Contact Lens Cost

[trebor808]

My Son in Law was diagnosed with KC about 6 weeks ago, and today went for his lens to be fitted. While he was there he was given a bill for £110. Up to this date nobody has ever mentioned cost. So as you can imagine it came as a shock. Has anyone else ever come across this problem?

[Andrew MacLean]

I'm afraid that this is right; the cost per lens on the NHS is around £55; this covers the original lens and any replacements that are necessary on the grounds of changing fit or prescription for a twelve month period. I have noticed that there are usually notices up in contact lens clinics that state the cost, but if you start off with bad eyesight then they can be difficult to spot.

Anyway, welcome to the forum. The £55 cost is a pretty good bargain since some of the lenses that people with keratoconus need to wear come in at around £1000 each.

Andrew

[Richrapid]

I'm new to this site but been lurking for a few months...will do a bigger intro later...but I'm interested in cost of lenses privately.

I've recently been diagnosed with KC and am trialing Jack Allen RGP's but my eyes are so dry. I had dry eyes with my soft lenses but it seems far worse now. I've tried two types of fluid as recommended by the hospital but still can't really keep the lenses in for more than 2 hours and certainly can't really wear them to work as being at a PC drys them even more.

I'm being seen at the West Kent eye clinic @ PRU, Bromley. If anyone's got any experience of treatment there I'd be interested in their comments.

As we all now there is a wait each time you need an appointnment, so was wondering how much lenses are privately?

My next appointment is in December. Can anyone advise what their next course of action is likely to be?

[GrandPaClanger]

Welcome. I went back into the hospital system this year when my optician ran out of options \ knowledge . I am on my third set of lenses since May as they are struggling to get a fit. So far I have not had to pay. At no point has the £55 charge been mentioned. I am however expecting it as i found this forum before my first visit. I was paying nearly £400 for a set of lenses before going back to the hospital so it's not a bad deal . Still I agree the hospital could have mentioned it. I think they are so busy appointment wise it slips through the net

Hope your son in law gets on OK with the lenses

Ian

[BurnTheAction]

i have received rgps for free on the nhs for the last few years, unfortunately recently something has changed (or the hospital i am seen at had bad admin) and they now ask for £55 per lens, which was a bit of a shock at first.

I don't have that much of an issue with it now, but with a right eye that spits lenses out like nobodies business, if i lose a lens (which is extremely easy) its like throwing a £50 note away, a considerable amount of money. As a result when i am out socialising, or playing sports etc at the back of my head im always thinking about my damn KC and contact lenses!

[jojo19732009]

Hi I have had to pay the hospital charges several times as there is a set time that the lenses have to be sent back due to fit and prescription. I have lost the count of how many lenses I have had from soft, hard, piggy back and now RGP Scleral. I do however get all my solutions and drops paidfor by the NHS which makes a big difference also as the sclerals I go through a lot more due to spillage. Any how I could not complain re the charge as this is nothing for the amount of changes I have had whithin the allocated time scale.
jojo

[Andrew MacLean]

jojo

I think that if your lens needs replaced due to fit or prescription within one year then the next one is covered by the first fee. If you are outside the 12 month period you start from scratch.

Andrew

[jojo19732009]

Hi I think mine is three months. I pay the hospital fee of £55 per lens and have three months on that pair to be changed. If they are changed in that three months I get a further three months for that pair if that helps.
jojo