Chalmers Independent Opticians Lens Guide To view our complete price range click on our logo  
                                                   
 
Click on our logo for a Quick Reference Guide to lens type to suit you
       
Which Contact Lenses are best?                        
    1-DAY ACUVUE®
  1-DAY ACUVUE® COLOURS(TM)
  1-DAY ACUVUE® ADVANCE(TM)
  ACUVUE® 2
  ACUVUE® 2 COLOURS(TM)
    ACUVUE® TORIC
  ACUVUE® BIFOCAL
  ACUVUE®
 
 
How long is a piece of string ?
The question that we will always try to answer and fulfil is "Which type of contact lens is most suitable for me?"
Contact lenses create a new outlook on life, without the restrictions to field of vision or the problems of misting and lack of freedom for sports use The modern way of correcting your eyesight. Now with the many different types of lenses available there should be a lens to fit your eye. They are now healthier and more comfortable on the eye than ever, and best of all, no one need ever realise that you are wearing them.
   
                                                     
   

The two main types of contact lenses are

RIGID GAS PERMEABLE and SOFT.

         
         
                         
Rigid Gas Permeable lenses have evolved over the years from the original hard perspex lenses. They are made from materials which are more permeable to air than hard and most soft lenses. This means that more oxygen can pass through the lens which is a vital requirement for the health of the eye. They are similar in appearance to hard lenses in that generally they are quite small. Their rigid characteristics mean that they are not initially as comfortable or easy to adapt to as soft lenses. They combine excellent vision, good durability and ease of use.
           
               
                                                   
Soft lenses are the most popular type of lens in the UK. They are conventionally made of special polymers which have an affinity for liquid. Generally it is their water content which gives them their softness. Water content can range from 38% to 75% depending on the type of lens. (Read about Silicon Hydrogel lenses to find out the very latest development in soft lens material.) Many soft lenses are now used on a frequent replacement or disposable basis. Modern contact lens care solutions have made looking after soft lenses very easy. Developments in soft lenses mean that astigmatism can now be corrected in most cases and lenses are available to completely change the colour of even the darkest eyes.
                                         
                 

Disposable soft contact lenses
At Chalmers Independent Opticians we provide several options when it comes to disposable soft contact lenses. We have monthly replacement options, fortnightly replacement options, weekly replacement options and for the ultimate in disposability daily disposable contact lenses. There is even an option of monthly extended wear, lenses which are kept in overnight and replaced on a monthly basis.

The most recent development of lenses is with the new material of Silicone Hydrogel which allows enormously more oxygen through to the eye and cornea. This enables the lens to be worn on an extended wear (occasional overnight) or continuous wear basis. The material also has the benefit of being a much lower water content and hence reduces the process of the lens to dry – so can be used as a ‘dry eye’ solution for daily wear also. The most recent of these is ACUVUE OASYS which is replaced either weekly or two weekly and has the added comfort of HYDROCLEAR PLUS which re-wets the lens on a continual basis and is the flagship of lenses in an ULTRA COMFORT SERIES. Other SILICONE HYRDOGEL are replaced on a monthly basis.

Being an independent practice we are able to supply many different makes of lenses. If you have previously been unsuccessful with lens wear, even with monthly disposables, a different brand of lens may prove to be suitable for you, and we are happy for you to try various alternatives.


We fit and supply all kinds of different manufacturers lenses. To view the range of lenses, please refer to our Contact Lens Order page.

We believe that the correct contact lens type for anyone can only be determined by seeking full professional advice. A simple enquiry can be the first step - please telephone or email us for any further information or to arrange an appointment.

         
       
Monthly Disposable contact Lenses

Monthly disposable soft contact lenses are a mid to high water content soft lens which are worn on a daily basis, cleaned and disinfected over night and then replaced at the end of a month. This ensures that the lenses you are wearing are always in excellent condition, giving optimum vision and comfort and reducing the risk of irritation and infection.

Monthly payments spread the cost without the unexpected expense of having to replace damaged or lost lenses. Payments can be made by monthly direct debit and all the benefits of eyeplan© are included too. Prices start from as little as £7.00 a month for lens supply or £12.50 to include solutions as well.

            Daily Disposable Soft Contact Lenses

The ultimate in disposability is the daily disposable contact lens. These lenses are worn just for one day and then thrown away. No solutions and no hassle! They are now available to a greater range of prescriptions than when they were first launched and are suitable for many people. They are ideal for the occasional lens wearer or for the regular wearer with a busy lifestyle.

The two main brands we supply are the 1-DAY® ACUVUE DISPOSABLE and ACUVUE MOIST contact lens from johnson & johnson® . and Cibavision's DAILIES®. Thanks to a new manufacturing process called Lightstream Technology, DAILIES® lenses not only provide high quality and exceptional comfort but are surprisingly affordable. DAILIES® contact lenses have a unique ultra-thin edge for extraordinary comfort.
Call to arrange a free trial of daily disposable contact lenses.

                 
                                                     
Chalmers Eyecare contact lens professionals

Daily disposable lenses can be ordered on line and then delivered to your door. They are supplied in lots of thirty pairs and are now priced from £20 depending on quantity ordered. (eg. 90 pairs = £60)


People are using Daily Disposable lenses for both everyday and occasional use. They are great just to keep a few pairs in your sports bag to wear for that big match, or in your make-up bag for that night out. Everyday wearers just love saving the time involved in looking after other types of lens and the reassurance of knowing that each day they are wearing a brand new lens.

                 
                 
Ian Chalmers Ben Cope Steve Ryan
             
       

Ian Chalmers

Comments on Extended Wear montly Disosable Soft Contact Lenses

Years of research has culminated in the launch of radical new soft contact lens materials which transmit more oxygen than any other soft lens and most rigid gas permeable lenses.
These new soft lenses transmit sufficient oxygen to facilitate extended wear of up to thirty days; they can be put in to the eye on the first day of the month and worn right through to the last day without removing them in between.

This new type of material, known as Silicon Hydrogel has also been shown to be extremely resistant to protein and other deposits, which makes them much safer and more hygienic than previous extended wear lenses. And because these lenses are much less dependent on their water content for their softness they are much less prone to drying out overnight during sleep. These lenses are available for you to try now and in a wide range of prescriptions. Please contact us for further information or to arrange a trial.

       
               
                                                 
 

Ben Cope has great news for those of you with astigmatism

If you have astigmatism you may have been told in the past that you can't wear soft contact lenses.

Have I got news for you?
Toric lenses are lenses that are designed to correct astigmatism. They can be hard or soft lenses, disposable or conventionally replaced; the options are there for you to try. This type of lens has a correction for the astigmatism "built-in" to the lens-in much the same way as your spectacles have, with the difference that the lens must be stabilised in some way to stop it rotating on the eye. Manufacturers now use many different methods to stabilise lenses and there are many different types of lens to try to ensure a successful fit.

Soft lenses for astigmatism are now available for the first time in a daily disposable lens. Focus Dailies Torics offer the same great comfort and "hassle-free" wearing that Focus Dailies do. So if you have astigmatism and need a toric lens there are even more options open to you. A trial is easy to arrange, just give us a call to see if you are suitable and if so we will arrange an appointment.


Monthly disposable toric soft lenses have all the advantages of standard monthly disposable lenses and its easy to try them. You will need an up to date spectacle prescription and a preliminary examination to ensure that you are suitable to wear lenses and then we will supply a free trial pair for you to try. Careful monitoring and assessment will be needed after a week or so to check the suitability of the lenses and minor adjustments may be needed, but that is all part of the trial. And once you decide to go ahead with lenses the cost is spread by means of the monthly direct debit.


If your prescription is such that disposable lenses are not available in the correct power we can still supply more conventional type soft toric lenses. The initial cost of these may be a little more expensive but they are available to correct almost any power prescription.
Don't be put off by misconceptions that you are not suitable for contact lenses enquire now about the various options available to you

Being an independent practice we are able to supply many different makes of lenses. If you have previously been unsuccessful with lens wear, a different brand of lens may prove to be suitable for you, and we are happy for you to try various alternatives.

 

               
                                                     
             
Steve Ryan Gives you the lowdown on the latest soft contact breakthrough Bifocal soft contact lenses          

Yes! Bifocal soft contact lenses. In fact bifocal contact lenses have been around for many years, but now with the latest breakthrough of disposable bifocal contact lenses they have never been easier.

Bifocal or multifocal contact lenses give the benefit of clear distance and near vision without the need for additional reading glasses. They are suitable for existing contact lens wearers who, as they get older, find that near vision becomes more difficult with their contact lenses alone, and for people who have never needed correction before and find that they need reading glasses for the first time.

As we get older most people begin to find that reading is not so easy, particularly small print or in poor light. This natural ageing process is called PRESBYOPIA. It is normally corrected by reading glasses or multifocal or bifocal glasses, BUT NOW contact lenses are an option.

One big advantage of disposable bifocal soft contact lenses is that it is easy to arrange a trial and discover the benefits they offer. As an independent practice we are able to offer you trials in various manufacturers lenses, we are not restricted to our own brand, or one specific make. Currently we are able to offer trials in fortnightly disposable ACUVUE© bifocal contact lenses, monthly disposable RYTHMIC VARIATIONS© multifocal contact lenses and both monthly and daily disposable FOCUS© Progressive multifocal contact lens.

Monthly payments spread the cost without the unexpected expense of having to replace damaged or lost lenses. Payments can be made by monthly direct debit and all the benefits of eyeplan© are included too.

Being an independent practice we are able to supply many different makes of lenses. If you have previously been unsuccessful with lens wear, even with monthly disposables, a different brand of lens may prove to be suitable for you, and we are happy for you to try various alternatives.

       
                 
Coloured Contact Lenses

Be bold. Be confident. Transform your eyes time and time again. Blue or green one evening. Hazel, violet, or sapphire the next.

Coloured contact lenses are now available in many different colours and lens wear options. Whether you want a subtle or dramatic change. Whether you need prescription lenses or not. Whether your natural eye colour is pale or dark there is sure to be a lens for you.

Freshlook Colors monthly disposable lenses have been created to enable you to change your eye colour as often as you like, at a very modest cost. They can transform even the darkest eyes and are available in green, hazel, blue, violet and sapphire blue. The additional range of Color Blend lenses offers green, blue, brown and misty grey lenses in a more subtle enhancing style.

 

       
       
         
       
       
                 
                                     

Both Freshlook and Color Blends are a monthly disposable soft lens available to prescription or without. Just like clear soft contact lenses they are easy and comfortable to wear. They can be used to supplement your normal lens wearing or as your main type of lens. Your may purchase them on an occasional basis or choose to have a regular supply and cover the cost through our direct debit scheme.

Now Freshlook Fusion....a pack of three pairs of coloured contact lenses in your choice of colours for £49.00.
ACUVUE 2 COLOURS.....Acuvue disposable lenses are now available in a range of 7 colours.
ACUVUE 1 DAY….. Coloured Daily Disposables. In packs of 10

A wider range of colours is available in the Durasoft range of coloured contact lenses. These are a conventional soft lens which would be replaced annually and are available in a range of more than 30 colour variations.

For anyone wanting far more dramatic effects we also supply various patterned lenses such as the Chrome-X Crazy Lenses and Wild Eyes

Smiley faces, cats eyes, lizards eyes, and hypnotic eyes to name just a few of the patterns available...great for parties! It is even possible to obtain custom made lenses such as company logos as worn in films, TV commercials and by several athletes.
Being an independent practice we are able to supply many different makes of lenses. If you have previously been unsuccessful with lens wear, even with monthly disposables, a different brand of lens may prove to be suitable for you, and we are happy for you to try various alternatives.
***NEW***WILD EYES***NEW***
Now available in monthly disposable lens.

  Chalmers Independent Opticians                
  Contact Lens Replacement Scheme                
                                         
   


Although so many people now are wearing some type of disposable contact lenses, for rigid gas permeable lens wearers or conventional soft lens wearers we operate a low cost Contact Lens Replacement Scheme. For an annual fee you are entitled to replacement contact lenses at a reduced cost whenever required along with numerous other benefits.

Our CONTACT LENS REPLACEMENT SCHEME provides

No limit to replacement lenses at reduced prices.
All aftercare appointments free.
10% discount off contact lens care solutions.
10% off complete spectacles or sunglasses.
Free autoclaving (sterilisation) of lenses.
Free trial of daily or monthly disposable lenses.
Reduced re-fit charges (if change of type of contact lens is required).

       
             
           
         
           
                                                 
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Chalmers Independent Opticians: 34 Albany Road Cardiff CF24 3RQ Telephone 02920 487375 Facsimile 02920 453969 e-mail mail@chalmersopticians.co.uk