Products

Contact Lenses - Contact Lens FAQ

After-Care Schemes - Spectacles - Sunglasses

Contact Lenses

There are many different types of contact lenses available. These range from daily disposable to extended wear contact lenses.

Daily Disposable Lenses
These lenses are worn just once and then thrown away so no cleaning or storage solutions are required. They can be worn regularly every day or just occasionally for sport or social events.

Fortnightly Disposable Lenses
These lenses are replaced every two weeks and may be suitable for patients who find that their monthly disposable contact lenses do not last them a full month.

Monthly Disposable Lenses
These lenses are replaced once a month. They offer a cheap alternative to non-disposable lenses.

Frequent Replacement Lenses
These lenses are replaced every three to six months, so only a few pairs a year are required. This is often less expensive than wearing non-disposable lenses.

Non-Disposable Soft Lenses
These lenses are the traditional type of soft lenses.

Rigid Gas Permeable Lenses
These lenses can be made to your exact requirements and are often used to correct astigmatism.

Bifocal/multifocal Contact Lenses
These are available in both soft and gas permeable materials and as disposable or non-disposable lenses. Patients who do not wish to wear reading glasses may find these of interest.

In addition to providing a wide range of contact lenses, we also have a comprehensive stock of contact lens solutions. All solutions are offered in a range of sizes, if available, and at competitive prices.

If you are thinking of becoming a contact lens wearer or are an existing contact lens wearer but would like to change to a different type of lens, please book an appointment with one of our optometrists who will discuss all your options with you.

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Contact Lens FAQ

Are they uncomfortable?
You may feel some discomfort the first time you wear contact lenses but you will get used to them very quickly and, very soon, you will not be aware of them at all.

How long will it take to get used to them?
After your initial contact lens fitting we will give you a contact lens trial of several days. By the end of the trial you will be completely used to your contact lenses.

How long can I wear them for?
The optometrist will discuss a wearing schedule with you that will be tailored to your individual needs and based on your type of lenses. However, it is not recommended to wear contact lenses for more than 12 hours at a time unless you are specifically told otherwise.

Can I sleep in them?
No you cannot. Although there are some contact lenses available that you can wear overnight, for most lenses it is strongly recommended that you do not sleep in them. If you do, you risk damaging your eyes.

Can I swim in them?
No you cannot. There is a risk of losing the contact lenses in the swimming pool and of picking up an infection. We do, however, offer a range of prescription swimming goggles as an alternative.

Do I still need a pair of glasses?
Contact lenses are a good alternative to glasses for many reasons but it is still recommended that you have a back up pair of spectacles. Having a pair of glasses means that you can still see if you are giving your eyes a rest from your contact lenses, if you have lost a lens or if you have an infection or other condition which means that you cannot wear your contact lenses for any period of time. You should always make sure that your back up glasses have an up-to-date prescription in them.

Why do I need a check up at least once a year?
It is important to have regular, frequent check ups so that we can ensure the health of your eyes is not being compromised by your contact lenses and so that we can check that the lenses you have are still of the correct prescription. It is also illegal to prescribe contact lenses unless the patient has had a check up within the last 12 months.

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After-Care Scheme

We offer all our contact lens wearers the option of joining our After-Care Scheme. There are three bands Platinum, Gold and Standard. The Standard Scheme offers the patient one free appointment per year whereas the Gold and Platinum schemes offer unlimited appointments throughout the year. The Platinum scheme also offers no extra charge for additional procedures, such as retinal imaging, and no charge for postage and packing on deliveries. All bands offer reduced cost for solutions, glasses, and any replacement lenses (non-disposable lens wearers only) and a 24hr emergency helpline.

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Spectacles

As well as offering a wide selection of contact lenses we also offer a comprehensive range of spectacle lenses and frames. These include single vision, bifocal and multi-focal spectacle lenses. All our lenses are available in either glass or plastic and we also offer a range of high index materials, which will make your lenses thinner and lighter. All our spectacle lenses are available with either a scratch resistant or an anti-reflection coating. We have a large variety of frames on offer including "all-in" frames, where the cost of the lenses is included in the price of the frame, rimless glasses and prescription sunglasses. We can also supply prescription swimming goggles.

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Sunglasses

Sunglasses are the perfect accessory to complete your summer look but they can also protect your eyes from harmful radiation. Ultra-Violet radiation causes sunburn and can also damage your eyes, increasing the risk of diseases such as Age Related Macular Degeneration and Cataracts. UVB is the most harmful type of Ultra-Violet radiation so you must make sure that any sunglasses you buy protect you against this form of radiation. As well as protecting your eyes from harmful radiation, sunglasses help you to see better in bright conditions which is particularly important when driving.

We offer a range of "all-in" sunglasses, which are priced at £69.50 including prescription lenses. All our sunglasses lenses come with a UV absorber, which absorbs up to 99% of UV radiation.

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