buying contact lenses online

[clarabel82]

I am on the second day of my contact lens trial. I have astigmatism but Specsavers gave me normal monthly lenses to try. I'm not happy with them as everything is a bit blurry and there's no way I'd be able to drive at night as lights look double. I wanted to ask for continuous wear lenses but Specsavers don't sell them (I gather from looking at their website)
I've found some continuous wear toric lenses on several UK websites at a very reasonable price. Has anyone else bought contact lenses online and what is involved? Like getting your prescription from your opticians?
I've got to go back in 2 weeks for the follow up to my trial, do you think they'll be happy to let me just order some online if they are the ones I want? Thanks in advance for any help. :)

[heffalump]

My brother always buys his contact lenses online (daily disposables), but he's only mildly short-sighted and only wears them occasionally. I, however, am very short-sighted with astigmatisms in both eyes, so have a complicated prescription, and had to try several (at least four that I can remember) brands before I found the ones that fit correctly, so I think its important that you get the lenses fitted by an optician. You might try a different opticians to see if they supply the lenses you want - or at least a lens that corrects your vision properly - you should ahve been given toric lenses in the first place! With regards to continuous wear lenses - you've only had a trial for a day, so its probably a bit too early to decide that you want to have them in your eyes constantly. You're probably better off waiting until you've been sorted out properly with toric lenses from a brand that fit you correctly, before you buy online - remember you won't get any aftercare.

[clarabel82]

Thankyou. the reason I want continuous wear lenses is that I tend to fall asleep when I'm watching TV etc and it would be nice for it not to matter, and my day is usually a lot longer than 8 hours which I think is the reccomended wearing time for monthly lenses.
I guess I can wait for a few months before I decide and stick with lenses I can see with for a bit. The reason I'm getting them is I'm having an operation in the summer sometime on my ear and I've been told I won't be able to wear my glasses for over 3 months. Otherwise I wouldn't be bothering, as I like my glasses.

[heffalump]

Hi - I too work long hours, but tend to either wear my lenses in the morning, and swap to my glasses in the afternoon, or vice versa. You're still probably better off trying monthlies first to get used to wearing them as you need to build up the length of wear very gradually, and then perhaps try a different opticians for the continuous wear lenses if Specsavers won't supply them. Good luck with your operation.

[Hammer]

The online companies will only supply EXACTLY what your optician recommends. By law, they have to get confirmation from your optician that they have been prescribed and the fitting checked in the past 12 months.

If you want to change to something else, you'll have to try a few different lenses / opticians until you find something you like. Only then can you order them online. The website will then contact your optician to make sure everything is in order.

Oh, and I use monthly disposables (not continuous but you clean them each night) and I can keep mine in for 12 hours - perhaps you should double-check that?

[mr.bungle]

I bought my contact lenses online. My optician was charging me �17 a month and i bought 6 months worth for �41.25 and they are exactly the same. All i would say is keep going to your optician for regular eyesight and contact lens compatability test.

[clarabel82]

I've booked another trial from Boots Opticians to try the continous wear toric lenses. Luckily I work in Boots so won't have far to go if I have any problems. Thanks for your replies.

[DamienMueller]

Well buying contact lenses online is not a problem, but instead of getting prescription from optician, you should take advice of an eye doctor. You will not face problem to find contact lenses of your choice as many online shops like http://www.contactlensheaven.com/biomedics-55-uv.html are having adequate options to choose from. But without knowing the correct eye vision and type of lenses you cannot choose them simply. Go to the doctor, they will definitely suggest the best contact lenses for your eyes.