Contact lenses - Can I just order them myself?

[Pizzaeatingking]

After 20+ years of wearing glasses I finally tried some contacts. My mate bought us both some meta glasses for our road trip later this year so it made me give them a go. I went to a local high street opticians and got a 5 day trial. I've tried them for a couple of days and they're fantastic, after an hour I forgot I was wearing them, no dry eyes or irritations and I can see perfectly.

The issue I have is that I've got to go back for an appointment at the end of the trial, but they're booked up for over a fortnight ahead! Is there anything stopping me from just ordering a set online? I've got the make, the sizes and my prescription of them so if I get the same ones surely I shouldn't have any issues? I don't plan to wear them every day, just weekends mainly. I've booked an appointment to go back regardless but I'd quite like to get a box of them ready to go.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Nothing really.

[ninepoint2]

As above nothing, my wife gets her contacts online

[The Gauge]

I have previously used The Optical Store who id recommend

https://theopticalstore.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoopR-q...

[simon_harris]

the advantage of going back to the opticians (and I'd really recommend a specialist contact lens optician) is they may be able to offer better fitting lenses depending on your eye type etc. I have an astigmatism so getting lenses that sit well on my eye has been struggle.

if you have a simple prescription with not other factors then just go online and order.

[Spevs]

Nothing wrong with ordering yourself on line, especially if you are wearing daily's, be careful if you've got monthly's though as they will need special cleaning fluids and you will need to follow a regular decontamination process.

[Pizzaeatingking]

Thanks everyone, I ended up ordering late last night, they arrived this evening. Same as the trial lenses so should be good.

simon_harris said:

the advantage of going back to the opticians (and I'd really recommend a specialist contact lens optician) is they may be able to offer better fitting lenses depending on your eye type etc. I have an astigmatism so getting lenses that sit well on my eye has been struggle.

if you have a simple prescription with not other factors then just go online and order.

I never ever knew suck a place existed. I also have an astigmatism, the lenses I have are designed for that and seem to be nice and comfortable to wear. I've booked an follow up with the opticians anyway so I'll see what they say in a couple of weeks.

[TheAngryDog]

I started to wear glasses last year for distance sight and driving. I don't legally need them for driving, but driving with glasses on is so much clearer.

I'd like to try contacts at some point, but I aren't sure I'd get on with them, or if they would work for me? I don't wear varifocal glasses and when I am wearing them and looking at something a bit closer to me, I have to adjust so that it's clear, whereas I don't have to do that when not wearing glasses.

Also, do contacts remove the feeling of wearing glasses? By this I mean looking through a lens.

Thanks.

[unzippy]

TheAngryDog said:

Also, do contacts remove the feeling of wearing glasses? By this I mean looking through a lens.

Yes, completely.

[chemistry]

TheAngryDog said:

I started to wear glasses last year for distance sight and driving. I don't legally need them for driving, but driving with glasses on is so much clearer.

I'd like to try contacts at some point, but I aren't sure I'd get on with them, or if they would work for me? I don't wear varifocal glasses and when I am wearing them and looking at something a bit closer to me, I have to adjust so that it's clear, whereas I don't have to do that when not wearing glasses.

Also, do contacts remove the feeling of wearing glasses? By this I mean looking through a lens.

Thanks.

May or may not be relevant to you, but if you need both close up and distance prescriptions you can get multi focal contact lenses (I have them, they work very well).

As for contacts removing the feeling of wearing glasses, yes I would say that (for me at least) they do. They are also much more convenient for sport, allow you to wear sunglasses, don't fog up in winter when you go into a warm room from outside, etc.

[Lincsls1]

unzippy said:

TheAngryDog said:

Also, do contacts remove the feeling of wearing glasses? By this I mean looking through a lens.

Yes, completely.

+1.

[Sycamore]

Lincsls1 said:

unzippy said:

TheAngryDog said:

Also, do contacts remove the feeling of wearing glasses? By this I mean looking through a lens.

Yes, completely.

+1.

Unfortunately not for me with what I believe to be severe astigmatism, so my eyes being oval means that the lenses never sit quite "centred" and move when I blink. I've tried a million types of lenses at this point and they all feel like I have a grain of sand in my eye

simon_harris said:

the advantage of going back to the opticians (and I'd really recommend a specialist contact lens optician) is they may be able to offer better fitting lenses depending on your eye type etc. I have an astigmatism so getting lenses that sit well on my eye has been struggle.

if you have a simple prescription with not other factors then just go online and order.

In fact I've just seen this so may well go look into it. Good shout. With the level of astigmatism, I found there were only a small handful of options available online, and the Specsavers options were no better!

Edited by Sycamore on Thursday 28th May 13:24

[thebraketester]

How bad is your astigmatism? Toric lenses are thicker than normal ones and do take some getting used to, even if you are a regular contact lenses wearer.

I get my eyes tested at specsavers and get my lenses from feelgood
Contacts online.

[simon_harris]

Sycamore said:

Lincsls1 said:

unzippy said:

TheAngryDog said:

Also, do contacts remove the feeling of wearing glasses? By this I mean looking through a lens.

Yes, completely.

+1.

Unfortunately not for me with what I believe to be severe astigmatism, so my eyes being oval means that the lenses never sit quite "centred" and move when I blink. I've tried a million types of lenses at this point and they all feel like I have a grain of sand in my eye

simon_harris said:

the advantage of going back to the opticians (and I'd really recommend a specialist contact lens optician) is they may be able to offer better fitting lenses depending on your eye type etc. I have an astigmatism so getting lenses that sit well on my eye has been struggle.

if you have a simple prescription with not other factors then just go online and order.

In fact I've just seen this so may well go look into it. Good shout. With the level of astigmatism, I found there were only a small handful of options available online, and the Specsavers options were no better!

Edited by Sycamore on Thursday 28th May 13:24

I don't wear lenses often, even less so now days with needing multi-focals, but the last time I went the optician had some trial lenses not available for retail sale (and I did go looking) that were th ebest fitting lenses I have ever worn and my eyes are -4.5 and -4.75

[Sycamore]

Yes it was toric lenses I was trying, across a few brands - I just always felt like I had bits in my eyes
Likewise each time I blinked, the lense would naturally shuffle a little to re-position so i'd have slight blurred vision after every blink.



I believe it's the cylinder that's the severity of the astigmatism, so Simons' being more gives me a bit of hope !

[Stu78]

I use feelgood contacts. I use the Acuvue Oasys Astigmatism. Don't bother with them every day but never have a problem when I do wear them.

[slievenashaska]

chemistry said:

May or may not be relevant to you, but if you need both close up and distance prescriptions you can get multi focal contact lenses (I have them, they work very well).

Alternatively you can have standard contact lenses specified for 'monovision', which is the prescription for one eye set to a reading distance and the prescription for the other to distance.

It works for some people and not for others (it does for me), so a test run is advised before ordering a large batch of lenses.

[Pizzaeatingking]

So I done the trail, plus I bought the extra ones online. I like them, easy to get in and out and after about an hour I forget they're in. I noticed that the left eye is slightly less clear than the right eye so I asked about that today when I went for my end of trial appointment. My astigmatism is '80' in my right eye and '88' in my left. Contacts come in 10 degree increments apparently so I have a 90 degree one for my left eye. While it's noticeable when covering each eye it doesn't seem to be an issue with normal use.

The other issue I've had is the slight blur when I rub my eyes (which I try not to do!) so I've ordered some slightly more expensive lenses from Specsavers to see how they go. I suspect it'll be a bit of trail and error tbh to find the best lenses, I can see why Simon praised the contact lens specialist option! Any recommendations? When I search I just get opticians.

[simon_harris]

Where in the UK are you? I know a great place in Nottingham

[Pizzaeatingking]

simon_harris said:

Where in the UK are you? I know a great place in Nottingham

I'm nor far from Milton Keynes. If there's nothing closer I could do Nottingham, any excuse for a road trip