I’ve worn glasses since I was ten – so 45 years (eek). I got my first contact lenses from my mother as a 21st birthday present, and since then over a period of 15 years or more I’ve tried everything, right up until extended wear toric lenses, which were wonderful for about a year, and then … weren’t. I gave up at that point.
Now, as I hurtle into badgerdom, I still have astigmatism, particularly bad in my left eye, and wear varifocals. Last time I had my eyes tested, I asked about laser surgery, but they said they could only correct the long distance, and I’d still need glasses for reading/working, so I decided against. To be fair, I felt quite squicked by it all anyway.
Last week I looked at the cost of a lens implant, but it would be over £3k, and I can’t afford it. But it led me to thinking about contacts again. So today I took myself down to Specsavers in Nailsea, who have been my opticians for a few years now. Their contact lens assessment is free, so there was nothing to lose.
They say that they can completely correct my distance vision and astigmatism with daily wear lenses for £15 a month, to include postage and cleaning solutions and everything. *£15 a month* – amazing. *And* they do a free trial. They not sure if they do an extended wear lens to suit my appalling sight, but I know other places do, and I’d much prefer that, but I’ll try the daily ones for a while. This 15 quid is payable quarterly, by direct debit – no cancellation fee, no need to take lenses every month. It all seems too good to be true, and I expect I’ve forgotten to ask some important question, but ne’er mind.
I’ll need glasses for reading/working, but “off-the-shelf” ones will be fine, she said. Needless to say, they didn’t have any lenses to suit an old bat like me, so she’s ordering some in, and I will go back next week to try them out.
After I left, I spent a happy 20 minutes trying on sunglasses in Boots – haven’t worn nice sunglasses for a very long time. All quite exciting, really.
Specsavers
I get mine from there – 15 quid monthly, delivered through the letterbox. For 15 pounds I assume you’d be on the ‘elite’ package, this also entitles you to a limited number of free replacements should you happen to lose a lens and you get discounts off prescription glasses and suglasses as well. As I recall continuous contact lens checks and eye tests are also covered by the monthly fee. It’s a bargain I tell ya!
There’s no catch that I know of. I’ve been getting daily lenses from SpecSavers for a while but, because I wear them only infrequently, I pop in and order another box when I need one. They don’t seem to mind that at all. And if they are disposable dailies, you don’t need to bother with solutions and all that faff.
That’s good for the astigmatism ones!! I paid that for monthlys from Vision Express. Now have a load of 2 weekly ones but don’t really like them so might give Specsavers a go!