contact lens discussion thread (merged)

petergavinblack

suki1964 wrote: »

I have astigmatism and wear a different lense for each eye. One for reading and one for driving. No need for glasses on top

I will hold my hand up and admit I don't get the clarity I get with glasses but it's a good enough compromise in that I can see the computer and read a newspaper. I still wear my glasses if I'm having an in day and intend to be doing a lot of close work as it's less of a strain

It's a compromise I'm happy to make so I can be free of glasses when going out

Hope this isn't too late for your appt 2moro! There are now lots of progressive / multifocal lenses to choose from (though still only one daily disposable) including for people with astigmatism too. I'd go for a monthly multifocal and wear them every day. It may take the optician a few appointments and possibly a couple of brands to fine tune your vision to your satisfaction but there are hundreds of thousands of people wearing multifocals full time these days and usually they only feel the need to wear their glasses for very concentrated or difficult vision situations such as driving for a long period at night on unfamiliar territory, or when working with spreadhseets or fine print for a long time.

There is always a compromise but then again glasses get dirty, steam up, get rained on and don't give you sideways vision without moving your head (especially with varifocals) so for many people multifocal contact lenses are much better. Rather than see an optometrist who also does general eye examinations you may find it better to see a dedicated contact lens optician who only does contact lenses all day each day as they may be more experienced in multifocals.

Incidentally few multifocals are weighted - there are many designs that offer 'simultaneous vision' with the reading prescription in the middle and the distance prescription in a ring around the reading bit (or the reverse is true on some brands). The analogy I use is that it is like looking into a shop from the outside - you have a choice to look through the window, or too look at your own reflection (which is usually closer) - basically your brain sorts it out for you. If the window wasn't there it would all be a bit clearer but you wouldn't have the close image at all - most people easily adapt to multifocal contact lenses within 2 to 4 weeks providing they are aware of this compromise. Multifocals give better stereo vision than monovision (one lens for distance, another for close up) and this becomes more noticable as time goes on. Go to an optician that offers a free trial and a money back guarantee even if you have to pay a little more when you buy them. As with most lenses don't expect to get a copy of your prescription for at least 3 months until the final fit is established as they often need tweaking. The prescription will need tweaking fairly regularly (1 - 2 years) if you are in your forties or fifties so I'd go for a deal where the appointments are included in the price and prescription changes are also included at no extra cost - this usually means paying by monthly direct debit and often includes free home delivery.

In case you're wondering in a former life I used to stand outside opticians trying to persuade passers-by to have a free trial of contact lenses (and it always amazes me how little info there is out there) and I wear varifocal glasses and multifocal toric contact lenses for astigmatism and distance / reading myself.

fa123

Can you please help me out!
I wear glasses on for driving/work/study purposes and want to switch to contact lenses. What do you recommend? I also want to know where is best to get an examination from? The last time I had one was just over 2 years ago. I dont want to be paying to much and also will I get my prescription from this? so that I can go elsewhere to purchases my contact lenses.

pmduk

You need to ensure you have a current eye test. The contact lens assessment is separate and usually charged for separately. Asda and Tesco opticians are currently charging £15. Other chains will offer free assessments if you commit to buying from them.

Why not ask friends for their local recommendations?

petergavinblack

It would be helpful to know where you are based to recommend but there is a dilemma. If you go to a national chain then their best value lenses are "own brand" and then won't be avialable online later as the "brand" is part of the prescription. If you go for Johnson and Johnsons Acuvue or other branded product you will pay more. So to save over the long run I'd go for a branded product from an independent optician then buy online later (you have to wait until after your 3 month check up for the prescription usually so you might have to pay for six months lenses). Or buy from a chain and stick with them on direct debit as the lenses aren't usually available online legally.

robin

Hi

In a bid to save money I ordered my contact lenses online and was really pleased to save so much money, this is short lived as I now realise I have ordered the wrong ones, my prescription is -4.50 and I've ordered +4.50. I've taken them all out of the boxes (I checked each box then each lens but only looked at the 4.50 bit!!)

Does anyone know if there is anyway I can get any money back, I've emailed the company but no response yet, this is all my fault so not really expecting anything but thought I'd try.

Thanks in advance if anyone can suggest anything.

nedmundo

Of course, if the supplier had verified the specification either from your written prescription or with the original prescriber (as they are legally obliged to do), this wouldn't have happened.

kronenbourg

i had a free CL assessment and months trial , now the trial has ended they want £15 p/m
so i thought about buying online , i cohse getlenses , i ordered but they couldnt process due to specsavers not verifying my pescription , getlenses said i could order via there dutch site which i didnt , its been a week now and stock is awaiting delivery and i cannot get an answer , the UK site says its not there problem
i tried post optics but the site is identical so assuming its same people

any ideas on other sites i could try as i need contacts ASAP

pmduk

You need a signed specification first. Specsavers are unlikely to provide that on the basis of you wearing lenses for just one month, I think three months is more usual.

Lgas

This is a VERY long thread so apologies if this has been mentioned before, but I must advise people against using lenses from daysoftlenses.co.uk. They are daily disposables and were only costing me £10 a month but my eyes really suffered, they got so red and dry and sore I had to stop wearing them and use my glasses. My whole eyeball was permanently red. Apparently they are not good quality and the fit of them can be tight which can affect your eyes badly.

Now I go to Asda and pay the same, if not less, for my beloved old Air Optix! And for some strange reason, when I went to my initial check up and got my first pair of lenses and solution, they didn't charge me a penny! How odd. (I did try! lol). White eyes again

pmduk

I have found Asda to be by far the cheapest for my Focus Dailies as well. Beating most of the other chains and internet suppliers by far.