Does anyone’s DC wear contact lenses?

[WhoMadeAllTheMess]

Quick question about charges for contact lense tests for children. DD, 15, has worn glasses since 4 and contact lenses for the last 3 years. Obviously I pay a top up for the glasses after the nhs voucher and for her lenses, but I’ve never paid for either a sight test or a contact lense test. She has tests every 6/12 months depending on what changes there have been and when they call her back.

She’s due a test for both this week and the opticians have just phoned to remind me of the £25 charge for her contact lense test. They couldn’t tell me why I’ve never paid before and there is very little info on line about charges.

Please can you tell me if you pay for a contact lense test for your under 16.

Thanks

Anyone?

DD is 15 and I used to buy her contact lenses from Tesco and never had to pay for a check, when they changed to Vision Express I was told I'd have to pay for the check unless I took out a contract for the lenses.
She's just had her annual eye test, she was also due a contact lens check before they would issue her next three months of lenses. He looked in her eyes so I'm assuming this was the check, but didn't seem to do anything else, I wouldn't have wanted to pay for it.

Thank you Elpha. It is Specsavers trying to make me pay, when I haven’t done at all for the last 3 years. We are in and out in 2 minutes for her lense test, so I’m not happy at the prospect of paying £25 for it. I might ring around a few opticians tomorrow and ask if they charge.

I’ve had contact lenses through Specsavers for 13 years and have never paid for a lens check or sight test, they’re included in the package if you get lenses direct debit. Do you get her contacts through Specsavers Lensmail?

I don’t have a contract for them. Just buy them as and when as she doesn’t wear them every day, probably only a few times a week.

Ah I see. That’s different then. I have monthly’s and have a direct debit, they’re delivered every 3 months, all checks included. It’s a very handy service. If you’re buying ad hoc there would be a charge for lens checks unlike eye tests as contact lenses aren’t essential, I imagine not paying before was an oversight on their part

We are in and out in 2 minutes for her lense test

Then they aren't doing a proper contact lenses check-up. There's no way it can be completed in 2 mins. They should be looking at her eyes with her lenses in and then without. It's important that they check her eye health. Do they put orange dye in her eyes? And she has to wear her glasses for a while afterwards (or the dye will affect her lenses)?

I would be more concerned that they don't appear to be doing a proper contact lenses check than the actual cost.

As an example, it takes 40 mins when I have a contact lenses check at my independent optician (so I'm there for 1.5 hours with an eye test as well).

Most opticians include an annual eye test and annual contact lenses check-up for free (regardless of age) if you're buying your contact lenses from them.

Thanks Buffalo. I realise they aren’t essential but you can use a child’s NHS voucher to put towards the cost of contact lenses, so I’m not sure. NHS website doesn’t mention contact lense tests though.

Thank you hundred. We’ve never been there for 40 minutes! They put the dye in the first time, but they haven’t done it since. They pretty much ask her if she’s getting on with them ok and when she says yes, they send her on her way.

I don’t wear glasses, so I don’t know what to expect. I’ll definitely be having words with them!

FWIW specsavers do have a lensmail option which is pretty cheap and you get sent enough daily disposable lenses to wear them about 1/3 of the time. This is what I do and they don't charge me for sight or contact lens appointments. I think I pay about £9 a month, it's never occurred to me to find out what ad hoc price is so I wonder if this is a good deal or not.

I expect this post is totally irrelevant though as I'm not a child.

You definitely need to pay - contact lenses used incorrectly can have long term vision loss. Lens checks are not covered under nhs - if you want them free join the scheme. Optometrists have four years training to practice- they won't do it for free

My contact lens check takes about 45 minutes and is very thorough, I pay monthly for my lenses and it is included in that.

Vision Express include the checks in their monthly direct debit and their lowest package is 30 daily lenses every 3 months. It might be worth looking at a monthly package if you do end up having to pay on an as-and-when order.

Definitely ensure your DC wears their lenses in line with the recommendations. I wore mine way too long, 10 hours a day, every day, for years, from age 16, and I can now only tolerate lenses occasionally and only for short periods. I've totally knackered my eyes.

I agree that my contact lens check at Vision Express is usually about 20 mins and includes putting in lenses and them doing a variety of tests and checks. My general sight test comes at a different time of the year and also takes about 20mins.

Funnily enough I took DD 14 to Specsavers today for an eye test, we did get new glasses for her but they did recommend she try contact lenses, largely because she only needs correction in 1 eye.
I wasn’t sure as I couldn’t get on with them ( very long nails) but DD wants to give it a go and DH agrees. When we go back in a week to get the glasses we are going to get some for a free trial

I've never had to pay for a contact lens check, I go to Asda optician, no ongoing contract for lenses with them.

Oh and check usually takes at least 15 mins

Thanks for all your responses. She definitely doesn’t wear them very often. Usually on PE days at school and the occasional weekend. She usually takes them out when she gets in from school too.

I’ll definitely look at a package. When I said she wouldn’t wear them very often they only gave me the choice of a £30 per month thing with lenses for every day.

My main concern now is that they haven’t been doing a proper check up. Any recommendations for opticians that aren’t Specsavers?

Hopping, my DD loves having the option to wear contact lenses. Took her a while to get used to them and get over the fear they’d get lost in her head somewhere!

I'm going to be phoning Vision Express tomorrow to check if they did a contact lens check alongside DD's eye test as after reading other posts I don't think they did, which is very annoying.
Lots of useful information from everyone.

Any recommendations for opticians that aren’t Specsavers?

Can you give an indication of your location or you'll only get recommendations for chains? Personally I must prefer a good independent. As well as supporting local business, you get a much more personalised service. But I appreciate that some people just want cheap and cheerful (e.g. the Asda 15 min check versus the independent 40 min check) although I don't buy in to that as I don't think your eye health is something to scrimp on!

Just in case anyone is wondering, I’ve just spoken to the nhs helpline. They have confirmed that under 16’s do not need to pay for either a sight or contact lense test. Both charges are exempt for under 16’s.

Obviously lenses and glasses need to be paid for if the value is more than the nhs glasses voucher.

DD has worn contacts for a while now. Her glasses are free (from Specsavers) due to her age and we have to pay for her contacts - as they are not 'essential' I.e. she could wear her glasses.

She gets free contact lens checkups, not because she's a child, but because paying for her contacts gives her a free annual checkup.

You honestly have been misinformed- this is an area I work in. Your child is entitled to an nhs voucher that can be used towards glasses and or contact lenses but the law states thus does not cover contact lens check ups