Cost of contact lenses for a child

[lunicorn]

DD has started wearing contact lenses. We've worked out we'd save over £30 per packs of 90 by buying online
Now optician is saying we need to pay standing order of £7 a month for fitting etc. Are they just trying it on? Would it be better to go to somewhere like Vision Express? Any recommendations? Thanks

Did you pay anything for the initial chair time when you had the contact lens appointments leading up to your DD having contact lenses.
Many opticians offer 'free' trials etc, but you would have to pay for the appointment time.
If you buy the lenses from them they probably incorporate it into the ongoing price of the lenses, but if you are buying elsewhere they will need to recoup it from somewhere.
You could just ask how much the actual contact lens appointments cost and pay that in a lump sum, but it will not be FREE, only the trial lenses will be free of charge

As above, I expect you didn't pay for the trial and fitting, so the opticians will want to recoup their cost if you don't continue buying lenses from them. Not sure about £7 a month, but I would speak to them about paying for the fitting in full. The monthly amount might be the cost of ongoing contact lens check ups and sight tests, which you could no doubt pay in full at the appointment. Your DD will need both regularly (I think mine are annual).

I buy my lenses from Vision Express and the direct debit includes the cost of the check ups and sight tests (plus some other discounts).

Make sure your DD doesn't wear her lenses more than the maximum amount of time, I did as an older teen with the result that my eyes now don't tolerate contacts very well and I can't wear them for long!

For a child I’m not sure the cost saving of online versus high street optician is really worth it.

They change prescription regularly and eye health is SO important - which is what the £7 is covering - the regular check ups and cover and being able to call up when you’ve split your last lense so they can send one out and things like that.

Honestly, I really wouldn’t go online for a child.

I pay £22 pm to Specsavers and I get my Contacts deliverers to me every quarter. I also get my Contact check up and my Glasses check up free as I pay via this Scheme. I'm 33 years old, but I have been paying this for about 10 years. I think this also includes any problems that I have, it might be worth going to them for a quote - Good luck!

£7 a month just for a contact lens check sounds expensive. I would call Specsavers and ask how much just for a check without the lenses.

If they offered you a free trial it should be that - free. They shouldn't be trying to charge you afterwards

I pay £40 for an annual contact lens check for my DD (she gets the eye test for her glasses free) at an independent opticians. We get her lenses on line once the opticians have determined the prescription.

Optom here; people can and do get infections through contact lens wear than can render them functionally blind/ needing a corneal transplant. It's only through regular aftercare than you can see signs of potential problems.

Online sales are not regulated properly at the moment, online retailers are not checking prescriptions are up to date and swapping different brands of lenses. Even with the same numbers on the packaging lenses can be very different, due to their thickness, curvature and material.

Anyway OP if you want to ensure your child's eyes remain healthy, I would only get them supplied by a Optometrist, who is checking her eyes on a regular basis.

We pay just over £20 per month for DDs contact lenses through Vision Express. This includes lenses (delivered to home or store at our choice) every 3 months plus regular checks and any additional lenses we need to order (within reason) if she damages/loses them. They also include any checks we need if we have concerns etc at any time. And a discount off glasses.

I looked in to on-line lenses but they don't seem to work out much cheaper after checks etc. Especially for a child I like that we can just pop in to the opticians if there are any issues without having to consider what it will cost.

Thanks all. Asking on behalf of her cautious about money dad. All very useful advice.

I didn't know children were allowed to wear contact lenses

I used to pay for my checkup and buy my lenses separately online, the checkup cost about £45 ten years ago. For a child I would want 6 monthly checkups for the reasons mentioned above so £7/month sounds about right. When I moves house I had to change optician and went back to being on their scheme, I pay £19 a month now for lenses (mine are monthly disposable), 2 checkups a year, discount on glasses and can get an extra appointment any time I need one. It's not worth taking any risks with your eyesight IMO.

Typical- yes they can typically from age 13 but can be younger. Kids are quite good at learning to use them.

Dh pays £20 a month through specsavers and for that he gets annual full eye test plus additional contact lens appointments as required.

I get mine from specsavers, £18/month.
When I've had checks, they've been able to tell I'm allergic to the preservatives in the brand of solution and replace it, and identify that I needed a lens that lets more oxygen through (I don't really understand it!)
You need the aftercare for a child.

@Singlenotsingle - I was surprised too. My DD wore very strong glasses from being very young and we were very surprised when we asked that they were happy for her to try lenses from age 10. They were very patient and spent ages with her over a number of days to make sure she was confident in using them before she started to wear them. She was delighted- she never complained about glasses but wanted the option to not have to.

DS has had dailies from 11. Just a couple of times a week for sport. I’m happy that he manages them safely.