Contact Lens Cost Cutting article discussion

downloader

I am thinking of trying out contact lenses after wearing glasses for almost 10 years, does anyone know if there's any trial promotion ongoing at the moment? If not, what's the best way to get started?

andthethreebears

v.interesting discussion. thanks all for advice etc.
as i hadn't looked into purchasing any yet, other than comparing prices, i hadn't realised that websites would ask to see a prescription!
i'm not talking about buying from 'getchercheapolenses.youmustbeanidiot.com', asda, tesco, specsavers etc etc all have online purchasing and prices a lot more reasonable than where i'm trialling! (and have regular eye tests / checkups etc)

we'll see about the charges for the 'free trial' when i go back for a lens check - but nothing has been mentioned, and the optician i saw was 'freelance' (even though it was based in a high street store) and actually suggested looking online!

nedmundo

Quentin wrote: »

All the opticians seem to be closing ranks!


Why do we need this protection, yet if we lived in Holland we wouldn't!

And the suggestion that (eg) getlenses supply fakes is just scaremongering! (Not to say anything about libel)

I think you need an eyetest! Suki1964 clearly stated she wasn't an Optician, unlike myself. I'm just telling it like it is. Just because something is legal in another country, it doesn't make it right for our society. Check out some other laws abroad and you'll see exactly why.

suki1964

One thing I have found in looking at this is Opticians reporting a rise in eye heath problems in the Netherlands and in a country where you pay for your own private health insurance, the government are in no rush to legislate. And now some insurers are refusing to insure contact wearers

rwalton159

Many thanks suki1964

rwalton159

downloader wrote: »

I am thinking of trying out contact lenses after wearing glasses for almost 10 years, does anyone know if there's any trial promotion ongoing at the moment? If not, what's the best way to get started?

Specsavers are doing a free trial of lenses
http://www.specsavers.co.uk/offers/contact-lenses-from-5/

Trial is either 1 pair of 30 day lenses (this is what I'm trying) or 5 pairs of daily lenses

Altarf

rwalton159 wrote: »

Specsavers are doing a free trial of lenses

So do most opticians if you ask, even if it is not advertised. It is in their interest to get you signed up as a customer, and the free lenses and solutions are all provided by the manufacturers, as they also want you signed up to their brand.

Specsavers are quite clever in that they supply their own brand contact lenses (although of course they are really lenses made by the big manufacturers and just rebranded).

What this means is that you are tied to Specsavers as the supplier, as you cannot order these lenses elsewhere. Even if you did find out that your Specsavers XYZ lens was really a Big Manufacturer ABC lens, then when you tried to order some Big Manufacturer ABC lenses from a UK online supplier, when they contacted Specavers, they would reply that you are not prescribed Big Manufacturer ABC lenses, and so refuse to approve the order.

If you want the freedom to order online from UK suppliers, then you should ensure that you are prescribed lenses from one of the big manufacturers.

One thing that has changed in the last few years, is the rise of Tesco and Asda. Previously if you wanted the cheapest contact lenses then you needed to shop overseas. Now these companies have come into the market, they are actually charging cheaper prices than the overseas companies, and are happy to provide contact lens checkups as well for a nominal price (Tesco charge £10 per year).

Another thing to know is that if you do buy your contact lenses from Tesco (not sure about Asda), but their online prices are cheaper than their instore prices (the prices are about 20% more instore). However they are quite happy for you to have the fitting / contact lens checks instore at their opticians, and then go away and order from them online. Even on the first order.

rwalton159

Thanks for your post Altarf.

For £13 a mth Specsavers offer:

all routine aftercare checks as recommended by your Optician.
any additional contact lens checks you require. Free check-ups as required or as recommended by your Optician.
up to 2 free contact lenses*. You are entitled to 2 free Specsavers own branded monthly disposable lenses to replace lost or damaged lenses every year
one pair of half price Standard PENTAX single vision glasses or sunglasses per year** from our £69, £85, £99 or £125 price ranges.

So I ask if its worth saving a few quid a month and miss out on these benefits?

C_Mababejive

I notice a few people have mentioned solutions and cleaning..with reference to a couple of new contact lens users. I wonder why optometrists dont automatically try people out on disposable dailies first as surely they are the most hygienic solution rather than messing around trying to clean and reuse lenses or heaven ofrbid..using extended wear lenses?

Quentin

rwalton159 wrote: »

For £13 a mth Specsavers offer:.......

You push this optician hard here.

You sure you have no connection with them?

Plenty other opticians will give you a free trial using branded items (not your "own brand") which we can then buy cheaper elsewhere!

Where else can you buy your "brands"?