[Sarah & Alex]

Should I buy more contact lenses (or even a new pair of glasses) in the UK or wait till I get to NZ??

[Milliemoo]

Hi,

I'm stocking up on contacts from ASDA before we lleave. I'd be surprised if they could be bought any cheaper in NZ.

Milliemoo ;)

[willsken]

I did look at the price of them when we were on holiday and I was suprised to find they were not really any different to the price I was paying for them in the UK.

I must say I have since had laser treatment and I would recommend it to anyone. Truely life changing thing. :D

[Smiler]

Can't wear contacts so can't comment but I think glasses are expensive here.

I've been looking around and for the equivilant spec I got in the UK I'm look at at least $350 plus lenses. I can't remember how much she said lenses were, I was dazed! :confused: I'll be looking round in the sales...............

The nice frames I saw in Vegas for US$60 now seem a bargain. I wish I'd got them and had lenses fitted here.

[bpk]

I must say I have since had laser treatment and I would recommend it to anyone. Truely life changing thing. :D


Hi
Can you tell where did you have laser treatment for your eyes? how much does it cost and how long the treatment lasted??

I have heard that such treatment has side effects on the future, is that true?

[willsken]

Hi bpk
Well, I had mine done at Ultralase in Cardiff and paid £3000 for both eyes (£1500 each and on interest free credit!). You can get the treatment from about £495 per eye. The treatment I had cost more because you have each eye mapped and the surgery is geared to the contours of individual eyes. This means that the side effects are less and the results better. (Not by that much I'm sure!)

You are awake for the procedure and it takes about half an hour. Although it made me feel uncomfortable, knowing what they were doing to me, there was no pain at all during the procedure. You are very light sensitive going home - you can't drive and need sunglasses. I even had to keep my eyes shut all the way home!

Once home I had to have the curtains drawn and no lights on for a couple of days - no good for the rest of the family!

Now I have to say that the pain for the first few days was quite bad. BUT this was due to the method they used on my eyes. There are 2 ways of performing the op. 1. they cut a round flap in the eye with a laser and then do the work or 2. they scrape away the top of the eye and then do it. The man doing mine preferred this method as he felt that this left less risk of infection afterwards. This method is more painful afterwards but more comfortable during. People who have the flap cut are up and around and in no pain a day or so later.

I was told that there are no problems in the future and my eyes should be fine for the rest of my life (as in the problems they corrected) I could still have to wear reading glasses as I get older in the same way most people do. I had very bad eyesight and I wore contacts all day everyday. This was starting to cause problems for me. As I said before, as life changing things go this is at the very top of my list - just in front of having my 2 boys! :laugh

[wilson182]

I go to a local optometrists in Barrington, Christchurch and I pay $270 for a six months supply of monthly lenses. I think I might check out the Rangiora optometrist though, cause I probably wont be going into Chch so much anymore.

[Howie]

I go to a local optometrists in Barrington, Christchurch and I pay $270 for a six months supply of monthly lenses.

Yikes that's expensive! Someday I'll stop being surpirsed at the cost of everything - obviously not today though :laugh

[wilson182]

Yikes that's expensive! Someday I'll stop being surpirsed at the cost of everything - obviously not today though :laugh

You made me think now, I have just phoned and checked....erm its $170 for six months :o

[Questor]

If you're in the UK - either coastal contacts (www.coastalcontacts.com) or lensway (www.lensway.com/uk) are excellent - I paid £60 for 6 months of my toric lenses - which are usually at least £20 a month from opticians. This was just before we left in June

[StevieD]

Simiilar price Questor but lower wages... hmmm

I have just had my eyes tested here and now need reading glasses - managed for 42 years without them so not done too bad. Op said I still have very good eyesight and almost 20:20 vision but feels I would benefit from readers coz of high incidence of computer work and reading I do.

[Rose]

Are you stopping off somewhere on the way eg USA or Thailand? Take your prescription and stock up on contact lenses!

I wonder if you can get contact lenses on mail order in NZ. I used to buy them from the USA when I lived in the UK.

[KerryS]

The cheapest place I have found is www.clearlycontacts.co.nz
They beat everyone else out the water on price, and they deliver in less than a week (from Canada I think).
If you are in Auckland you can get very cheap and thorough eye examinations by the final year optometry students at the hospital. I was a bit wary, but they are fully supervised and far more careful in the examination - looking for everything possible.

[Billy]

I've just had a good scout around the web, including sites recommended here, and Asda is still cheaper. They wont deliver ex.UK, but I'm getting a relative to post them on to me.

That's for daily disposables, dont know about others.

Cheers
Billy

[uk_munros]

I just ordered my regular 3 months worth from www.contactlenses.co.uk - £62 but then they come in a day or so.
....and I got a free pair of naff sunglasses! :-)

Is anyone using the sites in NZ. I see that http://www.clearlycontacts.co.nz/ was recommended previously

When we get there it might be useful to use.

Nicola

[femke]

Hi There,

I just ordered 6mths supply of acuvue2 from www.lensesonline.co.nz they are located in Orewa, cost 72nz dollars. Delivery was very fast only took a day, these would of cost a lot more from our local optician. They also sell solution at a much cheaper rate, no delivery costs.
Moira

[phatsharpie]

Look like you can place international orders at http://www.visiondirect.com/ - it's a US company, but with the strong NZ dollar, it should be affordable.

I never shopped with them, so don't know the quality of their service.

Brian

[The Hodges]

I would definately stock up on contact lenses and new specs and bring out an upto date presciption before you leave the UK and then you will not need to have another examination for 2 years. I worked for an Opticians in UK and now here in NZ and the price diffference for contact lenses/examinations/specs, is hugely different.

An a full examination for contact lenses can cost around $220. And thats before you have brought your contact lenses. Frames can start from $200 and spectacle lenses depending on you prescription and what type of spectacle lenses you need can go way upto $1000.

We definately need a Specsavers out here!:clap