Contact lenses

[Oblickta]

Went to te opticians yesterday to order some new contacts and guess what? The usual rip off system has been de-regulated. Anyone who uses contact lenses can now buy them off the shelf at Asda, Tesco etc. Pass it on

[willywetegg]

Got to be good news that.
I popped into Spec savers yesterday to pick up my new glasses and guess who I bumped into ????















Everybody lol.

Jim.

[Oblickta]

lmao, the daftest jokes are always the best

[willywetegg]

I wouldn\'t be trying to tell that one in the afternoon either lol. Apologies to all that read it when sober lmao.

Jim.

[Red5]

Not being funny or anything, but I work in an opticians and although you may get your contacts cheaper elsewhere, do you actually get the aftercare you would get from an opticians. You pay more because you are paying for a professional to test your eyes and show you basically how to place a foreign object in and remove from your eyes. Who do you go to when you\'ve accidentally fallen asleep with them after a night on the lash and then can\'t get them out, what if you develop an ulcer from overwearing or any other infection that could potentially lead to damaging your sight. I know there is no loyalty when it comes to shopping these days and we all shop around but are you prepared to take the risk with your vision?

[alan]

good point mate

[Oblickta]

It was an optician who told me to go and get them off the shelf. She said they didn\'t want to go to all the bother of testing eyes, showiing customers how, when and where to wear them etc. etc. then they go and buy them from the big shops anyway! She did say \"come back if you need specs\" tho\' !! I\'ve been wearing contacts for years and know how to handle them and understand the importance of good hygene.

One other point, last year I went on my hols with no eyes cos a certain big high st opticians (no names of course) let me down badly over delivery. That wont happen again.

[Red5]

I hope the optician doesn\'t just say that to everyone who is interested in contacts. We have people coming in who have never worn them before and just expect to buy a pair and pop them in and that\'s it. There are a plethora of different water contents, sizes, types. If they aren\'t the right size and don\'t fit then they can just fall out when you are driving at 70mph or can cause problems on the surface of the eye because they move around.
I just think you have to be careful and although you may get them cheaper elsewhere it\'s because your optician has done all the hard work by testing your eyes and making sure you understand how to insert and remove them safely and generally look after them and your eyes. The supermarkets do not have to pay the wages commanded by a professional.
Sorry to hear about your problem last year with the big high street optician but they may have been at the mercy of suppliers who tell you, you may get the lenses the following day but then still leave you in the lurch sometimes weeks later. (by the way I don\'t work for one of the big high street opticians but we do advertise on TV)

[Oblickta]

I see (pardon the pun) your point about new customers. They should seek pro. advice and get the after care to make sure everything\'s okay. I was told today that Tesco (Kingston Park) have opticians in store and wont supply you without a test. I,m gonna check them out and compare prices, services etc. before buying. I\'ll let you know the outcome.

[Red5]

Nay bother M8.
It\'s like I was saying never take risks with y\' sight. Y pretty stuffed without it!

[Oblickta]

Well.........I put my hands up and anyone who feels like wearing contact lenses please refer to Red5\'s advice and take no notice of me. Here\'s why:

Phoned a huge company who\'s name begins with T and ends with O to book an appintment for an eye test and explained that I needed an appointment for a Saturday. So I got one in Durham, no big thing cos it\'s only 10 mins on a train and i live near N/cle central. I was under the impression that I could have an eye test and pick up the lenses on the same day. My appointment was 21 Jan. After I paid them £25 for the test they told me they\'d ring me when they had my lenses in stock, I was dissapointed!

They didn\'t ring so I rang them two weeks later and they said, \"we have your lenses in stock but you\'ll have to come for a fitting\". So, off I went to Durham again. I popped out my old lenses in front of a spotty youth and put in my new lenses. Then, after I paid them another £30 they said, \"your lenses will be posted to you but it\'s ok cos you\'ve got a new pair in. It\'s now feb 23 and still no lenses. I\'ve still got the pair they charged me £30 for but will have to buy solution for them which I have already paid T\'s for and guess what? When you phone them you get through to a call center full of duck eggs, suprise suprise!!! What will happen to me iff I go back to Durham and chain myself to the automatic doors in peaceful protest?? Apart from a sore a*** I\'ll get nicked and a spokesman/woman will say \"we will look into it\"

Summary: by the time you\'ve paid £55 to T\'s, £9.80 for train fares, £7.00 for a taxi (optional) and 3 x £1.10 bus fares = £75.10, all you have is one pair of worn lenses.

If anyone is thinking of posting \"Should have gone to S***s**ers\" LOL \"f*** off

[daiseyduke]

I was tested and fitted properly for lenses and was going to take out the Direct Debit for daily disposables. The price i was quoted was for 30 pairs and if i wanted that price i had to sign up there and then but suspision got the better and read the small print, i had to buy 3 months supply coming to £90 so i didnt bother. I took my free trail and had my back up appointment everything was ok.

Went to get a price from T----0 and found i could but them 30 pairs at a time. Before they would sell them to me i had to produce the prescription fitting etc from the optician and so far have had no problems.

Also they are the same make as was recommended to me.

Adam


[Edited on 23/2/2006 by daiseyduke]