contact lens discussion thread (merged)

-N34

mapcr77 wrote: »

does anybody know the difference between daysoft 58 and 72? Ta!

I think one has a 58% water contenet and the other 72%.

If I went D&A and got the free assessment could I just ask them for my prescription???

-N34

Bumpy .

suki1964

BY law you need a valid prescription so without one you cant get lenses.

If you have never worn lenses before your prescription may not be easy and you could be going back and forth a while to get a lens and script that suits so dont expect to be givin it that first visit

Once you and the fitter are happy with a lens, then your script will be written and you are perfectly within your rights to take it and go elsewhere to purchase

Same as the optician is within their rights to charge you for the lens trial. Most places only offer a free trail if you purchase at least one months supply from them - check the small print

frivolous_fay

D&A do contact lenses by post which means your checkups are free. But I found I didn't use them often enough to make it worthwhile. I ended up cancelling the service and using up the stockpile after a while. By Post is all very well but you're kind of tied in to the number of lenses THEY think you should be wearing.

Evansangel

I have contact lenses by post from D&A and for £19.50 i get 2 X fornightly lenses, i can only wear them for 10 hours a day. Im going to specsavers as its £15 a month for ones that you can wear much much longer

x

-N34

How about the specavers package? £16 a month... what contact lens does that include.? And you get a free assessment (and the appointments needed after to see if you're eyes have adjusted) if you get them from specsavers am I correct?

MrsBartolozzi

I wear the £16 Specsaver lenses, have done for about 4 years and think they are great. I wear them for 14+ hours a day as I have for years, but SS have just dropped the price and also "downgraded" them and recommend that you wear them for a lot less time. (personally, I think it's just a ploy to get more money out of me as there's been no downgrading with any other opticians' who supply these, but I would not recommend doing so to anyone, especially one new to wearing lenses)

As a newbie to lenses I would suggest you ask to try several types when you go for your fitting til you find what suits you best (they might "recommend" the most expensive kind). For instance I find the ones that are supposed to be comfy for much longer - like Acuvue, terrible. They have a higher water content, but I find this causes them to dry out quicker - just my eyes apparently; but as we are all different you need to find what works for you.
When you go for your fitting you'll likely be given some to try at home for free before returning for a check and to order more. I am pretty sure you won't get a copy of your prescription before the Optician is happy that your eyes will not be harmed by the lenses you choose and that you can care for them properly. So it would probably be at least 6 months before you can buy the lenses elsewhere (online for example).
Oh and when you go to buy online I think that you are restricted to the brand that your optician has prescribed for you. (if this is wrong then someone please post below).
HTH, MrsB.

ETA:
Yes, if you buy from specsavers all the aftercare comes included. You get all the scheduled appointments plus any emergency type ones too. If you have not had a sight test for over 2 years (might be 1 year for CL) then you will need to have one done and you might have to pay depending on benefits/where you live etc.

mrsJeckyl

Evansangel wrote: »

I have contact lenses by post from D&A and for £19.50 i get 2 X fornightly lenses, i can only wear them for 10 hours a day. Im going to specsavers as its £15 a month for ones that you can wear much much longer

x

I get these as well and I'm going to change them. I wear my lenses most days but I still seem to stockpile solution. I only went back to D&A because I had a £30 cashback voucher after 3 months which I think is just about up.

-N34

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

I wear the £16 Specsaver lenses, have done for about 4 years and think they are great. I wear them for 14+ hours a day as I have for years, but SS have just dropped the price and also "downgraded" them and recommend that you wear them for a lot less time. (personally, I think it's just a ploy to get more money out of me as there's been no downgrading with any other opticians' who supply these, but I would not recommend doing so to anyone, especially one new to wearing lenses)

As a newbie to lenses I would suggest you ask to try several types when you go for your fitting til you find what suits you best (they might "recommend" the most expensive kind). For instance I find the ones that are supposed to be comfy for much longer - like Acuvue, terrible. They have a higher water content, but I find this causes them to dry out quicker - just my eyes apparently; but as we are all different you need to find what works for you.
When you go for your fitting you'll likely be given some to try at home for free before returning for a check and to order more. I am pretty sure you won't get a copy of your prescription before the Optician is happy that your eyes will not be harmed by the lenses you choose and that you can care for them properly. So it would probably be at least 6 months before you can buy the lenses elsewhere (online for example).
Oh and when you go to buy online I think that you are restricted to the brand that your optician has prescribed for you. (if this is wrong then someone please post below).
HTH, MrsB.

ETA:
Yes, if you buy from specsavers all the aftercare comes included. You get all the scheduled appointments plus any emergency type ones too. If you have not had a sight test for over 2 years (might be 1 year for CL) then you will need to have one done and you might have to pay depending on benefits/where you live etc.

What make are the contacts?

allan1983

Sorry to anyone who clicked on this thread thinking it was going to be a link for free Contacts! Instead its a plea.

Im going to book an eye test in the next day or so, as im pretty sure im a candidate for specs.
What id prefer though is to wear contacts (if I can obviously)
Ive been to specsavers today to make some enquiries, as Im a full time student, and our household qualify and receive tax credits.
Ive found that I can get a free eye test, and money off a pair of glasses, but nothing off contacts,.

SO. I just wondered if anyone knew of any secret ways to get free ones (id settle for very cheap!!):rotfl:?

Thanks everyone:D