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Thread ID: 121568	2011-11-01 02:19:00	Anyone know much about contact lenses?	DeSade (984)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1241173	2011-11-01 07:27:00	As a final thought, the big multiples, SpecSavers, OPSM, and quite possibly Visique carry their own 'house brand' contact lenses. Basically, this is a mainstream brand being sold on to them under a different name and different packaging (and different pricing). If you plan on shopping online, or plan on travelling and buying overseas you should request (and demand if you face resistance) the true details of the manufacturer and model of the lenses. House Brand contacts are a foul creation, and are a curse to both the optom and the patient. Their only purpose is to try to lock all future purchases with the same retailer. They might be a little cheaper than their matching model, and competing models, but you'll still find them cheaper online under their real name. Do everyone a favour and tell them to stick their house brands. Cooper Vision Hydron are the worst of the lot for flogging their products off under dozens of different names. Luckily their old workhorse for this practice, the now outdated Frequency lens has been discontinued... often partially recognisable from its 14.4 diameter. As for coloured contacts, in fact the range has steadily deteriorated in terms of quality over the past 20 years. They're almost all total #$%^. I'd rather not touch 90% of the current offerings in cosmetically coloured ranges these days.	Paul.Cov (425)
1241174	2011-11-01 07:34:00	Not sure if that was for me. My perms before - Optima Toric then some kind of B&L. The disposables monthly were B*L Softlens 66. The perms are like 10yrs old .....	Nomad (952)
1241175	2011-11-01 07:39:00	I really need more info to attempt an answer. A copy of your last script would help (glasses or contacts). Toric (astigmatism correcting) contacts are always more of a challenge. They MUST be fitted loose enough to move with blinks, and with eye movement - this is a health requirement, and as such is more important than achieving clear vision!!! However, for a toric lens to work they must not spin (rotate) more than +/- 5 degrees (tolerance on that varies depending on the cyl power). If possible, your Keratometer readings (corneal curvature... typically ~7.? x 7.?) would be a big help as well. Disposables range from dailies, weeklies, fortnightlies, monthlies, overnight wear monthlies (with removal at least once per week). Typically the more astigmatism you have the less likely it will be that the frequent replacement lenses (ie dailies) will be available in your required parameters. From the manufacturers perspective, a good comprehensive range of toric lenses will involve more than 1000 combinations of sphere, cyl, axis for each base curve. That makes a huge amount of stock to have to control. It's also why your optom may have to order in the better torics, as there's just too many to hold all the parameters in stock at once. If you've had trouble with unstable vision you've probably had a lens that was too loose, or too shonky at avoiding rotation. The earlier toric lenses from 20 years ago were quite mediocre at holding the right angle when compared with most of the modern range.	Paul.Cov (425)
1241176	2011-11-01 07:44:00	Not sure if that was for me. My perms before - Optima Toric then some kind of B&L. The disposables monthly were B*L Softlens 66. The perms are like 10yrs old ..... I didn't want to name names, but the B&L torics are among the best for holding the right angle (axis). THe Soflens Toric is now an 'old' material, and is definitely NOT suited for overnight wear. Their new Purevision2 toric should perform just as well, but is available in fewer powers currently. The earlier Purevision toric offered a tighter basecurve, 8.3, which might have been the answer for your needs. Unfortunately they haven't carried on offering 8.3 in the Purevision2. You could ask you optom to trial the Purevision (8.3 version if suitable), but bear in mind that sooner or later the manufacturer will pull the plug on that model. Purevision and Purevision2 is approved for overnight wear in many cases.	Paul.Cov (425)
1241177	2011-11-01 08:08:00	Go for glasses only if you can, much less eye fatigue	Ofthesea (14129)
1241178	2011-11-01 08:17:00	Yeah I do wear glasses daily now. All I know is this: These are specs - R -1.00 / -1.00 x 180 L -1.00 / -1.75 x 5 OC R - 34 L - 31.5 Have the softlens prescription card but it is pretty much the same: R -1.00 / -0.75 x 180 L -1.00/ -1.25 x 170. I don't wear them overnight. I did start off with contacts as a kid, 1995. Then got glasses at uni at 1997. In the earlier years, I didn't have glasses developed a light brown coloured circle around my iris. I generally took the weekends off and didn't wear the contacts.	Nomad (952)
1241179	2011-11-01 08:38:00	Double	DeSade (984)
1241180	2011-11-01 08:40:00	Back to me now :) Original Script Right Lens Tailor Made Proclear XR Bc = 8.80 Dia = 14.4 Sph = -5.00 Cyl = -2.75 Axis = 10 Left Lens Biomedics 55 Evolution BC = 8.6 Dia = 14.2 D = -6.50 Trial Lens Right Lens Comflilcon Dk128 Toric BC = 8.7 Dia = 14.5 Sph = -5.00 Cyl = -2.25 Axis = 10 Left Lens Biofinity Aquaform BC = 8.6 Dia = 14.0 D = -6.50 So you see what I have and what I am testing. All I want is my prescription in a lens I can leave in for a month then throw away and put in a new pair, no more cleaning, or taking out or bullshit like that. The interesting thing is I think I have matched up my right lens with a monthly disposable which is closer than the trial lens I have been given.	DeSade (984)
1241181	2011-11-01 10:20:00	which numbers don't match? BC = base curve, this effects the fit and comfort. it needs to be right. Dia = Diameter, this can be off by a tiny bit. power or sphere = the strength of the lens, this should be with 0.1 Cyl or Cylinder = is the about of Astigmatism correction. most often the custom bit. Axis = is the angle of the Astigmatism correction. most often the custom bit brand of lens is also a big part of the prescription, this effects the material the lens is made of and the fit. the BC is also effected by the material, and so a different brand can require a different BC. the power and Cyl is effected by a change to the BC. so a new brand = a new material = new BC = new power and Cyl. this is why getting a correct fit and prescription can be hard. most importantly a wrong prescription in fitting/material can damage your eyes. I know a lass from England that used to get her contact lenses when she came out here because they were so much better but that was a good few years ago.	mikebartnz (21)
1241182	2011-11-01 17:52:00	All I know is this: These are specs - R -1.00 / -1.00 x 180 L -1.00 / -1.75 x 5 Have the softlens prescription card but it is pretty much the same: R -1.00 / -0.75 x 180 L -1.00/ -1.25 x 170. Note format and jargon for above data is: Sphere / Cylinder x Axis Almost any brand will have the powers to suit your right eye (provided they fit ok). However, the -1.75 cyl on the left eye is not so widely available (note how they substituted -1.25 instead). There may have been merit to them boosting the left sphere up one step to -1.25 to compensate for using the lowered cylinder. Also note the change in the axis, from 5 degrees to 170 degrees (5 degrees is the same as 185 degrees in regard to astigmatism). This would suggest either the lens was mislocating regularly by 10 to 20 degrees, or that there was a bit of a discrepancy with the measurements. Either way, it's supporting the earlier comment that the vision was unstable with these lenses. You won't find any brands offering 5 degrees on a -1.75 cyl, so there's always going to be a bit of a fudge-factor there. The big unknown is whether or not you need a tighter fitting lens. This can only be determined as safe with trial of the alternatives, and examination of the fit at the microscope (so 'chair-time' costs to you to try them out). If I were to take a stab at guessing a more appropriate power for the Soflens66 Toric I'd guess at trying L -1.00/-1.75 x 180 The -1.75 cylinder is indeed readily available for the Soflens66 Toric, so a bit odd that you were seemingly undercorrected.	Paul.Cov (425)
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