Where do you get your RGP's online?

[jayboi2005]

hello i have had a bit of a falling out with Specsavers because of an attitude problem they have. I wear RGP's and am now going to get them and the solutions online. But where i dont know any help?

[jayboi2005]

now im confused looking online, from specsavers i have like 1 pair every 12 months well i used to until my vision was changing. i dont even know what they are called just know them as RGP's

[John Smith]

That's an interesting thought - I'd not realised that you could get RGP lenses online, and if you're confused looking at the Specsavers website for online lenses, you can't. All the lenses online there are soft lenses (which I'm sure over 90% of contact lens wearers now wear).

I'm not an expert, but I'm sure that it's not a good idea at all to get your lenses online, even if you can find somewhere to sell them. The cornea shape changes that can suddenly occur mean that you need to have your eyes examined regularly, and wearing an ill-fitting RGP lens can certainly cause discomfort if not pain, and maybe damage too.

If you don't like Specsavers, then please try and find another local optician. Probably a "small" optician that is local, but not a nationally known name would be best. They're not as common as they once were, but I'm sure you'll be able to find one quite easily. Mention on the phone that you have Keratoconus, and you'll probably find that they'll be very welcoming rather than dismissive as the major brands often are.

[jayboi2005]

i will still be going to an optician every 3 months, and when they give me my prescriptian i will order new lenses. there are just so many types of RPG'S and apparently there are also Toric lenses for people with astigmatism. i just get confused because of the types thee are like 40 types of RGP's

and my specsavers letter has Sph - Cyl - Axis
and the websites have Power - Base Curve - Diameter

[John Smith]

I think that you have a Sph/Cyl figure because you need RIGID gas permeable lenses and you're looking at your regular optical prescription; whereas the Specsavers website in particular deals only with SOFT lenses.

You don't know the full spec for the lenses which you get, as you aren't expected to buy the specialist lenses you need for KC online.

Seriously, fitting RGP lenses is a very skilled job (unfortunately requiring a lot of trial and error) and that skill is fast diminishing. You should really get a fitter to do the whole works. If you don't like your current optician, why not simply find a different/better one?

[GarethB]

For solutions, http://www.postoptics.co.uk are used my many here.

The solutions come really quick but they only do soft lenses. As John says, the RGP lenses are a more specialised thing.

If you were to find someone on-line and you get a lens that is uncomfortable, you will have to pay for another. In the past six months I have tried about 7 different lenses, none of which worked, but as I was at the hospital and never went home with them I have paid nothing. If I had got the same thing on line, I would not get the NHS subsidy and would have spent well over £350 for nothing (7 x basic NHS lens cost).

As John says, find another optician. For best KC service outside a hospital the smaller opticians are best rather than the mainstream highstreet such as Specsavers and Vision Express.

Just ask to see the optician and explain you have KC and ask them to tell you more about the menagment of the condition. You will be able to tell how much they know by how well they explain things and answer your questions. Avoid slagging off your current optician as they may think you have a problem with opticians. Just explaain the issues you may have had with lens fit, comfort etc.

Perhaps one of the optoms that visit here may be able to recomend an optician near you.

Regards

Gareth

[jayuk]

JB

This really is a bad idea....when you get a RGP, or infact ANY lens you need it checked and seen to when its placed in the eye....ideally 15 minutes after insertion....

I would also suspect, that if you email any of these online places and tell them you have KC they will also strongly recommend that you get seen to properly.

Getting these lenses yourself online is not recommended...and in all honesty is going to cause you more harm then good in the longer term....dont mess about with your eyes....swallow your ego and either go back to SS or find someone else...

Jay

[Andrew MacLean]

jayboi

The big problem with KC eyes is that we are not a standard fit, and our cones do have a troublesome habit of changing shape.

This is why it can be very hard, even for an optometrist who specializes in fitting KC eyes, to get a lens that will fit comfortably, stay in place and give good vision.

I reckon that regular visits to either the high street Optometrist or NHS Contact Lens Clinic are just the price we have to pay for having a troublesome eye condition.

On the up side, regular visits do mean that you have someone keeping a check on the progress of KC, any variation is going to be identified right away and remedial action can be taken.

Yours aye

Andrew

[jayboi2005]

after listneing to what you all say i still think its a good idea, my eyes are not really that bad its classed as a mild astigmatism shap at the moment i have KC but its not that advanced yet. all specsavers do is give me a pair and send me home so i didnt se the difference in buying a pair online and doing the same. just paying less. and there are lots of places that many these to fit your eye readings, tailor them.

[John Smith]

To my knowledge, you can't "tailor" an RGP lens. They may talk about adjusting it, but in reality, they're thowing it away and ordering you a new lens to a slightly different shape. That's how Gareth has gone through so many lenses in a short time.

However, if that is still how you feel, then fair enough. But please let us know where you've found who will sell you an RGP lens over the net - I've certainly never seen them sold online...

Best of luck,