contact lenses

sc0ttie

Last year I had an eye test and it was decided I needed to wear glasses. Last week, I lost my glasses and it has no occurred to me that I may be better off with contact lenses. I know I can get contact lenses as it was mentioned after my eye test as an option but I wanted to see how I went with the glasses first.

I would like to know what should I have to pay an optician to be fitted with contact lenses? Does it mean I have to have another eye test for contact lenses? I just do not want to go into an opticians and ask for contact lenses and find out that the fitting and everything is too expensive for me to afford right now. Any help or suggestions appreciated.

geri1965_2

Generally you just pay the price of the lenses - fitting and everything is free. There are plenty of places that offer free trials, so it's worth looking around for somewhere you can try them out first.

You will probably need another sight test as your lens prescription will be different to a glasses prescription (for example, I am -10.25 for glasses and something like -9.75 for contact lenses).

Clarieloo

Well if it helps I wear monthly disposable contact lenses. I use Specsavers and aways have done (for 10 years now). If I recall, I had a free trial but did need to pay for another sight test initially (about £20 I think) - but check whether you would need to do this. The monthly lenses cost me £13. You can get £10 per month ones but I pay a little bit extra for extra moisture or something like that). The monthly cost covers the lenses, solution and an annual check up. I also get offers on glasses. I don't even notice £13 a month so I can't complain at all.

daz501

When ever I go for an eye test at SpecSavers, it's about £30 (this was about 2 years ago, mind) and I make it clear to them that I want to buy my own lenses online. They have a very smooth way of trying to hand you over to a sales rep who wants to ease you into buying something.

I actually pay for the prescription, go home, scan it, and order my lenses on a website called SecondSight. They (by law) need to see your prescription which you email to them. Unless I'm mistaken, this is valid for a year. I have the Johnson & Johnson Acuvue daily disposable lenses which work out waaay cheaper.