Woman holding a contact lens

Contact lenses

This specialist service is for patients who need contact lenses for medical reasons.

Our contact lens service treat patients whose vision cannot be improved with spectacles, but can be improved with contact lenses.

We can prescribe and fit contact lenses for a range of medical eye conditions, such as keratoconus, corneal distortion, or scarred or white corneas. 

We also treat patients with very high prescriptions ( e.g. over +/-15D), or to relieve pain or aid cosmesis if your eye has become unsightly following damage from, for example, infection or trauma. 

We cannot fit lenses if normal vision can be obtained with spectacles. 

The referral process

To be seen in the clinic you must be referred by your optometrist, your GP, or by an ophthalmologist at Moorfields or another hospital.

Your referral is then reviewed by the head of the contact lens service to ensure there is a medical need for contact lenses, following which an appointment is sent to you.

A general contact lens clinic runs every weekday, and specialist clinics for scleral lenses and children's contact lenses run on different days of the week. 

You will be assessed in the clinic to ensure you are suitable for lenses. A lens type will be selected depending on your medical need. As the lenses are often complex designs, and are therefore usually specially made, your contact lenses will be issued at your second appointment.

You will also receive instruction on handling and caring for your lenses at this appointment.

Your first appointment

At your first appointment in the contact lens service, you will be seen by one of our optometrists who will discuss your needs for contact lenses and examine your eyes. We may measure your spectacle prescription and in most cases we try some contact lenses in your eyes to assess the lens shape you will need.

The lenses are made to order, so you will not leave with a lens on the day. Once the lenses have arrived, you will booked for a further appointment to check the fit and vision, and be shown how to insert, remove, and care for the lenses. After this, you are able to go home with your new contact lenses and we will monitor you regularly. 

Discharge policy

As per Moorfields Eye Hospital Trust guidelines, if you do not attend your first appointment without cancelling you will be discharged from the service. If you do not attend two subsequent appointments at any time, this will also result in you being discharged. 

Contact lens collection

Contact lenses should be collected from the Optometry/ Refraction desk on the ground floor of City Road. 

Information about changes to the manufacture of some contact lenses:

No 7 

No 7 are discontinuing hand painted cosmetic lenses at the end of April 2024. If you are currently wearing one of these lenses, we will need to refit you with an alternative lens at your next appointment. If your lens becomes damaged or lost in the meantime, we will not be able to send out a replacement lens, and will instead need to book you into the clinic to refit you with a different lens. You do not need to worry about contacting the department, we will be writing to all patients affected by the change.

Contact us

Contact lens service

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
162 City Road
London
EC1V 2PD
Call contact lens orders: 0207 566 2100 Email: Moorfields contact lenses

Frequently asked questions

Concerns

What do I do in an emergency?

In an emergency, for example if your eye suddenly becomes red, painful or your vision suddenly becomes worse:

  • You should attend your local ophthalmic casualty service or GP
  • The A&E department at Moorfields will see casualties and, if necessary, will arrange an appropriate referral

It is important to let the staff know if you are wearing an extended wear lens (e.g. regular overnight wear) or a bandage (therapeutic) contact lens.

When visiting A&E:

  • First, you will be assessed by an experienced ophthalmic-trained nurse at the reception
  • The nurse will determine who needs urgent attention. Please note, only patients with an ocular emergency will be seen by the medical staff in A&E

Please note that A&E does not provide contact lenses or contact lens solutions

Payments and prescriptions

How much do I have to pay for contact lenses?

Statutory NHS patient charges or exemptions arrangements apply and these charges are updated annually on 1 April each year. The current prices are available from the contact lens clinic.

  • The payment is for one standard replacement contact lens (or where appropriate, six months supply of daily or monthly disposable lenses)
  • If lenses are to be posted, there is a charge for all patients.

The same charges apply for replacement lenses or if a lens breaks outside the three-month manufacturer’s warranty period (this does not affect your statutory rights).

Please note that lenses will not be ordered until payment or proof of exemption has been seen.

 

Who is exempt from payment for contact lenses?
  • Patients who have proof of a qualifying benefit (our cashiers department can advise)
  • Patients requiring a lens as a "bandage" or “prosthesis”
  • Children under 16, or 16 to 19 years and in full-time education
  • Patients not in receipt of an eligible benefit can apply to the NHS Business Services Authority for a contribution to the cost of their lenses using an HC1 form, which can be obtained directly from the authority (0300 3301 343) or from Moorfields’ cashiers office on the ground floor at the City Road hospital
  • Patients who need their contact lenses to be changed for clinical reasons within a specific time of payment

Someone who is exempt from standard charges, but repeatedly breaks or loses lenses will be charged for replacements (this does not affect your statutory rights).

To avoid the problems of contact lens loss, we advise that you keep a spare.

 

How much do spare lenses cost?

Costs can be obtained from the clinic and are reviewed annually. Please note that there is no exemption from payment for spares.

 

Can my GP prescribe solutions?

No – your GP can prescribe eye medication, but is prohibited from prescribing contact lens solutions.

 

Appointments

How do I get an initial appointment?

We must receive a referral letter, either from your GP, an ophthalmologist at Moorfields or another hospital.

 

Should I wear my contact lenses to the appointment?

Yes, if you can tolerate your lenses, we would like to assess the affect of the lenses on your eyes.

 

What happens if I do not keep my appointments?

Please advise our appointment clerks in advance if you know that you cannot keep an appointment so that an alternative date can be arranged (020 7566 2475).

Patients will be discharged if they fail to attend two consecutive contact lens clinic appointments or if they are not seen for more than 15 months.

 

What happens if I am discharged?
  • If you are not a current patient, you will not be able to obtain contact lenses or contact lens solutions from the hospital, nor can you be seen in the clinic unless you are re-referred by your doctor
  • If you are discharged from the hospital and continue to wear contact lenses, it is essential that you are under the care of a contact lens practitioner

 

Obtain and replace lenses

Who is eligible for contact lenses at Moorfields Eye Hospital?

Contact lenses are provided at Moorfields only when there is a medical need. Usually this is when vision cannot be improved with spectacles but can be improved with contact lenses. The contact lens clinical staff at Moorfields will assess eligibility. Examples of eligibility include some disorders of the cornea, high prescriptions (over +10.00DS/-15.00DS) and "bandage" lenses.

 

How do I obtain contact lenses?

You will be assessed in the contact lens clinic to ensure that you are suitable and eligible for lenses. The lens type will be selected according to your medical need. The lenses are often specially made, so you will usually require a separate appointment to have the lenses issued and to receive instruction on lens care and lens handling.

 

How do I order replacement lenses?

Please use one of the following methods to contact the contact lens orders department:

  • Email: moorfields.contactlenses@nhs.net
  • Phone: 020 7566 2100
  • Write to us at Contact Lens Orders, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK
  • Visit us at clinic 4, contact lens reception (Monday to Friday, 9am– 4.45pm)

If you contact our team via email we will send you an email from WorldPay which will include a link for you to complete your order.

How long will it take to obtain replacement contact lenses?

This depends on the complexity of the lens and the individual manufacturer, but typically:

  • Rigid gas permeable (corneal) lenses take two to six weeks
  • Scleral contact lenses take six to eight weeks
  • Cosmetic soft contact lenses take two to six weeks.

 

Copy of contact lens specifications

The hospital can supply a copy of your contact lens specifications once your contact lens fitting is complete. This is usually after you have been reviewed in the clinic, wearing the lenses for a minimum of three months after issue.

 

Lens care

I am running out of contact lens solutions. What should I do?
  • One month’s solutions can be supplied on prescription at each scheduled contact lens clinic appointment. The prescription is only available to collect from the hatch by the Contact Lens Clinic. Each item incurs the standard NHS prescription charge
  • Patients are able to purchase additional supplies from the hatch by the Contact Lens Clinic.
  • Unfortunately, solutions may not be prescribed outside appointments.
  • Extra solutions can be ordered and posted outside of appointments to a UK address. Please note that a postage charge per item will be applied to the invoice, as well as the cost of the item ordered.
  • If you need solution urgently all of those we prescribe are available either in high street opticians, pharmacies or online.

 

How do I insert, remove and care for my lenses?

Patients are taught how to handle and look after their contact lenses and detailed written instructions are provided.

You can also view videos on how to insert, remove and care for contact lenses.  

 

Lifestyle

Can I wear my soft monthly contact lenses when I swim?

We do not recommend you contact lenses whilst swimming. 

Prescription swimming goggles are available. 

If contact lenses cannot be avoided while swimming, we recommend air tight swimming goggles with daily disposable lenses which are removed shortly after swimming (wait a few minutes as the lenses can sometimes tighten up and be difficult to remove straight away) and disposed of.