How to get contact lenses

Contact lenses have been growing in popularity over the years as an alternative to glasses. They can give you a more natural look and many people opt for them over glasses for playing sports and attending events where glasses may otherwise be less convenient.

Read on to learn more about how to get contact lenses from your optician and online.

Do you need a contact lens prescription?

You will need to get a new prescription for contact lenses and the prescription you get for contacts will be different to your usual glasses prescription. It’s important that you go to your local Leightons branch for a contact lens assessment.

What happens in a contact lens assessment?

Contact lenses not only give freedom from spectacles, they can be more convenient and practical for sports and activities. A contact lens assessment is an appointment we offer specifically to help understand your prescription, how your contacts will fit, and also answer any questions you may have about contact lenses.

  • Eye test – You’ll need to have had an eye test within the last couple of years. If you’ve not had an eye test in the last 2 years, make sure you have one done before your contact lens assessment.
  • Understanding lenses – Our expert opticians will talk you through the types of contact lenses available and how they would suit your lifestyle and needs.
  • Eye check – You will also receive an eye check of the front surface of your eyes to make sure there’s no medical reason that may stop you from wearing contact lenses.
  • Fit, vision, and comfort check – Your optician will carry out a fit check of your chosen lenses to fit properly and that your vision is clear. They’ll also make sure you’re comfortable wearing the lenses and you’re confident in putting them in and removing them.
  • Answering questions – if you have any questions or concerns about your lenses, your optician will be able to help.

Getting contact lenses in store

Whether you’re new to lenses or a frequent wearer, making a visit to your local Leightons branch is the best way to buy your contact lenses. You can easily renew your prescription, order more lenses, and update your subscription if you have one.

An optician handing a box of contact lenses to a patient.

The process of getting contact lenses in store:

  • Eye test – Make sure you have had an eye test within the last 2 years before being assessed for contacts. If you got it done at another optician, just bring your contact lens prescription slip with you.
  • Contact lens assessment – Your optician will perform a contact lens assessment. They will discuss your lifestyle and eye health history, and inspect your eyes. They'll also assess your tear film to check if your eyes produce enough moisture for contact lenses.
  • Fitting – Your optician will also perform a contact lens fitting check to ensure the lenses fit well, your vision is clear, and they're comfortable. They'll also teach you how to apply and remove your lenses.
  • Trial lenses– If you’re new to contact lenses, or if you’re trying a new type of lenses, you'll be given trial lenses to wear for a few days.
  • Follow-up appointment – You’ll be scheduled in for a follow-up appointment after your trial for a final test to check your eye health and vision. Once complete, you can purchase your contact lenses.

Can I just walk in and buy contact lenses?

Once you have an up-to-date contact lens prescription, you can walk into any Leightons branch to buy your contact lenses directly from us. Just bring us your contact lens prescription and we can order them for you to be delivered. Alternatively, sign up for our Lens Ordering Hub and order online whenever you need fresh lenses.

Buying contact lenses online

A convenient way to get contact lenses is online. Getting your contact lenses online allows you to refill your prescription whenever you need as well as sign up for and easily manage subscriptions. It’s important to get your prescription contact lenses online through reputable sources such as opticians, specialised online retailers, or pharmacies to ensure you’re getting safe, sterile, and genuine products.

We recommend signing up for the Leightons Lens Ordering Hub – simply enter your prescription details and you can order lenses whenever you need.

Tips on buying contact lenses online:

  • Check your prescription – Make sure you have entered your contact lens prescription correctly into the correct fields.
  • Check the base curve and diameter – The base curve and diameter of your lenses determine how well they fit your eyes so it’s really important that you get these measurements correct. If they're wrong, your lenses may move around, sit too tightly, or fall out.
  • Stick to the same brand – Stick to the same brand of lenses that appears on your prescription to avoid any differences or discrepancies between brands.
  • Order early – Make sure you place your order before you run out of contacts so you’re not left without while you wait for your new order to arrive. Leightons can create your personalised contact lens plan with our Lens Ordering Hub so your lenses will arrive at the same time every month to avoid running out.

What kind of contact lenses can I get?

There are many different types of contact lenses. All with their own advantages and drawbacks.

Daily disposables

Daily disposable lenses are designed to be worn once and thrown away. They are made of soft, comfortable materials and are ideal to be worn daily or on special occasions when glasses are the less convenient option.

Monthly and bi-weekly lenses

These are reusable lenses that can be worn repeatedly. You put them in in the morning and remove them before you go to bed, cleaning and storing them ready to use the next day. They’re great for people who enjoy a routine and are happy with daily maintenance.

Toric lenses

Special contact lenses designed to help with astigmatism. They are shaped to maintain a specific orientation on the eye, ensuring consistent vision correction and can be either daily or monthly lenses depending on your needs.

Multifocal lenses

Designed for those with presbyopia. These contact lenses combine prescriptions within a single lens for near, intermediate, and distance vision.

Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses

RGP lenses are durable contact lenses which offer exceptionally clear, crisp vision and are particularly beneficial for complex prescriptions or irregular corneas.

A woman inserting a contact lens into her eye while looking into a mirror.

If you want to learn more about how to choose the right contact lenses that fit your lifestyle, check out our informational guide.

Follow-up and regular eye check-ups

Just like glasses, getting contact lenses isn’t a one-time event. Your eyes are continuously changing, so you’ll need to make sure you’re booking regular check-ups to ensure the lenses you have are still a good fit and that your vision hasn’t changed. Your optometrist will also check your eye health as well as discuss continued safe lens wearing with you. Any discomfort, redness, or vision changes need to be addressed immediately by your optometrist.

Ready to begin your contact lens journey?

Book your contact lens consultation today
Find a Leighton branch near you

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Are contact lenses and glasses prescriptions the same?
Are contact lenses and glasses prescriptions the same?
While both glasses and contact lenses do the same job in correcting your eyesight, there are some obvious differences in how each is worn. Glasses rest on the nose and are positioned away from the eyes, whereas contact lenses are in direct contact with your eyeball. These differences are the fundamental reasons why contact lenses and glasses prescriptions are absolutely not the same. In this article, we’ll explain why in more detail. Contact lens vs glasses prescription – what’s the difference? Quite simply, the lenses in your glasses will be very different to your contact lenses. That’s because each type of lens refracts light differently and therefore during an eye test, different measurements have to be made. The measurements from one eye test are not compatible with the other. So, is the prescription for contacts the same as glasses? The answer is NO because you need to have 2 separate eye tests, which will result in 2 different prescriptions. Contact lens prescription A contact lens prescription comprises a set of measurements relating to the curvature, size and power of the contact lens along with other relevant information. These measurements are carried out by an optometrist, also known as an ophthalmic optician. Glasses prescription An optometrist or ophthalmic optician is also responsible for carrying out the actual eye tests for glasses and lenses. The tests are to determine the strength of the lenses you require, along with other factors such as eye dominance, pupillary distance and axis number. All this information will be included in your glasses prescription. Learn how to read your glasses prescription How to read your contact lens prescription Have you ever wondered what all the abbreviations and letters on your contact lens prescription mean? Read on to find out. What does Base Curve (BC) mean? Base Curve (BC) refers to the specific curve with which a contact lens is made. Different corneal curves will need different base curve lenses, although with modern more flexible contact lens materials, there is some lea way in this. What does Diameter (DIA) mean? This measurement refers to the Diameter (DIA) of the contact lens itself and corresponds with the size of your cornea. It is the measurement from one edge of the lens to the other and is measured in millimetres. What does Power/Sphere (PWR/SPH) mean? The term Power (PWR) together with Sphere (SPH) refers to the strength of the lens. For long-sightedness this figure will show a plus sign (+) and for short-sightedness, it will begin with a minus sign (-). Other contact lens prescription figures People who have an eye defect such as astigmatism, will need to wear toric lenses and therefore will see additional words or abbreviations on their prescription. The same applies to people who might have presbyopia or short-sightedness, and have a prescription for varifocal or multifocal contact lenses. Other contact lens prescription figures are Prism, which refers to a lens or lenses that are designed to correct double vision. Also, Pupillary Distance (PD), which is a term that relates to the distance between the centre of your pupils. It is measured in millimetres and it is important that this measurement is accurate to ensure clear and comfortable vision. OD - Stands for Oculus Dexter, which means ‘right eye’ OS - Stands for Oculus Sinister, which means ‘left eye’ BAL - Stands for Balance, which means both eyes are prescribed the same lenses. DS - Stands for Dioptres Sphere, which means the eyes are spherical in shape. VA - Stands for Visual Acuity, which is a measurement of how clearly a person can see with corrective lenses. This measurement is expressed as a fraction. Your contact lens prescription might also include the brand or manufacturer’s name. What does Cylinder (CYL) mean? The term Cylinder (CYL) refers to an astigmatic prescription. if you have astigmatism then your eye will be more oval-shaped as opposed to globe-shaped. With this condition, you would need specially designed contact lenses called Toric lenses. What does Axis (AX) mean? Axis (AX) refers to the angle that the cylinder or astigmatic correction is placed in order to provide clear vision. This is a number, which is measured in degrees from 0 to 179. What does Addition (ADD) mean? The term Addition (ADD) refers to the amount of additional correction required to see clearly nearby and is given over and above the distance contact lens prescription. Multifocal contact lenses will have an ‘add’ in their prescription. An ‘add’ is generally only required when you develop presbyopia (an age related inflexibility of the intraocular lens, that typically starts between age 40and 45) What does Dominant mean? Most people have a Dominant eye which they unconsciously favour slightly, and a non-dominant eye. Certain contact lenses are best fitted taking this into account (generally multifocal contact lenses). Typically the dominant eye is fitted with the D lens (for better Distance vision) and the non-dominant eye is for better Near vision (this would be the N lens). Can you convert a glasses prescription to a contact lens prescription? No, it’s not possible to do this because the optics of the lenses are different. Likewise, you cannot convert a contact lens prescription to a glasses prescription. How to get a contact lens prescription If you would like to know how to get contact lenses then you will first need to make an appointment with your optician for a contact lens prescription. Your appointment with your optician will include an assessment and a contact lens eye test. This is a different eye test to the type you would need for glasses. After your initial assessment and test, you will then need to have a contact lens fitting. Your optician will demonstrate how to safely insert and remove your lenses and how to care for them. Finally, you will receive your free written contact lens prescription. You can buy your contact lenses from the optician that carried out your eye test or you can buy them from another optician or an online supplier. Contact lenses need to be reviewed more frequently You should be aware that your eyesight can change over time so it’s important you get your eyes retested at least every 2 years. If you notice any changes in your vision at any time before that period then contact your optician for a check-up. Book a contact lens consultation today.
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