what help can i get with contact lenses

winterwhite11

hi, i am ill at the moment and claiming esa.
my glasses just broke and i would like to try contact lenses for the first time.
i had a pair of glasses about a year ago and got them free as i was ill and not working...i just wondered if i would also get contact lenses free or just a set amount towards them..
if a set amount then does anyone know how much?
thankyou

skintandscared_2

Looking at the attached, you may well be entitled to an NHS optical voucher. But you will probably find that the voucher will go a lot further on a pair of specs than on contact lenses. If you don't wear daily disposable lenses then you need to factor in quite a bit of money for the solutions and upkeep. And if you do wear daily disposables, you will probably find that the voucher will only cover a few months' worth. What would you do if they ran out and you couldn't afford any more?

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/am-i-entitled-to-an-nhs-optical-voucher.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=157

karenx

Also you might find you don't like lenses and you have already used up your voucher and no way to afford glasses

Pennywise2012

You usually only get the voucher once every two years, so to be honest it sounds like you won't be entitled to another one for another 12 months yet anyway. They're for a fixed amount (depending on your prescription), but it's unlikely to cover the cost of 2 year's worth of contact lenses. It's also a good idea to have a pair of glasses as a backup, in case you get an eye infection or something and can't wear your lenses.

A lot of opticians run free trials on lenses, so personally I think your best bet is to always use the voucher for specs (buy a cheap pair if you can't have a voucher yet), hunt around for a free trial of lenses, and then decide based on that if you like them enough to pay for them.

Hope that helps

LondonDiva

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-glasses-discounts

Cheap glasses

Dognobs

Lenses are for vanity just wear glasses!

skintandscared_2

The best thing to do is get a pair of glasses, then save up for a month's worth of daily disposable lenses and just wear lenses for special occasions. Specsavers do a month's supply for about £22.

[Deleted User]

just a moneysaving tip if you want to change to lenses then try asda,they are the same as indenpent opticians will sell you but at a 3rd of the price,and if you are entitled to a voucher you can use that in part payment

Elvisia

You will need a contact lenses test which isn't covered if you're on benefits, so they will be more expensive than getting glasses. I got my glasses with my NHS voucher and they were so cheap I couldn't believe it. However lenses are expensive, the solutions can be a lot too if you factor it all in, I pay £18 a month for it all from Spec Savers and that is the cheapest (even through ASDA). However I find my vision in lenses is massively different, you also get all round vision rather than peering through a glasses lens. I have to wear them when I teach otherwise I can't see the little !!!!!!s creeping up behind me if I've got glasses on!

moneysavingkitten

Most opticians will give you a week or a months worth (depending on whether you got for daily or monthly lenes), for free to see if they suit you. You may as well take up the trial before you decide to use your voucher. There are lots of kinds of lenses it can take a while to find one that fits comfortably. You may find you have to trial a few types.

I have found myself that I like to have them for special occasions, but don't need them on a day to day basis. So I am better off buying the odd box every now and again and using my voucher on proper glasses, instead of agreeing to buy them monthly.

Opticians seem to be very pushy these days, always trying to selling contracts for lenses and solutions, usually with far more solution than you could ever use. Don't let them sign you up to anything you don't need.

[Deleted User]

Elvisia wrote: »

You will need a contact lenses test which isn't covered if you're on benefits, so they will be more expensive than getting glasses. I got my glasses with my NHS voucher and they were so cheap I couldn't believe it. However lenses are expensive, the solutions can be a lot too if you factor it all in, I pay £18 a month for it all from Spec Savers and that is the cheapest (even through ASDA). However I find my vision in lenses is massively different, you also get all round vision rather than peering through a glasses lens. I have to wear them when I teach otherwise I can't see the little !!!!!!s creeping up behind me if I've got glasses on!

mrs w gets johnson and johnson fortnightly lenses from asda,one eye -8 the other -8.5 for £9 a month,the ind she used to get them from supplied the same lenses for £27 a month,the only other cost is for storeage fluid at about £2 a month,because we are on benefits and her sight so bad she gets a £55 voucher every 2 years which recently paid for 2 months worth of lenses:money:
the independants and most of the high st chains will rip you off !!!