Hi all

In the UK I used to be on a monthly plan for my contact lens, costing £14.95 per month. At this price it included my lens for the month, my solution, my lens holder and consultations as and when required. I would then be given 3mths supply.

Do they have a similar thing here?

I haven't managed to go into any optometrists yet but as I'm just about to run out of my supply I thought I'd better get a move on.

I've just looked on the internet under OPSM but couldn't see any monthly plans ... also they seemed more expensive and I'm sure that was just for the lens ... I think I'd have to pay extra for everything else.

Please tell me that isn't so????????

Hi!
I wear contact lenses and I have been to the optomitrist recently. I also used to have the monthly contact lens delivery thing. It seems (although I'm not entirely sure because I haven't asked about monthly contracts as we're not in a position to do that at the moment) that you just buy a 3 month supply (off the top of my head $88 plus your solutions which would be about $20).

What I did find (which astounded me) is that I have an astigmatism (which I knew about in the UK) and I was offered lenses that not only correct my shortsightedness but also the astigmatism aswell (lenses were a bit more expensive though - I think $110 for 3 months). I was never given this option in the UK (had absolutely no idea that you had different types of lenses like that) and I always thought that my contact lenses never really corrected my sight completely (and now I know why).

I found the optomitrist I used very helpful, professional and he didn't in anyway suggest I should take the more expensive option. He even gave me a free pair of lenses for the month (which I am using at the moment - although they're the normal lenses and not the ones that correct my astigmatism) and he suggested that if I was happy with the cheaper ones then to use those (no harm to the eyes). However, I'm probably going to take the more expensive ones as I was amazed at how much better my sight was and with the normal ones I struggle a bit to read signs when I'm driving.

The sight test was free (I was bulk billed - but you have to make sure you go to an optomitrist who does bulk - billing). Can't fault them at all.

Sorry of that is a bit of a ramble - have just shared a bottle of very nice local white wine with me hubby and am (to be honest) a little squiffy.

Anyway, hope it helps
Mandy
xx

hi Mandy,
I'm another astigmatist (not sure if that's a real word but it looks good! :rolleyes:)
I've had monthly diposable contacts for a while with a contract though optometrist.
I cancelled my contract but booked a final eye test to get a prescription for lenses to take to Oz. Optician said they had a supply of my lenses which had already been ordered, did I want them? He just happened to mention my lenses had changed because the company had been taken over & I may find my vision improved as these were "aspheric" & would slightly correct the astigmatism.
"How long have these been available?"
"Oh months"
"why wasn't I offered the new type?"
"Er :blink: "

It would be handy to have the name & address of your new optometrist! :sign09:
David.

I'm so pleased to see this thread, I was only doing a search for contact lenses last night!

From what I managed to find it certainly looks as though the lenses will be roughly the same so I'm much relived (hate wearing specs! They make my eyes look like p*** holes!).

Sara

There must be something in the air, as I too was having this conversation this morning! As I'm only wearing the lenses 2 or 3 days a week, the monthly's are lasting 2 months! I reckon I'll have a year's supply to take over with me, so hopefully won't have to find a opticians straight away. :chuckle:

BTW if you have your presciption, can you not order them on-line?

Even spookier, I too have the new toric lens as my eyes are "asthmatic". It's cool when you first put them in and they rotate round to their correct position - freaky! :loopy:

Whilst we're on the subject - anyone wear the daily lenses? I moved over to these from monthly ones about 5 years ago and it's fantastic to just be able to put a fresh pair in every day without the hassle of cleaning solutions etc.

Ideas on costs anyone?

Do you other astigmatists have soft lenses or gas permeable? I've always been told that my eyesight is too bad for soft lenses (-12 and -10 whatevers with big astigmatism) but would love soft lenses as my eyes really suffer with gas permeable ones. Just wondered which brand do the toric so I can try and find some when i get out there :chuckle:

Jo :)

Hi Jo,

I work in an opticians so if you'd like to pm me with your prescription details then I'll see what I can find out for you. Lenses have come on a lot in recent years so you might be pleasantly surprised.

Karen.

Yes, I wear soft monthly disposables and have an astigmatism - but my eye-sight isn't that bad (-2ish) so don't know what it would be like for someone with really bad eyesight.
Mandy
xx

You can order online if you have your prescription. There's heaps of sites devoted to this so I'll just put a couple down ;)

http://www.clearlycontacts.com.au/

The following one is US based but will ship to Australia for USD12.95. May or may not work out cheaper depending what you need.

http://www.discountcontactlenses.com/default.asp

Desiree
:D :D

I have daily lenses but it costs me $200 for three months supply - I can claim about $160 back on private health care so phew!! Does anyone know whether I can do this with these internet suppliers.

Judes
x

Fantastic, I was just wondering about this last week....

I have pretty poor eyesight, -8.9. Jo, there are now disposable lenses available for pretty high prescriptions, quite new development though. I think only available from one manufacturer as well. Have a look at www.visiondirect.com for an idea of which ones. I also have astigmatism (very bad) and have been wearing toric (soft) lenses for at least 18 years and have been buying them online since we've been in the UK. Had to be imported from the USA at first, but now widely available.... very expensive though. :( My glasses tend to be the most expensive type as well, because of all the special lens treatments they need :crying: Sara, can totally identify with the bottle-bottom look....not for me thanks!

Annette
:dance:

I was really excited then but unfortunately they only go up to -9.5. Never mind eh!They're sure to make them eventually!

my eyesight isn't all that bad -1.25 in both and I also have a slight astigmatism - I have the monthly £14.99 lenses and solution deal so its good to read that I could carry that kind of thing on there.

Before I started teaching and needed to wear my contacts/glasses everyday I used to have daily disposables. It was a cheap option as I only really used to use them when we went out.

I have very dry eyes and my monthly contacts make my eyes feel like they are full of sand by about 4pm ( another plus for dailies as they were SO comfy I quite often used to wake up and realise I still had them in!) I've been consideringi having laser treatment once we get to Oz as we'll have the ready cash available - there's no point having it here in the UK at this late stage as I'd need regular checkups for a year or so and hopefully we wont be here that long - I'll also need to pluck up TONS of courage :unsure: but I know it will be well worth it.

Hugs
K xx

Hi Karen,

Wish I was brave enough for the op but I'm a real baby when it comes to stuff like that!

I too wear monthly lenses, glad I can still get them over there, I hate wearing my glasses.

Whilst I'm on the subject, I don't know wether or not to wear glasses on my passport photo as I don't think it will be a good idea to wear lenses on the flight, and I will need to look like the photo in my passport photo if you know what I mean?

What are you going to wear for the flight? glasses or lenses I mean!

Mandy :D

I have been scared for years, just booked an appointment to see if I can have it done. V scared. Appointment is in 2 weeks so it is at the back of my mind for now! It will be strange to be able to see in a morning, swim etc. Watch, all this build up and my eyes won't be suitable or something!

I know a good number of people who have had it done with no regrets at all.

Jo, could you consider laser treatment? If you click on one of the websites, you can often type your prescription in and it tells you if you would be suitable.

Edit: mandy if you don't have your glasses on for the photo, then wear them on the plane, you can always take them off for the immigration person.

I really wouldn't worry. In my passport photo I had short very white hair. When I arrived I had mousy brown shoulder length hair (trust me I couldn't have looked more different to the photo). No-one batted an eye-lid so I'm sure they'll recognise you with or without glasses.
Mandy
xx

Thanks, I did try that once - you had to type your prescription into a box on the website and they supposedly sent you an email telling you (almost invariably) that you were suitable............except the email I got was ' are you serious?!!! Check you typed your prescription in correctly but if you did there's no chance :blink: !' or words to that effect :lol: :lol: . Ahh well back to the goggles for a while longer :)

Good luck with your appointment :sign03: I've heard that it's pretty fantastic when it's done, just think no more glasses ever!



Jo :)

All the best with the appointment in a few weeks.

My friend and my Sister have both had their eyes done for about 3 years now and they both say it was the best thing they have EVER done. It was painless, uncomfortable but didn't hurt at bit. Their aftercare was great too.

It has become a mission of mine now to look into (excuse the pun!!) getting it done asap once(if) we get to Oz as I want to wake up each morning and clearly see the new country I will be calling 'home' :D

Hugs
K xx