Coastal.com Renews Normal Course Issuer Bid

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 20, 2013) - Coastal Contacts Inc. ("Coastal.com" or "the Company") (TSX:COA)(NASDAQ:COA), the leading online retailer of glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses, announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") has accepted Coastal.com's notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB") for its common shares (the "Common Shares") through the facilities of the TSX and other Canadian markets, as well as the NASDAQ Market. As of September 24, 2013, Coastal.com may commence making purchases of up to a maximum of 2,377,378 Common Shares, which represents approximately 9% of Coastal.com's public float. Any Common Shares acquired will be purchased at the market price up to a maximum of 8,825 Common Shares per day, which represents 25% of the Company's average daily trading volume of 35,300 Common Shares, for the duration of the NCIB, subject to the block purchase exemption. All Common Shares acquired by Coastal.com pursuant to the NCIB will be cancelled following purchase.

Coastal.com is conducting the NCIB in order to ensure that it has the flexibility to purchase its Common Shares if it determines that, as a result of a difference in the fundamental value of the Common Shares and the market price thereof, it is in the best interests of the Company to do so.

The NCIB will terminate on the earlier of the date determined by Coastal.com or September 23, 2014. As at the date of this News Release, Coastal.com has 32,458,271 Common Shares issued and outstanding. Coastal.com has not purchased any of its Common Shares within the past twelve months.

About Coastal.com

Coastal.com is the leading manufacturer and online retailer of eyewear products offered through a family of world class websites. Established in 2000, the Coastal.com family of brands provides customers with an extensive, in stock selection of prescription eyewear, contact lenses and sunglasses. Coastal.com's vision is to provide our customers with stylish high quality eyewear quickly, so they can see everything life has to offer. For more information about Coastal.com (NASDAQ:COA), visit www.coastal.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements made in this News Release which are not current statements or historical facts constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or in releases made by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, all as may be amended from time to time, and the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "goal", "target", "should", "likely", "potential", "continue", "project", "forecast", "prospects", and similar expressions typically are used to identify forward-looking information and statements. Examples of such forward-looking information and statements within this News Release include, but are not limited to, information and statements relating to: Coastal.com's intentions to purchase Common Shares under the NCIB; all statements made in the News Release which are not current statements or historical facts constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or in releases made by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission, all as may be amended from time to time, and the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "goal", "target", "should", "likely", "potential", "continue", "project", "forecast", "prospects", and similar expressions typically are used to identify forward-looking information and statements. Examples of such forward-looking information and statements within this News Release include information and statements relating to: Coastal.com's perceptions of the contact lens and eyeglasses industry or market and anticipated trends in that market in any of the countries in which Coastal.com does business; Coastal.com's anticipated ability to procure products and supplies, or the terms under which it may procure its products and supplies; Coastal.com's anticipated business operations, inventory levels, ability to handle specific order and call volumes, ability to fill and ship orders in a timely manner, ability to achieve greater marketing efficiency or similar statements; Coastal.com's ability to increase production; Coastal.com's capital expenditure plans; the results of further investments in Coastal.com's retail brands; Coastal.com's relationships with suppliers; Coastal.com's anticipated results of operations, including but not limited to anticipated sales, revenues, earnings, tax benefits or similar matters; the effects of seasonality; sufficiency of cash flows; Coastal.com's perceptions regarding volatility in and impact of foreign currency exchange rates; the effect of the current economic climate on Coastal.com's business and consumer behaviour; and Coastal.com's ability to address challenges and opportunities resulting from current economic conditions.

Forward-looking information and statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about Coastal.com's business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Assumptions underlying Coastal.com's expectations regarding forward - looking information and statements contained within this News Release include, among others: that Coastal.com will maintain its position in the markets it operates in and expand into other markets in a favourable manner; that Coastal.com will have sufficient capital to continue making investments in advertising, inventory, property, equipment and leasehold improvements as well as personnel to support its business and new product lines, including its eyeglasses business; that Coastal.com will be able to generate and maintain sufficient cash flows to support its operations; that Coastal.com will be successful in complying with industry regulatory requirements in British Columbia and other jurisdictions in which it operates; that Coastal will be able to establish and/or maintain necessary relationships with suppliers; and that Coastal.com will retain key personnel. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

You are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Coastal.com's control, that could cause Coastal.com's actual future results or performance to be materially different from those that are disclosed in or implied by the forward-looking information and statements. These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the market; potential downturns in economic conditions; consumer credit risk; Coastal.com's ability to implement its business strategies; competition from traditional and online retailers; limited suppliers; limited availability of inventory; disruption in Coastal's distribution facilities; mergers and acquisitions; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory requirements; demand for contact lenses, eyeglasses and related vision care products; the risk that Coastal.com will not be successful in defending against litigation; dependence on the Internet; and the other risks detailed in Coastal.com's filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information and statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary note.

Forward-looking information and statements in this News Release are made as of the date hereof and Coastal.com expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update such forward-looking information or statements, unless Coastal.com specifically states otherwise or as required by applicable law.

For a complete discussion of the assumptions, risks and uncertainties related to Coastal.com's business, readers are encouraged to review Coastal.com's filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities filed on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.