Hi all, I'm hoping someone in the optical profession or with contact lenses experience can help me as I know nothing about them. My daughter was prescribed & fitted at Specsavers with their house brand contacts. I ordered what I thought to be the closest option from the prescription she received but (to cut a long story short), when she thought she had them in, she didn't, so they must've fallen out without her knowing (is that even possible)?
How Do I Know I Ordered Correct Contact Lenses?
![](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/u/45/32945-38.jpg?h=cb040d8a)
Last edited 24/09/2017 - 17:53
Comments
See an Optometrist. It's usually free.
Ok
Maybe it slid to the back of her eye….
In recent news: https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/07/horrified-surgeons-discov…Why not go and get them from specsavers? I wouldn't cheap out, guess and buy online. There are experts for a reason.
You ordered the correct contact lens if you ordered what was written on the prescription.
What was it's name?
Thanks! You mean the lenses (Accuvue Dailies) or the online shop (Vision Direct)?
The contact lens on the prescription given to you. (if it wasn't clear)
Did you order the same brand?
No. The new ones are Accuvue Dailies
That's the problem. The fitting will be different from brands to brands. I am not an optometrist but have been wearing contacts for about 9 years. Every time I change brand I need to get a new fitting. Prescription needs to be exact, not "the closest option". Having said so, if your daughter wears contacts for the first time, it can be quite hard to put contacts in her eyes and get used to it. I suggest you go to Specsavers and talk to an optometrist.
Ok. Will do - thanks citygal!
Hi mate, there is a reason why you need a contact lens consultation before an optometrist will sell you contact lenses. Its because that way an optometrist will not only help you find a brand that fits well and is best suited for your eye, but also show they can show you how to use and care for the contact lenses and your eye.
I would go to an optometrist and get a contact lens prescription, find a brand that works well for her and buy the first pack from the optometrist. After that, if she likes them, buy them cheaper online.
And I would be removing the picture with your daughters name and address.
I'm confused why you would buy them online and not from spec savers…
Also please remove that picture or at least blur/draw over your address.
because I wanted to save money and had a Groupon coupon :-)
If you want to change brand, go to an optometrist for a consultation. They will give you a prescription and order free lens of that brand for you to try before you buy. You need to go back to optometrist for follow up after the trial. This ensures the fitting is suitable and comfortable for you. You don't need to buy the contacts from the optometrist, but consultation and trial are highly recommended. After consultation, if all good you can purchase somewhere else. Save you money from buying a wrong fitting too. After all it's eyes health and contact lens do directly touch your eyes, so need to be careful.
Yes but as others have said, the optometrist will give you the ones that will suit your daughter best.
Contacts aren't that complicated but you do need to get the same size and power (close enough ain't good enough) as what was prescribed. You can absolutely change brands but the numbers presribed need to absolutely match. Eg: 8.6 14.0 -5.50
If it doesnt match exactly they wont fit or the strength wont match what you need.
Hi and thanks for your response. The only difference from the script to the order was; the script had BOZR as 8.40. The order I placed was for CURVE: 8.5. The DIA 14.2 & power/SPH: -1.00 (I assumed SPH was equivalent to power as the numbering seemed similar)?
Ah - that may not have helped. If it wasn't exactly the same then there can be a learning curve when changing from one lens/brand to another. It is also quite possible that the larger back radius (BOZR) simply isn't suited for your daughter.
If you want to buy lenses online that's perfectly fine, but always get the same as you got from the optometrist. If you want to try a different brand, go into the optometrist and get a trial set for free. Even when everything is exactly the same, I find some brands are easier to put in (eg working out if they are inside-out) and feel better (for me) than others. I assume your daughter has "dailies" so when the specsaver generics are running low, simply go in there and say you'd like to try something else (eg Bausch & Lomb or Acuvue) to see if they are more comfortable and they should hand over a set.
I've been wearing contacts for close to forty years, by the way.
Just use glasses, they are still acceptable to use. Contact lenses are unhealthy for the eyes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_long-term_contact_l…
Yes, maybe but not practical for playing sport.
What sport is that?
I do different types of exercise such as boxing and dancing. Sweat always slip my glasses off. Heat from exercise can also create mist on glasses. Not really good to wear glasses during exercise.
Yes there can be issues with wearing contacts, but generally only if you don't manage that use properly. People leave the lenses in for too long, or use normal tap water or even (stupidly) spit to clean them. Basically, practise good hygiene when putting anything into your eye. If your eyes feel sore, don't wear the lenses. After a day or two - or maybe more - the eyes will recover and you'll be good again. It is also super important to visit the optometrist every year (or sooner if your eyes are sore for more than a day) if you wear contacts regularly.
In other words, contact lenses can be unhealthy if you don't manage their use properly. Frankly, water is unhealthy if you drink too much of it.
Almost 40 years of contact lens use here - from hard to softer lenses that would last for a year, to monthly, to now daily lenses. The daily lenses are brilliant.
If you can wear contacts, and not everyone can, then it means you can buy normal sunglasses rather than pay a fortune for special sunnies. When playing squash I can use cheaper non-prescription squash goggles or protective glasses. I can strain pasta without the glasses fogging up. I don't have to keep cleaning the lenses during the day. I don't get headaches from the constant weight of the glasses on the bridge of my nose. When driving/walking I have better peripheral vision. When playing sport my glasses don't fall off or get driven into my face if I get hit. Speaking of which, I frequently see people playing sport like football whilst wearing normal glasses rather than contacts or prescription sport glasses - insane. Yep, glasses are absolutely acceptable to use - but can also be unhealthy when used inappropriately.
Aussie Rules
Go to a local optometrist. He'll see you right.
Ha ha!
I'm not an expert but I do know they can be a pain to fit initially….and also to remove.
They are easy to lose in the fitting process if not careful. Did she notice any improvement initially? By this I'm wondering whether she even managed to get them in or whether they came out.
My hunch is she failed in the fitting process. It's a good idea to fit them over a cloth so you can see if they drop from your finger.
Probably not so much the wrong lenses…however I believe the fit can be personal and that different types or brands may work better and only really works with experimentation.