If your contact lenses were flagged as "medication," that's because contact lenses are an FDA-regulated medical device, not a medicine. They can be forwarded, but shipments to the US need the right medical-device information to clear customs.
Why Contact Lenses Are Treated as a Medical Device
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates contact lenses — including non-prescription cosmetic lenses — as medical devices. That means a shipment to the US has to carry the details the FDA uses to identify the device and confirm it's authorized for import.
What You'll Need to Provide
To ship contact lenses to the US, have the following ready:
- A copy of your contact lens prescription.
- The manufacturer's full name and address.
- The lenses' FDA device registration and listing details, including the 510(k) number where one applies.
Your courier may ask for specific device identifiers on top of these. If you're missing anything, contact us before you ship and we'll tell you exactly what's required.
If you have further questions, please contact our Customer Experience team.