contact lens discussion thread (merged)

EEYORE2911

I get my lenses from getlenses.com, you have to have a valid eye test (dated within a year i think) that specifies your type of lenses and eyesight. I think this is standard for internet lenses. Mine were £56 for 13 months supply and you buy your own solution (on offer at Tesco at the mo, so cheap!). You are supposed to have at least one day a week lens free, so will need glasses too...
Also, after wearing lenses all day you feel a bit like there is ground glass in eyes and you need a rest!!

Princess_x

nedmundo wrote: »

As an Optician, I have to say that WIWARG has got it spot on! Which bit do you take issue with?

They were mostly spot on, but the voucher is for every 6 months. This is coming from someone who regularly uses contacts and gets them from the NHS vouchers. I just finished college few months ago and im 18 but from when i was aged 15 till then, i always got contacts using the NHS vouchers every 6 months in addition to a free eye test obviously.

nedmundo

Sorry, but no. A voucher can only be issued at the time of the eye examination and those aged 16 over are only entitled to an NHS eye exam every 2 years, unless there is a valid clinical reason for a patient to be seen more frequently (i.e. at risk of frequent changes in prescription, at the request of an doctor or developing a cataract etc).

If you're someone who has rapidly progessing short sightedness, you might have fallen into that category. If not, the NHS will pick up on it using some advanced software and take action accordingly.

[Deleted User]

nedmundo wrote: »

As an Optician, I have to say that WIWARG has got it spot on! Which bit do you take issue with?

erm let me see....most of it...as a user of nhs vouchers whos wife also uses them for contacts..we`ve found over the years that many opticians have difficulty understanding the ins and outs of the nhs and vouchers,especially when it comes to using them for contacts that are on a monthly d/debit,they are often clueless

nedmundo

I don't think understanding the NHS voucher system is difficult, it's administrating vouchers into a direct debit scheme, where monthly payments differ from the voucher value that it becomes more complex. Hence, as all contact lens wearers should really have up to date spectacles as back-up, it's far simpler to use the voucher towards that. Bearing in mind that most Opticians give some further subsidy towards spectacles for voucher holders, it usually works out in the patients favour as well.

rotweiller

allan1983 wrote: »

Sorry to anyone who clicked on this thread thinking it was going to be a link for free Contacts! Instead its a plea.

Im going to book an eye test in the next day or so, as im pretty sure im a candidate for specs.
What id prefer though is to wear contacts (if I can obviously)
Ive been to specsavers today to make some enquiries, as Im a full time student, and our household qualify and receive tax credits.
Ive found that I can get a free eye test, and money off a pair of glasses, but nothing off contacts,.

SO. I just wondered if anyone knew of any secret ways to get free ones (id settle for very cheap!!):rotfl:?

Thanks everyone:D

I wear contacts everyday day due to my job and so as long as you have the right ones you should find that you will only need a pair of glasses as a emergency precaution.

I had my eyes tested at Specsavers and i decided that it was more economical for me to have the contact lenses from them and then buy a pair of glasses online at a fraction of their cost.

I was given the option of using my voucher as a payment towards the first 3 months of lenses and solutions and this is what i did.

I do recommend that you use their monthly service for lenses and solutions to start off so that you can be sure that everything is settled ok and then i switched to daysoft lenses £13 ish per month or £20 for 2 months . They are daily disposable lenses and very comfortable and i find that i like the fact that you throw them away every night which is far more hygeniec that soaking them in solutions but that is personal preference. They do others also tho at various prices

I did however find that my glasses was made to their precription by a reputable firm and i found that I wasnt able to wear them. I had my eyes re tested and found that the prescription was quite a bit out but I have had no problems with my contact lenses

sorry about the odd spelling mistake but i am tired.

Princess_x

nedmundo wrote: »

Sorry, but no. A voucher can only be issued at the time of the eye examination and those aged 16 over are only entitled to an NHS eye exam every 2 years, unless there is a valid clinical reason for a patient to be seen more frequently (i.e. at risk of frequent changes in prescription, at the request of an doctor or developing a cataract etc).

If you're someone who has rapidly progessing short sightedness, you might have fallen into that category. If not, the NHS will pick up on it using some advanced software and take action accordingly.

What's no. A voucher? I dunno what voucher i was entitled to, but whatever it was, i always got a free eye test and 3 months supply with solution using that voucher even after i was 16 because i was still in full time education. The powers of my lenses also change sometimes ie. sometimes my left eye is worse, sometimes it's the same.

allan1983

@ Everyone getting a LITTLE bit tetchy:

I didnt intend on opening this can of worms, I only wanted to save a bit of cash!

:eek:

luellaaa

allan1983 wrote: »

@ Everyone getting a LITTLE bit tetchy:

I didnt intend on opening this can of worms, I only wanted to save a bit of cash!

:eek:

I hope you managed to find some info.

There seems to be a bit of tension on this board. Everyone's here to save a bit of cash, so lets not get down to squabbling. I'm guessing the majority of people on here are mature adults, therefore we can discuss things in a civil manner without needing to correct spelling surely?

wishiwasarichgirl

any optician who is issuing an NHS voucher every 3-6months for contact lenses where the prescription is not changing significantly is defrauding the NHS, and it is only a matter of time before they are detected & prosecuted, but this is all off topic.
allan1983, best thing to do is go into a few of your local opticians (independents & high street) and ask them about their prices and packages. Then you can make an informed decision.