contact lens discussion thread (merged)

Absinthe_2

I find it cheaper, and easier to go for daily disposables. I hate messing about with solutions, so will be ordering 20 Acuvue a month from Specsavers for £26. I have astigmatism, so can't go for the cheaper lenses, which would be £11 for 20 days for the cheapest ones (or £15 for Premium, or £22 for Ultimate lenses).

The Acuvue are excellent quality, but wish I had a choice as is a lot to commit to monthly. I didn't go for 30 days as like wearing glasses occasionally, and would be too expensive (£40! :eek:)

petergavinblack

willihe wrote: »

I need to have a contact lens check done so I can place an order with my existing contact lens supplier who is not local, so I can't get there for the check.

How should it cost? And what should it cover?

My current optician usually includes the 'coloured dye' test to check the fit and for anything on the surface of the eye, but when I've asked about this, the staff I speak to on the phone suggest they don't normally do that, or say 'they might if they think it's necessary...':o

Also one optician offered me a 'Contact lens check' for £48 but said it would be £75 if I needed a 'specification', but without explaining what I would get for my £75.

You are better off buying the lenses and the contact lens check ups from the same place so if I were you I'd start again and find a new optician - and if you must compare on price (rather than service and added extras that most offer) then look at the complete package.

You often find the opticians that are dearest for aftercare are dirt cheap for lenses, others do all-in packages and aren't interested in taking on the legal liability for the health of your eyes only for you to buy the lenses elsewhere.

Some places dabble in contact lenses and others specialise in them so ask your friends / workmates etc who's the best in town and try there is my advice, but in general you will feel "processed" in the cheapest places, and may feel more "looked after" elsewhere.

petergavinblack

Absinthe wrote: »

I find it cheaper, and easier to go for daily disposables. I hate messing about with solutions, so will be ordering 20 Acuvue a month from Specsavers for £26. I have astigmatism, so can't go for the cheaper lenses, which would be £11 for 20 days for the cheapest ones (or £15 for Premium, or £22 for Ultimate lenses).

The Acuvue are excellent quality, but wish I had a choice as is a lot to commit to monthly. I didn't go for 30 days as like wearing glasses occasionally, and would be too expensive (£40! :eek:)

Have to disagree here, if you wear your lenses 4 or more days per week it is almost always cheaper to go for monthly lenses rather than dailies however stick with dailies as they are generally better in terms of hygiene and comfort if you don't wear lenses every day.

There is a new toric (for astigmatism) daily lens now made of Silicone Hydrogel (more oxygen = longer comfortable wearing time) made by Sauflon. You should ask for a trial from whichever optician you go to - I'm sure all the larger chains will have it as a private label - however Acuvue has the largest prescription range so you might not have the choice - it depends.

zappa121

Forum noob here, this seems like as good a place as any to start my search for answers regarding monthly disposable contact lense availability.
After some tedious to-and-froing with specsavers, I've finally got the greenlight to order a supply of PrecisionUV which are highest water content (most comfortable) for the price. Guy at Specsavers is saying that line is being discontinued, and the industry as a whole is turning to silicone hydrogel lenses. These cost 47 for 6 months supply compared to 27 for the Precision UVs! That would price me out of wearing contacts completely!
Is this the end of affordable contact lenses?

Clare1971

I've been with Asda for a while now. I pay £45 for 3 months daily disposable and with each receipt I get a voucher for a free contact lense check (which you need to have each year). I order them online and get free delivery and they're always here within a couple of days. I moved to Asda about 5 years ago when the independent optition I was using increased his prices to £30 a month. I wouldn't like to know what he charges now for exactly the same lenses!

petergavinblack

zappa121 wrote: »

Forum noob here, this seems like as good a place as any to start my search for answers regarding monthly disposable contact lense availability.
After some tedious to-and-froing with specsavers, I've finally got the greenlight to order a supply of PrecisionUV which are highest water content (most comfortable) for the price. Guy at Specsavers is saying that line is being discontinued, and the industry as a whole is turning to silicone hydrogel lenses. These cost 47 for 6 months supply compared to 27 for the Precision UVs! That would price me out of wearing contacts completely!
Is this the end of affordable contact lenses?

Why not order 12 months supply of Precision UV? Also £47 for 6 months is only £8 per month, £2 per week, less than 30p per day for more oxygen and healthier whiter eyes. If you look at your computer, mobile phone, internet connection I bet your not using 20 year old technology?

LouLou

I normally use Daysoft (Focus Dailies user originally as Acuvue didn't seem to suit my eyes, though the varieties may be different now).

I'm going to do the Acuvue one month trial as mentioned in the MSE email earlier http://www.acuvue.co.uk/sites/default/files/content/pdf/LM2012-London-Marathon-Voucher.pdf The Moist ones might work out well for me as my eyes are drier than they used to be (I tend to use drops with contacts).

I'm in Scotland. Martin mentions that Tesco does contact lens prescriptions for £15, is this the cheapest price?

pmduk

You'll find that Asda also charge £15 including the 12 months aftercare.

jd87

Does anyone know the cheapest website to buy 1 day Acuvue Moist at the moment? Just 30 pairs. I am currently using Daysoft but finding them horribly uncomfortable and dry so I think it's probably about time I bit the bullet and spent money for some better quality.

petergavinblack

jd87 wrote: »

Does anyone know the cheapest website to buy 1 day Acuvue Moist at the moment? Just 30 pairs. I am currently using Daysoft but finding them horribly uncomfortable and dry so I think it's probably about time I bit the bullet and spent money for some better quality.

jd87 have you been fitted for these lenses by an optometrist or contact lens optician or are you just hoping to order what you fancy?

You will usually find the optician that fits / refits you will need to supply you with your first supply (for which you will have to pay) and then check your eyes out some weeks / months later after you have worn them to check there has been no adverse effect on your eye health before issuing your prescription.

By the time you've gone through all the hassle you might find it cheaper and more convenient to just order your lenses from the optician - if you pay by direct debit you usually get a good price and additional services / discounts thrown in for free.