Eye-test for new lenses - £55?!

W99

Hi. I've been wearing monthly disposable lenses for over 2 years, the same prescription throughout. However, I have just run out, so need to buy some more, but none of the online sites will let me purchase as I don't have an up-to-date prescription.

I just contacted Boots Opticians to arrange an eye-test for a new prescription, and they say I need an general eye-test first (£20) to determine my prescription, and then need a second test to determine my suitability for contacts (£35). I told them I've been wearing lenses for 2 years so I know I'm 'suitable', but they say they won't sell me any lenses if I don't have the second test.

Is this right? Couldn't I simply use the prescription from the first eye-test to purchase new lenses? Otherwise it's going to cost me £55, and that's before I even purchase the actual lenses!

Thanks in advance for any replies.

emlou2009

i work for specsavers, and before we are allowed to dispense lenses, both the eye test and the contact lens check need to take place. it is actually illegal to dispense lenses without both tests in place. a contact lens check needs to take place yearly unless deemed otherwise by the contact lens optician, while the eye test is generally yearly.

the reason being that the eye test focuses on the health of the eyes and obviously gives you the prescription for glasses, but the contact lens prescription contains details of the fit of the lenses, and it is quite common for a different strength prescription to be issued for contacts and glasses. it can be damaging for the eyes if the wrong fit is worn, and you wouldnt always notice an issue.

timmmers

The main reason for a regular eye exam when using contacts is to check for damage caused by over wearing them...blood vessels growing in the eye (due to lack of oxygen caused by the lenses) can reduce vision permenantly, and corneal damage can also result from this and sleeping in them as some people do.

It's prudent to have an eye exams for those reasons alone. If you DO cause damage no-one will sell you contacts and you won't be able to wear them anyway as they will hurt too much. A friend has this situation and had to have laser eye surgery instead (which isn't worth it according to him).

There are companies online that sell contacts without asking for a yearly prescription ..but given that you only get one set of eyes per lifetime it's worth a check up and renewed prescription anyway IMO. Boots sound a tad greedy to me...have you shopped around ?

t

Silaqui

There are often vouchers around for Dolland and Aitheson for free eye tests, not sure if included a contact lens assessment though.

I'd def get it done as they do need to be well fitted and of the correct prescription.