Is it the brand I use (contact lenses)

LadyE

Hi all,

Started using contact lenses again now Im out of the office environment (under air conditioning unit made my eyes unbearably dry!).

Im using monthly specsaver natural fit brand, but I can continually feel them in my eye.

It feels like I can feel the edge of the lense everytime I blink, it doesnt feel natural at all! Ive had them for about 2 weeks (everyday wear for about 9 hours a day).

Would a different brand of lenses be worth considering? Or is this just the way it is with lenses, they never actually feel natural?

Cheers

Misticles

Do you ever take a break in the wk and wear spex instead of lenses?

Speak to your optician about it. Could be lack of oxygen or just dryness, in which case comfort drops would be of some help to you.

LadyE

No, wear lenses pretty much all the time. I didnt wear them at all yesterday (for a break) and the dryness came back.

Its more the feeling that I know they are there. I got the impression that it would feel bare after a while?

xochillixo

u could be suffering from dry eye... i used the specsavers brand but i have dry eye so my eyes couldnt bare them... try specsavers proclear they help alot... but are a few euros more expensive

Moonbeam

I had terrible experiences with specsavers own brand lenses,they were awful.

BC

It sounds like dry eyes. Try wearing glasses a little more often to give your eyes a break, Also try using drops every couple of hours and see if that helps.

pookie82

No this isn't normal you should never feel the lens in your eye. The point of contacts is that they're convenient and comfortable and you shouldn't be able to feel a thing if they fit properly and are in correctly. Go back to your optician and explain that your eyes seem to be too dry for them.

My lenses often start pinching my eyeballs towards the end of a long day and it's really distressing to the eye. Don't continue without getting this sorted as it can't be good for your eye health.

pookie82

Moonbeam wrote: »

I had terrible experiences with specsavers own brand lenses,they were awful.

Me too I foolishly tried a few times to switch to cheaper own brand contacts but each time had to go back to the proper ones. The specsavers own brand started to claw my eyes out after about and hour. One even split in my eye :eek:

Squiggle

Specavers own brand lenses are just rebranded lenses from other manufacturers.

rache12

Yep, Squiggles completely right.
I'm an optician working in Specsavers, have also worked in independent practices, Vision Express and others. Everyone uses the same manufacturers and the same contact lenses, just different packaging.

There are 4 manufacturers that everyone uses: Cibavision, Coopervision, Johnston+Johnston, and Bausch and Lomb. Sauflon is also becoming more popular.

Specsavers monthly natural contact lenses are the cheapest and pretty cr*p to be honest. I never recommend them.

If you go for Specsavers monthly vusion lenses, what you are buying is Coopervision Proclear lenses but in different packaging - they are a bit more expensive but better for dry eye and all the symptoms you're describing.

The best contact lenses for you would probably be Specsavers monthly irisian lenses (these are Cibavision air optix lenses in different packaging) - basically these let more oxygen through to your eye making them more comfortable. Theres less water in these lenses too, so dont really dry out.


If anyone has any questions, or wants to know what the 'specsavers name' is for the lenses you're wearing, PM me I'd be glad to help!

LadyE

Thanks for that Rach, stopped wearing the lenses, they were very irritating.

Im going to order the daysoft ones and see if they are any better

Moonbeam

pookie82 wrote: »

Me too I foolishly tried a few times to switch to cheaper own brand contacts but each time had to go back to the proper ones. The specsavers own brand started to claw my eyes out after about and hour. One even split in my eye :eek:

Had the exact same problem and hated them splitting in my eye esp because I could never be sure if I got them all out.I got the johnsons and johnsons acuvue moist from another optician and they are lovely.I would not feel them at all and they are easier to take out and put in.

Icdb

Had spec savers.... they were uncomfortable... could feel the edges... now I use Bosche And Lamb they have rounded edges... they feel so natural that some times I forget to take em out after the 30 days... have to have a reminder on my iphone every month to take them out..

FruitLover

Most lenses aren't designed to be worn all day, as they don't let enough oxygen through to the corneas. Try different brands, and take them out in the evening if they're not specifically designed for long wear.

Icdb

Purevision by bosche & lamb... they are not the same as the others.. as someone mentioned on here.. i tried the spec savers version.. and the ciba vision and air optix...

the only ones with the rounded edges that I found were the Purevision.. most comfortable by far...

04williamsl

rache12 wrote: »

I'm an optician working in Specsavers, have also worked in independent practices, Vision Express and others. Everyone uses the same manufacturers and the same contact lenses, just different packaging.

There are 4 manufacturers that everyone uses: Cibavision, Coopervision, Johnston+Johnston, and Bausch and Lomb. Sauflon is also becoming more popular.

If anyone has any questions, or wants to know what the 'specsavers name' is for the lenses you're wearing, PM me I'd be glad to help!

I've recently been told that I have astigmatism by Specsavers, and have been given a one-month trial pair.

When I asked how much it would cost to buy more, well, lets just say that I refused to pay for them. Instead, I asked for the brand name and brand type; Sauflon Lacrima Toric.

The only problem is, by searching through a few websites, I've come to know that Sauflon sell exclusively to Specsavers... and so I can't buy them at a cheaper price online.

I've looked since on various websites for different brands, and have found a few. But only one has gotten my Base Curve and Total Diameter fitting (BC 8.7, TD 14.4).

Can you help me find a website that is trustworthy, that supplies an alternative to Sauflon and has these fittings?

Any help would be much appreciated,

thanks.

rache12

04williamsl wrote: »

I've recently been told that I have astigmatism by Specsavers, and have been given a one-month trial pair.

When I asked how much it would cost to buy more, well, lets just say that I refused to pay for them. Instead, I asked for the brand name and brand type; Sauflon Lacrima Toric.

The only problem is, by searching through a few websites, I've come to know that Sauflon sell exclusively to Specsavers... and so I can't buy them at a cheaper price online.

I've looked since on various websites for different brands, and have found a few. But only one has gotten my Base Curve and Total Diameter fitting (BC 8.7, TD 14.4).

Can you help me find a website that is trustworthy, that supplies an alternative to Sauflon and has these fittings?

Any help would be much appreciated,

thanks.

Sauflon isn't exclusive to Specsavers - available to other high street opticians as well, but they don't sell directly to patients online so you won't find them on any website.

The other problem with sauflon is that they use quite obscure base curve and total diameter sizes - so it can be difficult to find another lens with the same measurements.

Sauflon Lacrima Toric lenses are made from a material called silicone hydrogel (excellent material, very permeable to oxygen) and its best to stick with this material. For a good quality contact lens widely available online, I'd recommend Ciba Vision air optix for astigmatism.

Now...the base curve is the same as lacrima toric (8.7) the diameter is just 0.1mm bigger (14.5mm). Even if you find a toric lens with an identical specification online it may behave differently in your eye. They have a weight in the lens to ensure it sits at the correct angle. The weight can be different with different manufacturers, and as a result you may need a slightly different prescription depending on the manufacturer, the material etc. You really will need to have these particular lenses fitted by an optometrist to ensure they are Ok for you. Ask for a contact lens trial, it doesn't cost too much and will ensure you're not lumbered with a stack of lenses that you can't see out of! Every opticians in the country will be able to get the 'ciba vision air optix for astigmatism' lenses for you!

04williamsl

rache12 wrote: »

Sauflon isn't exclusive to Specsavers - available to other high street opticians as well, but they don't sell directly to patients online so you won't find them on any website.

The other problem with sauflon is that they use quite obscure base curve and total diameter sizes - so it can be difficult to find another lens with the same measurements.

Now...the base curve is the same as lacrima toric (8.7) the diameter is just 0.1mm bigger (14.5mm). Even if you find a toric lens with an identical specification online it may behave differently in your eye. They have a weight in the lens to ensure it sits at the correct angle. The weight can be different with different manufacturers, and as a result you may need a slightly different prescription depending on the manufacturer, the material etc. You really will need to have these particular lenses fitted by an optometrist to ensure they are Ok for you. Ask for a contact lens trial, it doesn't cost too much and will ensure you're not lumbered with a stack of lenses that you can't see out of! Every opticians in the country will be able to get the 'ciba vision air optix for astigmatism' lenses for you!

Will they be able to give me the trial immediately (as soon as they get the contact lenses in, at least) do you know? I've only just started to wear these new lenses, for but a few days, not sure whether they'll tell me to just keep with the same lenses for now.

I have to head back to Specsavers tomorrow to demand my money back (I was overcharged), not sure they'd look on me favourably if I were to say I don't want to go for their insisted products for something I can buy online.

I like the sound of Ciba Vision - it's the brand I used before I was diagnosed with Astigmatism, and I felt very comfortable wearing them.

Squiggle

04williamsl wrote: »

The only problem is, by searching through a few websites, I've come to know that Sauflon sell exclusively to Specsavers... and so I can't buy them at a cheaper price online.

Opticalinstitute have a range of Sauflon lenses. I have bought from this crowd once and didn't have any problems. lenscatcher also do Sauflon lenses but I haven't bought from them so no personal experience.

rache12

They should be able to give you the trial pretty much immediately. If the lenses need ordered in it'll take 2 or 3 days...they'll need to see the lenses in your eye, but that appt won't take more than 20 mins.

First I've heard of sauflon being sold online. I don't have experience with either of those sites, but if theres good reviews out there it would save you a bit of hassle...

Solair

There's a reason why some of the more expensive brands are more expensive! There's a lot of R&D work to get those silicon hydrogels as comfortable as possible.

I've found a lot of cheaper alternatives to be pretty uncomfortable where as I can wear main-stream brands without any issue at all.

There's a LOT of technology involved in contacts!

Also, some people simply do not suit certain lenses. One brand can work fantastically for someone and not at all for someone else.