contact lens discussion thread (merged)

suki1964

Quentin wrote: »

(Here's more irrelevancy - years ago we couldn't but paracetamol from supermarkets for next to nothing. We had to get a prescription and take it to another white coated professional to get it because we couldn't be trusted to just go and buy it. You seem to want to keep some sort of monopoly on lenses now, but if its safe enough for others in Europe to be trusted to buy their lenses without this inconvenience it should be safe for us too.

And now years later there are laws governing the sale pf paracetamol - its not the "safe" drug everyone believed it was

Quentin

I see the opticians union all get together and thank each other for continuing the myth that these overseas suppliers are illegal and supply fakes. (And in fact it seems that contrary to the original claim made by nedmundo, they aren't doing anything illegal at all!)

It's just scaremongering. Designed to try and protect the opticians incomes.

Are you saying the citizens of eg Holland (Get Lenses subsiduary which supplies lenses without needing to see the prescriptrion) are somehow being let down by not having the nanny state rules that the opticians posting here support?

nedmundo

Different countries - different standards - different rules. I'm just quoting the legal situation as it stands in this country.

What reassurances do you have that products ordered from overseas are the genuine product and what comeback do you have? Are they really that much cheaper than the likes of Asda et al in the UK? Is it worth the risk?

nedmundo

Quentin wrote: »

I see the opticians union all get together and thank each other for continuing the myth that these overseas suppliers are illegal and supply fakes. (And in fact it seems that contrary to the original claim made by nedmundo, they aren't doing anything illegal at all!)

I'm not saying that all lenses supplied are fakes, but there have been several instances. I'm not saying the suppliers are illegal, it's just they are illigally supplying consumers in this country as it flouts UK rules.

Quentin

So the UK comes into line with other European countries (like Holland) are you saying you won't supply customers until they provide you a prescription?

And you must know the big guns (who undercut you) do operate from within the UK, just getting the supplies sent in. They aren't constantly being summonsed for breaking the opticians act!

So your suggestion they are supplying illegally is scaremongering!

nedmundo

Quentin wrote: »

And you must know the big guns (who undercut you) do operate from within the UK, just getting the supplies sent in. They aren't constantly being summonsed for breaking the opticians act!

Because a company registered abroad is virtually impossible to take action against, even if it distributes products from within these shores.

Quentin wrote: »

So the UK comes into line with other European countries (like Holland) are you saying you won't supply customers until they provide you a prescription?

The rule is there for good reason. How would I know if the lenses are suitable or whether they are competent at handling them? There will always be someone happy to sue me if I supplied lenses and they developed a problem.

Just because other countries are more liberal and less regulated, it doesn't make it a good thing and thankfully, it doesn't automatically mean it will happen in the UK.


Question - how do you know your contact lenses are not causing irreversible changes to your eyes or if your eye sight is optimum without a check?

Answer - you don't!

By all means shop around and get the best deal with your lenses. But don't take moneysaving to extremes and put your eyesight at risk.

Quentin

nedmundo wrote: »

There will always be someone happy to sue me if I supplied lenses and they developed a problem.

Just because other countries are more liberal and less regulated, it doesn't make it a good thing and thankfully, it doesn't automatically mean it will happen in the UK.

So now you tell us you are worried about being sued? Seems a tangent from your original scaremongering claim that something illegal is going on! (It isn't, of course, as you now seem to agree)

Why is it UK customers eyesight is at risk by buying online yet customers in (say) USA (where litigation is the norm) can buy without this interference from the establishment?

snit_girl

well, I went for my first contact lens test this morning. The actual test, dye, etc went fine then it all fell apart when the optician tried to fit them. I couldn't not shut my eye when she came near me, I'm not even wierd about touching my eyeball so I'm gutted this happened.

I'm booked in to try it myself in a couple of weeks, has anyone else had the same problem?

nedmundo

Quentin wrote: »

So now you tell us you are worried about being sued? Seems a tangent from your original scaremongering claim that something illegal is going on! (It isn't, of course, as you now seem to agree)

Er - Yes I am! Wouldn't you want to do things by the book to avoid the risk of being sued, struck off and loss of livelyhood? Where do I agree that it isn't illegal in the UK? Can anyone else see where I agreed? I think you need to read my posts again. And the reason my posts are being thanked by fellow opticians and also non-optical public, is that my posts and views are correct and not a union. I can't see many thanks on your posts - has the penny dropped yet?

Quentin wrote: »

Why is it UK customers eyesight is at risk by buying online yet customers in (say) USA (where litigation is the norm) can buy without this interference from the establishment?

You raise a good question. Since legal online contact lens supply has been allowed in the UK, there has been a significant rise in serious contact lens related complications. This rate is significantly higher in countries where there is less or no regulation. The reason being, without regulation, there is nothing to stop people from self prescribing and wearing lenses unsuitable for them or wearing lenses when they are unsuitable wearers full-stop. Think in terms of prescription drugs and then you might see the context.

The US is more litigeous than the UK, but then you can carry guns and swear allegance to the flag everyday at school - it doesn't make it right. US law varies from state to state, but in most states, an in date specification is still a requirement - for the reasons stated above. The internet and cross border issues make it virtually impossible to police, but it doesn't stop it from being illegal, which is all I said originally.

Right - I've answered all your questions, now see if you can answer one of mine:

Why wouldn't you want to have a contact lens check and obtain a valid specification?

Quentin

You didn't answer the question at all!

Which was why is it ok for US customers to buy lenses without going through the rigmarole you opticians here are so anxious to preserve?

You say you are worried about the possibility of being sued, but litigation is much more in vogue in the US!