contact lens discussion thread (merged)

LookAfterThePennies_4

Wonder if anyone else has had this problem.I ordered some contacts from discountcontactlenses.com and have had a note through from the post office to say I have to pay an £11 customs charge when I collect them - has anyone else had this? I'm really not happy about it and would have ordered elsewhere if I'd known about this charge.

nedmundo

You need 1.71 (Hoya) or 1.74 (Essilor and others) index in that sort of prescription. Worth paying the extra for branded lenses as the coatings are more durable and peripheral optics tend to be better.

Hope that helps.

nedmundo

intelligent1965 wrote: »

dear ladies and gentlemen,

i know an independent optician that has a an on-line service called andersenlenses.co.uk

if you call them/email them and give them your optician's details they will request the prescription on your behalf.

Cheers

a.

ssssssssppppppppaaaaaaaammmmmmmmm!

derms

mell242 wrote: »

I'm finally going to have to give in and get a new pair of glasses. I've been putting it off as the last pair cost me almost £400! I have -11 lenses in both eyes so need high index lenses and they are the costly part.
I can't make use of the online discounters unfortunately due to my prescription so that leaves me with the high street.
Just wondering do they differ in prices from optician to optician and has anyone had any recent experience of costs and maybe who to go to first? I used to go to a local opticians but have moved out of the area.
Any thoughts would be really appreciated as it is such a necessary expense that I don't really have the money for!

Hi, as nedmundo says you need 1.74 plastic or 1.9 glass. Plastic is not much thicker but is lighter. You will aslo need small frames size to reduce thickness. Try to keep below a 50mm size. I am also looking for high index. Am -9.75 in both eyes with astigmatism and have been shopping around and have been amazed at difference in prices (even between chains). Cheapest i can find is around £200 for plastic and about £300 for glass on high street. Local opticians have been cheaper apart from one high street chain which I wouldn't use as I thin you need a more personal touch with this type of prescription. Don't think you can get them any cheaper as they are manufactured specially and have to be imported from manufacturer. I have been everywhere. Was tempted to go online but don't think worth risk. You will alao get an NHS voucher for a few pounds and a free eye test because of your prescription. Not much but every little helps. Good luck and hope you get sorted.

mell242

I have plastic 1.74 lenses at the momen. I used to go to 20 20 vision in London and thought they were great. Also managed to knock them down a bit on price.

I did get a voucher last time for about £20 off my glasses and a free eye test. It annoys and upsets me so much that this is something so important..my eyes! It's not pure vanity about having lenses thinned down, it's a necessity with most frames. I really wish that I could get a bit more help. I think that I am going to hunt around the high street too. Thank you so much for your thoughts though. I can't believe just how much prices differ and how much we are being conned!

Bluefusion

I am going back to contact lens after years of glasses and plan to buy them online as they are so much cheaper. Having been to Boots they wanted £35 for a test, Specsavers £20 for a test and D&A offered a FREE test with 'no Catches' so the optician said!

I have just undergone the contact lens test and am due back in the opticians next week to have the lenses fitted for a weeks testing as they didn't have them in immediate stock.

I planned to get a months supply from D&A and my prescription and then buy them off the internet, but reading on other forums I am being told that D&A will not release my contact lens prescription saying that they need to monitor it for 6 months, can they do this, what's the law, am I not entitled to my prescription?

sillyvixen

you should be able to get your contact lens specification at 3 months - the rules regarding the fitting of lenses state that the fitting of lenses should not exceed 3 months - any optician fitting the lenses will need to check your progress at this stage with a follow up test before issuing you with the specifcation - if the optical personal gave you the specifaicaton initially and you developed problems it would be he/she that was liable and not the supplier - optoms and clo's can be struck off for this type of mistake!!!!

djpailo

I've never had contact lenses or any of the appointments.

If I had all the necessary appointments, how much would that cost?
If I was to get lenses, how much would I be paying monthly?

custardy

LookAfterThePennies wrote: »

Wonder if anyone else has had this problem.I ordered some contacts from discountcontactlenses.com and have had a note through from the post office to say I have to pay an £11 customs charge when I collect them - has anyone else had this? I'm really not happy about it and would have ordered elsewhere if I'd known about this charge.

you ordered from america
didnt think you may incur customs charges?

suki1964

djpailo wrote: »

I've never had contact lenses or any of the appointments.

If I had all the necessary appointments, how much would that cost?
If I was to get lenses, how much would I be paying monthly?

Thats like asking how long is a piece of string

All depends on if you go to a chain or to an independent

But first you need an up to date eye test, Then you go for a lens consultation. The eye test unless you are exempt will cost around £18. Specsavers will see you for the contact lense consult FREE, if at the end of it you are fitted with lenses and buy from them. If you dont buy from them they will charge.Other chains operate the same scheme. Independents - you need to go in and ask

Lenses are as little as 70pence a day for basic script daily throwaways.. The more complex your prescription, the more you are going to pay. Once prescribed with lenses you will need further check ups every few months which any optician will charge you for unless you are signed up to a monthy lens scheme.

best bet is to go along your local high street and ask