Contact Lenses Test at Specsavers?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Hi,

I am a Contact Lens Optician and work in Specsavers. Specsavers are all franchised so things vary from store to store. Most stores will generally do a free contact lens trial although once the trial (usually a week) is finished you will have to pay for any further appointments. The NHS do not pay for any contact lens related appointments as contact lenses are deemed 'cosmetic'.
Due to your age you will need an adult present at the fitting and aftercare appointments. If you are spending hours on end staring at a TV/VDU then to be honest contact lenses aren't going to be great as prolonged concentrated work (staring at a screen) causes your blink rate to drop dramatically and your lenses to dry out as a consequence.
If the trial is free where you are then give them a go as you have nothing to lose.

Qualified Contact Lens Optician

I'd agree with everything Flossy has said. Contacts are great but they dont' give adavantages when you are on computers, TV etc and can be difficult to wear. You get advantages from wearing them outside /dances, cinema etc. Its not fair but the NHS does regard contacts as cosmetic and they won't pay for them. I suggest you mention it to your MP - if someone suggested that only old fashioned hearing aids were available on the NHS and modern ones were simply cosmetic there would be an outcry. Not having modern aids available if you don't have perfect vison though seems to be acceptable and to make matters worse they now charge VAT on them.

I believe the test is free, but the lenses, you have to pay for!
The optician can not deny you contact lenses. If they are what you want, if you have parents permission and are buying them, you can have them.

You definitely have to pay for the lenses but I'm not sure if the test is free. People who work in offices look at a computer all day and they have contact lenses so don't worry about that.