Contact Lense Question

[greyhound31]

I had a contact lense exam on 23rd January 2009 and because I did not have the monthly plan I had to pay £40 for the privelege. The optician gave me a new type of lense and different strength to try but never issued a prescription.

I then called a week later to get my perscription so I could get my lenses elsewhere but they stated that as I had not had a fitting they could not send me the perscription. I left it until today and called back asking again for my perscription and stated the comfort of the freebies they had given me were fine. They said again that I needed a fitting, but I had all the examinations before and refuse to pay another £40 to go back in for 10 minutes for a fitting.

Am I missing something or should I of been given my perscription. Surely it cant cost me anopther £40 for the privelege to be able to actually order some lenses.

Any help would be appreciated.

[dieselhead]

I don't know about the cost as I have always been on a contact lens plan, but following a new lens or solution they will need to check the fit, it is not enough for you to say that they are comfortable, they need to check how they sit on your eye and how your eyes are reacting to the solution. (I had a reaction to the solution, without knowing!).

Normally you will have an initial fitting, (I assume this is what you have had) then you will have a check a week or two later to see how your eyes are holding up and how they are reacting to wearing contacts after a little time. If there is an issue (one that you have noticed or otherwise) you may have to return again following changes to the lens or solution.

You will probably then require at first 6 monthly checkups then they may be spaced further apart once the optician is happy.

(The above is based on having worn contacts for 10 years I don't have any training)

[Running Horse]

I had to pay £40 for the privelege.Do you work for nothing?

[NoAngel]

I would have thought that the fitting would come as part of the eye exam, I'm sure it does for me. Why not go into the optician and ask if they can explain properly to you?

[Pssst]

They are required by law to give you a copy of your script after your eye test. Thats the law. They are deliberately obstructing you becuase you have the temerity to buy your lenses elsewhere.

[dieselhead]

They are required by law to give you a copy of your script after your eye test. Thats the law. They are deliberately obstructing you becuase you have the temerity to buy your lenses elsewhere.

That is true but I don't think they have finished the test, contacts have to be fitted over a couple of weeks, as initially they don't know how your eyes will adapt to a brand of lens or solution. It sounds to me like the OP has had the initial test and consultation, and is currently testing the lenses, the fit and also her eye's reaction will need to be checked after a couple of weeks wear. When she goes back assuming her eyes are fine, problems are not always apparent to the lens wearer, she should be able to pick up her script. Also in my experience the prescription is a little different to that for glasses as it is much more specific to lens and solution type.

[Pssst]

No,they are smokescreening. The eye test is just that, an eye test. You could just as well argue that if you were having glasses,they wont give you the prescription without you buying glasses and having them fitted.

An eye test is an eye test.

dispensing and fitting is another thing.

[dieselhead]

No,they are smokescreening. The eye test is just that, an eye test. You could just as well argue that if you were having glasses,they wont give you the prescription without you buying glasses and having them fitted.

An eye test is an eye test.

dispensing and fitting is another thing.

This is not an eye test though it is a contact lens test, an prescription for glasses is different to that for contact lenses as they are closer to the eye and generally weaker and also require a different battery of tests to those for a standard eye test. Also the prescription should include a type of lens and solution this cannot be determined until they have been worn for a few days in case a reaction occurs. I don't see how an optician can confidently give a prescription until the follow up appointment has taken place.

This has been discussed on the contact lens forum.

[Pssst]

I have been wearing contact lenses for years. I currently use daily disposables. I get my eye test at my practitioner and pick up my script and then order them on line. I know shes frosty about it but she has no choice. The reason why i do this is that the likes of Johnson and johnson (Acuciew) have been running a protectionist cartel for years and are in cahoots with opticians. I use daysoft. They are as good as acuview at a fraction of the cost.

[nedmundo]

I have been wearing contact lenses for years. I currently use daily disposables. I get my eye test at my practitioner and pick up my script and then order them on line. I know shes frosty about it but she has no choice. The reason why i do this is that the likes of Johnson and johnson (Acuciew) have been running a protectionist cartel for years and are in cahoots with opticians. I use daysoft. They are as good as acuview at a fraction of the cost.

I disagree with that. I can buy certain Contact Lenses cheaper online than cost price direct from manufacturers. It's a quantity discount thing.

Eye tests and contact lens checks are 2 distinctly different procedures. You may be getting both combined at the same time, but will be charged for the privilege of contact lens checks.

[suki1964]

No,they are smokescreening. The eye test is just that, an eye test. You could just as well argue that if you were having glasses,they wont give you the prescription without you buying glasses and having them fitted.

An eye test is an eye test.

dispensing and fitting is another thing.

In this case the OP hasnt yet been prescribed a lens because she hasnt been for her fitting. She is a new lens wearer and she needs to have been given a sample pair to trial then go back to check the fitting and get an eye exam. If all is OK then she will be issued her script to do with as she pleases.

Lens fittings are not an exact science and although you get an eye test before hand its just a starting point because there are so many differing types of lenses around. I had to trial about 5 different types before the best make were found for me. Thats when my prescription was written