Where to buy contact lenses online

[furryfriends57]

I am trying to cut costs at the moment and want to buy contact lenses online. Does anyone buy daily disposable lenses online and are happy with the service. How long from ordering to delivery and do they ask for evidence of your prescription before fulfiling the order.
Thanks a mil , FF57

Oooooh, this seems so complicated.
Why did we ever think so much choice was a good idea??

So, Molly, on balance, in your opinion etc do you think if I'm some one who wants a yearly check, and usually chooses to go with the easiest option unless its going to save me loads more money, I'm better off just getting my lenses through specsavers if I'm happy with them as my optician?

I am also a Costco member, and have noticed that they do lenses. Does anyone know if they work out significantly cheaper?

If you have an annual check with your optom -and if it saves you a lot go online or Costco if they are good value then go this way .
If you are not going to save very much stick with the optom check & supply.

As I said - working in an opticians we do tell our px to go online if they want to get cheaper lenses - a lot of the lenses on line are cheaper to buy than we get them at supposed 'cost price'.

If it hardly saves anything by going on line then stick with you optom - after

Thanks for your advice Mollymole. I'll have the check this week and get the opticians prices and then compare these to the online ones factoring in the yearly check on top.

At least I know what I'm doing now, but I do miss the simple days of the optician being the only choice.

this just now seems like another thing to do .

I would totally recommend gas permeable lens. They aren't popular with opticians because you don't get sucked in to buying lens every month.
Mine told me that people can't be bothered with waiting a week till they feel comfortable. Even though they are safer and healthier for your eye and cheaper.

Once you have the fitting and prescription you can buy them for $40 online (they ship to the UK). They last for years...

A word of warning. Many years ago - about 30 - dh got contact lenses for the first time. The optician - part of a national chain - was very proud of its computer measuring kit, that worked out the curve and diameter required for the lens.

So, he got his lenses, and had problems with them. He went to a smaller optician, and their trial lenses were, according to him, more comfortable than the others. He found that his cornea had been scratched by the computer-fit lenses.

6 months later, he developed iritis and stopped wearing lenses.

I've just had a lens check. I was waiting for a new prescription to order them as I didn't have much confidence in the opthalmogist who did our eye tests - she got dh's prescription out - -10 when he was 'only' -9.

I've been told not to wear them any more, as although my eyes aren't dry, there isn't much of the oily phase in my tears to lubricate the eye and a morning's wear on the way to the optician had caused a scratch. So, from monthly continuous wear lenses, if I wear them, it's got to be occasional daily disposable ones for me.

Pity, 'cos I did like wearing them rather than varifocal glasses.

All optical practices SHOULD offer free trial lenses every time there is a change of prescription, including the different base curves where applicable. It is unfortunate that they don't all do this - you may well find that a small independent is more likely to offer various trial options than the 'big chains'.

I spent a lot of time looking for the best quality and prices. But finally decided the best choice is still there eBay

I also get mine from Vision Direct. I agree that they are good lenses and cheap. I didn’t require a prescription when buying from them. It saves me a trip to the optician! I’ve tried Vision Express before but find their lenses are overpriced. I think it is pretty common to buy lenses online and much better value than the optician. I always get an email reminder from them, which helps me remember to order new lenses. It’s so easy and the lenses always come the next day. xx

I use day soft. Highly recommend them

Another long time Day soft customer here. Good quality, value & service

Does anyone know where I can find daily multi focal lenses? I have been using Boots own brand and then Lenstore but Boots can actually be cheaper than Lenstore. They are around £44 a month so any savings would be great. I use Clariti which are supposed to be the same as Boots own brand but suppose any brand with the right prescription would do.

I have been getting my contacts from www.contactlenses.co.uk for years!! I love the repeat order service- they automatically ship me my new box as soon as my old box in nearing the end. I buy crystal contacts, very comfortable and very easy on a low budget. (as my daughter and i both wear contacts, it can get pretty pricey if i'm not careful....)

definitely check it out!!!

I've just ordered my first ever day softlenses thanks to this thread, I can't wait to try them out and save ££

Yes, this works really well and can save you lots of money. I go to the opticians once a year to have a sight check, and they usually suggest brands and types of lenses to try, and give me a free trial. I pay for the check up (around £45), then buy my lenses off the internet. Depending on the brand, some websites are cheaper than others, I've used contactlenses.co.uk and Vision Direct. Both excellent and don't ask for proof of prescription. contactlenses.co.uk used to send free next day delivery, not sure if they still do..

I get mine from Lens Lounge. My 1 Day Acuvue Moist are only £12.40 and cheapest I can find , the lady on the phone is lovely as well

Hope that helps :)

I've been using Feelgood lenses online for years, they are brilliant. I order Aquacomfort dailies by Alcon. Excellent quality brand, quick and free delivery etc.

I haven't bothered with a contact lenses check for years, if my prescription wasn't working or I had problems with my eyes I would. I got fleeced by an opticians for over priced and wrong prescription glasses a couple of years ago, so other than an occasional eye test i wont be bothering with the high street again!