Advice on contact lenses please!

[sarahew]

Hi all.

This is a desperate plea for advice on contact lenses. Can anyone tell me if they have improved over the last ten years and if any are particular good for ultra-sensitive eyes?

I tried them out 10 years ago, seem to remember trying six or so different types, and all of them burned my eyes after a few hours, and the whole thing was an expensive failure. I'm about to go to optician for an eye and contact lens exam, which is ?80!!! They only stock two brands, which makes me nervous (should I be expecting more varieties? What are the big brands?), and I'm also not sure what I should be asking / hoping for. Have they really changed, or will it be burning eyes again and a whole load more money wasted???!

I know it's not the most exciting topic of conversation, but I'd love to know if anyone out there has sensitive eyes and has found a contact lens that is wearable for a full day. Or, am I wasting my time trying??! If it matters, my prescription is only something like -1.5.

Many thanks!

Sarah

[womanofdulwich]

?80? Sounds like a ROger Pope price to me.

I am not an optician but you often see them offering free trials- esp the bigger ones. They are much better than they were( assume you mean daily disposables?) if you like them you can get cheaper on line eg contact lenses direct.

I would shop around before forking out ?80.

[Loz]

Have you tried Paine and Hunter on LL? They are really good and should be able help you (and will cost a lot less that ?80 for an eye exam).

But yes, they have improved. Newer ones let a lot more oxygen through and therefore irritates the eye less.

[sallyfran]

I've always found Paine and Hunter helpful too and they will give you a trial pack of lenses if you want to test them out. I use Acuvue daily disposable which an optician friend rates as one of the better ones. They are stored in saline - anything other than the dailies and you are into cleaning fluids which might be more irritant to your eyes?

[silverfox]

I find transparent ones work best

[woodrot]

A bloke I knew has scars all round his eyes. I asked how these came about. he replied " Glasses"

I responded that he should use contact lenses

He replied " they dont hold enough beer"

etc

[PeckhamRose]

Go make an appt with the very experienced and lovely and patient Stephen Butler at Dollond and Aitchison. Forgive them the state of their premises. I have been under his (and his predecessor's) care for my own (hard gas permeable) glasses for the last 28 years and highly recommend. I recall when I first used them and I would estimate it took me 6 months to really get comfy with them. I would not use soft lenses as they can absorb infections more easily. Of course you can get daily disposables if money allows. If money allowed I'd get laser treatment! best of luck.

[Ridgley]

Specsavers do all sorts of contact lenses and great deals, I find the Brixton branch are very helpful check there

website

http://www.specsavers.co.uk/contact-lenses

[sarahew]

Thank you everybody for the tips. I've cancelled the ?80 eye exam! Very helpful advice. Good old forumites! :-)