[Steven]

Hi

I figured if I buy online with my high street prescription for glasses then...

I am currently using bog standard Focus Dailies from Specsavers. But I was wondering about people's experiences with other brands and the claims on comfort and whatnot. Obviously with contacts it is all subjective but I am sure I can get a free trial somewhere

I am due for my yearly contacts' check soon and see D&A are doing free contacts' assessment Also 500 Nectar points and free eye test for those interested

So what do people use? Please say if you use dallies or monthlies, and where you buy. And especially if you do sport (or motorcycle riding could count)

Thanks

P.S. Thread icon is meant to be 'the blind man'

[themoid]

hi, i use daily disposables, basically when training and competing (triathlon, so swimming, cycling, running). i use 1 day Acuvue moist for one eye, and 1 day acuvue for astigmatism for the other. both v comfortable, no problems to date, not ever lost either of them. i've tried slightly cheaper dailies but not as comfortable IMO.

interested to see what online sellers are recommended, as i am sure i can get them cheaper than from my local optician....

cheers
Stu

[Steven]

Because I am cheap I sometimes go short sighted on the treadmill as its relatively safe When I do start running outside I would look to use contacts as there is no chance of breaking expensive frames

Thought contacts and water are not mean to go?

[themoid]

i wear goggles they get knocked off occassionally by stray elbows but no probs to date. optician says no problem with it as you throw them after use so minimal risk of infection

[jerry]

I used to wear Focus dailies but I now wear Daysoft lenses. Check out the web site Daily Disposable Contact Lenses : Daysoft : Order Soft Contact Lenses Online. I can,t tell the diiference when in my eye!

[Goody]

I have used gas permeable (hard) lenses for about 15 years. Can be a bit of a pain if dust gets in the eyes but they are cheap to run! A pair will cost me £90 and will last 2 years and I use Boston solution which costs less than £40 for a year's supply (one so-called month's worth lasts me for 3 months).

I get my lenses from my optician and by the solution from Postoptics.

[Steven]

I need minor torics (on the basis my prescription can be counted on one hand )...
I don't think hard lenses would be comfortable, especially running 10K

Seems B&L Purevision toric, AcuVue TruEye and Dailies Aquacomfort Plus are most highly rated (manufacturer links)

[boltoa]

I've worn Purevision Continuous wear lenses (1 month at a time) for the last 6 years or so (20 years total contact lens wear). Love them myself - just put them in and forget them for a month. Never had a problem. I'm -2.75 in both eyes, so not hugely strong. I get them from specsavers, for £14/m (IIRC, might be £12) which includes aftercare (annual check).

[Naqv]

Buy Cheap Contact lenses direct from the UK

Used them for ages. Very good service.

[Magslad]

I've used the daily disposable One Day Acuvue for a the past few years as I don't wear lenses every day, and have always thought they were fine but my eyes got quite dry by the end of the day so had to use eye drops. I use them for sport (rugby/swimming) as well as general wear.

I've recently changed to the One Day Acuvue Trueye and have to say there's a big difference - much more comfortable even after wearing for a full day, and they also seem easier to put in (which is good given that my eyes are only half open in the morning ). Don't understand the science but apparently they let a lot more oxygen through hence why your eyes don't dry up as much. Obviously they cost more than the standard acuvue but well worth it IMHO.

I think most opticians would give you free samples to try - mine gave me 5 pairs each of 3 different types to try, and I thought the Trueye were the best so that's what I ordered.

[danuk]

I've been using contact lenses for years, monthly lenses. I buy them from vision express and i think if memory serves me right i pay £21 a month. My prescription strength is +6.00.
I used to use these:
Frequency Xcel Toric Prices - Find Lowest Price On Contact Lenses And Buy Cheap :: Lens Index UK
I had issues with night driving using these. Headlight glare off of approaching vehicles made it really difficult to see.

I now use these:
Proclear Toric Prices - Find Lowest Price On Contact Lenses And Buy Cheap :: Lens Index UK
I no longer have the glare problem with these but the lenses are a lot weaker. They tear very easily when taking them out. Some months i end up using two pairs of them.
My advice is to try different brands as everybodys eyes are different.

[lockers]

Originally Posted by Naqv

Buy Cheap Contact lenses direct from the UK

Used them for ages. Very good service.

I use this website to get my lenses from too - like Naqv said, excellent service and quick delivery.

I'm actually registered on D&A Contact Lenses By Post scheme, but I make a minimum order with them and then put it 'on hold' for the maximum time(currently 6 months). The lenses are more expensive through D&A, so just get them cheaper from the website until I next HAVE to use D&A.

This way I get my free check-ups and discounts on glasses etc should I need them! Just keep repeating the process!

[Steven]

Good stuff, keep it coming

Optometrists are probably the closest I will in the immediate time have to private health care Money, money...

[dUnKle]

Never really wore contacts
Having worn glasses for 20+ years I gave them a go but so used to the face furniture that found I did not like myself without glasses

However ...............

Contacts can be useful - much easier to paintball with them on under the mask than a pair of glasses for example

Few months back I got a new prescription for my glasses - how do I use that to work out what contacts I need ?

[Steven]

Converting a Glasses Prescription into a Contact Lens Prescription - Contact Lenses Forum - Lens 101

Google gave me that formula

But your individual suitability for contacts still needs to be independently assessed. And not everyone gets on with them

For sport contacts can be preferable. Sure you could get prescription sport glasses or sunglasses, but contacts are more flexible, and you get better peripheral vision and can always pop sunglasses over the top if the weather dictates the need

[JohnG]

Just to clarify, you really have to see an Optician before trying any contact lenses. I've seen many photographs of what can happen to the eye and believe me it's not pretty.
Different people require different types of lenses.

[Steven]

I'll have a pop around the usual high street suspects and see about a free demo. Does not need to be exact prescription, I just want to try and see how it feels (no pun intended)
Bewildering array citing "oxygen", "clear", "moist" and other nice to say buzzwords

I'm sticking with dailies. No way do I trust myself not to lose them

[JohnG]

It will depend on what type is suitable for you, it's not always a case of you deciding which you fancy.

[Steven]

Just to be clear, I do already wear contacts as per first post. Looking to "upgrade"

[johnscarlet]

Make sure they are HD Ready

[Steven]

I'd just be happy to be able to have the option of contacts all my life - if not at some point to come then it means I am stuck with glasses because my eyesight has deteriorated that much

[jerry]

If NAQV AND LOCKERS check out the lens website I use (previous reply) they will save 50% on an alternative to Focus Dailies as an example. The service is good and I can't tell the difference in wearing.

[RMCF]

I bought some of the Daysoft ones online as I thought the ones from my local optician (been using Focus Dailies for years) were slightly expensive.

However I have to say I will be going back to the more expensive Focus Dailies when my Daysoft ones run out. Problems I have found with them:

- too soft. I realise that this sounds like a good thing for contact lenses, but it provides its own problems sometimes. I find that when I take them out of the plastic holder they more often than not fold themselves inside out on your finger tip. This can happen several times before you get them into your eye.


Other problems due to their softness would be them tearing when on your fingertip and folding up when in your eye during use.

Also, they are definitely bigger than the Focus Dailies, and cover more of your eyeball.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by themoid

i wear goggles they get knocked off occassionally by stray elbows but no probs to date. optician says no problem with it as you throw them after use so minimal risk of infection

I'm going swimming in the morning as my gym is closed for 4 days, reopen Tuesday

Just outta interest, which goggles do you use? I have a cheap pair of <£10 speedo's, but if I recall they do not create a complete seal as some leakage gets through... but then again as you say minimal risk of infection and being indoors in the pool is dryer than the typical British April outdoors

[hot-fuzz]

Originally Posted by Naqv

Buy Cheap Contact lenses direct from the UK

Used them for ages. Very good service.

They're who i use. Very quick and reliable.

Originally Posted by lockers

I use this website to get my lenses from too - like Naqv said, excellent service and quick delivery.

I'm actually registered on D&A Contact Lenses By Post scheme, but I make a minimum order with them and then put it 'on hold' for the maximum time(currently 6 months). The lenses are more expensive through D&A, so just get them cheaper from the website until I next HAVE to use D&A.

This way I get my free check-ups and discounts on glasses etc should I need them! Just keep repeating the process!

How easy is it to leave the postal scheme completely with d and a? Do you havr to give lots of notice or pay or something? Thanks.

[Digger]

Considering leaving D&A and their £25/mth Softlens 66 monthly torics to an online supplier (possibly Lensway) of J&J Acuvue Oasys (2ng gen apparently) 2 weekly torics. I just want ultimate comfort really so I dont get the baggy-eyed look .

[lockers]

Originally Posted by f1234

How easy is it to leave the postal scheme completely with d and a? Do you havr to give lots of notice or pay or something? Thanks.

Sorry I don't actually know the answer to this, I can't remember what my T&Cs say, but at a guess I would imagine you can leave with minimal or no notice and wouldn't have thought you need to pay to leave.

If you pass one of their shops, pop in and ask as they should be able to help...

[timfra]

Just wanted to list some contact lens alternatives for various eye conditions (Near Sigthness, Astigmatism, Presbyopia). The industry has evolved a lot and there are some amazing products available, so here are some options and additional sources for you.

For astigmatism consider Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism from Vistakon.
Another manufacturer is CIBA Vision - they offer the Air Optix for Astigmatism. Finally there is Bausch & Lomb offering the PureVision Toric.

For near/far-sightness Vistakon released an interesting silicone hydrogel - it's a daily disposable (supposed to be the first in the world) - called 1-Day Acuvue TruEye. And for people with Presbyopia there is the new Oasys for Presbyopia

There are many other lenses available, and your eye doctor will determine the best fit and figure out the exact parameters required (i.e. base curve, power, add, diameter etc.)

Prices for contact lenses can vary a lot - i.e. daily disposables are a bit more expensive than weeklies or monthlies but at the same time they offer the no-cleaning-required=no-worry convenience.


Hope you'll find this helpful

Cheers!

[mda1974]

I don't wear contact lenses very often, mainly in the summer so I can wear non prescription sunglases and not have to swap from one pair to another.

I buy them from Vision Direct. I'm really lucky that my perscription is exactly the same in both eyes so I only have to by one pack of 30.