contact lens discussion thread (merged)

angel4_2

i use focus daily disposable soft lenses by ciba vision with no probs. they WONT get lost in your eye, sometimes they get a bit stuck as the more your eye waters whilst trying to get the little blighters out the more the darn thing sticks.

Dont worry, they will come out! i just buy them when i need them and wear glasses at other times.

hth ang x

flyer

Just slightly off subject, I'm thinking of laser treatment. Anyone got any experience?

dellboy102

Thanks everyone, especially Trace-J, you covered everything I needed to know!.
I will probably phone up specsavers and arrange something, I only had an eye test about 6months ago so maybe they dont do a test again, hope not as I dont want to pay much for consulation (only a student!).
The monthly soft disposables sound good but they will probably give advice about whats right for me.

Thanks a lot for all the help!, its cleared up a lot of confusion.

angel4_2

theres another contact lens discussion going on in the health board, i dont know how to put a link in to it tho, sorry

ang x

angel4_2

there is another contact lens discussion going on in the i wanna do it or buy it board, cant add a link, dont know how to sorry..

ang x

trace-j

dellboy102 wrote:

Thanks everyone, especially Trace-J, you covered everything I needed to know!.
I will probably phone up specsavers and arrange something, I only had an eye test about 6months ago so maybe they dont do a test again, hope not as I dont want to pay much for consulation (only a student!).
The monthly soft disposables sound good but they will probably give advice about whats right for me.

Thanks a lot for all the help!, its cleared up a lot of confusion.

No probs, if you are a student you can get a HC1 certificate that allows you to get free prescriptions, eye test and dental check ups. The forms can be found in your local surgery or chemist. If you can't get it free, you may get a partial pne that gives you a reduction instead.

alicardinal

I was like you for a long time - couldn't stand the though of messing with my eyes...eeeeuuuuwwww!!!!

BUT, having started with daily disposables, I have now had monthly extended wear lenses for 2 years and they are the best thing ever. The're Bausch & Lomb pure vision and you can wear them for up to a month without removing them - you can sleep in them no problem.

They're especilallly good if you don't like touching your eyes- you only have to do it once a month.

I'd go for it - you can start with dailies and see how you get on, and lots of opticians do a free trial.

Best of luck!

Ali

dellboy102

trace-j wrote:

No probs, if you are a student you can get a HC1 certificate that allows you to get free prescriptions, eye test and dental check ups. The forms can be found in your local surgery or chemist. If you can't get it free, you may get a partial pne that gives you a reduction instead.

I'v actually already got the HC1 form, however I thought that they dont help if your getting contact lenses, only normal glasses.
I will try asking specsavers!

Pink.

This thread would be better suited to the Health board, so I'm going to move it over there.

Pink

pavlovs_dog

hey there dellboy

i've just started wearing contacts (boots were running a free trial, dont know if they still are).

first things first, dont set your heart on a particular type of lens. which lens you are compatable with will depend on several things, curvature of your eye for one thing. i have rather 'flat' eyes, which means that out of the whole range my option does, only one type are suitable for me.

i also found it took a lot of getting used to, handling them and putting them in. i was in no rush to get them as i love my glasses, just fancied something new. it took me SIX hours of lessons to learn how to put them in. not everyone gets past the learning how to put them in stage apparently.

my lenses feel like that anti-scratch plastic stuff they put on the screens of new mobiles/watches etc. they are so light and soft they are barely there. once they are in i cant feel them at all, and completely forget i am wearing them, so i doubt you need worry about them being uncomfortable. and my optician assures me they cant get lost (i had the same fear)..they are even self-righting...if they find their way to the wrong part of your eye, they also find their way back )

as for the money aspect...you have glasses. if you were really, really, really worried about your eyesight you would wear them to aid you vision, not just when driving. contact lens will cost. fact. you may not be able to wear the type of lens offered on the cheap plans. your first concern in this instance should surely be caring for your eyes? if contacts are beyond your budget you still have a perfectly good pair of glasses...

it is possible to buy lens online at a reasonable price, but until you are an experienced lens wearer and your optician is happy with the health of your eyes after a few months of lens wearing, i really wouldnt recommend going down that road yet.

monthly lenses - yes, they do need to be cleaned properly in solution each night, for at least 6 hours.

all the best, and enjoy your new found focus and peripheral vision!