Contact Lens Cost Cutting article discussion

treliac

nedmundo wrote: »

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing Treliac - you being a prime example! You see fit to comment on something, of which you have no knowledge (brands and materials for starters). You only see it from a conusmer perspective (which isn't always the correct one), because that suits your misguided opinion that all Opticians are out to rip off the poor hard working consumer - wrong!
If you saw the mess I had to pick up from a self prescriber earlier - you would think differently.

The reason I take part on these forums is to try and put a bit of balance to the threads and hopefully to stop misinformed posts like your own from influencing someone else into doing their eyes a great harm!

ned - you have a very patronising and scaremongering style. Your sense of balance is not evident.

But more importantly, you have failed to understand what I and others are saying. And what you don't understand you just fabricate. What has given you to think I believe all opticians are out to rip off their customers? In fact I have had this discussion with several to discover their attitudes.

The supermarket based practitioners I have talked to have all been happy for me to have my eyes checked by them and then to buy lenses from where I choose. That's probably because they don't hold franchises and do not have only their personal interests, when it comes to sales, at heart.

As I have already emphasized, it is absolutely essential to be properly checked and fitted for contact lenses. You don't have to be qualified to know that. However, once done, it is perfectly in order to make an informed decision about where you buy your lenses from.

And as I have already said too, it is normal practice for Specsavers to let customers try different lenses, made of different materials and with different properties, to find out for themselves which suit best with the proviso, of course, that the lenses are all of the right diopter and fit (but as you well know the variations around fit of soft lenses are not so imperative and mostly not so different from each other). Specsavers will then call you back after trialling a different lens to see how it suits the eyes and check its performance.

I presume, from what you are posting, you are challenging the standard practices that Specsavers employ.

People mess up their eyes because they do not look after them properly by not having regular check-ups or by not following proper wear schedules. But not because there is only one type of lens that is suitable for them and anything slightly different would ruin their eyesight. If that were the case, I should be very scared to go back into my branch of Specsavers ever again.

nedmundo

treliac wrote: »

ned - you have a very patronising and scaremongering style. Your sense of balance is not evident.

But more importantly, you have failed to understand what I and others are saying. And what you don't understand you just fabricate. What has given you to think I believe all opticians are out to rip off their customers? In fact I have had this discussion with several to discover their attitudes.

The supermarket based practitioners I have talked to have all been happy for me to have my eyes checked by them and then to buy lenses from where I choose. That's probably because they don't hold franchises and do not have only their personal interests, when it comes to sales, at heart.

As I have already emphasized, it is absolutely essential to be properly checked and fitted for contact lenses. You don't have to be qualified to know that. However, once done, it is perfectly in order to make an informed decision about where you buy your lenses from.

And as I have already said too, it is normal practice for Specsavers to let customers try different lenses, made of different materials and with different properties, to find out for themselves which suit best with the proviso, of course, that the lenses are all of the right diopter and fit (but as you well know the variations around fit of soft lenses are not so imperative and mostly not so different from each other). Specsavers will then call you back after trialling a different lens to see how it suits the eyes and check its performance.

I presume, from what you are posting, you are challenging the standard practices that Specsavers employ.

People mess up their eyes because they do not look after them properly by not having regular check-ups or by not following proper wear schedules. But not because there is only one type of lens that is suitable for them and anything slightly different would ruin their eyesight. If that were the case, I should be very scared to go back into my branch of Specsavers ever again.

Treliac - Specsavers will issue different lenses and then follow up to ensure suitability as you say - that is prescribing under supervision and fine. As is then acquiring the lenses as exactly specified from another supplier.

Some companies will supply Contact Lenses without any specification (hence the GOC article) - that is prescribing without any clinical supervision and definitely against the laws governing supply and also potentially dangerous. That's what I've got a bee in my bonnet about!

People usually mess up their eyes from wearing the wrong type of lens for their lifestyle and even from wearing lenses when they shouldn't full stop!

Comments about the specifications not being that critical may sometimes apply to certain lenses on certain eyes, but could be easily mis-interpreted by any readers on this forum. You obviously believe that different fitting specs has little effect on a lens suitability. Fine- that's your belief, but it's misguided - even if 'others' you've spoken to, agree. I certainly wouldn't say that and have never said as such. That's no basis to broadcast a potentially dangerous false statement.

I'm not purposely scaremongering, but you have to accept that contact lens practice is basically inserting a foreign body onto the eye with a view to minimise side effects, which invariably will occur. Increasing risk by wearing non-specified lenses just to save some money is not acceptible in my book.

My comment regarding your views originates from you congratulating Movado on his/her post, where they blatently hadn't understood my (very amicable and polite) reply to their original post and still banged on about and I quote "and I was more likely in the old days to stretch it out with lenses since my optician ripped me off!" being ripped off.
You obviously agree with that view and that we are a monopoly whose regulating body is only concerned with protecting our interests and not the consumers. Otherwise you wouldn't have applauded it - would you?

BTW - what exactly have you and others been saying which I haven't understood?

carpy

has anyone else found that Asda didn't honour their 'free aftercare' voucher that comes as part of buying lenses online from Asda??

i went and had my 'free aftercare' check-up and got charged £15 at the end of it as they told me it was an initial consultation!!!:mad:

not happy, have complained to Asda but not heard back yet.........

treliac

nedmundo wrote: »

Treliac - Specsavers will issue different lenses and then follow up to ensure suitability as you say - that is prescribing under supervision and fine. As is then acquiring the lenses as exactly specified from another supplier.

On that we are agreed then. Except I go one step further and advocate buying cheaper lenses if you so wish ... provided you have check ups - perhaps at Tesco or suchlike, who will not make you feel bad for not necessarily wanting to buy from them. Never have I / would I suggest that check ups are not important. I can assure you that I value my eyesight. Nevertheless, until numbers of people start coming forward and saying that Daysoft lenses are damaging their eyes, in which case they should not / would not remain on the market, I cannot accept your need to trash them. It seems more of a response to the threat posed by the competition.

Some companies will supply Contact Lenses without any specification (hence the GOC article) - that is prescribing without any clinical supervision and definitely against the laws governing supply and also potentially dangerous. That's what I've got a bee in my bonnet about!

People usually mess up their eyes from wearing the wrong type of lens for their lifestyle and even from wearing lenses when they shouldn't full stop!

I appreciate what you are saying, although we're not talking about 'prescribing' here but rather about 'selling' and selling what the customer is asking for. Some will be buying in a perfectly informed and safe manner. Others may not and, from what you say, you see the worst. However, how should this best be dealt with. One way would be for all opticians to be encouraged to be more philanthropic in their approach and then those that want to by-pass opticians who make them feel uncomfortable might be better persuaded of their value.

Maybe, too, contact lens boxes should have health warnings printed on them. There are better solutions to addressing the problems than are in place at the moment.

Comments about the specifications not being that critical may sometimes apply to certain lenses on certain eyes, but could be easily mis-interpreted by any readers on this forum. You obviously believe that different fitting specs has little effect on a lens suitability. Fine- that's your belief, but it's misguided - even if 'others' you've spoken to, agree. I certainly wouldn't say that and have never said as such. That's no basis to broadcast a potentially dangerous false statement.

Unfortunately this is borne out of experience by myself and by family and friends. I have tried quite a number of different lenses. I even remember being informed that there was a new lens in stock that would suit me really well but I would have to wait until the optician could get hold of it in my specification (diopter). It was discussed as a matter of course, not 'let's wait and see whether it will be suitable for you.'

It's really hard to believe that there are a great many people for whom only one brand is going to work. There is only a small difference between diameter, base curve etc. of most of the lenses on the market anyway. Of course materials vary ... some let in more oxygen etc. etc. but I would argue that this is not critical for most people. And, anyway, we're back to our regular check-ups to ensure eye health aren't we?

I'm not purposely scaremongering, but you have to accept that contact lens practice is basically inserting a foreign body onto the eye with a view to minimise side effects, which invariably will occur.

This does sound like scaremongering to me. By side effects invariably occurring I hope you include minor discomforts rather than just dangerous occurences which is how it presents.

You obviously agree with that view and that we are a monopoly whose regulating body is only concerned with protecting our interests and not the consumers. Otherwise you wouldn't have applauded it - would you?

Not a total monopoly but when people describe their bad experiences, being made to feel uncomfortable / fobbed off when trying to get hold of their lens prescription, which is described on the board and which has happened to me and people I know, then I endorse the view that the consumer often feels at a disadvantage. There are always two sides to a coin and, as I'm sure I have also expressed my knowledge that not all opticians are the same and that, even when they are desperately trying to protect their business, it should be expected that all opticians should be providing a good and safe service. The problems seem to arise when the customer wants the option of looking for moneysaving solutions to their lens purchases.

BTW - what exactly have you and others been saying which I haven't understood?

The above

Finally, I dare say we shall continue to have these spats. I will bow to your professional advantage of course. But I will continue to argue that the consumer can make informed decisions for themself and that they can take the proper action to protect their eyes whilst doing so.

Please though, ned, if you could take a more relaxed and gentle approach it would be easier to relate to. I do appreciate your concern for the eyesight of the nation. It is, however, necessary that both optician and the consumer have their interests protected in a free market.

ethansmum

I was rather dissapointed with my Tesco contact lenses consultation today. I told the optician what my existing presciption is and the type of lenses I used to buy from Specsavers.

So he performed an eye inspection and then got me to put some contacts in and then read the 'bottom line'. He did not check to presciption at all, which I was kinda expecting. He then said to come back in a week. He did not give me any options on which lenses would be suitable, infact I had to ask how much the lenses that he gave me would cost. So it turns out that his air optics cost £25.50 for 3 months which is alot more expensive than the specsavers ones I was on!

Has anyone used Tesco Opticians and had a similar problem? ie Them pushing me to get their premium ones? Can I go back on Friday and ask for the cheaper ones instead?

carpy

ethansmum wrote: »

I was rather dissapointed with my Tesco contact lenses consultation today. I told the optician what my existing presciption is and the type of lenses I used to buy from Specsavers.

So he performed an eye inspection and then got me to put some contacts in and then read the 'bottom line'. He did not check to presciption at all, which I was kinda expecting. He then said to come back in a week. He did not give me any options on which lenses would be suitable, infact I had to ask how much the lenses that he gave me would cost. So it turns out that his air optics cost £25.50 for 3 months which is alot more expensive than the specsavers ones I was on!

Has anyone used Tesco Opticians and had a similar problem? ie Them pushing me to get their premium ones? Can I go back on Friday and ask for the cheaper ones instead?

that is VERY similar to my 1st visit to asda opticians a couple of weeks ago!!! they gave me a 'trial' of the air optix lenses which are dearer than my current lenses. i haven't been back!!

that visit cost me £15 for what i thought was 'free' aftercare?!?!:mad:

what did you pay?

ethansmum

It cost me £15 too! Thats for the whole year.

The way I look at it though was £10 for the 'free' trual and £5 for their 10 minute contact lense consultancy. I just thought he would take more care over the prescription. I have to go back in a week so I'm going to tell him that there is no difference between these at £25.50 for 3 months, than the old ones I used to get at £27 for 6 months.

PS Did you get anything in writing to say that you had had a contact lens check up?

jinkssick

I am a contact lense novice. I am also very tired of wearing glasses, I have no idea about contact lenses but the daily lenses seem to be expensive, id rather go for the 6 months for £27 approx.

Are these fine? I know martin talks about the dangers of them but it seems fine.

Would I find good prices on Specsaves for the cheapest 6 monthers?

thanks

DailyClicker

Yeah, Dailies can be very expensive, but depends on which ones you get, and where you purchase them for.

Your best option is to go to a local opticians, and speak to them about what you use your lenses for, but it sounds like you want continual wear usage, so they can discuss which ones are the best.

The Contact Lens Fitting will cost around £20, but they'll give you around 5 free trial pairs, and check your eyes at the end of the trial, and issue you with a prescription, which you can use to buy the lenses they reccomend cheaper online.

Hope this helps

carpy

i got 12 months supply (including solutions) from Asda for £72 delivered but the price for these particular lenses has gone up massively to £108!!

they were coopervision aserphericals (spelling wrong lol!!) but will last me much longer than 12 months because i only wear them 4 days a week.

only downside was although they give you a voucher for free aftercare at any Asda optician, i had to pay £15 for my visit as they wouldn't take it for the initial appointment:mad: