contact lens discussion thread (merged)

wishiwasarichgirl

TAZMANUK...
go back to see your optcian again. If they said there wasn't a tear in the lens firsttime around then there definitely wasn't (the big instrument they nake you put your chin on so they can shine lights in your eyes magnifies things so much that they would have to be blind to miss a tear)

That doesn't mean ther isn't a tear in it now - show the lens to the optom and point out the hairline tear you can see - although it may turn out to be a marking on the lens put there by the manufacturer.

Is December the first time you wore this make of lens, or was it just a replacement of a lens you have worn without problems for months now?

If the lenses were only ordered in Dec the optom should still be able to send them back for credit, many suppliers offer 3 months for returns (this may not be true of all of them though), the opom may have said 49 days just to be sure you wouldn't leave any probs till the last minute. The fact that you have never been happy with the lenses should be enough leverage to ask for a replacement free of carge if necessary.

lb364

Help! I just went into Boots and was told a contact lens aftercare appointment is £35!! My MSE alarm bells were ringing! :money:

Is this to be expected? :eek:

There was mention of a free appointment if I was in the direct debit scheme, which I'm not, any info on this? Can I avoid the charge if I join on the day?

p.s. am also having an eye test but have a voucher from work for that

wishiwasarichgirl

Yes, it is to be expected that you would have to pay for a professional service such as a contact lens aftercare, but different places may charge less, so it is worth asking around.

Most places offer direct debit schemes which include aftercare, again, you would need to ask the individual store if the initial charge would be waived if you join up on the day.

greyhound31

I had a contact lense exam on 23rd January 2009 and because I did not have the monthly plan I had to pay £40 for the privelege. The optician gave me a new type of lense and different strength to try but never issued a prescription.

I then called a week later to get my perscription so I could get my lenses elsewhere but they stated that as I had not had a fitting they could not send me the perscription. I left it until today and called back asking again for my perscription and stated the comfort of the freebies they had given me were fine. They said again that I needed a fitting, but I had all the examinations before and refuse to pay another £40 to go back in for 10 minutes for a fitting.

Am I missing something or should I of been given my perscription. Surely it cant cost me anopther £40 for the privelege to be able to actually order some lenses.

Any help would be appreciated.

dieselhead

I don't know about the cost as I have always been on a contact lens plan, but following a new lens or solution they will need to check the fit, it is not enough for you to say that they are comfortable, they need to check how they sit on your eye and how your eyes are reacting to the solution. (I had a reaction to the solution, without knowing!).

Normally you will have an initial fitting, (I assume this is what you have had) then you will have a check a week or two later to see how your eyes are holding up and how they are reacting to wearing contacts after a little time. If there is an issue (one that you have noticed or otherwise) you may have to return again following changes to the lens or solution.

You will probably then require at first 6 monthly checkups then they may be spaced further apart once the optician is happy.

(The above is based on having worn contacts for 10 years I don't have any training)

Running_Horse

greyhound31 wrote: »

I had to pay £40 for the privelege.

Do you work for nothing?

NoAngel

I would have thought that the fitting would come as part of the eye exam, I'm sure it does for me. Why not go into the optician and ask if they can explain properly to you?

Pssst

They are required by law to give you a copy of your script after your eye test. Thats the law. They are deliberately obstructing you becuase you have the temerity to buy your lenses elsewhere.

dieselhead

Pssst wrote: »

They are required by law to give you a copy of your script after your eye test. Thats the law. They are deliberately obstructing you becuase you have the temerity to buy your lenses elsewhere.

That is true but I don't think they have finished the test, contacts have to be fitted over a couple of weeks, as initially they don't know how your eyes will adapt to a brand of lens or solution. It sounds to me like the OP has had the initial test and consultation, and is currently testing the lenses, the fit and also her eye's reaction will need to be checked after a couple of weeks wear. When she goes back assuming her eyes are fine, problems are not always apparent to the lens wearer, she should be able to pick up her script. Also in my experience the prescription is a little different to that for glasses as it is much more specific to lens and solution type.

Pssst

No,they are smokescreening. The eye test is just that, an eye test. You could just as well argue that if you were having glasses,they wont give you the prescription without you buying glasses and having them fitted.

An eye test is an eye test.

dispensing and fitting is another thing.