Joebecca wrote:

Hi!
My eye doctor suggested changing from Focus monthly lenses to Acuvue Oasys because of the many hours per day that I wear my lenses and my significant myopia (-11.5). I looked into changing, but my previous base curve of 8.6 doesn`t appear in the options for the Acuvue lenses (they carry only 8.4 and 8.8). I hesitate to go back to the doctor’s office because since moving to Quebec, I`ve been argued with twice for buying contact lenses on the internet (as I`ve done for the past 8 years at least!) Can you help me know what`s best?

Thanks very much,

ANSWER

Dear Joebecca,

It is not a good idea to look for contact lenses, a medical device that can impact your ocular health, sometimes for life, without professional advice and follow-up. There are so many published cases of patients that had a corneal ulcer following a misuse of their contact lenses, bought through internet. Some even after a single use of their lenses. Even if you try to save a few bucks per year by skipping the professional fees related to contact lens prescription and delivery, I think that your eyes worth more than that! Would you buy medication through the internet without consulting a doctor? The answer is obviously no.

When an optometrist prescribes a contact lens, after a proper trial, he takes the full professional responsability. He selects the most appropriate materials to keep a good ocular health in a long term basis. This is why your doctor is right to recommend you an upgrade from Focus to Oasys. It is like coming from a regular rabbit-ear TV to a HD plasma one. These lenses are up-to-date in technology and offer the best protection against UV rays in the market. I recommend strongly this type of contact lens for a regular wearer.

As you saw, there are 2 base curves available in this material. That means that the lens has to be fitted on your eye to alleviate any mechanical problem in the future. This is why I strongly recommend that you see your optometrist again to finalize his prescription.

Ask about the year-supply offered in offices and the manufacturer’s rebate offers that comes with this annual supply. Also ask to have your lenses delivered to your home by Purolator, free of charge, if your optometrist asks the company to do so. In the end, you will pay probably the same amount as with internet but you will have the big plus of being fitted and followed by a competent eye care practitionner. This has no price.

Good luck,
Dr. Langis Michaud, Associate Professor,  U de Montréal