to think Boots Opticians could mention 'the rules' in a letter

[LisasCat]

Apparently 'the rules' say that they can't give out a prescription of contact lenses if your sight test is overdue. So perhaps they could mention that in the letter they send, reminding me that my sight test is overdue. Or they could mention it in the telephone message saying that my contact lenses are now in stock if I'd like to pick them up.

Either way, would it kill them to mention it to the 8 month pregnant woman who has a 50 minute round trip by foot to get into town to pick up the aforementioned sodding contact lenses, which she is then not going to be allowed to collect because of 'the rules'!

And before you ask, I didn't book my sight test because in my previous pregnancy my sight was all over the place, so I was waiting until the baby is born and my vision settles down. Otherwise, it strikes me as bloody pointless to have a sight test now anyway.

So apologies to the poor 18 year old lad on the front desk who had to deal with the crying hormonal woman, but perhaps tell head office not to be twats with their communication next time.

HappyAgainOneDay many are. Most opticians offer an nhs test for free, and the cost of a private test is often a loss leader. Contact lens aftercares cannot be done free of charge to someone who just wants their prescription to buy lenses online! They are a business not a charity.

It is illegal to supply contact lenses without a current eye prescription. Contact lenses are counted as a medical device in the uk.

As inconvenient as it is, it's surely better to have to wait a week or two for new lenses than to risk your eye health?

Oh and any reputable online supplier will have to check with your optician to make sure you have a current prescription and that you have given them it correctly. I'm sure none of you want to be purchasing as important an item from a non-reputable supplier.

Hello, just stumbled across this having had a similar problem with Boots.

It is possible to order lenses online from a reputable source without a prescription because of EU trade rules. For example, a country such as the Netherlands does not require you to have a contact lens prescription to order lenses. As an EU citizen you are entitled to order from there and have them shipped to you. Neither you nor they are breaking the law, as long as the company is registered outside the UK.

I have done this a few times when Boots has refused to give me my lenses. I care deeply about my eyes and do get them checked on a regular basis but as I travel quite a lot and have a family (!) I can't always fit my appointment in as quickly as I would like. I am using this site as a stopgap, not a replacement for check-ups.

But that's the point, Ghost Bike. By law, UK opticians can't supply beyond a year, non UK suppliers don't have this restriction. It's an unequal playing field.