specsavers have my prescription/nhs voucher question (and contact trial question)

nedmundo

Midnight_Tboy wrote: »

Hmmmm I wonder if Tescos do the contact lens prescription tests too for free

Why would they?

suki1964

Midnight_Tboy wrote: »

Thanks for the info.

I wasn't given any lenses to walk around for an hour or so yet....as it was a case of having the test, then saying I'll come back at the weekend (was going to go today actually but we've slept in lol)

Ok...so they won't give me a contact lens subscription without charging then...unless I get a direct debit with them. Can you choose how frequently you want lenses with a direct debit? So monthly, or is it every quarter a 3 month supply like other websites seem to sell?

I hope to use daily disposables (toric lenses, so supposedly £35 per 30 pairs with specsavers) but as a I would most likely only use them say 3 or 4 times a week, if its quarterly then after a few deliveries I'd end up having way more than I need.


Hmmmm I wonder if Tescos do the contact lens prescription tests too for free

Theres a great saying - you get nothing free in life - and that includes contact lens trials

They only become free if you sign up for the direct debit schemes.

Contact lens fitting isnt an exact science. Its not a question of having a test then a set of lenses are given to you and away you go, esp if you have astigmatism - it can take lots of trials before you get a lens that suits you - and all that cost money which no optician is going to be able to write off

Dont pin your hopes on being able to get daily torics either. Depending on your particular prescription you may only be able to get monthlies. I have torics, its taken two years of trials of lenses and now the only ones that I can tolerate that fit my prescription are 30day continuous wear ones which I can still only tolerate for uoto eight hours a day

Midnight_Tboy

nedmundo wrote: »

Why would they?

Just because tescos site says free eye tests....nothing about contact lens eye tests being excluded.......anyways...

i suppose best bet re contact lenses is basically sticking with a direct debit for 6 months or more or however long it takes to get settled....then once settled I can then look elsewhere.

Are the direct debits monthly though, or quarterly?

As presumably if you bought 3 months supply at a time, then they wanted you to change, there'd be a lot of waste lenses. Monthly would of course be better

nedmundo

Midnight_Tboy wrote: »

Just because tescos site says free eye tests....nothing about contact lens eye tests being excluded.......anyways...

Oops - forgot about that gets off his high horse and slinks away - apologies!

Midnight_Tboy

lol no need to apologise.....just as someone who rarely ever bothers to get his eyes tested (around once every 5 yrs....or rather just when I need new glasses after kids sat on them)....means I know nothing about the differences between contact lens and regular prescriptions until now......

...I take it though that that contact lens tests aren't included at tesco then Will be sure to ask as hope to pop in there tomorrow or tuesday at some point for a regular shop before I head to specsavers

GlasweJen

Opticians who offer a direct debit scheme usually have 2 or 3 levels for daily disposible wearers. People who plan on wearing them all the time sign up to get 90 pairs every 3 months, some people sign up for 60 pairs every 3 months and others go for 30 pairs every 3 months.

Usually if you accumulate more you can call up and suspend your direct debit until you've used them up, if you use up too many you can order more to tide you over until your next dispatch.

Boots were advertising a free, no obligation, contact lens fit not long back but I'm not sure if this is a scottish promotion as they are doing £5 sight tests down in England?

ETA don't be tempted to buy lenses from the internet, I know there are some on this site who do and who may flame me for this but I've seen so many people with dodgy lenses who get infections that last for months, one who needed referred to a hospital because the fluid her lenses came in was peroxide and it burned the front of her eyes.

If you do buy online buy from a reputable company, either a name from the high street or the manufacturers direct (I know in certain circumstances Johnson and Johnson do private sales).

alleyes

I think it all depend who you go to. Im with Vision Express. U pay for the intial fitting appointment (lens options and suitability are discussed,and lenses are fitted, if sucessful you are taught how to insert/remove lenses and then given 5 pairs to trial). U then return in a weeks time for an aftercare appointment (where the lens fit/vision/comfort are reviewed). Usually there is a single payment for both the fitting and aftercare appointments. If you are happy with the lenses you can choose whether to join the direct debit scheme or pay as you go. There are many more benefits of joining the direct debit scheme but you do have a choice and the right to take the contact lens prescription elswhere. As other forum users have commented above, it is better to buy from the place where you have them tested, saves potential problems in the future. Although the direct debit scheme prices may not match the internet- youre paying for one-to-one service and all future eye exams and contact lens aftercare appointments are included, and spare lenses if you require them. I think if you want the best for the health of your eyes, and to ensure that the lenses you are using are correct its better to buy and recieve good aftercare from reliable sources.

GlasweJen

Most direct debits also have solutions included.

Is it optical express or vision express who give you 30% off glasses when you're on their contact lens direct debit scheme?

elsien

I didn't have to pay anything or fill in any direct debits for my contact lens trial with specsavers- I didn't even do the eye test with them, just took in the prescription I'd had done elsewhere.
I got the trial contacts and the lens cleaner solution and was given a week to go away and try them out. I decided they weren't for me, but presumably if at the end of the week I'd decided to carry on, that's when the charges etc would have come into it. The week's trial itself didn't cost a penny.

TheSavingGuru

I find the best place to buy new glasses online is speckfoureyes they are amazing and have great prices. You will need your full prescription and also need to ask for your pupil distance as this os something they don't normally put on your prescription.

:-)