RGP Contact Lens Materials

[daarklight]

Hi everyone,

I wondered if anyone could tell me (in fairly broad terms) what the development has been in the materials used in Rigid Gas Permeable contact lenses over the last decade or so. My current lenses were prescribed and manufactured in the early 2000's but I've no idea about the material they're made of. They have always been uncomfortable to wear, feeling like a heavy weight on the surface of my eye and I wondered if there have been developments that will make the lenses feel less 'industrially bolted in' and more 'lightly dancing on a summer meadow'!

Many thanks,

Mike

[daarklight]

And as an addition to the above, can anyone help my confusion regarding obtaining contact lenses? I have a few questions:

Do I have to get lenses from the local hospital eye clinic/contact lens clinic?

Can I go to an optician who specialises in contact lenses (specifically Keratoconus lenses) and have them carry out diagnostic tests to determine my prescription and then supply lenses?

Do I have to go to the hospital, get them to test my eyes, determine the lenses I need and then can I take it to a private optician to supply them?

Sorry for all the questions but in the past I've just accepted what was given to me rather than research things and be clear on what my options are.

Many thanks,

Mike

[Andrew MacLean]

And as an addition to the above, can anyone help my confusion regarding obtaining contact lenses? I have a few questions:

1 Do I have to get lenses from the local hospital eye clinic/contact lens clinic?

2 Can I go to an optician who specialises in contact lenses (specifically Keratoconus lenses) and have them carry out diagnostic tests to determine my prescription and then supply lenses?

3 Do I have to go to the hospital, get them to test my eyes, determine the lenses I need and then can I take it to a private optician to supply them?

Sorry for all the questions but in the past I've just accepted what was given to me rather than research things and be clear on what my options are.

Many thanks,

Mike

Mike

I am not really in a position to comment on the technical detail of developments in RGP lens materials, but the answers to your three questions here are straightforward enough:

1 No, but you may not enjoy the considerable savings involved in NHS lens prescription if you do not use an authorized dispenser.

2 There aren't all that many high street optometrists who specialize in keratoconus, but if you know of one, you are at liberty to go there. Again this may involve you in additional expense as you may have to pay for your eye test and pay the full commercial rate for any lenses dispensed. (In Scotland all eye tests are free)

3 You do not have to attend the hospital clinic, but you may have to pay for an examination in the high street. Yes, you can take a hospital prescription to the high street to have the lenses dispensed, but again this may cost you the full commercial cost of the lens as opposed to the £52 (ish) per annum of an NHS dispensed lens.

Every good wish

Andrew