contact lens discussion thread (merged)

lisyloo

Hi,

A number of points.

I get my lenses from specsavers and I'm very pleased with their service and prices.

I would agree that in the initial stage you could need lots of aftercare.
They don't always get them right first time. People's eyes are different shapes and hence it's not an exact science.

Why do you say you want monthly disposables?
Firstly you may be limited by your prescription as to what you can have.
Also daily disposables are more hygenic and require no cleansing solutions (which cost money).
I think you would be well advised to see what your optician suggests are your options.

As for the glasses it's almost always cheaper to get new ones.
Apart from that if you get lenses put in your new frames it will be "at your own risk". This means that if they break them during fitting they won't accept responsibility (which is fair enough as they could be quite old).
I know it sounds crazy but that's todays throw-away society.
If you really like your new frames then you can ask them to do it but I suspect it will cost the same or more than getting a new pair.

jillie1974

i have had lens now for 6 months and i got them through Specsavers
i wanted the monthly wear ones but they said that as it takes a while ot get used to putting lenses in and taking them out they advise waiting about 6 months before trying them. i had mine as a free trial and pay £12.50 amonth for everything and when i go back in amonths time if i want to trythe continuous wera ones i can have that as a free trial too. all my check ups are free (included in the 12.50 charge)
i would defo recommend them to anyone who like me is a bit apprehensive bout trying lens

aimex

Hi all, have found this thread really interesting. Used to get my daily lenses from Specsavers but recently gave up with them as the people in our local branch are so difficult to deal with!! So went into Boots last week for a contact lens check. This set me back £35!!!! They want me to enter their £10 a month scheme which gives me a couple of pairs of lenses a week - i dont wear them all the time so that would probably be ok - with this deal you also get £50 off pair of lenses and contact lens aftercare checks free. thought this was a good deal at the time but not so sure now!!! The Asda deal sounds good - i have got some Focus dailys to try at the mo.

What do you reckon? x

voyager007

:T This is my first posting but I really felt the need to say a big thank you to Martin as the savings I have made on my daily disposables are unbelievable. A saving of over £140 per year on Specsavers and over £220 per year on the private company I used for 7 years.

I read the article comparing contact lense prices and decided to try out internet company www.daysoftlenses.com which was one of the recommendations by Martin. This site is really user friendly, very clear information and quick to read through. The whole process of signing up with them took less than 5 minutes. Amazingly I received my lenses within 48 hours. Price for a year's supply is a mere £156 for a top quality daily soft lense. You can order one month or any multiple's of this.
Anyway, 48 hours delivery from placing the order - :jthat's what I call quick! The presentation and packaging is totally professional and in addition you receive 4 extra pairs of lenses free with each batch, which you try before opening the main ones. If you are not totally happy you can return the unopened boxes and receive a full refund.

I have been a contact lense wearer for about 8 years and on average have been paying £364 per year. I've always thought what a rip-off and I've never liked the high pressure selling when you go for the eye test. I also still think that it is a major joke that you have to have a regular eye test first and then have to have a contact lense eye test next - paying twice. I've always wondered if the contact lense tester has any qualifications? However, if you live in Londonderry Northern Ireland, Specsavers are currently not charging for the contact lense test and if you are firm with them you do not have to sign up for 12 months nor do you have to sign a direct debit mandate. So, basically, go and get the free contact lense prescription and then you can order from the internet. Don't be pressurised to sign up for something that you don't really want or need!

Thanks a million Martin and I'm now a regular visitor to your site to keep an eys on the latest tips.

Deals_2

price at Boots £62 for 3 months supply. if you are on direct debit scheme for a year i believe this goes done to £54. is this a good deal. would like to alternate with my glasses as have worn my lenses too much and with the computer not doing my eyes any good. thanks in advance.

wishiwasarichgirl

Are you sure about those prices? They seem extortionate, even for Boots! In Specsavers we do Air Optix (branded as Easyvision Elite monthlies) for £13 per month, including solutions and contact lens check ups. You will also find them cheaper on-line (but you won't get check-ups included). Shop around.

whirls

Hi,

I'm considering switching to contacts after wearing glasses for a good few years. I'm insterested by the price savings of ordering online, but I don't even have a contact lens prescription yet - where do I start? Presumably I have to go to my optician (D&A) to get one, but will they expect me to sign up to their monthly plan? What's the best way to get my prescription sorted out and would you recommend getting them from a high street optician for the first few months so I can get used to them?

Many thanks,

whirls

gwen80

Hi

I wear monthly Air Optix contacts and have just ordered my second years supply from Vision Direct for £60. I've gone through quidco aswell, so I'll get £12 cashback! Bargain!

Gwenx

wishiwasarichgirl

whirls wrote: »

Hi,

would you recommend getting them from a high street optician for the first few months so I can get used to them?

Many thanks,

whirls

in a word, yes.

try reading back through this thread, i think i answered a similar question in post #476

you will need a contact lens prescription before you can order online, and you will have to wear lenses successfully for 1-3 months before an optician will issue a prescription. some places will try to sign you up to a contract, ask around.

voyager007

I would highly recommend that you take the time to go to several opticians and ask 1. how much the eye tests are 2. do you have to sign a minimum term contract 3. how much for a month's supply. You will be amazed at how the charges vary and basically they all offer the same type of lenses and after service.
If you are new to contact lenses it is probably best that you do start off with an optician until you are used to wearing them. You need to be really confident in wearing lenses i.e. you wouldn't be likely to have irritations of the eyes or you don't split the lenses and the lenses fit your eyes comfortably. I'd recommend this route prior to ordering online. I say this as with an optician you'd be able to go in as many times as needed if you felt unsure about anything and it shouldn't cost anything to do this. Online, you wouldn't have this option and you would have to visit an optician who would then most likely charge you. However, once you are confident at wearing lenses it would be highly unlikely that you would have any need to visit an optician, which means it's not necessary to sign up for aftercare.

I'd also mention that initially lenses may be difficult to insert until you get the knack but please persevere as from my own experience lenses give me 100% vision all of the time whilst glasses do not.

Best of luck.

wishiwasarichgirl wrote: »

in a word, yes.

try reading back through this thread, i think i answered a similar question in post #476

you will need a contact lens prescription before you can order online, and you will have to wear lenses successfully for 1-3 months before an optician will issue a prescription. some places will try to sign you up to a contract, ask around.