People with daily/monthly disposable contact lenses...

[Ponders]

...do you have to pay an annual service charge? If so, how much is it?

DS2 has just got his first month's supply of dailies; he had 1 appt to practise putting them in, plus 1 week's supply of lenses to try, then 1 more appt to make sure his eyes were OK (for which 1 pair was provided), & now we've had to pay £40.

I know this covers 12 months, so if he has any probs he will be seen, but I'm sure DS1 (who has monthlies) gets his annual check up included in the monthly cost. He does go to a different optician though...

I don't pay any extras with Dolland and Aitchson -children's checks are free so they should not be charging you.

They do charge for childrens contact lens checks, as they are seen as cosmetic and not nessecity. It's only glasses and sight tests that are free.

I get all aftercare appts for free; I go to Boots opticians.

So do they absorb a charge into the monthly price then?

We have never been charged anything additionally (though DS had them to enable him to continue playing rugby so may not have been classed as cosmetic).

vision express here, ive just paid £25 for my fitting appointment, trial lenses, and the go-back appt.
The monthly fee you sign up for after with them includes lenses and appointments.

but Im going to buy lenses online. much cheaper. and would just rather pay for a check up.

I expect they do add an extra charge onto the payments, to cover the cost, yes.

i pay £44/month which includes all checks, eye tests and high oxygen/high water content (expensive) daily disposables.
don't know about kids though

kids don't get free NHS contact lens checks - only eye tests but they can use their vouchers against contact lenses - i think those who do not pay extra for their 6/12 month c/l check up will find the price is factored into their monthly payment - it is where i work and it is much better value as they get as many checks as they need within a year

Where I work, check ups are included for monthly wearers but not for daily wearers. This is because daily disposable wearers vary hugely in their use of lenses. Some wear a pair every day, others don't get through 30 pairs a year, so you can't have a "one size fits all" policy.

Thanks for all this - there is a variation then! DS2 is nearly 18 (still in full-time ed) & recently had a free eye test & some nice 2-for-1 specs for about £65 after his NHS voucher was deducted, so I've no problems with that.

DS1 is 22 - no freebies, although still a student - I'm fairly sure he doesn't pay anything for the annual checks with his monthlies, but from what chipmonkey says that's standard for monthlies.

I guess we'll stick with current opticians for a month or so; then if all goes well think about changing to specsavers or similar. (The current place is yet to hand over his prescription unprompted though, which is odd because previous places have)

AFAIK, in the UK, you are supposed to be automatically given the prescription? We don't have the same rule here in Ireland but always give it when asked. If you otherwise like the optician and would like to stay with them, might be worth asking if they can match the competitor's price?

it is illegal in the UK for an optician not to give the patient a copy of the prescription be it NHS or private

I pay £12.99 per month with specsavers which includes 12 x packs of contact lenses, 12 bottles of solution and 4 x contact lens holders, I get 4 deliveries per year with enough lenses and solution for 3 months, Included in this is also 1 contact lens check although if I have a problem I can ring for an appointment and be seen the next day. Oh and I also get my glasses half price. All in all a pretty good deal and have had no problems in the 7 years I've been there.

specsavers, daily disposables 30 pairs a month posted to me quarterly is £22 per month. I HAVE to have a yearly check or they will not send me anymore (they are very strict on this !) which is free, but I believe if I wasnt on "contract" I would have to pay £40 for it. I dont remember paying anything upfront though.

MadameGazelle's deal with specsavers sounds fairly unbeatable! We will definitely consider that once DS2 is used to using them generally (& in fact I'll encourage DS1 to go there too, as his currently cost at last twice that & probably nearly 3 times)

I have fortnightly contact lenses with Boots. Pay £15 a month and have a free check per year. Would also get a free sight test although my eyes are bad enough to get one anyway. Also get £50 off glasses.

I think if I didn't get my lenses from them it would cost £40 for a check. Would probably be cheaper getting them online (have had three months worth for about £30 I think) but have got sucked into Boots I think . Although only £20 difference and if I ever save up for new glasses then would be potentially helpful.

How do fortnightly lenses work, Lawrie? Like monthlies but you get 2 pairs per month?

Basically yes. I think mine are a type that let more oxygen through and are a little more delicate than monthlies although more robust than dailies. Switched a few years ago after a check showed my eyes weren't getting quite as much oxygen as was best for them.

I had yearly ones to start with but that was nearly 20 years ago. Did use to get worried about losing one .

I also am with specsavers...I wear lenses all day and night for a month and then change them for a new pair. They are designed to be worn continually for the month, so I get a set of three pairs of lenses every 3months, no solutions sent as you don't need any as you don't remove the lenses!,

I have to have twice yearly checks, and get half price glasses. All for £18 a month direct debit. Also if I lose a lens or two I get them replaced twice in the year too free.
It is great to wake up on the morning and be able to see when you open your eyes without fumbling for glasses!
Have used specsavers for 15 yr now with no complaints.

The extra oxygen fortnightlies sound good - as do the 24-hour ones, but I think he would need to have a lot more wears first to make sure his eyes were up to it.

We will start looking at Boots & Specsavers, once he's an old hand.

Thanks for all this information, everybody, I will bear it all in mind

The fortnightlies are usually Acuvue Oasys which are FAB! I put a lot of patients into them for the simple reason that when patients come back for check-ups, I like their eyes to be similar to a non-contact lens wearer and usually with the Oasys, that is what you get.