Contact lenses
Discussion
I started wearing glasses a few years ago, and my current prescription is -0.25 (or something similar)
I last had my eyes tested in 2014, and previously when I didn't want to wear glasses (nights out, gym, sports etc) I just wouldn't wear them, but it's got to the point where I can't see well enough to be comfortable without them.
I quite fancy trying contact lenses, for the above type of occasions, what's the best way of doing this? Can I just buy a pack of 50 as a one off or do I have to have some kind of monthly arrangement? Are some brands better than others, or indeed different kinds of lenses altogether?
I last had my eyes tested in 2014, and previously when I didn't want to wear glasses (nights out, gym, sports etc) I just wouldn't wear them, but it's got to the point where I can't see well enough to be comfortable without them.
I quite fancy trying contact lenses, for the above type of occasions, what's the best way of doing this? Can I just buy a pack of 50 as a one off or do I have to have some kind of monthly arrangement? Are some brands better than others, or indeed different kinds of lenses altogether?
Ditto. I did just this a few months ago at an independent opticians. Full eye and vision check, then a trial fit of the correct lenses. I then walked around town for an hour, loved them, and they sent me on my way with a month's worth of lenses. I now receive three month's worth in the post at a time. Follow up visits to the optician included in the price. I've daily disposables, varifocal. They'll discuss everything with you. Please don't cut corners!
Hi, contact lense wearer for 10+ years here day in day out, a lot blinder than you though!
Ask around for a recommended optician is a good start or use one you trust and know
Im a tight bugger at times and I shop around for the best deal on stuff, but the two things I don't scrimp on is dental insurance and Contact Lenses
You can buy online and save a bit, I used to years ago, but there were regulations in place to try and restrict it to a proper optician who could check your eyes.
The supermarkets were good value, I used to use Asda
Contacts are great, but they do open you up to some nasty conditions/infections and other associated conditions, you might not need the aftercare, but when you do it can be really important. I pay a bit over the odds to stay with a local opticians, but they are very good and include everything in one cost plus they are 5 mins down the road.
I guess as you only want to be an occasional wearer you could probably buy in bulk online, as I wear monthlys
Ask around for a recommended optician is a good start or use one you trust and know
Im a tight bugger at times and I shop around for the best deal on stuff, but the two things I don't scrimp on is dental insurance and Contact Lenses
You can buy online and save a bit, I used to years ago, but there were regulations in place to try and restrict it to a proper optician who could check your eyes.
The supermarkets were good value, I used to use Asda
Contacts are great, but they do open you up to some nasty conditions/infections and other associated conditions, you might not need the aftercare, but when you do it can be really important. I pay a bit over the odds to stay with a local opticians, but they are very good and include everything in one cost plus they are 5 mins down the road.
I guess as you only want to be an occasional wearer you could probably buy in bulk online, as I wear monthlys
Most opticians will try and persuade you in to a monthly deal, but you can take your prescription away and buy online if you want. Alternatively some do smaller packages, I used to be on one with Specsavers that was 10 pairs per month as I only wore them for sport.
The monthly deals will include an annual check-up so bear in mind the cost of that when looking at buying elsewhere.
The monthly deals will include an annual check-up so bear in mind the cost of that when looking at buying elsewhere.
RizzoTheRat said:
The monthly deals will include an annual check-up so bear in mind the cost of that when looking at buying elsewhere.
Yes and make sure you go to that. Also follow the advice given by the opticians. Contact lenses are safe but when it goes wrong it can go very wrong. Cautionary tale here:http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Yes, all the above. I just use contacts for sport (couple of times a week) so the daily disposable ones work out better price over a year than longer use ones which need cleaning regime. Daily disposables are better from a hygiene view (no pun intended) than others.
Some opticians will try to tie you in. One even left off a vital measurement from the prescription! then asked if I intended to buy elsewhere, to which I responded "if you can get within 15% of the price I'm happy to buy from you" He couldn't. As I've been using them many years, and am confident to bulk buy in the belief they won't change, once I have got the prescription I buy from Asda online, just scanning and sending the prescription to them and get 180 which tend to last me the between appointments (about £0.50 each lens IIRC). If you need repeat orders Asda (or other good sellers) will only supply with a recent prescription (within 1yr I think). I have seen cheaper online suppliers, but with something this important, don't cut corners!
Some opticians will try to tie you in. One even left off a vital measurement from the prescription! then asked if I intended to buy elsewhere, to which I responded "if you can get within 15% of the price I'm happy to buy from you" He couldn't. As I've been using them many years, and am confident to bulk buy in the belief they won't change, once I have got the prescription I buy from Asda online, just scanning and sending the prescription to them and get 180 which tend to last me the between appointments (about £0.50 each lens IIRC). If you need repeat orders Asda (or other good sellers) will only supply with a recent prescription (within 1yr I think). I have seen cheaper online suppliers, but with something this important, don't cut corners!
I go to the same optician I've had since I was 12 (well his branch as he passed away last year). Aftercare is very important if you have an issue. My opticians are great, when I've had an issue an appointment is always asap.
They also give me pairs for when I go away and don't want to take solutions (I'm on 2 weekly lenses).
If you're not doing daily pairs, I can recommend Silicone Hyrdagel lenses for comfort.
They also give me pairs for when I go away and don't want to take solutions (I'm on 2 weekly lenses).
If you're not doing daily pairs, I can recommend Silicone Hyrdagel lenses for comfort.
I've been buying from Vision Direct for years, the prices went up a few years ago and I switched to another provider, but they're all much of a muchness now. I started off with monthlies from my optician but didnt like having to put them in a jar overnight, and tried dailies. Gone with them since, usually Focus/Bosch and Laumb ones because they're the cheapest of the non s
t or really siliconey ones. I've tried really cheap contacts and my eyes dont get on with the fibres or 'stuff' they use to make them.
I dont think I've ever had to give them a prescription, and I've changed the order around a few times (gone up +0.25 on one side) and not been asked.
But an optician will usually give you a free trial (with a paid for eyetest) of about 5 lenses for each eye and will have an aftercare program that they'll likely lump in to a regular payment
t or really siliconey ones. I've tried really cheap contacts and my eyes dont get on with the fibres or 'stuff' they use to make them. I dont think I've ever had to give them a prescription, and I've changed the order around a few times (gone up +0.25 on one side) and not been asked.
But an optician will usually give you a free trial (with a paid for eyetest) of about 5 lenses for each eye and will have an aftercare program that they'll likely lump in to a regular payment
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