Wearing contacts for longer than instructed can cause eye irritation, infection, abrasions, and vision issues!

Whether your wear daily, weekly, or monthly disposable contacts, Columbia Eye’s contact lens departments at our four convenient locations are here to make sure you always have a supply of fresh contact lenses. Call or walk-in to ask about annual supply discounts, online reordering and contact lens subscription service that provides refills of your contacts shipped directly to you when you need them.

Daily contacts are designed to throw away after a single use. Never reuse daily contact lenses because they’re not designed to withstand washing and disinfecting. Their thin nature, coupled with the soft, flexible material makes the contacts more breathable and comfortable for the eye, but attempting to clean them can cause scratches and tears, causing serious complications that can threaten your vision.

You should also never sleep in your contacts unless they’re FDA-approved for overnight use (dailies are not). Your eyes need rest, so contact lenses should be worn for about 14 to 16 hours per day or according to your doctor’s advice.  Sleeping in your contacts reduces oxygen supply to your eyes and causes irritation.

Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel before handling your contacts. Harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites on dirty hands contaminate the surface of the soft contacts which will then be transferred to your eyes, exposing you to risk for infection. Dirty hands may also introduce debris, such as dust, which can irritate your eyes.

You should wait to insert your contacts until after completing your morning routine. Washing your face or showering can expose your contacts to germs in tap water. Hair styling with sprays and aerosols can expose your contacts to eye irritating chemicals and hair sprays can form a coating on your contacts, affecting your ability to see.

Makeup products are a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and should be applied after inserting your contacts. Makeup residues from your hands can easily get onto your contacts and potentially cause eye infections.

If your eyes are irritated, remove your contact lenses and let your eyes rest before inserting a new pair. Consult your eye doctor if the irritation persists.

The post What’s the worst thing you can do if you wear contact lenses? appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Buy any complete pair of prescription glasses, get 50% off a pair of prescription sunglasses!

Learn about the benefits of lenses with UV protection, polarization, and anti-reflective treatment.

Offer valid at any of our four optical shop locations through June 30, 2023. Some restrictions may apply.

Walk-in or schedule an appointment at 803-779-3070.

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The post In Our Optical Shops: Buy One, Get One FREE! appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Buying glasses online or from a discount retailer can be risky. Our Optical Shop staff are licensed opticians with the experience and training to fully customize your lenses and frames for your unique vision needs. Don’t gamble your clear vision with DIY virtual or at home try-ons. Walk in or schedule an appointment at the Optical Shops in any of our four convenient locations.

Quality – We use the highest quality frames and lenses available so your glasses will be dependable and attractive long after they’ve been purchased.

Value – We offer expert workmanship on fully customized glasses at prices competitive with big chain stores.

Expert Staff – Our licensed and experienced staff give you personalized care to suit your needs from frame selection to explanations of lens options.

Selection – We offer a large selection of frames and our staff will help you select the frame shape, size and color that looks and fits best on you.

Lens Options – We will demonstrate and explain all the latest lens designs and lens treatments to make your glasses look thinner, feel lighter, eliminate glare, and give better vision.

Warranty – We guarantee all workmanship for one year.

Convenience – We have four locations to serve you and are open on Saturday mornings at our Downtown Columbia location.

The post 7 Good Reasons Our Optical Shop Should Make Your Next Pair of Glasses appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Purchase one complete pair of prescription glasses and receive a FREE frame with the purchase of a second pair of complete prescription glasses!

Walk in or schedule an appointment at any of our optical shop locations to take advantage of this offer.

Valid through December 31, 2022. May not be combined with other offers (value packages, coupons, discounts, and insurance.) Offer excludes Maui Jim. 

The post Free Frames! appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Buy one complete pair of prescription glasses, get a pair of computer glasses of equal or lesser value half off!

Computer lenses provide a wide field of near viewing with clear vision up to five feet – a far greater depth-of-field than offered by conventional reading lenses. With computer glasses, people with presbyopia (age-related loss of near vision) will no longer need to hold their head in awkward positions to see. The lenses are customized so you can hold your head and neck in a natural, comfortable position while enjoying perfect focus.

Offer valid through September 30, 2022 at any of our optical shop locations.

May not be combined with other offers (value packages, coupons, discounts, and insurance.) Not valid for Maui Jim, Costa del Mar, and Enchroma.

The post Get 50% Off Computer Glasses appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Buy one pair of complete prescription glasses, get a pair of sunglasses of equal or lesser value half off!

May not be combined with other offers (value packages, coupons, discounts, and insurance.) Not valid for Maui Jim, Costa del Mar and EnChroma.

Valid through June 30, 2022.

Click to print a coupon or mention the offer at any of our optical shop locations.

The post Buy One Pair of Glasses, Get 50% off Sunglasses appeared first on Columbia Eye.

It only happens once a year–our annual March Madness BOGO optical promotion! Through March 31st, buy one complete pair of prescription glasses and get a second pair of complete prescription glasses of equal or lesser value FREE!!!

Call today to schedule an appointment or walk-in to any of our optical shop locations.

Some restrictions apply. Valid March 1-31, 2022.

The post March Madness BOGO Optical Promo!!! appeared first on Columbia Eye.

We know that you have more on your mind than re-ordering contact lenses. Keeping your contact lenses stocked is important for your eye health and comfort. With Text2Order, we’ll send you a text and you simply text back to confirm your order. Get your contacts delivered right to your door, right on time. You can even pause a shipment if needed and we’ll text a reminder later.

Get started by visiting or calling the Optical Shops at any of our three convenient locations.

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Buy a complete pair of prescription glasses and receive a FREE FRAME with the purchase of a second pair of complete prescription glasses.

Offer valid through December 31, 2021.

May not be combined with other offers (value packages, coupons, discounts and insurance.) Offer excludes Maui Jim.

Walk-in or schedule an appointment at the Optical Shops at any of our three convenient locations to take advantage of the promotional offer.

The post FREE FRAMES!!! appeared first on Columbia Eye.