Spectacles

[JoeK]

I've been diagnosed with KC for the last 10 years and have been wearing RGPs since then. I recently had an eye test for spectacles to allow me to rest my eyes from the lenses and still give me some sort of vision whilst reading or watching the TV.

I have been given a prescription. My question is - as a keratoconus sufferer, can the cost of the spectacles be subsidised by the NHS as is the case for RGPs? if so what is the procedure?

Thanks

[John Smith]

Hi Joe,

Yes and no! We can't get a subsidy "because we have KC", but if your KC is bad enough, your optician may declare that your prescription is "complex".

It's having a complex prescription that triggers the NHS voucher, and your optican should deal with that for you. The voucher isn't worth much though; ISTR it's about £15 for a pair of specs!

Still, every little helps.

[Barney]

Don't know anything about them but could someone like this make up your perscription? http://www.spex4less.com/

[Andrew MacLean]

given that most KC people have quite complex prescriptions, I'd tend to use a lab in which I had confidence.

Andrew

[Barney]

Presumably they'd say if they couldn't meet the prescription and given that he only wants them to "give me some sort of vision whilst reading or watching the TV" I'd assume they don't have to meet the very highest standards.

I've tried reading glasses that cost a couple of hundred and others for two quid from a chemist and can honestly say I couldn't tell the difference. When 'Which' tested cheapo reading specs from chemists they actually found some performed better than some bought from high street opticians. Could be very different with prescription glasses but if they are seriously cheap might be worth a punt.

They're only lenses that sit on your nose so the worst that can happen is that they won't be able to supply the prescription or they perform marginally less well. I'd guess the biggest variable is the accuracy of the prescription.

[Louise]

I've just had to fork out £300 for a new pair of glasses to make things worse I wasn't allowed the rimless kind as one lens is significantly thicker than the other.

I shouldn't complain though, at least I don't have to pay for eye tests anymore

[John Smith]

At the higher powers of lens needed by many of us with KC, the fitting of the lens becomes much more important.

A couple of milimetres lateral difference between the optical centre of the spectacle lens and the optical centre of your pupil could lose quite a lot of vision.

That's why high street dispensing opticians are so highly trained, and they make measurements of your face.

Personally, I wouldn't use a web site for that sort of thing (and trust me, I use web sites for pretty much EVERYTHING! )

[jayuk]

Im with John on this!..I also use the web for mearly everything in terms of goods etc....but glasses and lenses are something that needs to be provided by a pro who can see you...

What I had to do post graft was to get refracted by Optician, then run along to Vision Express and have them make the lens in the hour.......but that was because without the Specs I had distored vision in the grafted eye.........and my optician was understanding in that it if I had them do it, the glasses would have taken a week to get back to me....

Jay

[JoeK]

Thanks for all the feedback. Just got a call from the Opticains with the price of lenses - They have two types of lenses the lighter ones at £327 and heavier ones at £170. This does not include the cost of the frames. Just wondering whether its worth spending the money or just carry on plodding along as i have been doing.

[jayuk]

JoeK

That does seem excessive!!...can I ask if this is a high street or a standalone store?