Contact Lenses
Before your appointment have a think about what you want contact lenses to do for you and your lifestyle. Do you want to be free from wearing glasses for most of the day, or are you happy wearing specs most of the time, but fancy a change for sport or social wear? The information on this page will give you a brief outline of the types of contact lens available. Modern contact lens designs and materials can be fitted to almost anyone, even if your eyes have been considered unsuitable in the past. Contact lenses can also be coloured, toric (for astigmatism) or multifocal (for varifocal spectacle wearers).
At your contact lens appointment we will carry out a full eye examination (if you have had a sight test within 6 months please bring a copy of your prescription to the appointment). We will check the health of your eyes, assess the curve on the front of your eyes and take the other measurements necessary to fit contact lenses. We can then discuss your options (and the costs) of lens wear before trying a pair in your eyes, or ordering in lenses if necessary. Before you take the lenses home for a trial period we will ensure that you are confident getting the lenses in and out, as well as explaining wearing times, cleaning solutions, and booking your follow up appointment.
DAILY WEAR CONTACT LENSES
Daily Disposable - Open a fresh pair each morning and throw them away at the end of the day, so they always feel clean and comfortable. There's no messing around with cleaning solutions, so they're convenient to use every day, or occasionally for holidays, sport or social wear.
Frequent Replacement - A low cost and easy care option. Lenses can be worn upto 12 hours a day and solutions are used to clean and disinfect the lenses. Newer lens materials allow healthy and comfortable lens wear upto 16 hours a day. Soft lens materials are generally replaced once or twice a month for comfort and hygiene. Gas Permeable (GP) lenses are togher and less prone to breakage and deposits forming on the lens, so six monthly or yearly replacement is recommended.
OVERNIGHT LENS WEAR
Continuous Wear - Convenient and comfortable. The lens material is extremely permeable to oxygen and is resistant to drying out, so keeping the eyes healthy. There are two replacement options, weekly (preferred for comfort and hygiene reasons) or monthly.
Ortho K - Freedom from daytime contact lens and spectacle wear. Overnight lens wear gently reshapes the cornea (the front of the eye), correcting your sight while you sleep. In the morning the lenses are removed leaving you with clear and comfortable vision lasting the whole day. The process is safe and reversible, and is an ideal alternative to laser surgery for people with low to moderate short sight. Appointments are at Coulby Newham.
FITTING FEES
The fitting fee for all types (except ortho k) is £50. If you go ahead with contact lenses and sign up to the monthly direct debit scheme then we will refund half of this cost against your first supply of contact lenses.
The fitting fee for ortho k is £120, and is non refundable. This includes bespoke trial contact lenses (which remain the property of the practice if your eyes prove unsuitable for ortho k). More appointments are generally necessary to ensure a successful outcome to the procedure.
AFTERCARE SCHEME
Payment by monthly direct debit (currently from £9.50 per month for daily wear lenses and £10.50 per month for overnight wear) brings the additional benefits of:
- all routine aftercare appointments (usually 1 - 2 per year)
- any additional checks that are needed
- discounted contact lenses and solutions
- eye examinations
- up to 25% off glasses
- free replacement lenses if lost / torn / broken (conditions apply)
- Optomap retinal scan every 2 years
