contact lens discussion thread (merged)

Rebekah24

Thank you
Will ask for some lens solution samples then... it put me off wearing them as I was in agony and couldnt leave the house after putting them in with that cheapy solution!!

Mmm.. I train 6-8 times a week so really wanting them to wear a fair bit! ..yeah £1 a day or even more is a lot for dailies... okie

Thanks for all the advice guys

lisa26_2

Can anyone recomend a good online company for buying contact lenses? My OH already wears them and knows exactly what he wants. Do you have to send a copy of your prescription?

Thanks

suki1964

Sticky thread at the start of this board

GlasweJen

I can't recommend a company because I work for an optician and just get them at work but you do get asked for the prescription and they then confirm it with the opticians to make sure that you're legally allowed contacts. They will phone the first time you make an order then keep the details from the optician on file until you're due an after care or a sight test and then they'll tell you to go back to the optician and wont let you order any more until the optician says you've attended the appointments.

The downfall with this is that if you forget to order lenses on time they wont give you anything to tide you over to the next appointment (i.e. no wee extra box and no trials) and your optician might not be too chuffed at having to order in trials for a customer who doesn't bring in any more business, the big commercial opticians shouldn't mind but i've heard about independants who just refuse to supply lenses unless the patient pays to get a fit from scratch.

Taypier

I get mine from here: http://www.visiondirect.co.uk/ You just type in your prescription, don't think you have to send it. I also set mine up for reorder reminders every 90 days.

reehsetin

Does anyone know the basic information you need to buy contact lenses, I want to get someone to buy me some from abroad and just want to know what info I need to send them, I've worn lenses before so know I don't need anything special, could I just send my perscription or do they need more information,
I know my last contact lense box had a bunch of numbers and codes on the site but don't know if any of it is relevant

GlasweJen

basic details are lens type (manufacturer and brand), base curve, diamters, power and if you're a toric then your cyl and axis. All of this should be printed on the box, make sure your aftercare is up to date before buying because this makes you less likely to need a different strength lens any time soon.

Don't buy lenses that are not the same brand as your prescription as that can cause eye infections due to the different levels of oxygen that get through different brand of lenses.

scottishsue

Hi guys been trying to read through this "thread". Having read MSE article and some forum threads I went into Vision Express today to ask for a copy of my contact lens subscription (first raised here in 2005). The assistant was not at all helpful, quite rude and said it would cost me £50 for my contact lens subscription. I did not think this was right. Can you confirm so that I can go back. I am on a monthly scheme and have been for years but now want to "cost" online. I have the basic right eye/left eye on the box but I have an "A" and "H" and I think one lens is toric. Some of the sites want diameters etc. Please help

System

No, you don't have to pay for your prescription. It's yours.
However it and your sight test must be in date.
Contact lens prescriptions usually last either 3, 6 or 12 months (depending on the Optician who saw you. Usually it's 3 months to start with then either 6/12 months afterwards. If you sleep in your lenses then it's usually 6 months).

Most online contact lens suppliers will phone the opticians who carried out your lens check to make sure you have given them a correct prescription and that your prescription is in date.

If your lens solution is causing you problems then go see an optician. You may be allergic to preservatives in it. Always try to use a fresh solution and case every month. With peroxide its essencial that you change every month.

nedmundo

Opticians are entitled to make a reasonable charge to provide a further copy of your prescription, assuming that it was 1st given to you at the time of your last contact lens check. This is to cover staff and admin (the records need to be located, the prescription written out and checked/signed by a registered Optician).

I don't think £50 is reasonable though.