Opticians/Contact Lenses in the UK

I'm an international student who won't be returning to her home country for a year once she gets to London in September. I need to find a contact lens supplier in London so that I don't have to get them from home. The last I asked an optician in the UK, I'm required to get an eye test first and this costs around £80. :eek:

I think that's a bit too much for a simple eye test. Is this the case with all opticians or was it just this particular one? Also, if someone could give me an estimate on the cost for the whole procedure (eye test + one month's disposable toric lenses), I'll be grateful. :smile:

I checked the Specsavers site but it wasn't of much help.

Reply 1

beach surf babe

14

I use Dolland&Aitchinson and they've always been really good. My lenses cost about £10 but thats just for the one (don't ask!) plus they deliver by post which is useful. I don't know how much eye tests cost cos so far I've had them free! I suspect that its the same cost everywhere. The D&A website is www.danda.co.uk if you're interested.

Reply 2

Glory

1

if you have your prescription im pretty sure you can buy them without going to an optician... Not 100% sure mind, but im sure ive seen contact lenses for sale, check out tesco's website.

Reply 3

dpali

OP

1

*bump*

Can't let this go to the second page...I need some replies. Please :smile:

I checked the Tesco website and they're asking for an optician's number so that they can cross-check the prescription. I'm guessing they mean an optician in England.

So how much do eye tests cost? Anyone?

Reply 4

james99

1

The specsavers site doesn't specify it has to be a British prescription - but why don't you ring them and find out?

I get my contact lenses from specsavers and every time they tell me I need an eye test (every 6 months or whatever), it's free if I buy my contact lenses at the same time. Otherwise it costs like £20 or something.

Reply 5

Alexander

12

Just put "contact lenses" into google.co.uk and you will see that there are plenty of British websites out there which don't require seeing your prescription (and they're usually much cheaper than High Street opticians). This is fine so long as you are absolutely sure of what you need, although remember you should still go for annual checks.

Reply 6

Alexander

12

PS I'm assuming that you already wear contact lenses and have had a contact lens eye test (not just a general glasses eye test) within the past year. If not then you do need to go and get one, whether in your own country or when you get to the UK.

Reply 7

~Kirsty~

1

specsavers is ok. Contact lenses are cheap too. www.specsavers.co.uk I believe the prescription does have to be UK.

Reply 8

frost105

14

£17.50 for an eyetest at specsavers

Reply 9

~Kirsty~

1

not if you apply for free prescriptions from the NHS, and claim your income is less than £3000 :wink:

easy enough to do, i'm assuming international students can apply too. This is the students guide to NHS charges: http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/09/33/31/04093331.pdf and this is a link to a form to fill in for help with NHS charges, basically you can get free stuff as long as you declare you have less than £3000 of cash. http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/HC1_form_intro.htm

Reply 10

Bah! Work!

I work part time at a Specsavers Branch. Each Optician can charge their own rate for an eye test, most charge between £15 and £25.

The price of contact lenses depends on what sort you have, but on average its £22 for a months supply of dailies. You can set up a direct debit with them, and they will give you certain extras and money off eye tests, depending on which branch you go to.

As far as i know they'll accept most prescriptions as long as they're no more than two years old, once it reaches two years old they'll require you to take an eye test with them before continuing to supply you

Hope this helps.

Reply 11

sheepgirl

2

Its about £20 for an eyes test in the UK.

It depends which type of contact lenses you want (monthy, daily, yearly, toric) to get a price. Go to www.contactlenses.co.uk where you can check prices

Reply 12

Princess In Disguise

£37 from D & A(for 30 pairs) if you're a new customer you get a 5 pairs free-they're really comfy btw :biggrin:

Reply 13

~Kirsty~

1

i get mine for £10 a month for monthly disposables, with free yearly check ups, money off glasses and spare lenses if i break them.

Reply 14

dpali

OP

1

Thanks a lot everyone! I think I'll ring up Specsavers and check about the contact lens test thing.

I checked the Tesco website and they sell the same ones that I use here but I think they need a British optician. I remember now, an optician said I needed to get a contact lens test and an eye test. And this was after I told her I'd been wearing lenses for 2 years now. Anyway...

Reply 15

~Kirsty~

1

every 2 years you need a new prescription over here.

Reply 16

dpali

OP

1

Yes a prescription every two years makes sense but a contact lens test :confused:

When I decided to wear lenses 2 years ago, I went to my ophthalmologist. I had a problem with my eyes a few years ago so I had to consult her before I switched to lenses. She said I could go ahead with it and prescribed toric lenses. And then onwards, I always went to an optician to order them. Got an eye test done every time I ordered new ones (every six months).

So just wondering what a contact lens test is>>>

Reply 17

Tinkerbelle

5

i got mine from specsavers, £15 for 20 pirs a month or 322 for 30 pairs a month, and my eye test cost £15.. but if u hav a history of eye probs in yr family u could get the test free :smile:

Reply 18

Happy1

14

I use Specsavers... the eyetest is £18 i think... and my contacts are £12 a month, which is actually more expensive than most because i have a funny shaped lens in one eye so i have to have a criss cross lens in that contact lens. Most people pay about £10 a month from Specsavers. (Im talking about monthly wear contact lenses)

To get contacts from specsavers they do a free trial... they charge you £20 for it but refund you if you buy their contacts.

Opticians/Contact Lenses in the UK

Related discussions

Articles for you