Contact Lenses Discussion Area

lisyloo

I agree with you nh, but I think it's this kind of thing that Carl is talking about

I would also confirm that I have sometimes used my monthlly disposables for up to five months.

I have also seen on other sites people suggesting ways to get round the checkups e.g. by buying in the US.

I agree that there is no problem with getting lenses on the internet PROVIDING you get the correct aftercare.

Moneysaving is about getting the lowest PRICE you can whilst still maintaining the VALUE you require.
In some cases it's ok to compromise on quality e.g. toilet paper or baked beans and in other cases it is not.
In the case of your own health then I don't think you should compromise for the sake of saving money.

nh

Fair enough, wearing monthly lenses for months at a time is pretty dumb! It just annoys me when people (especially those with a vested financial interest) make sweeping statements ("naive and ill-informed") without backing them up or even explaining just exactly what they mean. It just sounds like sour grapes cos their monopoly is being smashed!

purplemoon

Wish I'd looked at this thread last week and picked up Heat magazine! I have twice taken advantage of the 'new customer' deals, but now only specsavers seem to have one and they have my records!
Does anyone know where the cheapest place for 'aftercare'/ contact lens trials is at the moment?
I too know people that have stretched out their lenses what I think is ridiculous lengths of time too. They have never bought their lenses online though.... I admit I use my dailys for two days in a row sometimes kept in cleaned case with fresh saline. This has always been fine, but I only wear contacts occasionally now.

System

I have to agree with nh and David Griffiths......sit on the fence..not really...

I have been wearing contact lenses for more than 10 years....obviously not the same ones!

Started with Acuvue...but the industry nerly died an early death due to some stupid pillocks who though it was clever to wear the lens for longer than prescribed (which really annoyed me). YOU SHOULD NOT WEAR THE LENSES LONGER THAN PRESCRIBED AS YOU RISK DAMAGING YOUR EYESIGHT!!

Initially I had the Acuvue weekly ones..the idea with these was that you could wear them whilst sleeping (although id didnt)..however, so people kept them in for several weeks or months...in extreme cases they ended up partially blind. The lenses were some withdrawn as the said idiots then sued the companies that made them....dur!

So in the above case I totally agree with David Griffiths and the other optician.

However, I dont agree with their view on cost....i mean as a basic example...i have subscribed to Specsavers 'hit/miss/incompetent' Lensmail for £25/month for Specsavers/Cibavision daily wear contact lenses...i have seen the same ones being advertised on their Sepecsavers Direct site for £59/3 months....£16 more every 3 months...the only difference is that my current deal includes a contact lens check worth £10/year....so my next step to contact specsavers to ascertain why i have been overcharged for the past 3 years! probably get some bull about the shop expense..etc..etc..that i dont visit/they keep moving without telling me....

sonia1963

It's been interesting reading the last 4/5 posts here re cost and idiots who wear their lenses longer than advised.

I've been wearing lenses for 20+ years now and always followed advice. Spent most of that time paying a monthly fee that included aftercare and an annual sight test, plus lenses.

Two years ago I decided to buy my lenses over the internet as I was (still am) in a financial bind. I did wonder, initially, if that would be a good idea, but it's turned out to be the best decision I've made. I still go my regular optician for 6 monthly lens checkups which cost me £10 each time and my sight test is now covered by the NHS as my prescription is absolutely dire (-8.0) ::).

Having spent thousands for what was mainly a 'just in case' measure over the years I'm only sorry I didn't change tack earlier. From my experience I would suggest that buying lenses over the internet and paying for aftercare as required is cheaper than the other options, but then I've had very few problems with my eyes.

lolly5648

Hi Sonia, you said that your sight test is now covered by the NHS because it is -8.00. Do you know at what point that happens as my eyes are -7.75?

Peter-Pan_5

Hi Sonia,

I wish my Prescription was absolutely "Dire" as you put it mines is -20 for contacts and - 27 for glasses, yes I wear contact lenses and are "ripped" off as I have complex lenses.

lolly5648

Reading these posts I've noticed that there seem to be numerous types of contact lenses. Do most opticians have a selection of makes or are they tied in to particular ones?

I assume the Boots and Specsavers will use their own makes so how do you know that you will get the best ones for your eyes.

My eyes are very dry so I assume I need high water content lenses.

wadge

I still go my regular optician for 6 monthly lens checkups which cost me £10 each time and my sight test is now covered by the NHS as my prescription is absolutely dire (-8.0)  ::)

how do you get this? mine is -9.50 ish in both eyes

fairy_godmother

Usually buy my lenses from specsavers direct, but looking round for a new supplier, no reason really just a bit bored, found a couple of sites with deals:
http://www.okvision.co.uk/, 5 pairs dailies free with 3 months daily supply ordered, monthly disposables - order 6 months worth and get 1 month supply free
http://www.simplylenses.com/Default.asp, free bottle of perfume, Hugo Boss/Calvin Klein if u set up a DD. Only fractionally dearer than specsavers anyway - £5 in my case - might well go for the perfume :-*