Contact Lenses - Anybody buy them online?

[XA04]

OK I got my prescription.

"Sph" Is obviously "power", but what is "Cyl"?. On the website lensplanet.com, it asks for "BC", which is either 8.5 or 9. I can't see that on my prescription?

Any help would be appreicated, thanks.

Edit: Oh it also says "Axis D.Pr" then 25.

Edit2: Contactlenses.co.uk seem to be easier. £26 delivered for Focus Dailies, one box for each eye. Sound about right? just want to check before I order.

Edit3: After reading some reviews it might be worth going for the Acuvee ones, as the focus daily ones seem to tear and dry your eye out more.

[XA04]

The ones from Vision Direct seem to be the cheapest then.

It asks for my base curve, the prescription doesn't tell me this. I can't imagine there is much difference between 8.5 and 9? Which is most common?

[tiggerai]

The ones from Vision Direct seem to be the cheapest then.

It asks for my base curve, the prescription doesn't tell me this. I can't imagine there is much difference between 8.5 and 9? Which is most common?

Have you got a proper Contact Lens prescription?

You do know that your glasses prescription is different don't you? They check different things. A Lens prescription will tell you the power, base curve and the diameter. (-3.00 / -3.25, 8.5 and 14.5 in my case)

You're making a big mistake if you're guessing this stuff for the sake of £25 to get a proper contact lens prescription. You don't have to sign up for the direct debit schemes. Just go for the aftercare like me.

[Sinizter]

I had laser eye surgery with Ultralase 3 weeks ago. If you have the capital, I'd highly recommend it. I went for the cheapest package and had £200 discount off that for giving my details via their website. So it cost me £1790 in total.

The results for me are fantastic, btw.

What was your prescription before the correction?

I've been considering laser surgery too, but my prescription is very high, and there are some risks associated with it that scare the daylights out of me.

[XA04]

Have you got a proper Contact Lens prescription?

You do know that your glasses prescription is different don't you? They check different things. A Lens prescription will tell you the power, base curve and the diameter. (-3.00 / -3.25, 8.5 and 14.5 in my case)

You're making a big mistake if you're guessing this stuff for the sake of £25 to get a proper contact lens prescription. You don't have to sign up for the direct debit schemes. Just go for the aftercare like me.

I'm not guessing it. But the last time I had my eyes checked was for when I've been wearing glasses. I thought it was the same?

All it tells me is the power, the Cyl (duno what that is), and the Axis D.Pr (duno what that is).

But on the websites they only seem to ask for the power anyway, and some of them ask for the base curve, but it doesn't tell me that on my prescription..

[IBM]

A fair number of them have the option (drop down) for base curce and power, but when you click the drop down, the option shown is the only option...certainly true for visionexpress iirc

[Theo]

What was your prescription before the correction?

I've been considering laser surgery too, but my prescription is very high, and there are some risks associated with it that scare the daylights out of me.

I can't remember the figures, but basically I couldn't see anything clearly that was more than 12" in front of me. Glasses or contacts were a necessity to be able to even navigate my house, etc.

Now I can drive, read, watch television, use the PC, and I'll be able to do contact sports in a months time. I've had eye tests and checkups at Ultralase over the last month, and have my last one in 4 weeks. Each time I was asked which line on the chart I could read, I could see the bottom one NP!

[XA04]

A fair number of them have the option (drop down) for base curce and power, but when you click the drop down, the option shown is the only option...certainly true for visionexpress iirc

Yeah I've noticed that, so I suppose it can't be that important.

My only worry is now that I might have to get my eyes checked again? I thought the prescription I have now would be fine.. I didn't know it was different for contact lenses.... can anyone else confirm this?

[XA04]

Well I've rang the opticionists up, I've got an appointment this week to go see them.

Still a little confused with how they want me to pay for things, but I'll clear that up later on. Seems like I'll have to make a few appointments though, one for checking my eyes, one making sure I can put in/ take out the lenses, etc etc.

[mp3c]

I was getting my contact lenses of an opticians and have just found out now as i was searching to see if i could get mine that i can get the same ones of the internet for half the price so i dont think i will be buying them of the opticians.

i use focus dailies and find that they are really good and comfortable.

[Gr44]

One thing to point out....

If you buy them from specsavers or similar you get free aftercare, so how much does the aftercare alone cost?

Could be a false economy if they charge alot for it... anyone have any ideas? If it's cheap I think I'll look at buying mine online

Cheers

[tiggerai]

One thing to point out....

If you buy them from specsavers or similar you get free aftercare, so how much does the aftercare alone cost?

Could be a false economy if they charge alot for it... anyone have any ideas? If it's cheap I think I'll look at buying mine online

Cheers

My aftercare is once every year or so. £25.
My lenses worked out at about £10 a quarter cheaper even with the direct debit scheme.

[tiggerai]

Well I've rang the opticionists up, I've got an appointment this week to go see them.

Still a little confused with how they want me to pay for things, but I'll clear that up later on. Seems like I'll have to make a few appointments though, one for checking my eyes, one making sure I can put in/ take out the lenses, etc etc.

That sounds about right. they should do one prescription one and then have you in to make sure you're ok with using them.
Base curve and diameter are important, it's what makes them wearable without damaging your eyes. Some contact lenses aren't made in certain ones, so you ahve to go with another (e.g up until a while ago, one-day torics couldn't be got in my bc/dia so I had to stick with my normal ones)

Remember guys, these are your eyes your playing with.... you only get one pair.

[Agent]

Can you get darkened contact lenses ?

[XA04]

You can get UV protected ones, maybe you can get some silver l33t mirrored ones


Thanks for your posts tiggerai, very useful!

[Agent]

Nar, i need darkened ones. Some that reduce the light coming in to the eye.