored part of your eye, the iris, but scleral lenses are much larger and also cover the white part of your eye, the sclera. For this reason, we urge you to see your optometrist for a proper fitting before you order scleral contact lenses. Your unique eyes may or may not be suited to wearing this type of lens which is 20 to 22mm in diameter. Because they are bigger than regular lenses, scleral contacts can be difficult to insert. Be prepared to practice. Abundant lubrication (eyedrops made for contact lenses) is also recommended. Limit wear time to a maximum of 4 or 5 hours, and use contact-safe eyedrops often. Scleral lenses may also diminish your vision more than regular theatrical contacts because in addition to having a fixed, small "pupil," the large diameter of the lenses themselves prevents them from having the same range of motion as your eyeballs. This vision hindrance compounds the effects of the "haze" (also present in other theatrical lenses) which varies from slight to extreme depending on the amount of available light. Avoid wearing them in low light situations, or exercise extreme caution if you must enter a dim area. How are cosmetic lenses different from standard contacts?Cosmic Eyes are cosmetic lenses that give you a new look without the shocking effect of the unusual theatrical lenses. They are designed to have the appearance of normal eyes in several colors. Each style can disguise the color of your own eyes, and they work on dark eyes, too. The Color Max series is the most opaque, offering the most vibrant colors of the three cosmetic types on our Cosmic Eyes page. The Venus line uses a similar patterning to the Color Max, but the colors are non-opaque for a more realistic effect. The Bella series is semi-translucent and uses a completely different color patterning for a blended yet striking effect. Be aware that the brightness of color on any lens can be a result of your computer monitor which recreates images using light and can impart a "glowing" quality which doesn't really exist in the actual product. These are stock lenses, but some powers are available. (See: Do these lenses come in powered versions?) Does 'NO VISION' really mean that I can't see?Yes. Any design that covers the pupil will block your ability to see. Anyone wearing blind or 'no vision' contacts should exercise extreme caution to prevent accidents or injury: being accompanied by a sighted friend at all times, exploring the photo shoot location beforehand, carrying lens solution & storage case for on-the-spot lens removal, avoiding fast-moving or risky activities. My eye exam was good, but I cannot wear the costume lenses comfortably after several days of trying. Am I stuck with these contacts?We sometimes offer refunds, but only on stock lenses, not custom. Only glass vials with seals intact are eligible for refund. Opened items cannot be returned. If you think an item may be defective, please contact us for instructions to return it for inspection. If we determine the item is defective, we will send a replacement. See: What do I do when I receive my order? Can I sleep in these lenses?No. All of our lenses are daily or occasional wear, and we do not recommend sleeping with them on. Besides, you're asleep, and no one can see your cool contacts with your eyes closed. How long will these lenses last?Idol and Immortal Eyes will last one to two years if properly cared for. Cosmic Eyes are rated for about 3 months of daily wearing. Be careful to avoid pinching the lenses when removing them from your eyes. Causing them to fold weakens the material and leads to tearing. Avoid "digging" the lenses out of the vials when you first receive them because it's too easy to damage them with your fingernail that way. Instead, set up your area with a washcloth or hand towel, contact solution, and mirror; and pour the lens into the palm of your clean hand over the towel. Rinse with solution before inserting to your eye. Keep lenses in solution when not wearing so they don't dry out. Change solution in storage case every month while storing lenses. After one year of wearing, handling, and cleaning, the lens material may begin to wear out and become more susceptible to tearing. They may also begin to cause discomfort when none was felt previously. This is normal for contact lenses approaching the end of their lifespan. Are these lenses FDA approved?Yes, all lenses we sell have FDA approval. What type of solution should I use?We recommend using a multi-purpose solution that will clean, disinfect, and rinse all at once. Our contact lenses ship with wear & care instructions. Can I share my lenses with someone else?No! This increases the chance of eye infection. How long can I wear the theatrical lenses?Theatrical lenses are made for occasional wear, up to 4 hours - for parties and special events such as conventions and photo shoots. Why do you have ads for other contact lens sites?Cosplay Lab believes we offer the best customer service in the industry at competitive prices. We want you to compare our service to that of other sites and remind you that you get what you pay for. We don't advertise artificially low prices, or display products that are no longer available. We hope you'll agree Cosplay Lab is the easiest and friendliest site to buy theatrical contacts online. |
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