Solutions an 'at

[Matthew_]

Hi Guys,
Another question:
I am way ahead of myself because I am not even being fitted until October and then I will have to wait for the lenses after that. But as I have been idly dreaming of the day non blurry eye-sight will (hopefully) return and studiously ignoring all the painful and frustrating experiences some you have had with your lenses; I was eyeing up some of the solutions in Boots and dreaming of the day I might have cause to purchase some! Some of your descriptions of solutions etc has been highly technical and it made me wonder whether for a mild KC sufferer such as myself it would be possible to just buy some bog standard type solutions and see how it goes? Does anyone have any ideas for a KC starter pack?

[GarethB]

Matthew,

Unfortunatly it is not that simple as most solutions are slightly different. Some (probably most) can use any solutions designed for RGP lenses, others find they are sensitive to one product and fine with another.

Personally I would wait and see what starte pack the Hospital gives when you get given your lenses.

As contact lens solutions are considerd medical products they have to be made to the same standard. Therefore any 'value' product from Tesco or Asda should be the same as the named brands. To get over licensing, FDA and Eur Pharm regulations the solutions will be made by a named brand supplier but this the supermarket labelling on there.

The Boots contact solutions for RGP lenses are actually made by Bausch and Lomb!

I stick to the named brand as bying in bulk from Post Optics the lens solutions are actually cheaper than trolling into town.

Hope this helps.

Gareth

[Matthew_]

That's very helpful, thanks. Interesting about the supermarket...if I can get away with cheaper solutions I will. I have eczema and hayfever and a few mild allergies so I will wait and see what works. Thanks again.

[Sallyuk]

Matthew,

Just thought I would mention that some hospital lens clinics prescribe solutions so you would only have to pay presription prices, it's definitely worth asking about. I pay for my prescriptions yearly as I am on other medication and it works out soooo much cheaper, but it would depend on your own personal needs. I use optifree which is meant to be one of the best complete solutions on the market, however, your optom will advise you on the best one for you. Good luck for your lenses.
Sally

[Matthew_]

Thanks very much, I will consider pre-pay; I already do this for Ginny, my wife who has very severe brittle asthma. She takes her steroids and other stuff home in a carrier bag every month! It was defintely cheaper to go pre-pay. Don't ask me why we have to pay at all for life-preserving drugs??? I think diabetes is also a loser in the prescription lottery

[Andrew MacLean]

Matthew

If you are fitted at Gartnavel, ask them for a starter pack. I think that the manufactuers supply them with starters so that customers can tell what is available.

Andrew

[Matthew_]

Andrew,
That's great.Again thanks so much. On the subject of Gartnaval, do they hold supplies of the lenses ie am I likely to walk away from the fitting with a set of lenses or will there be another wait?
Also do they have many different types or just a few?
My fitting is in october which still seems a way off but its my birthday month, be nice to be able to see straight again as a present!

[Andrew MacLean]

Probably another wait, but much shorter. I don't think I ever had to wait more than a couple of weeks for new lenses. Each lens is bespoke: KC fittings are very individual.

Andrew

[Matthew_]

Andrew,
Thanks, that's comforting!