contact lens costs

Hi all, quick update, It was just recommended to me to look at getting the lenses online (an option i didn't know exisited and had completely overlooked - apologies!) - it has greatly simplified things for me and i think its a bit cheaper to buy them at home and take them with me...

however - update to the question is has anyone had any problems packing sealed, unopened lenses in their checked baggage - do the little foil-sealed packs hold up ok on flights if not in your carry on, have people had theirs burst in transit?

hope this isn't too dumb a question... no wonder i usually stick to wearing my glasses!

I pay about £20 for a pair of monthlies from Boots, enough soulution for a month about £5.
As for transport Ive never had any damaged in the hold after a load of flights, you might want to take a bit of solution and one of those litle boxes for the flights as the dry athmosphere will dry the lenses out and agrivate your eyes.

Rosa Rosa, no problems in packing them in hold luggage.

Gringito, I pay that much for 3 sets of lenses on line......

When in the UK if you go through big high street stores in the UK you'll pay roughly the same as you do in Australia ~£20-30 per set, I used to pay $55 per set in Australia.

You should note that your prescription from Australia is no good in the UK, even if you get it written out by a large reputable store like OPSM. You will need to have an eye examination in the UK before you can purchase contacts - so save your money and don't bother with a examination in Australia before you go if you don't have to. I can't remember how much I paid for my last examination, I think it was about £60.

If you buy on-line through a high street store like Tesco (equivalent to Woolies or Coles here) then you have to supply your optometrist's contact details so the store can call to verify your prescription and presumably that you've had your 12 month examination. From memory in Australia it's every two years I think, in the UK you have to have an exam every 12 months.

You can buy a large bottle of solution for about £5 from high street stores, they have popular brands that they also sell in Australia as well if you stick to one (ie AMO Complete).

Packing solution etc in checked baggage is no problem, you can also take solution on board your flight provided the bottle is only travel size - max 100 ml, this applies in the UK and now Australia as of January 2007. Because I usually pack a large bottle in my checked baggage I usually fill my contact case with solution before I fly and take that on the flight with me. You just need to put it in the plastic bag with your other creams/solutions when passing through security.

Have a good flight!

Cheers

I pay £15 per month for monthly torics and solutions from Specsavers.

Eye exam about £25-£30.

Another very cheap website is www.freenetlens.com<BR><BR>I did a lot of looking into the options and they were the cheapest for daily disposable toric lenses- not sure about others.

#4 is correct that you need a prescription to get lenses even over the internet. But £60 is way too much to pay for an eye examination. It should be more like £20-£30, so shop around. Most of the opticians do special offers where you can, for example, download a voucher for a half price or even free eye exam from their websites- these offers tend to change over time but there is always a discount of some kind if you look for it. For example, Dolland and Aitchison currently have a voucher for a free test here.

hey guys - thanks heaps for all the answers!

i only wear them 1-2 times a week (only for sport really) so i think i will just get 6 months worth in aus and take them with me - i only just got my eyes checked a few months ago so i don't want to have to go again in the UK! Thanks for the heads up about needing a uk prescription - if i run out i'll get my folks to ship some more over to me from home...

Cheers everyone!