Contact Lenses
Expert Contact Lens Services in Southfields
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens during a contact lens fitting appointment?
A contact lens fitting appointment at Vision in the Village Opticians is a comprehensive clinical assessment designed to determine your suitability for contact lens wear, identify the optimal lens type for your individual needs, and ensure you have the knowledge and skills for safe lens use.
Your appointment begins with a detailed consultation where our optometrist discusses your lifestyle, visual requirements, wearing schedule preferences (daily, occasional, sports), any previous contact lens experience, and specific concerns such as dry eyes or allergies. We then conduct a thorough eye health examination including slit lamp biomicroscopy to assess the front surface of your eyes, checking for any conditions that might contraindicate contact lens wear such as active inflammation, infection, or significant dry eye disease.
Corneal curvature measurements using keratometry determine the shape and steepness of your cornea, which is essential for selecting lenses with appropriate base curve and diameter to ensure proper fit, adequate movement, and healthy oxygen transmission.
We evaluate your tear film quality and quantity using tests such as tear break-up time and assessment of tear meniscus, as adequate tears are crucial for contact lens comfort and eye health. Your prescription is verified or updated through refraction testing to ensure your contact lenses provide optimal vision correction.
Based on all these findings, our optometrist recommends specific lens types, materials, and brands suited to your eyes, explaining the benefits and considerations of options such as daily disposables versus monthly lenses, or specialized designs like toric lenses for astigmatism or multifocal lenses for presbyopia.
We then provide trial lenses for you to experience, and for new wearers, comprehensive hands-on training in lens insertion and removal techniques, proper cleaning and storage procedures for reusable lenses, wearing schedules, and warning signs that require immediate attention. You’ll practice inserting and removing lenses under supervision until you feel completely confident, which typically takes 15-30 minutes for new wearers. We schedule follow-up appointments, usually within one to two weeks, to assess how your eyes are adapting, check the lens fit with the lenses on your eyes, evaluate vision quality, and address any comfort concerns. These follow-up visits are included in your initial fitting fee and are essential for confirming the fitting remains optimal before you commit to purchasing a full supply of lenses.
How much does a contact lens fitting cost at Vision in the Village?
Contact lens fitting services at Vision in the Village Opticians in Southfields are priced to reflect the comprehensive clinical assessment, professional expertise, and ongoing support required to ensure safe and successful contact lens wear. Initial contact lens fittings for new wearers typically cost between £50-£80, which includes a detailed consultation with our optometrist to discuss your lifestyle and visual requirements, comprehensive eye health assessment to determine suitability for contact lens wear, corneal curvature measurements using keratometry to ensure proper lens fit, tear film quality evaluation to identify any dry eye concerns, trial lenses so you can experience different options before purchasing, and thorough training in lens insertion, removal, and care procedures to ensure you feel completely confident. This initial appointment usually takes 45-60 minutes and includes follow-up visits to monitor how your eyes adapt to lens wear and confirm the fitting remains optimal.
For existing contact lens wearers transferring care to our Southfields practice or updating their prescription, contact lens check-ups are generally priced at £35-£50, including eye health assessment, prescription verification, and fitting evaluation. Annual contact lens check-ups, which are essential for all contact lens wearers to maintain eye health and ensure continued lens suitability, typically cost £40-£60 and must be completed before we can supply further lenses, as required by General Optical Council regulations and professional standards. These fees are separate from the cost of the contact lenses themselves, which varies depending on the type, brand, and replacement schedule you choose.
Can I wear contact lenses while swimming?
We would strongly advises against wearing contact lenses while swimming in pools, lakes, oceans, or hot tubs, in line with guidance from the General Optical Council and College of Optometrists.
Water contains harmful microorganisms including bacteria, amoebae, and fungi that adhere to contact lenses and become trapped against your cornea, creating serious infection risks. The most significant threat is Acanthamoeba keratitis, a severe corneal infection found in all water sources including chlorinated pools. This infection is extremely painful, requires months of treatment, and can cause permanent vision loss or necessitate corneal transplantation.
Contact lens wearers have significantly elevated risk when lenses are exposed to water. Chlorine does not eliminate these organisms and can cause lenses to tighten on your eye, trapping contaminants. Lenses can also easily wash out during swimming.
If you require vision correction for swimming, our optometrists recommend prescription swimming goggles, which provide clear vision whilst protecting your eyes and are available for most prescriptions including astigmatism.
What are the benefits of daily disposable lenses compared to monthly lenses?
Daily disposable and monthly contact lenses each offer distinct advantages, and at Vision in the Village Opticians our optometrists help you choose based on your lifestyle, wearing patterns, budget, and eye health considerations.
Daily disposable lenses provide ultimate convenience and hygiene because you wear a fresh, sterile lens each day and simply discard them after use, eliminating the need for cleaning solutions, storage cases, or nightly maintenance routines. This makes them ideal for occasional wearers who only need lenses a few days per week, as you’re not maintaining lenses during periods of non-wear, and for active lifestyles involving sports or travel where carrying solutions and cases is inconvenient.
From an eye health perspective, daily disposables significantly reduce infection risk because there’s no opportunity for bacterial biofilm to accumulate on lenses or in storage cases, which is the primary source of contact lens-related microbial keratitis. They’re excellent for allergy sufferers because pollen and allergens don’t build up on lenses over time, and for people with dry eyes or sensitive eyes who find that lens deposits cause discomfort, as each lens is pristine. Daily disposables also offer flexibility for people who primarily wear glasses but want lenses for specific occasions like evenings out, sports, or holidays. However, daily disposables typically have higher annual costs, ranging from approximately £250 to £400 depending on your prescription, compared to monthly lenses.
Monthly lenses require commitment to proper nightly cleaning using appropriate multipurpose solutions, storage in clean cases (which should be replaced every three months), and strict adherence to the monthly replacement schedule regardless of how frequently you’ve worn them. They’re cost-effective for people who wear lenses every day or most days, though the time investment in cleaning and the discipline required for proper hygiene must be considered. Some patients at our Southfields practice choose a combination approach, using monthly lenses for regular weekday wear and keeping daily disposables for weekends, sports, or backup purposes. Our optometrists will discuss your typical wearing patterns, lifestyle demands, manual dexterity for handling lenses, and budget to recommend the optimal choice for your individual circumstances.