Contact Lenses
From initial fitting to regular wear we aim to make your contact lens wear convenient, comfortable and hassle free.
Modern contact lenses give you freedom from spectacles whenever you want; from full time wear to occasional wear for sport or going out. Whether you are short or long-sighted, have astigmatism or reading difficulties we can find lenses to suit you.
As independent practitioners with a special interest in contact lenses we have access to every lens available and will be happy to see you if previous lenses have proved difficult or uncomfortable.
What to expect
If you’re interested in contact lenses, then “fitting” and “aftercare” appointments can be confusing. This is a quick guide as to what to expect when you decide to try contact lenses.
The Contact Lens Fitting
One of our optometrists will discuss your requirements and lens options with you; make sure your eyes are suitable for contact lens wear. We will then try some lenses on your eyes and let you experience all the benefits of contact lens wear. Following this it is important that you can insert and remove the lenses safely, and we will show you exactly how to do this. At this point we will ask for the fitting fee of £50, and make a follow-up Aftercare Appointment for one to two weeks time. The fitting fee includes:
- Fitting appointment
- Contact lens instruction
- Trial lenses
- Your first aftercare
Aftercare Appointments
The aftercare appointment is mandatory before we can supply you with lenses. We need to make sure you are happy with contact lens wear, and check that the lenses are still fitting well on your eyes after you have been wearing them for a period of time. We will usually need to remove the contact lenses during the appointment to look at the health of your eyes, so please bring your glasses and contact lens case with you.
Remember: Please arrive at routine aftercare appointments wearing your contact lenses.
Prices
Our contact lens fitting fee is £50. This covers your initial appointment to discuss your needs and requirements, teaching you to insert and remove the contact lenses safely, trial lenses and a follow up appointment.
Regular contact lens aftercare appointments are essential to maintaining healthy, safe contact lens wear. The frequency of these can vary depending on your individual requirements as assessed by our optometrists. Under most circumstances this is usually 6 or 12 months, but can be sooner in some cases. The cost of a contact lens aftercare is £24, but a lot of that worry can be removed by going on our direct debit scheme.
The price of contact lenses can vary greatly, but starts from the equivalent of £5 a month for a basic monthly disposable contact lens. Modern Silicone Hydrogel contact lenses which are healthier for the eyes start from £9.50 a month and daily disposable contact lenses start from £24 for 30 pairs.
Direct Debit and Home Delivery
We are pleased to be able to offer a Direct
Debit payment plan to our contact lenses wearers. Monthly payments makes lens wear easy and affordable.
The Direct Debit price for the lenses remains the same, but in most cases we add £5 a month aftercare service, which covers the cost of all your contact lens aftercare appointments.
To help make contact lens wear as simple and hassle free as possible, we are usually able to offer for your contact lenses to be posted directly to you at regular intervals.
FAQ’s
Contact lens wear is easier and safer than ever before. Many concerns are based on urban myths – let us help dispel some of those myths.
I’ve been told that I can’t wear contact lenses
Contact lens technology is constantly changing, so many people who have previously been told that there are eyes are not suitable for contact lenses , are now enjoying their benefits. We have access to the vast majority of contact lenses available today, so if you have previously been put off contact lenses, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
I can’t wear contact censes as I have astigmatism
Most people have astigmastism to a greater or lesser extent. Astigmatism is when the shape of the eye is more like a rugby ball than a spherical football, causing horizontal and vertical lines to be focussed differently. Astigmatism can be corrected by either special ‘toric’ soft lenses, or by rigid gas permeable lenses. With advances in these fields, there is a lens available for most people.
I can’t wear lenses as my eyes are still changing
There is no reason why people whose eyes are changing should not wear contact lenses. With frequent replacement contact lenses, there is no extra charges involved if your prescription changes.
Can they get lost behind my eyes?
This is the most common misbelief of all, but is fortunately not true. It is impossible for anything to go behind the eye, the worst that can happen is that the lens could be dislodged and go under the top eyelid. We are always on hand to offer advice and assistance should you experience any difficulties.
I’m worried about getting them in and out
Putting contact lenses in or out is an easily learned technique, and instruction on this is included within our fitting fee. We are happy to spend as long as it takes to help you feel at ease handling your contact lenses.
Am I too old (or young) for contact lenses?
There isn’t any age restrictions on when to start, or stop, contact lens wear. For children, the decision is best to be made jointly with parents, child and optometrist, but can start from suprisingly young ages in the right child.
For adults, contact lens wear can start at almost any age, and we have people happily wearing their contact lenses into their 80s.
I wear bifocals or contact lenses. Can I still wear contact lenses?
Yes. We have many people happily wearing contact lenses who otherwise would need bifocals or varifocals. This is achieved via one of three methods.
- The simplest method is to have contact lenses to correct your distance vision, and a pair of light weight reading glasses to wear over the top as required.
- Secondly, a technique called monovision can be used where one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye for near vision. The brain adapts to this vision, and seamlessly corrects both distance and near vision.
- The final method is to use multifocal contact lenses which can be extremely successful. These blend both distance and near focusses into one lens so you can experience clear distance and near vision within one lens.
The best choice of these methods will be discussed with you during your appointment.
Are contact lenses difficult to look after?
Modern contact lens solutions are very effective and are usually an all-in-one solution, meaning you do not need separate cleaning and storage solutions. Daily lenses are thrown away at the end of the day – so no cleaning!
Do I need to see an optometrist to get contact lenses?
Yes. Contact lenses as a medical device as there are inherent risks in wearing them. To make sure you experience safe and comfortable lens wear you need to be up to date with your eye examinations, and go through a professional contact lens fitting.