Contact Lenses

[Manny1874]

Looking for some advice on switching to contact lenses and using them for playing football especially. Im short sighted and last time I played regular football it was a bit of a problem.

 

What id really like to know is wether I can just buy lenses based on my glasses prescription based on my eye test from August or do i really NEED to go and see and optician about it or can I DIY it.

 

Also any other advice on them in general would be appreciated.

[makateer]

Go and see an optician, do not DIY it. You don't want to be sticking your fingers in your eyes for the first time without professional advice first.

 

I have been wearing contact lenses for over 10 years and I couldn't live without them. I got daily ones as they are comfier than the 3 monthly ones I used to wear, plus you don't have to clean them every night.

[Walter Payton]

Looking for some advice on switching to contact lenses and using them for playing football especially. Im short sighted and last time I played regular football it was a bit of a problem.

 

What id really like to know is wether I can just buy lenses based on my glasses prescription based on my eye test from August or do i really NEED to go and see and optician about it or can I DIY it.

 

Also any other advice on them in general would be appreciated.

 

I wear contact lenses and it's always worth going for a specific contact lens check, particularly if it's your first time getting them (they don't only test your eyesight, they also measure things like the dimensions of your lens- contact lenses can be extremely uncomfortable if there's anything wrong with them). Best advice I can give you though is get your prescription tested at somewhere like Specsavers (they'll do it free) then tell them you want to think about it some more before signing up for the lenses. After that, take your prescription along to the opticians at Costco and you can get the same lenses for a lot cheaper!

[Walter Kidd]

Get your eyes lasered. I did it 6 weeks odd ago and it is awesome.

[Jamboelite]

Never DIY it mate the first couple of weeks take a bit of getting used to and that is after they have found the right fit for you.

 

Get it checked and get the right ones even just for the first batch then you can hunt out a cheaper set.

 

I have a rare eye condition so i use a hard gas lense which is even harder to get used to god knows what i would have done if i tried the DIY method

[Walter Payton]

Get your eyes lasered. I did it 6 weeks odd ago and it is awesome.

 

How much did it cost if you don't mind me asking mate? Thought about it a few times but I'm never convinced by the "from ?399 per eye" adverts- thought they'd always end up telling you because of your particular prescription it'll cost well over a grand.

[Manny1874]

Thanks for your replies all great advice ill be going to make an appointment the morning. Also I looked into laser eye treatment, the detail on it made my stomach turn.

[Walter Kidd]

How much did it cost if you don't mind me asking mate? Thought about it a few times but I'm never convinced by the "from ?399 per eye" adverts- thought they'd always end up telling you because of your particular prescription it'll cost well over a grand.

 

Couple of grand mate, but I went for the top of the range one. Don't listen to the horror stories, next day I was brand new.

 

Thoroughly recommend it.

[Diane]

I've been wearing lenses for over twenty years (yikes) and they are just part of me. They've got so many benefits over glasses which aren't to do with vanity.

 

A couple of years ago I switched to ones which you leave in all the time. You don't even take them out overnight, just switch them for a new pair every month. Absolutely superb.

[Eggo]

Get your eyes lasered. I did it 6 weeks odd ago and it is awesome.

 

 

Thats what id recommend to,got mine done about 2 years ago...an investment 2nd to none:)

 

 

Theres an interest free option at Optical Express!!!

[Eggo]

Thanks for your replies all great advice ill be going to make an appointment the morning. Also I looked into laser eye treatment, the detail on it made my stomach turn.

 

 

Painless surgery and over in 15 minutes..trust me when I say painless.It was an absolute dawdle.

[3inaBednar]

mate once you get your prescription go here http://www.visiondirect.co.uk/ and just buy em when you need them - diny sign up for direct debits and all that for lenses - it's a con - much cheaper on that sight and then just get a check up every 6 months/year depending on yer sight and its performance.

[Sawdust Caesar]

I started wearing lenses because my glasses got knocked of my face twice when celebrating Hearts goals, in the good old days of the shed. Plus your eyesight deteriorates quicker wearing specs than contacts. I change mine every two weeks, used to have monthly ones but after the second week they started to feel quite rough on the eye, maybe I didn't clean them properly.

 

The first few times I tried to put them in it took me ages because I kept closing my eye every time my finger got close, now it's easy peasy.

[Ivan Drago]

make sure your eyes are able to actually handle them...eye ulcers are sair

[Boof]

Go to a professional - you only get one pair of eyes.

 

Been wearing daily disposables for a few ears now - not cheap, but totally hassle free.

[Jambof3tornado]

ONE GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE!!!

 

If you have a lens knocked out while playing(soft variety of lens),make sure that if you put it straight back into your eye you dont have deep heat/ralgex type stuff on your fingers:eek:. I was yellow carded for leaving the field of play without permission(had to run to changing rooms to pour water on my eye) and ended up with one hell of a sore eye!!! And we lost!!

 

 

Oh and the other bity of advice is go see an eye doctor.

[Alan_R]

Looking for some advice on switching to contact lenses and using them for playing football especially. Im short sighted and last time I played regular football it was a bit of a problem.

 

What id really like to know is wether I can just buy lenses based on my glasses prescription based on my eye test from August or do i really NEED to go and see and optician about it or can I DIY it.

 

Also any other advice on them in general would be appreciated.

 

My area of work. Contact Lense Consultant, I deal with contact lenses every day.

 

Your contact lense Rx and your Spex Rx is in no way related. You'll need a seperate test.

 

You'll need to go to an opticians and get a contact lense fitting with an optometrist. They'll go over your needs and requirments and recommend a contact lense best suited for you. This appointment with most companies costs about ?20 although should include free trial contact lenses and aftercare.

 

You can't DIY it, I'd be very suprised if any company in Britain supplied you with contact lenses without a valid perscription. Their is dodgy companies online that will sell you anything, not only is this illegal I've witnessed some nasty outcomes too. No optician is obligated to see you if something goes wrong if you've bought online. Contacts are completly safe if you get ones that are suited to you.

[Alan_R]

I started wearing lenses because my glasses got knocked of my face twice when celebrating Hearts goals, in the good old days of the shed. Plus your eyesight deteriorates quicker wearing specs than contacts. I change mine every two weeks, used to have monthly ones but after the second week they started to feel quite rough on the eye, maybe I didn't clean them properly.

 

The first few times I tried to put them in it took me ages because I kept closing my eye every time my finger got close, now it's easy peasy.

 

You still use 2 weeklys?

 

When were you last fitted? Generally monthlys have came on leaps and bounds recently, vast improvements have been made while two weeklys are largely unaltered. So monthlys are considered far superior to two weeklys these days, in most cases.

[Denny Crane]

How much do "dailies" cost per month?

[Walter Payton]

My area of work. Contact Lense Consultant, I deal with contact lenses every day.

 

Your contact lense Rx and your Spex Rx is in no way related. You'll need a seperate test.

 

You'll need to go to an opticians and get a contact lense fitting with an optometrist. They'll go over your needs and requirments and recommend a contact lense best suited for you. This appointment with most companies costs about ?20 although should include free trial contact lenses and aftercare.

 

You can't DIY it, I'd be very suprised if any company in Britain supplied you with contact lenses without a valid perscription. Their is dodgy companies online that will sell you anything, not only is this illegal I've witnessed some nasty outcomes too. No optician is obligated to see you if something goes wrong if you've bought online. Contacts are completly safe if you get ones that are suited to you.

 

Would you have any professional opinion regarding laser surgery?

[CostaJambo]

Has anyone any info on whether laser surgery deteriorates over the years? Would like to get it but i'm afraid it would have to be done again in a few years etc. etc. with the eyes getting progressively worse.

[Alan_R]

How much do "dailies" cost per month?

 

depends what your requirements are. your perscription how often you use them etc.

 

you can pay anything from ?12 to ?45 a month though.

[Alan_R]

Would you have any professional opinion regarding laser surgery?

 

If you are suitable for it and can afford it I'd definately suggest going for it. Procedures (of which there are various methods) have been mastered by now and are painless and quick.

 

Has anyone any info on whether laser surgery deteriorates over the years? Would like to get it but i'm afraid it would have to be done again in a few years etc. etc. with the eyes getting progressively worse.

 

The surgery doesn't deteriorate but unfortunately old age can't be prevented. You go to a consultation before hand where they monitor what your spex perscription has been over the years. They make sure this is stable to minimise the chance of your Rx changing a few years after surgery. In most cases it correct your distance vision but as you get older you may still need reading glasses.

[Ivan Drago]

Quick question Alan_R: after my eye ulcer the dr told me never to wear contacts, i cant remember the exact reason, think it was maybe summat to do with my cornea? Does this mean i wouldnt be able to get laser surgery?

[Alan_R]

Quick question Alan_R: after my eye ulcer the dr told me never to wear contacts, i cant remember the exact reason, think it was maybe summat to do with my cornea? Does this mean i wouldnt be able to get laser surgery?

 

Not nessecerily. I don't specialise in laser myself so wouldn't want to say. As someone else mentioned optical express do free consultations.

[Ivan Drago]

Not nessecerily. I don't specialise in laser myself so wouldn't want to say. As someone else mentioned optical express do free consultations.

 

cheers, im not considering it just now but maybe would in the future

[BigC]

You still use 2 weeklys?

 

When were you last fitted? Generally monthlys have came on leaps and bounds recently, vast improvements have been made while two weeklys are largely unaltered. So monthlys are considered far superior to two weeklys these days, in most cases.

 

I use two weekly's as well.

 

I had my last consultation about 1 1/2 years ago so I'm probably due another one.

 

But I find them really good.

[Sawdust Caesar]

You still use 2 weeklys?

 

When were you last fitted? Generally monthlys have came on leaps and bounds recently, vast improvements have been made while two weeklys are largely unaltered. So monthlys are considered far superior to two weeklys these days, in most cases.

 

I'm actually still using monthly ones but I have to change them every two weeks as they were becoming an irritant after then. I only switched last year. For 16 years the monthly ones were fine but started to bother me only in the last year or so.

 

Can anyone tell me how much the daily disposable ones cost per month?

[Alan_R]

I'm actually still using monthly ones but I have to change them every two weeks as they were becoming an irritant after then. I only switched last year. For 16 years the monthly ones were fine but started to bother me only in the last year or so.

 

Can anyone tell me how much the daily disposable ones cost per month?

 

as I said to shaun:

 

depends what your requirements are. your perscription, how often you use them etc.

 

you can pay anything from ?12 to ?45 a month though.

[jamboJD]

Looking for some advice on switching to contact lenses and using them for playing football especially. Im short sighted and last time I played regular football it was a bit of a problem.

 

What id really like to know is wether I can just buy lenses based on my glasses prescription based on my eye test from August or do i really NEED to go and see and optician about it or can I DIY it.

 

Also any other advice on them in general would be appreciated.

 

Well u canni DIY it....

I play rugby and got contact lenses from optical express in the yle, ?15 a month and thats the lenses and the solution etc bit of a pain to get in at first but when your used to it, its a lot better than glasses. Esp when im playing i can now see the guy standing a foot away from me lol.

[Sawdust Caesar]

I'm actually still using monthly ones but I have to change them every two weeks as they were becoming an irritant after then. I only switched last year. For 16 years the monthly ones were fine but started to bother me only in the last year or so.

 

Can anyone tell me how much the daily disposable ones cost per month?

 

 

as I said to shaun:

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan_R

depends what your requirements are. your perscription, how often you use them etc.

 

you can pay anything from ?12 to ?45 a month though.

 

 

Thanks, I didn't notice that post, must need to change my lenses.

I take it there is a big gulf in quality for such a difference in price?

[vasco]

I've been wearing contact lenses (hard ones) for 30 years, and I started wearing them primarily for playing football. I've lost a few over the years, but I've essentially had no problems with them. I renew them every three or four years.

 

Laser surgery is fine for younger people, but does not have the same benefits for older buggers like G.E.Eggo. The laser surgery corrects the defective curve on the cornea, but can do nothing for the muscles at the back of the eye which are the ones which deteriorate so much that most people over 45 need reading glasses.

 

All of this was explained to me on my last visit to the optician when I queried the possibility of having it done. 25 year-old receptionist raved about it, but 55 year-old receptionist said it was a waste of money.

 

Vasco

[Alan_R]

I've been wearing contact lenses (hard ones) for 30 years, and I started wearing them primarily for playing football. I've lost a few over the years, but I've essentially had no problems with them. I renew them every three or four years.

 

Laser surgery is fine for younger people, but does not have the same benefits for older buggers like G.E.Eggo. The laser surgery corrects the defective curve on the cornea, but can do nothing for the muscles at the back of the eye which are the ones which deteriorate so much that most people over 45 need reading glasses.

 

All of this was explained to me on my last visit to the optician when I queried the possibility of having it done. 25 year-old receptionist raved about it, but 55 year-old receptionist said it was a waste of money.

 

Vasco

 

Longest lifespan you can get is a yearly lens, thats filthy. Sure you'll say you've had them for 30 years with no problems etc etc but the same lens for four years!? that can't be good for your eyes. The optometrist I work with doesnt even recommend anything over monthlys.

 

why not get an implanted lens?

 

and they are developing laser methods to correct reading perscriptions.

[kwizbet]

My uncle got lasered 7 years ago and he was 40 when he got it done , he still says it was worth the money and he says his annual checkn up shows his eyes have not got any worse over the following years.