Coastal Reports Record Results in 2009


Sales Grew 18% to $140 Million and Adjusted EBITDA Increased to $8 Million

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 16, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coastal Contacts
Inc. ("Coastal" or "the Company") (TSX:COA) (Stockholm:COA) today announced its
financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended October 31,
2009. Sales for the 2009 fiscal year increased 18% to a record of $140 million
compared with $119 million in 2008. Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2009 increased
122% to $8.0 million compared with $3.6 million for fiscal 2008. Net earnings
for the 2009 fiscal year increased to $2.7 million or $0.05 per share compared
with a loss of $0.8 million or $0.01 per share in fiscal 2008. 

Sales for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased 18% to $37.7 million versus
$32.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Adjusted EBITDA during the quarter
increased to $2.8 million compared to $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of
2008. Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2009 were $0.6 million or $0.01
per share, compared with $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share in the fourth quarter
of 2008. The Company incurred a one-time expense of $0.9 million or $0.02 per
share in costs associated with the listing of the Company's stock on the Nasdaq
OMX Stockholm exchange in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009. 

 The Company noted the following annual financial highlights for fiscal
 2009:

 * Sales grew 18% or $21 million to $140 million.
 * Total order volume of approximately 1.4 million orders.
 * Gross margins improved 200 basis points to 30.6% of sales
   compared with 28.6% in fiscal 2008.
 * Sales, General and Administrative expenses ("SG&A") improved as
   a percent of sales to 12% as compared to 13% in fiscal 2008.
 * Adjusted EBITDA grew 122% over the previous year to $8.0
   million.

 Highlights for fourth fiscal quarter of 2009:

 * Sales increased by 18% to $37.7 million compared with $32.0
   million in Q4 2008.
 * Gross margin grew to 31.2% of sales as compared to 29.6% for the
   same period in 2008.
 * Advertising remained relatively constant at 12% of sales.
 * SG&A improved to 11.4% of sales from 12.3% of sales for the same
   period in 2008.
 * Adjusted EBITDA was $2.8 million, an increase of 70% over the
   same period in 2008.

 Additional highlights included:

 * Cash balance of $11.5 million and no bank debt at the end of
   fiscal 2009.
 * Acquired and cancelled 1.4 million common shares of the Company
   at an average price of $0.83 per share during 2009.
 * Successfully listed Coastal common shares on Nasdaq OMX
   Stockholm.

Mr. Roger Hardy, Coastal's President and CEO, commented, "We believe the
results achieved by Coastal in 2009 are indicative of initiatives undertaken by
the Company over the past few years to provide a healthy balance between growth
and return on shareholders' equity. 

Our core contact lens category continues to produce a stable and predictable
recurring revenue stream. We continue to invest in becoming the global market
leader in the sale of eyeglasses over the Internet. The value proposition of
our revolutionary eyeglasses offering continues to resonate well with consumers
who are seeking alternatives to traditional channels. We are making significant
investments designed to ensure we capitalize on this great opportunity." 

Coastal Contacts will host a conference call to review the financial results
and Company operations on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 9:30am PST.
Participating in the call will be Roger Hardy, Chairman and CEO and Glen Kayll,
CFO. 

 To attend the call, participants may dial:

 Local/International         1-785-424-1051
 North American Toll Free    1-800-862-9098
 Sweden Toll Free            02-079-9847

 A replay of the call will be available for 7 days. To access the replay 
 listeners may dial:

 Local/International         416-915-1035
 Passcode                    791708

The following selected financial information is qualified in its entirety by,
and should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial
statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and accompanying notes
and Management's Discussion and Analysis which will be available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. 

Coastal's risks and uncertainties are discussed in detail in the Company's
Annual Information Form dated January 29, 2009, and the Company's Nasdaq OMX
Stockholm Listing Prospectus dated October 14, 2009 which is also available on
SEDAR. 

Adjusted EBITDA as referenced in this news release is a Non-GAAP financial
measure defined as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and
amortization, share based compensation expense, foreign exchange, listing costs
and restructuring charges. See "Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures" herein. 



 COASTAL CONTACTS INC.
 October 31, 2009 and 2008

 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 ($000's, except share amounts)


 As at October 31                                     2009      2008
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 ASSETS
 Current
 Cash and cash equivalents                          $ 11,532  $ 15,206
 Accounts receivable                                   7,965     7,336
 Inventory                                            15,701     9,495
 Prepaid expenses                                      1,532     1,693
 Future income tax                                       109       157
 Due from related parties                                374       361
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      37,213    34,248
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Property, equipment and leasehold improvements        2,813     3,038
 Intangible assets                                     9,517    11,061
 Goodwill                                              7,757     7,908
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    $ 57,300  $ 56,255
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 LIABILITIES
 Current
 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities           $ 17,890  $ 18,881
 Income tax payable                                      615        --
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      18,505    18,881
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Long-term lease inducement                               18        79
 Future income tax                                     3,614     3,825
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      22,137    22,785
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Share capital
   Authorized:
     Unlimited  common shares without par value
     Unlimited Class A preferred shares without
      par value
   Issued and outstanding:
     56,901,719 common shares [2008 - 58,318,643]     40,248    41,250
 Contributed surplus                                   2,294     1,600
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss                 (3,482)   (2,904)
 Deficit                                              (3,897)   (6,476)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      35,163    33,470
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    $ 57,300  $ 56,255
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------


 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
 ($000's, except share and per share amounts)


 Years ended October 31                    2009                2008
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Sales                                 $  139,870          $  118,759
 Cost of sales                             97,009              84,785
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Gross profit                              42,861              33,974
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Advertising                               18,098              14,523
 Selling, general and administration       16,758              15,854
 Share-based compensation                     694                 627
 Amortization on property, equipment
  and leasehold improvements                  996               1,237
 Amortization on intangible assets          1,589               1,343
 Foreign exchange (gains) losses             (110)                102
 Interest income, net                         (67)               (547)
 Listing costs                                906                  --
 Restructuring charges                         --                 844
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Earnings (loss) before income taxes        3,997                  (9)
 Income tax expense - current               1,286                 908
 Income tax expense - future                  (36)               (131)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Net earnings (loss)                        2,747                (786)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------


 Basic earnings (loss) per share       $     0.05           $   (0.01)
 Diluted earnings (loss) per share     $     0.05           $   (0.01)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

  Weighted average number of common 
   shares outstanding

   Basic                               57,559,629          64,559,267
   Diluted                             57,869,238          64,559,267
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures 

Coastal reports its results in accordance with Canadian GAAP, however in this
release presents adjusted EBITDA and the number of orders shipped because the
Company believes its investors use these figures to make investment decisions
about the Company. 

These non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by
Canadian GAAP and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures
presented by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition
to, and not as a substitute for, net earnings, cash flows and other measures of
financial performance and liquidity reported in accordance with Canadian GAAP. 

Adjusted EBITDA is a measure Coastal believes is useful in assessing
performance and highlighting trends on an overall basis. Adjusted EBITDA
differs from the most comparable GAAP measure, net earnings, primarily because
it does not include interest, income taxes, amortization, foreign exchange
gains or losses, exchange listing and restructuring cost and share-based
compensation expense. 

The following table provides a reconciliation of net earnings to Adjusted
EBITDA: 



                                   -----------------------------------
 ($000's)                           2009         2008         2007
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Net earnings (loss)               2,747        (786)        1,625
 Depreciation and amortization     2,585       2,580         2,032
 Interest income, net                (67)       (547)         (833)
 Income tax expense - current      1,286         908           901
 Income tax expense (recovery)
  - future                           (36)       (131)           62
 Share-based compensation            694         627           443
 Foreign exchange (gain) loss       (110)        102           (37)
 Listing costs (2009) and 
  restructuring costs (2008)         906         844            --
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Adjusted EBITDA                   8,005       3,597         4,193
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification of Payment Processing (credit card) Charges 

Beginning the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009 and to conform with industry
practice, Coastal began classifying costs associated with processing payments,
including those related to credit cards, to selling, general and administrative
expenses. Traditionally these costs were recorded in cost of goods sold and
have consistently ranged between 1.2-1.5% of sales each fiscal quarter.
Comparative figures will be adjusted in the future to reflect this reporting. 

About Coastal Contacts Inc.: 

Coastal Contacts Inc. is the world's leading direct-to-consumer vision products
company which designs, produces and distributes a diversified offering of
contact lenses and eyeglasses. The Company's unique combination of branded and
private label products represent quality, value and above all, service. Coastal
sells into more than 150 countries through proprietary web properties which
reflect the culture and consumer preference of the target market. As new
markets for eyeglasses and contact lenses evolve, the Company is positioned to
become the vision product consumer's retailer of choice owing to its compelling
value proposition combining value and service. A leader in many of its markets,
Coastal is rapidly advancing toward its goal of becoming the "World's Optical
Store". 

Forward-looking statements 

All statements made in this news release and analysis, other than statements of
historical fact, are forward-looking statements. 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 statements. Examples of such forward looking
statements within this document include statements relating to: our perception
of the contact lens industry or market and anticipated trends in that market in
any of the countries in which we do business; our anticipated ability to
procure products, or the terms under which we may procure our products; our
anticipated business operations, inventory levels, ability to handle specific
order and call volumes, ability to fill and timely ship orders, ability to
achieve greater marketing efficiency or similar statements; our relationships
with suppliers; our anticipated results of operations, including but not
limited to anticipated sales, revenues, earnings, tax benefits or similar
matters; sufficiency of cash flows; and our perceptions regarding volatility in
and impact of foreign currency exchange rates. 

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

Persons reading this news release are cautioned that forward-looking statements
or information are only predictions, and that our actual future results or
performance may be materially different due to a number of factors. These
factors include, but are not limited to: changes in the market; potential
downturns in economic conditions; consumer credit risk; our ability to
implement our business strategies; competition; limited suppliers; inventory
risk; disruption in our distribution facilities; mergers and acquisitions;
foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory requirements; demand
for contact lenses and related vision care products; competition and dependence
on the internet and other risks detailed in our filings with the Canadian and
Swedish securities regulatory authorities. Reference should be made to the
section entitled "Risk Factors" contained in our most recently filed Annual
Information Form dated January 29, 2009 and our listing prospectus, dated
October 14, 2009 and filed with the Swedish Regulatory Agency, both of which
are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com., for a detailed description of the
risks and uncertainties relating to our business. These risks, as well as
others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
of this news release and we expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements, unless we specifically state otherwise
and except as required by applicable law. 

CONTACT:  Coastal Contacts Inc. 
          Terry Vanderkruyk, Vice President, Corporate Development
          604.676.4498
          terryv@coastalcontacts.com