Eyeglass prescriptions don't last forever. Before you order new glasses, it's worth checking the date on yours.
The short answer
Most eyeglass prescriptions in the U.S. are valid for one to two years from the date of your exam. The exact length depends on your state's rules and on your eye doctor, who may set a shorter expiration if your eyes are changing, for example with children or with certain health conditions.
Where to find the expiration date
Look near the top or bottom of your prescription for an issue date or exam date, and often an expiration date or "valid until" line. If only the exam date is listed, ask your eye doctor's office how long it's valid.
Why prescriptions expire
- Vision changes. Nearsightedness often increases in kids and teens, and close-up focus gradually declines in your 40s and beyond.
- Eye health checks. A regular eye exam is about more than your prescription. It's also a chance to catch problems early.
You have a right to your prescription
Under the Federal Trade Commission's Eyeglass Rule, your eye doctor has to give you a copy of your eyeglass prescription after your eye exam, at no extra cost, whether or not you ask for it. You don't have to buy glasses from the same office. If you've lost your copy, call the office and ask for another.
What if mine has expired?
If your prescription is past its expiration date, or if things look blurry through your current glasses, book an eye exam before you order. Glasses made from an outdated prescription may not give you your best vision.
At checkout, you can enter the date on your prescription. We'll flag it if it's more than two years old so you can double-check.
Contacts are different
A contact lens prescription is separate from your eyeglass prescription and can't be used to order glasses. See can you use a contact prescription for glasses?
Have a current prescription? Shop all frames. Everyday frames are $79 and safety frames are $149, with single vision lenses.
