We recommend to order in the same currency as the bank account used, since otherwise the bank may take commission on exchanging the currency for you. To change currency at Vision Direct, you can scroll to the very bottom of the home page and click the flag for Dollars (USD) or Sterling (GBP). For Euro (EUR), you can better go to our Irish website.
Particularly Small Ray-Ban sunglasses are returned because people have no idea of the size. When checking out Ray-Ban sunglasses online, it can be tricky to know what size or model will fit you. Buying them from Vision Direct means you get free track and trace shipping and you can return sunglasses free of charge in case they do not fit. We do, however, have some advice prior to buying them:
The main difference between a contact lens prescription and a glasses prescription is contact lenses have BC (base curve) and DIA (diameter) included, while spectacles do not. So, you got a prescription for spectacles (SPH/CYL/AXIS). Can you order contact lenses?
If ever in doubt of what lenses to wear, consult with your optician. To get help interpreting your prescription, ask us before ordering contact lenses online.
Ever wanted to know how long a pack of contact lens solution will last, before you go ahead and buy it? First, find out:
A while ago, a customer was trying to describe our mascot Tikki with something in line with “That…creature, or what it is”. In fact, Tikki is a tarsier. In this blog post, you will learn more about tarsiers and how Tikki the tarsier ended up being a mascot for Visiondirect.co.uk.
Tarsiers are an endangered species that today are found exclusively in Southeast Asia. The tarsier, which is a type of monkey, has a head and body which together makes 10-15 cm with additional limbs about twice that and a tail 20-25 cm long. The tarsier is a carnivore primate that primarily eats insects, but also the occasional bird, snake, lizard or bat.
Originally, we used the Tikki for an advert on the London underground because it was attention grabbing, the large eyes also play along with theme of an eye related service and the surprised look was a good expression for our astonishingly low prices. Tikki was originally intended for use only on the advert, but because of its’ success, it increasingly became part of the brand image. Tarsiers are sweet creatures, but also endangered. 
Some efforts are done to preserve tarsiers in the wild, for example the Linan and Tupi project. The project is located in The Phillipines and involves ESI, where also rain forest and local culture is part of the preserving efforts. To support tarsiers and help to ensure they stick in there, you can donate to ESI here, or adopt a tarsier at WWF.
At VisionDirect.co.uk you will see more of Tikki, in fact soon we hope to have a Tikki page dedicated to comparing prices per lens across our categories of contact lenses. Often customers ask what the cheapest daily disposable is (Aura by the way…) or monthly coloured lens (ColorMaker for those interested). We think Tikki can be more than just our mascot and help you with, for example, price comparisons!
Want some help with remembering when to replace your contact lenses? Easily enter your lens type, current supply of lenses, and date when you first started wearing your lenses. Lenswear reminder will then when it is time to replace your lenses, based on your preference, send a notification to your Facebook account or email address.
Have you heard of the name “Easyvision” before? This is a contact lens in disguise. Highstreet opticians sometimes relabel lenses, for their convenience but at your expense. To create an entirely new packaging does not come for free, so why pay for the overheads when you can actually buy the same lens cheaper in its original packaging online?
How to find your original contact lenses
Why do opticians rebrand contact lenses?
Highstreet opticians such as Specsavers, Boots, Dollond & Aitchison and Vision express are commonly taking the original contact lenses, putting them into their own packaging. This is confusing for you as a customer, but clever by the optician as their product appears unique despite the content being identical. They can then charge more, which does not benefit you as a customer. Vision Direct sells original branded lenses and can therefore offer lower prices.
We noticed the most popular search terms in combination with sunglasses and based on this, we created a list of A-Z with our comments included.
Sunglasses At night
We are hoping that you are referring to a song and not seriously considering sleeping with your sunglasses on? We realize you are probably fond of them, but we think sunglasses are best used in sunlight.
Sunglasses Brands
Looking for branded sunglasses? Luxurious sunglasses are easy to find online to excellent prices (at Vision Direct, you even get a nice discount if you buy designer sunglasses with your contact lenses).
Sunglasses Case
To store sunglasses is important for durability and avoiding scratches and although most branded sunglasses will come with a case included, an extra case could be useful. Get a stylish wooden case with silver print for your sunglasses, or a black and slick case.
Sunglasses Designer
For the fashionable sunglasses wearer, check out the latest Ray-Bans, Versace, Oakley, Police, Dolce&Gabbana, Head.
Sunglasses Emoticon
Sunglasses For round faces
To match your head shape with sunglasses can be tricky. For round faces, we recommend:
Sunglasses Guide
Check our posts on sunglasses for some more info on designer sunglasses, fishing sunglasses, sunglasses for skiing or polarized lenses.
Sunglasses Hard case
The case we recommended already is a hard case but also fold-able which means it is really easy to bring along when travelling with your sunglasses.
Sunglasses Insurance
Do you plan to stomp on your designer sunglasses? We hope not. Getting an insurance for a mobile phone is one thing, for sunglasses quite another. If you save money when buying sunglasses, perhaps you can afford being without the insurance altogether?
Sunglasses Jokes
I don’t think cops should wear mirrored sunglasses. The whole time the guy was chewing me out, all I could think was ‘I should cut my bangs. / Bonnie McFarlane
Sunglasses Kids
Get sunglasses for children in size small for smaller heads.
Sunglasses Lenses
Are you wondering whether you can wear contact lenses underneath your sunglasses? You can, but preferably do not get too hot as they might dry up. For reading, a better option may be stick-on lenses or a pair of ready readers to complement.
Sunglasses Meme
We suspect you are thinking of getting a pair of cheap sunglasses that are not branded therefore slightly cheaper than branded sunglasses.
Sunglasses Next day delivery
Can you get next delivery with your sunglasses? Yes, just have a look on the shipping options for your destination. Be sure to check stock levels prior to purchase.
Sunglasses Online
Buy sunglasses online by clicking here.
Sunglasses Prescription
To get prescription sunglasses is something many of you are looking for, it seems. The risk of getting these is that you spend a lot of money on a pair of pricey branded sunglasses and your prescription changes. A better alternative may be to use contact lenses with your designer sunglasses.
Sunglasses Quotes
Are you looking for a good deal or discount on your sunglasses by any chance? Simply buy some contact lenses with your designer sunglasses and you get £10 off.
Sunglasses Repair
If you skipped that insurance on sunglasses, a toolkit may come handy.
Sunglasses Shop
There are plenty of shops for sunglasses, but how do you know if they are genuine and which one to choose? Vision Direct has been one of the first companies supplying contact lenses in the UK 1998 and has ever since offered eye wear. Therefore you can be sure to only receive authentic products at competitive prices at Vision Direct. For any questions, you can easily contact our live chat (and yes, we are real people at the other end).
Sunglasses To suit face shape
In general, you want to achieve balance. If you have a round face, go for sharper edges. If you have a sharp face, go for smoother and rounder edges. Models are available in small, medium or large to make it easier to get glasses that fits.
Sunglasses UV rating
Poor UV protection may actually do more harm than good, as your pupils will dilate but sunlight still comes through. Be sure to only purchase sunglasses with proper UV filtering to care for your eyes.
Sunglasses Vector
Webdesigners looking for product images perhaps?
Sunglasses Wholesale
For wholesale requests, feel free to send an email to info[at]visiondirect.co.uk with your request and we will come back to you.
Sunglasses X ray
Some people playing laser games or just looking for some fun can find sunglasses enabling them to see infrared light. Pretty cool, we think!
Sunglasses Yeah
Searching for this term, the first video popping up is a Youtube clip from CSI. In Florida you get some sun, so granted you need cool sunglasses too.
This post is dedicated to the beginner on toric contact lenses or for you who just want to learn more about:
What are toric lenses? Toric lenses correct astigmatism which is a refractive visual defect. Astigmatism occurs due to a defective shape of the lens inside the eye, or more usual is a de-shaped cornea. Instead of a circular shape it assumes an oval shape which causes the light to break incorrectly on the retina.
How do I know if I need toric lenses? Are there toric lenses for children, or dry eyes? Both children and adults must obtain a prescription and fit of their lenses to know what kind of size and material that is required for the lens. This is also the case for dry eyes. Identify a prescription for astigmatism by finding the base curve (BC), axis (AXIS), cylinder (CYL), diameter (DIA) on your paperwork from the optician (along with other information). Often the name of the toric lens is mentioned in the paperwork, but this is not always the case. Therefore, if you have been supplied with trial lenses, always check the package rather than the paperwork. In a prescription for spectacles, base curve and diameter will be missing, so be careful not to confuse the two different prescriptions! It is common to need correction for a very mild astigmatism for glasses, without needed it at all for contact lenses. It is less common to need astigmatism correction for both glasses and contact lenses.
Is toric lenses bad for your eyes and are there toric silicone hydrogel lenses? There are several toric silicone lenses that also are commonly fitted as continuous wear or extended wear. Biofinity Toric (also called Eye Q, made of the material comfilcon) are popular around the clock toric lenses, produced by CooperVision. Another well-established toric 24 hour lens is PureVision Toric from Bausch & Lomb, which can be used either as a toric monthly lens, or recommended as extended wear lenses for night and day use, up to a month. There are discussions about continuous wear and the potential effects. In United Kingdom, it is quite common to use lenses for up to 30 days without removing them for cleaning, while in other countries such as France, the lenses are prohibited because according to the French, there are no scientifically strong studies that clearly proves that extended wear lenses are harmless. As always, be sure to consult with your optician for individual suitability before using a lens, this also goes for wearing schedules.
What are different toric lens types and are some better than others? There is no super lens that is “best in test” and fits all, but some manufacturers have chosen to historically invest in the production of toric lenses and are worth keeping an eye on. CooperVision manufactures a number of other contact lenses, but is particularly specialized in toric corrective lenses for astigmatism. For example they early produced a unique toric monthly lens called Proclear Toric that later also came in an XR version (extended range) that have higher cylinders than most other lenses (up to -5.75), which is invaluable for those with severe visual defects. Historically, CooperVision Biomedics Toric have also been widely used. For toric daily disposable contact lenses, the current situation only offers a selection for correction of mild astigmatism. Johnson & Johnson released the latest addition, 1 Day Acuvue moist for astigmatism where the maximum cylinder is -2.25. Ciba Vision produces Focus Dailies Toric which is a very popular daily toric lens is also available in larger packaging which is handy if you plan to buy torics in bulk.
What about the durability of toric lenses? Expiry date should always be marked on the packaging of toric lenses and on the lens container / blister. A rule of thumb is, the lower the water content, the sturdier and easier to handle the lens. Often, however, this will compromise comfort. More water in a lens presents a fragile lens that is more comfortable, but also thinner and more difficult to handle thus therefore breaks and tears more easily. For toric lenses with high water content, a lens inserter or applicator/remover can simplify handling. Durability of a lens is important, but more important is to get toric lenses fit properly by an optician, because individual needs means that comfort and suitability for a type of lens can vary greatly from one person to another.
How to care for and clean toric lenses? Can I put toric lenses in water? Proper cleaning and caring for toric lenses is important to ensure durability of the lens and avoid nasty eye infections. Tap water contains bacteria that can cause eye infections (avoid fruit juice as well, for that matter), so instead only use fluids designed for eyes when you clean your lenses. If you do not take care of your contact lenses properly or do not bother to consult your optometrist for a fitting, you may experience discomfort, the lenses can break easily or you get dry eyes.
Can I bring my toric lenses in the hand luggage when travelling? If you are traveling, you can bring toric lenses, but since the packaging contains liquid it is recommended to put the lenses in a transparent plastic bag within the EU, where no more than 100 ml of liquid is allowed to bring along. Always read instructions before you travel as the rules and laws can change. You may as well buy a travel-friendly flight pack contact lens solution.
Where can I find toric lenses with fast delivery at discount prices and can you buy toric contact lenses for only one eye? There are no lenses designed for only the left eye or right eye. A lens is a piece of plastic with prescription inside. In essence, you can buy two (or more) packages for “two eyes” but choose the same strength on both and just use all the lenses in your left eye, for example. You can find toric lenses at excellent prices online with fast delivery at Visiondirect.co.uk. If you have any questions regarding prices or toric lenses, please feel free to contact us.
So you’ve decided to make the jump from glasses to contact lenses. A brave move, some might say. But what’s this? There’s a strange feeling in the pit of your stomach: it gnaws, it nags, it twists, and it turns. Is it that kimchi side order from last night? No – it’s the Fear. But be still, gentle reader, for those of you who are new to the world of contact lenses, online advice is at hand.
The key to inserting contact lenses is to be gentle. Oh, and relax. They’re your eyes, after all, and you don’t want to give yourself a poke in one of them. Putting on contact lenses for the first time is very different from putting on a pair of glasses, and your first, probably uncontrollable, reaction is most likely to recoil as your lens gets closer to your eye. So, relax. Take your time with it.
First up, get yourself a mirror. One of those magnifying ones you get in hotels or other people’s houses would be great, but if you don’t have one it’s not a big problem. A nice, clean surface over which to do battle is also recommended. Once those contact lenses are opened up, balance one on your index finger, with the edges facing up. Keeping it balanced there is the easy part, as the hard part is holding your eyelid open. Well, it seems hard at first, but after a few days of practice, you’ll find it all as easy as buying contact lenses online.
So, you’ve got the lens balanced on one index finger, and now using your other hand, hold your upper eye lid and lashes up against your brow. You’ll need to keep them out of the way of the lens, as nothing is worse than getting it all dirty and covered in lashes. Use your middle finger to hold your lower lid out of the way, and move your chin against your chest. Stay looking at the mirror – to see what you’re doing, rather than how odd you look – and have a glance up, so you expose the white of your eye. This is the key moment, so gently place your contact on your eye. Anywhere on your eye will do, and there are no points for accuracy. Try not to force the lens on, and fight the urge to close your eye as you bring the lens into contact with it. Once it’s on your eye, you can slide it over the cornea (the coloured part, to you and me), and bada boom, bada bing, as they say in New Jersey, you’ve inserted your very first contact lens!
